Posted by Thomas Fischbacher, Researcher in Compression, Google Research, Zürich
Recent strides in machine learning (ML) research have led to the development of tools useful for research problems well beyond the realm for which they were designed. The value of these tools when applied to topics ranging from teaching robots how to throw to predicting the olfactory properties of molecules is now beginning to be realized. Inspired by advances such as these, we undertook the challenge of applying TensorFlow, a computing platform normally used for ML, to advance the understanding of fundamental physics.
Perhaps the biggest open problem in fundamental theoretical physics may be that our current understanding of quantum mechanics only includes three of the four fundamental forces — the electromagnetic, strong, and weak forces. There is currently no complete quantum theory that also includes the force of gravitation, while still matching experimental observations, i.e., an accurate model of quantum gravity.
One promising approach to a unified model that includes quantum gravity, which has survived many mathematical consistency checks, is called M-Theory, or "The Theory formerly known as Strings,” introduced in 1995 by Edward Witten. In the everyday world, we all experience four dimensions—three spatial dimensions (x, y, and z), plus time (t). M-Theory predicts that, at very short lengths, the Universe is described, instead, by eleven dimensions. But, as one can imagine, establishing the connection between the four-dimensional world that we observe and the 11-dimensional world predicted by M-theory is exceedingly difficult to solve analytically. In fact, it might require analytic manipulation of equations having more terms than there are electrons in the Universe.
This summer, we published an article in the Journal of High Energy Physics where we introduced novel ways to address such problems through creative use of ML technology. Using simplifications enabled by TensorFlow, we managed to bring the total number of known (stable or unstable) equilibrium solutions for one particular type of M-Theory spacetime geometries to 194, including a new and tachyon-free four-dimensional model universe. The geometries that we studied are special in that they are still (barely) accessible with exact calculations that do not require neglecting potentially important terms. We have also released a short instructive Google colab as well as a more powerful Python library for use in related research.
Applying TensorFlow to M-Theory
This work is predicated on a key observation that a mixed numerical and analytic approach can be more powerful than a purely analytical method. Instead of attempting to find analytic solutions with brute force, we use a numerical approach that leverages TensorFlow for the initial search for solutions to the model. This then yields hypotheses on which specific combinations can be tested and analyzed with stringent mathematical methods, ultimately proving the actual existence of a conjectured solution. This represents a novel methodology for making further progress in theoretical physics.
Conclusion
We hope that these results will be an important step in interpreting M-theory, and demonstrate how the research community can use new ML tools, such as TensorFlow, to approach other similarly complex problems. We are already applying the newly discovered methods in further theoretical physics research.
Acknowledgements This research was conducted by Iulia M. Comşa, Moritz Firsching, and Thomas Fischbacher. Additional thanks go to Jyrki Alakuijala, Rahul Sukthankar, and Jay Yagnik for encouragement and support.
Fancy building your own quad core tablet? Finding the commercial options far too expensive to consider? With just a Raspberry Pi, some 3D printed casing, a rechargeable battery, and a touchscreen display, you can—here’s how.
Incredibly, it really is possible to build your own tablet.
With a Raspberry Pi at the heart, and a suitable touchscreen display, all you need to add is a power regulator and rechargeable battery, and suitable chassis. This could be anything from something you’ve built out of LEGO to a 3D printed solution.
A popular crowd-funded project in early 2018, the Raspad, reached over 6000 percent of its target funding. Using the Raspberry Pi in a tablet seems to many people to be the next logical step for the little single board computer (SBC).
All it takes is a little bit of planning, a few pieces of equipment, and a bit of determination. It’s entirely possible that this can be done for under $100. Tempted? What if we told you the Raspberry Pi can run Android or a different touch-focused operating system?
Get These Parts for a Raspberry Pi Tablet
For the basic build, you will need:
Raspberry Pi Official 7″ Touchscreen Display (this should include a 200mm ribbon cable)
Raspberry Pi 3 B or B+
16GB microSD card
Adafruit PowerBoost 1000C
2500mAh Lithium Ion Polymer Battery
SPDT Slide Switch
You’ll find these items on Amazon, Adafruit, and similar suppliers.
In addition, you’ll need a 3D printed case. While designing your own is fine, it’s worth considering those that already exist. For our tablet, we used an STL file for a Raspberry Pi tablet project by DrVegetable.
Screwdrivers (or a single device with swappable heads)
Wire strippers
Hot glue gun
With a few wires and screws (check the notes for your 3D printed case project), you’ll be ready to go. Oh, you should also have a clean towel handy, for placing your touchscreen display face-down on. This avoids scratches.
The best option for this project is a Raspberry Pi version of LineageOS 15.1. Based on Android 8.1.0, this isn’t the latest version, but it does have the best support for the official Raspberry Pi Touchscreen.
A fork of CyanogenMod, LineageOS 8 is an open source project, offering a good Android experience. Note it does have some shortcomings: Bluetooth doesn’t work on the 3B+, and you may have problems with Netflix. Most games should work, but not in 1080p format.
Amazingly, other versions of Android for the Raspberry Pi are available. One you might consider taking a closer look at is EmteriaOS. This is available free or with a €19 single-device license. If this sounds good, note that the free option has nag screens and an enforced reboot every eight hours.
Hooking up the Raspberry Pi 3 to the official Touchscreen is surprisingly straightforward.
The video above illustrates the basic connection process. It’s worth testing this before putting the tablet together, so you’re familiar with it. You might even take the time to install one of the Android versions first, just to ensure everything is working.
Take a moment to shut down and detach the Pi and its display before proceeding.
Construct Your Raspberry Pi Android Tablet
If you have been following the steps above, you should have everything you need. Your Android tablet, powered by a Raspberry Pi, is ready to build.
The following steps are based on building a tablet using the 3D printed case by DrVegetable. Other projects will have a general similarity.
Place the Raspberry Pi Touchscreen display in its housing. Line up the screw holes with the mounting holes in the display.
With the mounting brackets in place, secure them against the housing and into the mounting holes.
Reconnect the Raspberry Pi to the display as shown above.
Secure the Raspberry Pi in the case, using the screws.
Similarly, secure the PowerBoost, lining up the USB port with the hole in the case. You’ll need to secure the battery too—hot glue is the best option.
Run a wire from pin 2 on the Pi’s GPIO, soldering it to the PowerBoost’s + connector.
Run a second wire from pin 6 on the GPIO to the PowerBoost’s – connector.
With two of the Pi display’s pluggable wires, connect 5V pin 4 on the Pi to 5V and pin 9 GND to GND on the display board.
Solder the slide switch to the PowerBoost, the middle pin to GND, and one of the outer pins to EN. Secure the switch in the case with some hot glue.
Finally, plug the batter into the PowerBoost.
When you’re done, screw the back of the tablet case to the display housing. Plug in the Pi via the PowerBoost to charge it up.
The Raspberry Pi tablet powered by Android is ready to use.
WebOS on the Raspberry Pi
You don’t have to rely on Android as your Raspberry Pi tablet operating system.
While lacking the wealth of apps available to Android, WebOS is a smart alternative. This is an operating system originally released by Palm in 2009, which sadly didn’t survive (largely due to poor corporate confidence, and a HP buyout, rather than any real issues). However, an open source version, LuneOS, has been ported to the Raspberry Pi 3.
Despite Raspbian being unsuitable for a touchscreen experience, by now you should have (or be ready to build) a Raspberry Pi powered Android tablet, with a few hours’ charge, for under $100 (a bit more if you had the components 3D printed elsewhere).
Our verdict of the Plume Labs Flow 2:
The Flow 2 is a worthy successor to Plume Lab's original air quality tracker. With upgraded sensors, data export options, and an attractive new finish, the Flow 2 is a must-buy.1010
Air pollution is a problem for us all. However, one of the challenges is that, in most cases, you can’t actually see the pollution around you. This means you can only use generic protection advice, or publicly available local data, where it exists.
The Plume Labs Flow 2 is a portable, palm-sized device that helps you visualize your current exposure. By syncing via Bluetooth to your smartphone, you can use the $160 device to track and analyze the data over time. It’s available to pre-order now with delivery expected by the end of November.
So, should you buy the Flow 2? Let’s take a closer look.
Flow 2 Design
As the name suggests, the Flow 2 is the successor to the original Flow device, which was released in 2018. The form factor remains largely unchanged this time around, although there are two immediately noticeable differences. First, the device is now a dark graphite grey rather than silver. You can attach the Flow 2 to your bag or belt using the strap. The original Flow device used a brown pleather strap, which has now been replaced with a silicone black strap.
These two changes make the device less conspicuous, and it now fits in aesthetically with most of your other tech products. Switching the strap to silicon rather than pleather should improve durability too. The Flow 2 is almost rectangular, sloping in slightly towards the top where the strap connects. The base of the device is coated in a durable plastic, which shelters the USB-C port and charging pins on the underside.
If you haven’t seen it before, the front of the device is rather unusual. The top half is covered in small holes that allow air to flow through to the sensors underneath. The lower half is dedicated to a capacitive button. When pressed, the current pollution level is displayed using colored LEDs that surround the button. The LEDs operate on a traffic light system, ranging from green for low pollution, to red for severe levels.
Flow 2 Battery Life
One of the first questions people usually ask about wearable technology like this is whether you’ll have to charge it each night. The short answer is, most likely, yes. The battery lasts about a day, but may vary depending on how often you activate the display and if you choose to enable the always-on Bluetooth connection for GPS tracking. That said, I found myself charging the Flow 2 each night regardless of whether it had run out of battery.
This is because the Flow 2, like the Flow before it, comes with a convenient charging dock. All you have to do is place the Flow 2 into the dock, and it begins charging through the charging pins underneath. For those who already purchased a Flow device, the Flow 2 is compatible with the original dock as well. If you run out of juice on-the-go, you can give the Flow 2 a top-up using the USB-C port.
It’s possible to extend the monitor’s battery life through the use of Idle mode, which can be enabled in the Flow app. This effectively puts the sensors to sleep for a while. You can choose between 20 minutes, two hours, eight hours, or 24 hours. This isn’t a fixed setting; just tap the Flow 2’s button, and the device will exit Idle mode. Using this new mode could see the Flow 2 last up to three days between charges.
The Flow Mobile App
The Flow mobile app, available for Android and iOS devices, is where you can dig down into the data the Flow 2 records. While the device itself only shows a traffic light system of warnings for quick reference, it is actually collecting a wide range of air quality data. The device connects to your phone via Bluetooth. There are two connection options; in-app and always-on.
The always-on connection is used to record GPS location data alongside your Flow 2’s measurements. This is done using your phone’s sensors as the Flow 2 itself doesn’t have a built-in GPS sensor. This connection does have an impact on battery life but allows you to capture more useful data. The Flow 2’s measurements alone are interesting, but their potential is unlocked when viewed alongside location.
The app’s main page is a chronological feed of your Flow 2’s recordings, broken down by day. The daily overview contains a color-coded line graph of your exposure by time, with a high, medium, or low rating underneath. Because the device tracks a handful of air quality measures, Plume Labs developed its own Air Quality Index (AQI) to summarize the data. The daily AQI is also listed in the feed.
Tapping into a specific day displays any recorded GPS data, in addition to a more detailed graph, which can be split between the different tracked particles. This line graph is overlayed against the combined average exposure, allowing you to see each particle’s contribution. Sliding your finger from left to right along the chart shows a minute-by-minute snapshot of recorded data.
Flow 2 Data Analysis
The original Flow device recorded some of the most critical air quality readings, like PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and VOC. The Flow 2 maintains those sensors but adds a new one for PM1. This is an incredible achievement. PM1 particles are ultra-fine and are often directly implicated in many of the health issues caused by air pollution.
These minuscule particles can pass through the majority of air filters and enter our lungs. That the Flow 2 can detect them at all is a testament to the work Plume Labs has undertaken in little over a year since the original Flow device.
One of the problems we identified during our review of the Plume Labs Flow in 2018 was that, despite an attractive interface, it was hard to analyze your data within the Flow app. With the release of the Flow 2, Plume Labs have enabled an export option in the app, which collates your data and emails you a download link. The data is broken into three parts; GPS images, GPS location data, and air quality recordings.
The GPS images are the same as those shown on the in-app daily summaries. Helpfully, the GPS data then comes in the form of a KML file. Probably the most important, though, are the air quality recordings. These are presented as CSV files, which should allow you plenty of opportunities to filter and play with the data. Although this seems like a small feature, it dramatically improves the usefulness of carrying the Flow 2 around with you each day.
Should You Buy the Flow 2?
The Flow 2 represents a significant step forward in tracking air quality thanks to the new PM1 sensor. It builds upon the foundations laid by the original Flow device. The Flow 2 is portable, easy to use, and tracks some of the most critical data. Crucially, that data is now yours to examine thanks to the new export feature.
If you don’t want to deep dive into the recordings, though, the Plume Labs have perfected the way they communicate air quality data. The colored LEDs make it easy to understand your current exposure, and don’t require you to unlock your phone to do so.
Coupled with these features, the portability of the Flow 2 makes it an indispensable companion, keeping you informed and able to make useful changes to reduce your exposure.
Writers, web developers, and programmers often need to compare different versions of the same code or text to keep track of changes. But figuring out the changes in a file manually is not a simple task. As a document gets longer and complex, you’re more likely to make comparison errors and waste time.
A file comparison tool helps you compare and merge the differences between two (or more) versions of the same file. There are different types of utilities, each tailored for specific types of data and file formats. We’ll look at some best file comparison apps for macOS.
1. Meld
Meld is a simple diff and merge tool. The user interface is intuitive and neatly packs all its functions into a handy menu. It has many customizable settings to make file comparison easy and quick. On first launch, the app gives you an option to choose a comparison module.
To start a comparison, click the File module and select your files from Finder. Meld will display them side-by-side. Any differences between them appear highlighted to make individual changes easier to see.
On either side of panels, you’ll see two vertical bars with colored blocks. They give you a bird-eye view of all changes, such as inserted, deleted, changed, or in conflict. Click the arrows in a segment to copy or merge a block of one file with another.
Unique Features of Meld:
Three-way comparison of files. The changes update in real-time, no matter how big the file gets.
The app integrates with source control systems, such as Git, Bazaar, Mercurial, and SVN to perform version control tasks.
The text editor supports line numbers, whitespace, syntax highlighting, and text wrapping for a user-friendly experience.
With text filters, you can ignore text that matches a particular pattern or even use regular expressions to create complex filters. To try them, go to Preferences and turn on Text Filters.
Helix P4V is an enterprise version control software to manage source files, web pages, manuals, OS code, and more. P4V is the client for the Helix core server that hosts all your data and resides in a depot. You open the files and edit them in your workspace.
When done, submit the modified file back to the shared repository or depot, where it keeps track of all the file revisions. P4V integrates with the P4 diff and merge tool. The purple icon and its color scheme highlights the input file, while the green icon and its color scheme highlights the output file.
P4Merge display files side-by-side, with the center as a base file. This allows you to compare two files with a base file to find differences and select the text you want in the merged file. To navigate, choose the Previous or Next buttons.
Helix P4’s Unique Features:
P4Merge works with various image formats, including PNG, GIF, JPG, and others. It highlights identical areas in gray and differences in yellow in both images. You can also compare file resolution, depth, size, and more details.
The integration with P4V can reveal the entire file revision history, plus what changed during a particular time frame. This is useful for resolving bugs.
Visualize the differences and resolve conflicts that result from parallel or concurrent development via color-coding, syntax highlighting, line numbers, and patches.
Beyond Compare is another utility for comparing files and folders. With few buttons and a colorful interface, the app tries to maintain a balance between features and performance. On the first launch, choose the comparison module for a particular task from Text, RTF, Hex, MP3, Tables, and more.
The app will display your files side-by-side. It uses red text for highlighting important differences and blue for insignificant changes. You can adjust these colors to suit your preferences.
The overview thumbnail on the left pane displays a visual map of colors. To navigate, use the Next and Previous button to step through all your differences. Then, use the arrow buttons to merge your files. Click the Save button located at the right of the window to save your file.
What Beyond Compare offers:
Every comparison task begins with a session, which you can customize and save to open later on. These gives you great flexibility and save time.
The session settings that control these comparisons are called Rules. They put you in control of how each session works and helps you discover significant differences.
The Table Compare session compares text files with tabular data. You can sort and align the data on key fields and compare them cell-by-cell.
Compare files in remote storage through Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon S3, OneDrive, and Source Control Managers.
Download:Beyond Compare ($30 Standard | $60 Pro | Free trial available)
4. DeltaWalker
DeltaWalker from Deltopia is a cross-platform visual diff and merge tool. The interface is intuitive, with just a couple of menu buttons. It relies more on visual parameters to help you find differences. Out of the box, it supports Office files, Java archives, ZIP, XML, PDF, and more. Speaking of which, we’ve covered how to compare two Excel files using other methods.
Click the Browse button in the entry field to bring up File Open dialog box. On the other side, you can either open a local or remote file via SFTP, HTTPS, WebDAV, Dropbox, or Google Drive. The app use colors to denote the changes in blocks as inserted, deleted, changed, and in conflict.
You’ll also see connecting lines that joins together related block to simplify the results. The vertical color strip located on the right panel shows a summary with a scaled-down visual map of all differences. Click the arrow button (it appears on mouse hover) to merge your files.
Unique Functions of DeltaWalker:
One-click integration with Git, Bazaar, Mercurial, and SVN. Go to Preferences > SCM Integration and toggle the SCM of your choice to use them.
Find and Replace feature helps you find specific characters and use regular expressions for advanced cases. Or use shortcuts to access them without opening the Find/Replace window.
Linked undo/redo feature keeps track of changes across editors. When you undo, the changes happen in reverse order spanning across the editors.
The app has the ability to export the file comparison report as HTML and Patch. The latter contains the differences between one or more pairs of different files, which is helpful for app developers.
Download:DeltaWalker ($40 Standard | $60 Pro | Free trial available)
5. Araxis Merge
Merge is a complex diff and merge tool. It works with many file formats, including Office files, PDF, XML, HTML, Binary, and source code files. This makes the app suitable for various creative professionals and use cases.
Click the Browse button to open your file. Merge uses text extraction filters and formatting tools to help you see changes more clearly.
Go to Preferences > File Comparisons > File Types to configure the filters for various kinds of files. Thin overview strips next to the scroll bar show the position of changes. And the status bar shows you a summary of changes that are inserted, removed, changed, and deleted.
There are two layout options: vertical and horizontal. They both work with two and three-way file comparison mode. Use the Previous or Next buttons (or shortcuts) to navigate in the file. Additionally, click the small merging button on each block to copy, replace, or merge files.
Araxis Merge’s Unique Features:
A plugin file system gives you access to files located in Git, Perforce depot, SVN, and Time Machine Volume.
Drag and drop blocks of text in either panel to edit files. Merge analyzes the changes in the background and saves them. At any time, you can undo the result.
Create markers to indicate the lines you have modified. Add a bookmark to remind yourself, or place a comment to note important information.
The synchronization link feature can help you identify points of similarity between files to simplify the comparison results. This works best with complex files.
Export the file comparison report as HTML, XML, and Unix Diff. This feature is helpful for future audits, storage, and sharing.
Download:Araxis Merge ($129 Standard | $269 Pro | Free trial available)
Use Notepad++ to Compare Files
There are many reasons to use a file comparison tool. A software developer might need syntax highlighting and export features, while a writer may prefer a more visual diff tool to compare text. The apps discussed here cover every use case. Give them proper trial and see which one fits your needs.
If you’re using the excellent text editor Notepad++, then you can compare files easily with a plugin. It’s feature-rich and fits both casual users and programmers. See how to compare two files with Notepad++ for instructions.
Instagram isn’t just about photos and videos. The social network also allows you to communicate with family and friends using Instagram DMs.
Instagram DMs are a private chat function primarily accessible through the smartphone app. And here’s everything you need to know about Instagram DMs.
How Can I Send and Receive DMs on Instagram?
It’s easy to access your DMs via the Instagram app. After signing in, your feed will load. If there’s a particular person you want to contact, click on their profile, then click on Message. A new chat thread will appear.
From here, you can:
Take a photo by clicking on the Camera button
Write a message
Make an audio recording using the Microphone
Send an image from your Camera Roll
Access GIPHY for GIFs and Stickers
You’ll need to give Instagram permission to access your photos and microphone first. You can do this through your smartphone Settings.
To see all of your chats, click on the paper airplane symbol in the top-right of your feed. This is also where you’ll find any DMs you receive.
If you see a post in your feed that you’d like to share privately, click on the paper airplane symbol beneath the post. This is next to the Comments function. A list of regular contacts will appear. Alternatively, you can search for anyone you follow.
This is also how you add someone else’s post to your Story.
How Do I Make Group Chat DMs on Instagram?
You can send a post to a new or established group by following the above steps, but then clicking + in the Search bar.
To start a group chat similar to WhatsApp, navigate to your DMs. Click on the button that looks like a pencil in a box. You’ll see a list of followers under “Suggested”. Tick the people you want to add. If you have lots of followers, use the Search function.
Can I Share Profiles on Instagram DMs?
Let’s say you’ve found another Instagram profile you think your friend would love. You could tag them, or send a post as a DM.
Or you could go onto the profile in question and tap on the ellipsis symbol in the top-right of the interface. Then click on Share This Profile or Send Profile As Message, depending on the version of the app you’re using.
How Do I Use Video Chat on Instagram?
Video chats are also accessed through Instagram DMs.
Click on the relevant person’s conversation feed or start one if you haven’t already. To initiate a video chat, click on the camera symbol in the top-right, next to the profile name.
How Do I Mute DMs on Instagram?
Perhaps you’re having a busy time and can’t be bothered with Instagram right now. Or maybe someone is being particularly annoying. If so, you can mute DMs from individuals, meaning you won’t see notifications when you receive a new message.
Just click on that person’s chat thread, then click on the i button in the top-right. The Details page will appear, allowing you to Mute messages and Mute video chat.
How to Like DMs on Instagram
You can like a DM in the same way you like normal posts on Instagram—just double-tap on the image or text. A small heart will appear underneath.
How to Unsend DMs on Instagram
Oops. You’ve sent a message you wish you hadn’t. Can you unsend a DM on Instagram? Fortunately, you can, although it doesn’t help if the recipient has already seen it.
Tap and hold on the message you want to withdraw. Two options will appear: Copy and Unsend. The latter will make it disappear from the thread entirely.
Instagram often tells you whether the other person has read the message too. It’ll say “Seen” below the post. However, if the other person has notifications turned on, they’ll probably have seen it already.
Can You Read Instagram DMs Without Being Seen?
Read receipts can be useful. They can also be a headache. And you can’t turn them off.
So, is there a way to view a direct message on Instagram without the sender knowing you saw it? It is possible, although it can be fiddly.
Firstly, you can read short DMs on your smartphone by enabling notifications. Do this by going on Settings > Instagram > Notifications. This doesn’t always work, though. The DM might be too long to read in its entirety. It might be a picture that’s too small to see. Or you could miss the notification.
There is another way you can read DMs without the other person knowing. Actually, it’s similar to how to secretly take screenshots on Snapchat. We cannot guarantee its effectiveness, but more often than not it works.
Load the app and check on your DMs, but do not click on the message. Navigate away from Instagram, but don’t close it. Turn off Wi-Fi and Mobile Data by simply clicking on Airplane Mode. Go back to Instagram. Now, you can read the DM without the other person knowing.
Next, go to Settings > Log Out. You can have numerous Instagram accounts—in which case, you need to log out of them all.
Close the app, then turn Airplane Mode off. You then need to log back into your accounts. If it’s worked, Instagram should say there’s a new notification waiting for you.
What Are Instagram DM Suggestions Based On?
Below your conversations, you might see further contacts listed as “Suggested”. These suggestions are based on several things.
They could simply be followers who you already follow back; in this case, Instagram encourages you to communicate. They can be based on your whereabouts if you’ve activated location services, or based on people you actually know if you’ve granted Instagram access to your Contacts. Suggestions can also be profiles you’ve visited, regardless of whether you followed them.
Can I Stop Seeing Profiles in Suggestions?
Seeing someone you don’t like or who you’ve fallen out with in DM suggestions can be off-putting. So what can you do to stop certain profiles from appearing in your DMs?
Your best option is to block that user. To do this, visit their profile and click on the ellipsis in the top-right, then tap Block. This will also stop them from being able to interact with you at all on the platform. Don’t worry: if you make amends, here’s how to unblock someone on Instagram.
How to Create Multiple Instagram Accounts
Chats can get messy, especially when you’re trying to have numerous conversations in one thread. Sometimes, you need to separate users depending on your personal situation. Try having a list of DMs for colleagues and another for friends, for example.
There are a huge amount of PlayStation 4 games available, but not all of them are appropriate for children. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best PS4 games for kids.
In this article, you’ll find our pick of the best PS4 games for kids, separated by age group. Whether you’re looking for family games on PS4 or just something that’s non-violent.
The Best PS4 Games for Kids, Ages 0-5
If you’re interested in PS4 games for toddlers or children just entering school, you’re probably looking for basic games that allow them to have fun in colorful worlds. These titles are simple and allow children to enjoy themselves without stressing.
1. Tearaway Unfolded
Tearaway is a platforming game with a big emphasis on creativity. The world is built like a storybook, where everything is made out of paper. You play as a messenger who’s trying to bring a message to “the You” in the sky.
As it turns out, “the You” is how the in-game characters refer to the player. This game thus has you interacting with what’s happening on screen, such as using the PS4 controller’s touchpad to grab and move objects.
The game doesn’t feature any objectionable content, and provides young players with plenty of opportunities to use their creations in the game.
While Knack 2 isn’t the best platformer ever made, it’s a great choice for young children who are new to video games.
This is particularly the case in co-op mode, where an older player can help a younger player with trickier sections. For example, you can use your abilities, such as body slams, to boost the other player’s options in combat. And you can press R2 at any time to warp to the other player, letting the more experienced person clear tricky challenges.
Most kids love LEGO, and you’ll find tons of games featuring the various series that LEGO has teamed up with. Most of them feature open-world action platforming with LEGO renditions of familiar locales and characters. They’re cooperative, so you can play alongside your little one to help them out.
As the name suggests, this one features all kinds of content from the Marvel universe. There are dozens of LEGO games available on PS4, and these are the best LEGO video games. However, we picked this one to highlight since it’s newer and received strong reviews.
Children that are a bit older can enjoy slightly more advanced games. The next group of PlayStation 4 games for kids let them use their imaginations and go on adventures.
4. Minecraft
Minecraft is the defining game of a generation, and a fantastic fit for children of pretty much any age. Not only is it free of any explicit content, but it’s also a wide open sandbox for kids to do whatever they like in.
They can explore the world, create structures, play with friends, or do whatever else strikes their fancy. Minecraft has few rules, and its room for creativity makes it an engaging title for kids.
Many children of the 1990s grew up playing Spyro, and the Reignited Trilogy gives today’s kids a great way to do the same. It bundles remastered versions of the three original Spyro games into one affordable package.
The Spyro games are some of the best platformers on the PS4. They offer beautiful graphics, fantastic music, and fun worlds to explore. As 3D platformers go, they’re also pretty straightforward and easy to understand. This makes them a good fit for children who are starting to play video games on their own.
Speaking of classic franchises getting a new start, Sonic Mania is a celebration of the classic Sonic games that many grew up playing on the Sega Genesis. It features level themes from the original games, along with some all-new stage designs.
It’s a bright and fast-paced platformer full of excellent music that kids should enjoy. Sonic titles offer a lot of replayability thanks to the sprawling level design that lets you take a different path each time.
Kids who are at or approaching the “tween” stage can continue with games containing deeper mechanics, and thankfully you’ll find plenty of age-appropriate games that are still a ton of fun.
7. Rocket League
Rocket League is an arcade sports game that’s essentially soccer with rocket-powered cars. It’s a popular title because while it’s easy to pick up, the physics allow you to perform all kinds of trick moves to secure a victory.
You can play Rocket League alone, with friends, or against others online. It’s a fast-paced game that all kids will enjoy, but older kids will appreciate more.
The LittleBigPlanet series is known for letting players use a wealth of tools to create their own levels and even whole games. It contains a wealth of premade content kids can enjoy alone or with friends, but it really shines in the level creator.
While there’s a lot of room for experimentation, older kids will likely be more equipped to dive into the game’s many systems and mechanics. But even if children don’t want to make levels, it’s a solid title.
Sports games make great choices for kids’ games, as they’re family-friendly and usually easy to pick up. Everybody’s Golf isn’t a serious golfing simulator; it’s more of a laid-back golf experience like you’d find in a Mario sports title. It’s easy to learn the basics, and you can dive into the options further if you’d like.
Even better, like the best multiplayer PS4 games, Everybody’s Golf offers great local multiplayer. If you have multiple children or enjoy playing with them, this is a good pick for families to play together.
Older kids who are approaching adulthood have lots of options for enjoyable games. Anything with a Teen rating is usually appropriate for this age range.
10. Burnout Paradise Remastered
Burnout Paradise is an open-world high-octane racing title. As per other Burnout games, driving dangerously earns you boost, which you’ll need to win races and other events. You also don’t have to be friendly—wrecking your opponents will temporarily slow them down and earn you further boost.
You’re free to conquer events in whatever order you wish. If you need a break, cruise around the world and find collectibles. It’s one of the best racing games on PS4, and a great pick for older kids who will enjoy mastering the city.
Stardew Valley is great for older kids interested in a calmer game. This simulation title has you moving to take over your grandfather’s farm and all the responsibilities that come with it.
You’ll have to manage your time performing tasks like clearing debris, purchasing seeds in town, and navigating your social life. It can be a bit overwhelming at first, but it’s a beloved title that players can get invested in.
Horizon Zero Dawn is an open-world adventure that takes place in a primitive world with animal-like machines. You play as Aloy as she tries to figure out where she comes from.
The game has received praise for its interesting combat, solid story, and likeable characters. Many open-world titles are too mature for younger players, but Horizon Zero Dawn is appropriate for teens while still including a great experience.
There’s something for every young player on this list of the best PlayStation 4 games for kids. And in many cases, you can enjoy these games in co-op mode to assist them.
Why gender-based marketing is bad for business | Gaby Barrios
Companies often target consumers based on gender, but this kind of advertising shortcut not only perpetuates outdated stereotypes -- it's also bad for business, says marketing expert Gaby Barrios. In this clear, actionable talk, she explains why gender-based marketing doesn't drive business nearly as much as you might think -- and shows how companies can find better ways to reach customers and grow their brands.
Image search engine Giphy bills itself as providing “fun and safe way” to search and create animated GIFs. But despite its ban on illicit content, the site is littered with self-harm and child sex abuse imagery, TechCrunch has learned.
A new report from Israeli online child protection startup L1ght — previously AntiToxin Technologies — has uncovered a host of toxic content hiding within the popular GIF-sharing community, including illegal child abuse content, depictions of rape, and other toxic imagery associated with topics like white supremacy and hate speech. The report, shared exclusively with TechCrunch, also showed content encouraging viewers into unhealthy weight loss and glamorizing eating disorders.
TechCrunch verified some of the company’s findings by searching the site using certain keywords. (We did not search for terms that may have returned child sex abuse content as doing so would be illegal.) Although Giphy blocks many hashtags and search terms from returning results, search engines like Google and Bing still cache images with certain keywords.
When we tested using several words associated with illicit content, Giphy sometimes showed content from its own results. When it didn’t return any banned materials, search engines often returned a stream of would-be banned results.
L1ght develops advanced solutions to combat online toxicity. Through its tests, one search of illicit material returned 195 pictures on the first search page alone. L1ght’s team then followed tags from one item to the next, uncovering networks of illegal or toxic content along the way. The tags themselves were often innocuous in order help users escape detection, but they served as a gateway to the toxic material.
Despite a ban on self-harm content, researchers found numerous keywords and search terms to find the banned content. We have blurred this graphic image. (Image: TechCrunch)
Many of the more extreme content — including images of child sex abuse — are said to have been tagged using keywords associated with known child exploitation sites.
We are not publishing the hashtags, search terms, or sites used to access the content, but we passed on the information to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a national non-profit established by Congress to fight child exploitation.
Simon Gibson, Giphy’s head of audience, told TechCrunch that content safety was of the “utmost importance” to the company and that it employs “extensive moderation protocols.” He said that when illegal content is identified, the company works with the authorities to report and remove it.
He also expressed frustration that L1ght had not contacted Giphy with the allegations first. L1ght said that Giphy is already aware of its content moderation problems.
Gibson said Giphy’s moderation system “leverages a combination of imaging technologies and human validation,” which involves users having to “apply for verification in order for their content to appear in our searchable index.” Content is “then reviewed by a crowdsourced group of human moderators,” he said. “If a consensus for rating among moderators is not met, or if there is low confidence in the moderator’s decision, the content is escalated to Giphy’s internal trust and safety team for additional review,” he said.
“Giphy also conducts proactive keyword searches, within and outside of our search index, in order to find and remove content that is against our policies,” said Gibson.
L1ght researchers used their proprietary artificial intelligence engine to uncover illegal and other offensive content. Using that platform, the researchers can find other related content, allowing them to find vast caches of illegal or banned content that would otherwise and for the most part go unseen.
This sort of toxic content plagues online platforms but algorithms only play a part. More tech companies are finding human moderation is critical to keeping their sites clean. But much of the focus to date has been on the larger players in the space, like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.
Facebook, for example, has been routinely criticized for outsourcing moderation to teams of lowly paid contractors who often struggle to cope with the sorts of things they have to watch, even experiencing post-traumatic-like symptoms as a result of their work. Meanwhile, Google’s YouTube this year was found to have become a haven for online sex abuse rings, where criminals had used the comments section to guide one another to other videos to watch while making predatory remarks.
Giphy and other smaller platforms have largely stayed out of the limelight, during the past several years. But L1ght’s new findings indicate that no platform is immune to these sorts of problems.
L1ght says the Giphy users sharing this sort of content would make their accounts private so they wouldn’t be easily searchable by outsiders or the company itself. But even in the case of private accounts, the abusive content was being indexed by some search engines, like Google, Bing and Yandex, which made it easy to find. The firm also discovered that pedophiles were using Giphy as the means of spreading their materials online, including communicating with each other and exchanging materials. And they weren’t just using Giphy’s tagging system to communicate — they were also using more advanced techniques like tags placed on images through text overlays.
This same process was utilized in other communities, including those associated with white supremacy, bullying, child abuse and more.
This isn’t the first time Giphy has faced criticism for content on its site. Last year a report by The Verge described the company’s struggles to fend off illegal and banned content. Last year the company was booted from Instagram for letting through racist content.
Giphy is far from alone, but it is the latest example of companies not getting it right. Earlier this year and following a tip, TechCrunch commissioned then-AntiToxin to investigate the child sex abuse imagery problem on Microsoft’s search engine Bing. Under close supervision by the Israeli authorities, the company found dozens of illegal images in the results from searching certain keywords. When The New York Times followed up on TechCrunch’s report last week, its reporters found Bing had done little in the months that had passed to prevent child sex abuse content appearing in its search results.
It was a damning rebuke on the company’s efforts to combat child abuse in its search results, despite pioneering its PhotoDNA photo detection tool, which the software giant built a decade ago to identify illegal images based off a huge database of hashes of known child abuse content.
Giphy’s Gibson said the company was “recently approved” to use Microsoft’s PhotoDNA but did not say if it was currently in use.
Where some of the richest, largest and most-resourced tech companies are failing to preemptively limit their platforms’ exposure to illegal content, startups are filling in the content moderation gaps.
L1ght, which has a commercial interest in this space, was founded a year ago to help combat online predators, bullying, hate speech, scams, and more.
The company was started by former Amobee chief executive Zohar Levkovitz and cybersecurity expert Ron Porat, previously the founder of ad-blocker Shine, after Porat’s own son experienced online abuse in online game Minecraft. The company realized the problem with these platforms was something that had outgrown users’ own ability to protect themselves, and that technology needed to come to their aid.
L1ght’s business involves deploying its technology in similar ways as it has done here with Giphy— in order to identify, analyze, and predict online toxicity with near real-time accuracy.
TikTok is beginning to dabble in social commerce. The short-form video app said it has started to allow some users to add links to e-commerce sites (or any other destination) to their profile bio as well as offer creators the ability to easily send their viewers to shopping websites.
The company said the roll-out of these two features are part of its usual “experimentation” to improve app experience for users. Though, this particular experimentation could significantly change how lucrative influencers find TikTok.
A spokesperson of ByteDance, one of the world’s most valuable startups that also owns TikTok, said, “We’re always experimenting with new ways to improve the app experience for our users. Ultimately, we’re focused on ways to inspire creativity, bring joy, and add value for our community.”
These features were first spotted and shared by Fabian Bern, founder of influencer startup Uplab. In a video he tweeted on Thursday, Bern showed how it was possible for the first time for creators to give their viewers the ability to visit a third-party website.
In the video, we also see TikTok is allowing users to put a URL in their profile bio. Instagram has long allowed this functionality, which a large number of accounts use for a variety of reasons. While influencers usually direct their fans to merchandise stores, some news publishers use it to drive people to news articles. The current set of restrictions on Instagram, however, leave a lot to be desired.
If TikTok, which has amassed over a billion users, retains these features it could disrupt what many industry figures call “social commerce.” Social media companies and messaging apps in recent years have lured customers through their core services and introduced shopping features.
In many markets such as China, Southeast Asia and India, which happens to be one of TikTok’s biggest markets, social commerce is increasingly becoming popular and beginning to pose a challenge to “traditional” e-commerce players such as Amazon.
And major giants are beginning to see an opportunity in this space. Facebook, which offers a marketplace, this year backed Meesho, an Indian social commerce startup.
Meesho connects buyers and sellers on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, enables them to showcase and sell their goods, and works with a range of logistics companies to service their orders.
“This is big!” said Nameet Potnis, head of business growth and marketing for the India unit of Naspers’ global payments firm PayU, of TikTok’s new features.
“Excited to see how this is going to reshape commerce in tier 2/3 India where TikTok rules over Instagram. As Indians get comfortable with buying and paying online, local influencers will change the game.”
TikTok’s experimentation comes at a time when rival Instagram is beginning to expand a test in which it hides “likes” from public view. The move has caused concerns for influencers, who count on likes to inform advertisers of their reach.
While you can browse Instagram on your desktop or laptop, the website doesn’t offer a way to upload photos to Instagram. Because Instagram is a mobile-focused service, it wants you to upload your photos through the mobile apps.
However, there is a workaround which lets you post to Instagram with Chrome. Here’s how it works.
Step 1: Visit Instagram and Open Developer Tools
To start, open Instagram.com in Google Chrome and make sure you’re logged into your account. Right-click anywhere on the page and choose Inspect to open the Developer Tools panel. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift+ I on Windows or Cmd + Option + I on a Mac.
This will open a panel on the right-side with a bunch of HTML and other page details. But you don’t need to worry about any of that.
Step 2: Switch to Mobile View
In the top-left corner of the new Developer Tools window, you’ll see an icon that looks like a phone next to a tablet. Click on this to switch to mobile view—you can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + M on a PC or Cmd + Shift + M on a Mac.
This mode tells the website that you’re using a mobile device. You’ll thus see the interface switch to something that’s a lot like you’re used to seeing on Android or iOS. Keep the Developer Tools open to continue to use the mobile interface, as closing it reverts to the desktop version.
Step 3: Upload Your Photo to Instagram
At the bottom of the screen, you should see the various icons for Instagram’s different tabs. If you don’t see this row of icons, refresh the page and it should appear. Click the Plus icon to upload any photo from your computer using File Explorer or Finder.
By default, Instagram only lets you upload a few image types, including JPEG. If you want to upload a PNG or something else, you’ll need to make a small change first.
On Windows, click the Custom Files box in the bottom-right corner of File Explorer and change it to All Files. If you’re on a Mac, click the Options button at the bottom-left of Finder and change the Format box from Custom Files to All Files.
Step 4: Edit Your Image
After you select your image, you have some options on the Edit tab. You can drag it around to to frame it as you wish. Use the Rotate button to spin it 90 degrees at a time. Click the full-size button in the bottom-left to toggle between the full width or a square size.
Swap to the Filter tab at the bottom of the screen to apply one of Instagram’s many filters. As you’ll notice, you don’t have access to all of Instagram’s editing tools using this method. We recommend using a photo editing app on your computer to make any adjustments before uploading your photos to Instagram.
From here, click the Next button and you can enter a caption, set the photo’s location, and tag people if you want. Then you’re all set to post your photo.
Alternative Option: Use the Windows 10 Desktop App
Instagram offers an official Windows 10 app on the Microsoft Store. It’s essentially a barebones port of the mobile app, so it works in the same way as the above process. If you post to Instagram often and don’t want to use the trick in Chrome every time, give the Windows 10 app a try instead.
This trick isn’t perfect, but it’s a handy way to post to Instagram from any desktop device. It’s great if you prefer to edit photos on your computer instead of doing so on your phone.
It may have been a while since you’ve used a standalone MP3 player. Most of us now stream our music through services like Spotify or Apple Music rather than maintain a physical or digital music collection.
However, our smartphones aren’t always the best way to listen to music. Battery life, data allowances, and screen time restrictions all impact our music playback. If you’re after a separate device to listen to music on, we can help.
Here are the best MP3 players you can buy today for all budgets.
While Apple has discontinued the legendary iPod Classic, the iPod Touch 256GB is a worthy successor. That said, the iPod Touch barely resembles the comparatively basic iPod Classic. The Touch is more like an iPhone without the cellular connection. It has access to the App Store, runs Apple’s iOS mobile operating system, and comes with apps like Apple Music pre-installed. You can load your own music via iTunes too.
Unlike many standalone MP3 players, the iPod Touch has an 8MP primary camera with a 1.2MP front-facing camera. While you can only access the internet via Wi-Fi, the most significant difference between the iPhone and the iPod Touch is price. You’d pay almost double for the equivalent amount of storage on an iPhone. If you don’t need 256GB of storage, you can save some money by opting for the 32GB or 128GB model instead.
Sony were the originators of personal audio with their Walkman cassette and CD players. Although never as popular as the ubiquitous iPod, the Sony Walkman MP3 players continue to offer great value for money. The Sony Walkman NW-ZX300 is one of the best MP3 players for audiophiles, too.
The NW-ZX300 weighs 157g, has a 30-hour battery life, and charges in 5.5 hours. It also runs the purpose-built Sony Original OS, rather than a mobile operating system like Android or iOS. The device supports a comprehensive selection of file formats, including Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) files, and can even upscale your compressed audio files thanks to a feature called DSEE HX.
The rigid aluminum frame is designed to resist electrical noise, giving clear audio reproduction and playback. The NW-ZX300 comes with a balanced plug for headphones, providing dedicated right and left audio channels. There’s support for Bluetooth as well, using Sony’s LDAC to transfer data at nearly three times the rate of standard Bluetooth profiles.
The FINIS Duo is among the best waterproof MP3 players on the market, but it is also fairly unique. The Duo is primarily aimed at swimmers who want to be able to listen to music underwater. To that end, the device is IPX8 rated for waterproofing up to 3 meters for 30 minutes.
It is unlike other MP3 players on this list, though, as it uses bone conduction, rather than headphones, to playback your music. The Duo can be placed onto a headband or the strap of your goggles and rests on your cheekbone. You won’t have to recharge it too often either, as the battery lasts up to seven hours. It has 4GB of onboard storage for MP3 or WMA audio files.
In their heyday, cheap MP3 players would lack features or storage space—not anymore. The Soulcker 16GB MP3 Player is an affordable, but feature-packed, option. This 16GB MP3 player has SD card support so that you can expand your storage up to an additional 128GB. It also has a Bluetooth 4.0 connection, making it a breeze to connect to your favorite Bluetooth headphones and speakers.
The device supports all major audio file formats; MP3, WAV, WMA, APE, FLAC, and AAC. There is a built-in speaker, an FM radio, support for ebooks, a 2.4-inch color screen, and a voice recorder. It even offers 55 hours of playback from a two-hour charge. Of course, if you’re after a standalone MP3 player, you may not need all of these features. However, for the price, it’s an excellent choice.
You may not want to give your children something easy to damage or expensive. If you’re after an affordable, but resilient MP3 player, then the Mighty Vibe is an excellent choice. The device is the spiritual successor to the discontinued iPod Shuffle but has one key difference; Spotify. The Mighty Vibe allows you to download up to 1,000 tracks from Spotify to listen to on the device, without your phone.
This makes it the perfect MP3 player for kids—download their favorite Spotify playlist to the device, and they can listen for up to five hours on a single charge using wired or wireless headphones. The player weighs just 20g, and is water and drop resistant. It does, however, require a Spotify Premium subscription to download music.
The Best MP3 Player for You
Although your smartphone can playback music, it isn’t always the best choice. A dedicated MP3 player may work better for you, especially if you have your own music library. They often have more storage and better battery life too. That’s not to mention that they are often significantly cheaper than a smartphone.
Before you add music to your new MP3 player, you’ll want to make sure your music library is organized. These tools to manage your MP3 collection may help you out.
