Join Eventbrite CEO Julia Hartz for a live Q&A: June 11 at 3 pm EST/Noon PDT/7 pm GMT

One of the earliest disruptions created by the novel coronavirus manifested in the form of event cancellations. Some of the world’s biggest tech conferences, like F8 and Google NEXT, got postponed and others turned to digital options to still connect. Even Disrupt is going digital this year.

It is an unprecedented time for the events world, so we are bringing someone right in the center of it to our Extra Crunch Live stage: Eventbrite CEO Julia Hartz. In fact, Extra Crunch members can ask their own questions directly to the CEO and are encouraged to do so live on the call.

Hartz is leading the publicly traded company as it grows more popular than ever with hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. At the same time, the global slowdown of in-person event ticketing due to COVID-19 has had a material impact on Eventbrite’s business. What does that mean for employee morale? Collaboration with other companies? And overall culture at the business?

Eventbrite has swiftly transitioned to virtual events, with thousands of listings across categories like professional events, classes, health and wellness, science and tech, community and culture and more. Hartz also told Billboard that the company remains committed to serving independent music venues, which have been hit hard by the global health crisis, and hinted that Eventbrite may shift to a self-service ticket model.

The company reported that, since enhancing its online events service in 2019, and in the midst of social distancing, Eventbrite users are posting nearly 20k online events every day, with a 2,000+ percent year-over-year increase of online events taking place in April 2020 compared to April 2019. This announcement came after Eventbrite said it would cut $100 million in costs, which included layoffs.

We’ll talk with Hartz about how she is leading her company through a crisis and what the future holds for bringing people together. We’ll also discuss how widespread layoffs may impact the future of diversity in our workforces.

Hartz will also be asked to weigh in on advice for other founders hoping to emerge from COVID-19 from fundraising to strategy. As always, EC subscribers are invited to log onto the call to ask questions live.

Details are below for Extra Crunch subscribers; if you need a pass, get a cheap trial here.

Chat with you all in a week!

When, where, Zoom

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Daily Crunch: Twitter has a record week

Twitter sees record downloads, Signal adds a new face-blurring feature and Facebook rethinks its approach to government-backed media.

Here’s your Daily Crunch for June 5, 2020.

1. Twitter has a record-breaking week as users looked for news of protests and COVID-19

Civil unrest due to the nationwide George Floyd protests drove Twitter to a record number of new installs this week, according to data from two app store intelligence firms, Apptopia and Sensor Tower. While the firms’ exact findings differed in terms of the total number of new downloads or when records were broken, the firms agreed that Twitter’s app had its largest-ever week, globally.

For example, according to Sensor Tower, Twitter saw just over 1 million installs on Monday, making it the day with the most single-day installs since the firm began tracking app store data on January 1, 2014.

2. Signal now has built-in face blurring for photos

This is supposed to make it easy to protect someone’s identity without leaving any trace on other, less secure apps. After noting Signal’s support of the protests against police brutality, founder Moxie Marlinspike wrote in a blog post, “We’ve also been working to figure out additional ways we can support everyone in the street right now. One immediate thing seems clear: 2020 is a pretty good year to cover your face.”

3. Facebook adds labels identifying state-controlled media

Facebook will soon add labels to news outlets owned or otherwise controlled by a government — that doesn’t necessarily mean the information is false or unreliable, but at least it’s worth considering the source. Those outlets will also be banned from buying ads starting this summer.

4. OTTO Motors raises $29M to fill factories with autonomous delivery robots

The OTTO Motors division of Clearpath Robotics launched in 2015. It’s landed a number of contracts to bring its autonomous mobile robot platform into factories, with customers including GE, Toyota, Nestlé and Berry Global.

5. How to get the most from your corporate VC after you get the check

Scott Orn of Kruze Consulting looks at the factors that founders need to keep in mind if they want the best chance at a productive and successful relationship with their corporate VC. (Extra Crunch membership required.)

6. Google says Iranian, Chinese hackers targeted Trump, Biden campaigns

Shane Huntley, director for Google’s Threat Analysis Group, tweeted that hackers backed by China and Iran recently targeted the Trump and Biden campaigns using malicious phishing emails. But, Huntley said, there are “no signs of compromise,” and both campaigns were alerted.

7. PhotoRoom automagically removes background from your photo

The concept is extremely simple: After selecting a photo, PhotoRoom removes the background from that photo and lets you select another background. When you’re done tweaking, you can save the photo and open it in another app.

The Daily Crunch is TechCrunch’s roundup of our biggest and most important stories. If you’d like to get this delivered to your inbox every day at around 9am Pacific, you can subscribe here.

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Silicon Valley can fight systemic racism by supporting Black-owned businesses

Will Walker Contributor

Will Walker is a JD candidate at Harvard Law School, and a contributing author to "Incomprehensible!: A Study of How Our Legal System Encourages Incomprehensibility, Why It Matters and What We Can Do About It".

As the United States sees its second week of large-scale protests against police brutality, it’s painfully clear that the country’s racial divide requires significant short- and long-term action. But most of these calls for change gloss over the role Silicon Valley can and should play in mending the racial divide.

Right now, activists are rightfully urging the public to take two crucial steps: vote out state and local government leaders and support Black-owned businesses. Both steps are necessary, but the importance of the latter has been largely overshadowed. Leaders can enact policy change, but much of the structural racial disparity in the U.S. is economic. Black workers are vastly overrepresented in low-paying agricultural, domestic and service jobs.

They’re also far more likely to be unemployed (in normal economic circumstances, and especially during the pandemic). A Stanford University study found that only 1% of Black-owned businesses receive loans in their first year. That’s seven times lower than the percentage for white businesses.

Put simply, enacting new laws and overturning old ones won’t suddenly reverse decades of biased investment decisions. That’s why all over social media, there are grassroots pushes to shop Black. Apps like WeBuyBlack and eatOkra collate businesses and restaurants into one centralized database, while organizations like Bank Black encourage investment in Black-owned funds or Black-owned businesses.

But what happens when the hashtags stop trending, the protests stop attracting crowds, and the Twitter feeds return to celebrity gossip and reality show reactions? Many organizers worry that, after the media cycle of the George Floyd protests expire, widespread interest in fixing systemic racism will go away too. Apps may be helpful in propping up Black businesses, but they rely on customers fundamentally changing their purchasing and consumption habits. Perhaps the perfect storm of COVID-19 and Mr. Floyd’s death will result in a wide-scale transformation of consumer behavior. But that’s not a given, and even if it were, it wouldn’t be enough.

To systematically fix underinvestment in Black businesses, we need big tech to step up. Now.

In particular, while there’s been a lot of recent talk about “algorithmic bias” (preventing algorithms on sites like Facebook or Google from implicitly discriminating on the basis of race), there hasn’t been enough talk about proactively demanding “algorithmic equality.” What if, for instance, tech companies didn’t just focus on erasing the entrenched bias in their systems, but actually reprogrammed algos to elevate Black businesses, Black investors and Black voices?

This shift could involve deliberately increasing the proportion of Black-created products or restaurants that make it onto the landing pages of sites like Amazon and Grubhub. Less dramatically, it could tweak SEO language to better accommodate racial and regional differences among users. The algorithmic structures behind updates like Panda could be repurposed to systematically encourage the consumption of Black-created content, allowing Black voices and Black businesses to get proportional purchase in the American consumer diet.

There’s also no compelling reason to believe that these changes would harm user experience. A recent Brookings study found that minority-owned businesses are rated just as highly on Yelp as white-owned businesses. However, these minority-owned businesses grow more slowly and gain less traction than their white-owned counterparts — resulting in an annual loss of $3.9 billion across all Black businesses. To help resolve this glaring (and needless) inequality, Yelp could modify its algorithms to amplify high-performing Black-owned businesses. This could significantly increase the annual income of quality Black entrepreneurs, while also increasing the likelihood in overall investment in Black small businesses.

At the very least, giving Black business a short-term algorithmic advantage in take-out and delivery services could help stem the massive economic breach caused by the coronavirus and could help save the 40% of minority-owned businesses that have shut down because of the pandemic.

Nothing can undo the losses of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery or the countless other Black Americans who unjustly died as a result of this country’s broken system. What we can do is demand accountability and action, both from our political leaders and from the Silicon Valley CEOs who structure e-commerce.

With thoughtful, data-based modifications, online platforms can give Black entrepreneurs, creators and voices the opportunity to compete — an equality that has been denied for far too long.

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5 steps to remove yourself from drama at work | Anastasia Penright

5 steps to remove yourself from drama at work | Anastasia Penright

No matter your industry, you've experienced drama at work. In this funny and all-too-relatable talk, community leader Anastasia Penright outlines five steps you can follow to better coexist with your coworkers and focus on what's really important.

Click the above link to download the TED talk.

Is Snopes Biased or Reliable? 5 Facts About Its Accuracy

Snopes shot to fame as one of several social media fact-checking websites. The rise of fake news combined with the viral capacity of Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites means some form of background checking must take place.

The difficulty is, who is checking the fact-checking sites? How can a site like Snopes claim to work without bias when it is human nature to do just that?

With Snopes rising to become a prominent online fact-checking service, it left us wondering: is Snopes biased?

What Is Snopes?

Snopes is a fact-checking site that aims to debunk or confirm widely spread urban myths. In the early days of the site, Snopes was known as the Urban Legends References Pages and focused more on actual urban legends.

During the 2000s, users began submitting more content focusing on online tales and stories, as well as seemingly incredible or ridiculous news articles. It wasn’t long before Snopes began fact-checking a wider array of tales than urban legends.

Snopes now checks thousands of urban legends, viral stories and pictures, regular news stories, rumors, and social media posts. Over the years, the Snopes’ fact-checking focus has turned increasingly political as readers want their leaders’ statements fact-checked and clarified.

The issue remains, however. Even though the fact-checking site is older than Google, can you trust Snopes?

Is Snopes Reliable? Or Does Snopes Show Bias?

As Snopes’ primary role is to debunk or confirm all kinds of fake news and urban legends, it receives understandable scrutiny. After all, this is a website that began life checking in on internet rumors regarding celebrity flings and otherwise, and now is a frequently cited fact-checking source for millions of people.

Let’s take a look at Snopes.

How Does Snopes Fact Check?

The Snopes fact-checking process is as you might expect. The research and editorial team note that a news story or particular image is receiving lots of attention. Or, the team receives a tip regarding a potential myth that requires busting (or confirming).

The editorial team attempts to contact any relevant parties to receive a first-hand account of the story. From there, it is a case of collecting supporting information from a variety of sources. Snopes attempts to use non-partisan information and data sources where possible.

In some cases, this is simply impossible. As such, the Snopes team reviews the fact-checking article before publishing to ensure it meets the correct standard. Furthermore, you can vet Snopes fact-checking sources yourself. At the bottom of each Snopes article is the Sources section. Click the dropdown arrow to see the full list of Snopes fact-checking sources for the article in question.

According to the Snopes fact-checking explainer, there is no single fact-checking template. As Snopes fact checks such a range of topics, there is no single process.

The other thing to mention is that Snopes promptly corrects any mistakes it publishes. When Snopes makes a correction, you can find a list of changes at the bottom of the fact-checking article.

Who Funds Snopes?

The second thing to consider is Snopes funding sources. Who is paying for the Snopes fact-checking service?

According to the Snopes Disclosures page, Snopes is almost entirely funded through digital advertising sales, paid memberships, direct contributions, and merchandise sales.

Snopes also states that no funding source, such as an advertiser or vendor, has direct contact with anyone from the Snopes editorial team. Keeping the two separate helps maintain the impartial approach to Snopes’ fact checking.

The Disclosure page also provides a basic overview of the Snopes financing and spending for the previous year. While Snopes does not provide a detailed list of its paid memberships or charitable contributions, it does advise that it will disclose any single contribution exceeding $10,000 or more than 5% of total revenue.

At the time of writing, Snopes is running its first crowdfunding campaign, which allows readers to purchase a Snopes membership. The membership comes with various perks, such as an ad-free experience, and allows Snopes to keep the lights on while remaining independent.

Is Snopes Liberal?

Snopes is painted as a liberal bastion, helping liberal and left-wing journalists and news outlets decry and attack anything remotely conservative. Rumors regularly appear linking Snopes with George Soros and other bogey-people to discredit any fact-checking efforts.

The perception of Snopes liberal-leaning in part comes from a discredited story regarding another fact-checking website, FactCheck.org.

A story shared countless times on Facebook advised readers that “FactCheck.org exposed Snopes.com as an extremely liberal propaganda site with an agenda to discredit anything that appears to be conservative.”

The story was also accompanied by a picture allegedly showing Snopes founder and CEO, David Mikkelson, alongside George Soros. Mikkelson himself said that the person in the image “Has dark, dark hair, and there the resemblance to the photograph ends.”

Since then, the story has been discredited multiple times.

Snopes’ Trump Conundrum

Another reason for Snopes’ perceived liberal bias is that one name appears on the website more than most: Trump. Whatever your take on President Trump, one undeniable fact is that he is a constant stream of information—rightly or wrongly.

As Snopes fact checks many of President Trump’s Tweets and other assertions, of which there is a considerable volume, it is only understandable that there is a strong perception that Snopes leans liberal in its attempts to clarify his messages.

Typing “Trump” into the Snopes search bar is equally revealing; 100 pages, each with ten links containing the keyword.

However, Mikkelson refutes this image of liberal bias, especially against President Trump, stating that,

“[…] the vast majority of them are debunking false claims made about him, not affirming negative things said about him or disproving positive things said about him.”

Looking at the broader picture, then, gives a better definition.

Fact-Checking Site Perception Depends on Political Stance

The bias you perceive a fact-checking to have, be that liberal or conservative depends on your political stance. Several studies indicate that Republican supporters and Republican-leaning independents maintain a strong distrust of any fact-checking sites, including Snopes. Whereas, Democrat and Democrat-leaning independents are more likely to trust a fact-checking site.

A 2019 Pew Research poll found that around 70% of Republicans believe fact-checking sites favor one side, while this figure falls to 29% of Democrats. Interestingly, 29% of all respondents were “very confident” in fact-checking news stories themselves, with a further 46% feeling “somewhat confident” in their abilities.

This isn’t to knock either side of the political spectrum. Fact-checking the claims of our leaders is inherently political. Human nature is to protect what we believe in, and with that, people will defend from or reject information inconsistent with their ideology.

Another thing to consider is the range of fake news that focuses on conservative supporters, rather than liberal. The volume of fake news targeting conservatives is higher than for the opposite side of the aisle. Snopes fact checks all news stories and rumors regardless of political stance. But, as the volume of news targeting conservative voters is higher, so are the number of stories fact-checked and debunked.

What About Snopes Partnership with Facebook?

As one of the most popular fact-checking websites, Snopes is perfectly positioned to debunk the rampant spread of fake news throughout Facebook. In 2017, Snopes partnered with Facebook to fact check for the social network, receiving $100,000 for their fact-checking work in the first year, and $406,000 in the second year.

However, in early 2019, Snopes announced it would no longer work with Facebook. At the same time, the Associated Press also announced it would no longer fact check on the Facebook site, either.

Snopes split from Facebook so it could “determine with certainty that our efforts to aid any particular platform are a net positive for our online community, publication, and staff.”

Furthermore, David Mikkelson, and Snopes head of operations, Vinny Green, said that Snopes “have not ruled out working with Facebook or any other platforms in the future.”

Snopes Ended the Facebook Partnership

The Guardian later reported that the partnership ended due to pressure from the Snopes editorial team.

Brooke Binkowski, former managing editor of Snopes said,

“They’ve essentially used us for crisis PR. They’re not taking anything seriously. They are more interested in making themselves look good and passing the buck… They clearly don’t care.”

Another Snopes content editor, Kim LaCapria, left the fact-checking site in part due to frustrations with the Facebook partnership. As LaCapria states, Facebook wanted the “appearance of trying to prevent damage without actually doing anything.”

Although Snopes maintains that all editorial staff remains separate from the commercial side of the businesses, Binkowski said that she believes Facebook pushed Snopes to prioritize debunking stories regarding Facebook advertisers over other misinformation.

So, what do you take from all of this?

Well, Snopes broke off the partnership with Facebook. The relationship proved negative to the Snopes editorial team, as well as its impartial stance on urban legends and viral news. Deciding to cancel the fact-checking partnership is a positive step and one that recognizes the differing views on fact-checking between the two parties.

Criticism of Snopes

There are criticisms of Snopes, of course.

In some cases, critics wonder how Snopes could accurately fact check an unfolding story. Gaining access to first-hand sources in some cases is impossible due to legal obligations. Snopes works around these issues using a wide range of sources, but it does raise some cause for concern.

Another example is Snopes hiring a fact-checker that had run for political office under the ticket of a specific party. Many people would believe that openly supporting a specific party might preclude you from what must be a non-partisan role. David Mikkelson disagrees, believing anyone can work as fact-checker in the right team.

Finally, Snopes doesn’t scale well. By Snopes’ admission, it is incredibly difficult for them to counter a growing tide of misinformation. The COVID-19 pandemic is a prime example of this issue.

Dear Readers,

The magnitude of misinformation spreading in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic is overwhelming our small team. We’re seeing scores of people, in a rush to find any comfort, make things worse as they share (sometimes dangerous) misinformation.

— snopes.com (@snopes) March 23, 2020

The sudden surge in global misinformation regarding the coronavirus overwhelmed the Snopes team. It isn’t easy to hire exceptional and impartial fact-checkers at the drop of a pin, especially during such trying times.

I should add that this isn’t a “criticism” of Snopes, as that would be unfair. Rather, it is a nod to an operational issue that affects the output of the fact-checking website at a critical time.

If you don’t want to contribute to fake news, check out our tips on how NOT to spread fake news during a crisis.

Snopes Is Extremely Well Regarded with Other Fact-Checking Sites

Fact-checking websites are important. Vital even, as regular internet users attempt to figure out what is real news and what is misinformation. Even though there are numerous fact-checking sites available, almost all rate Snopes as one of the best fact-checking options around.

In short: Snopes is not fake news.

Several studies from various independent researchers include Snopes in their most trusted fact-checking site lists. Checking the independence of those sources is another story, but the majority include reasoning and methodology for their selections. This allows you to further verify Snopes as well as other fact-checking websites.

You can find some of those independent fact-checking sites in our list of the best fact-checking sites for unbiased truth.

Read the full article: Is Snopes Biased or Reliable? 5 Facts About Its Accuracy

Is Snopes Biased or Reliable? 5 Facts About Its Accuracy

Snopes shot to fame as one of several social media fact-checking websites. The rise of fake news combined with the viral capacity of Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites means some form of background checking must take place.

The difficulty is, who is checking the fact-checking sites? How can a site like Snopes claim to work without bias when it is human nature to do just that?

With Snopes rising to become a prominent online fact-checking service, it left us wondering: is Snopes biased?

What Is Snopes?

Snopes is a fact-checking site that aims to debunk or confirm widely spread urban myths. In the early days of the site, Snopes was known as the Urban Legends References Pages and focused more on actual urban legends.

During the 2000s, users began submitting more content focusing on online tales and stories, as well as seemingly incredible or ridiculous news articles. It wasn’t long before Snopes began fact-checking a wider array of tales than urban legends.

Snopes now checks thousands of urban legends, viral stories and pictures, regular news stories, rumors, and social media posts. Over the years, the Snopes’ fact-checking focus has turned increasingly political as readers want their leaders’ statements fact-checked and clarified.

The issue remains, however. Even though the fact-checking site is older than Google, can you trust Snopes?

Is Snopes Reliable? Or Does Snopes Show Bias?

As Snopes’ primary role is to debunk or confirm all kinds of fake news and urban legends, it receives understandable scrutiny. After all, this is a website that began life checking in on internet rumors regarding celebrity flings and otherwise, and now is a frequently cited fact-checking source for millions of people.

Let’s take a look at Snopes.

How Does Snopes Fact Check?

The Snopes fact-checking process is as you might expect. The research and editorial team note that a news story or particular image is receiving lots of attention. Or, the team receives a tip regarding a potential myth that requires busting (or confirming).

The editorial team attempts to contact any relevant parties to receive a first-hand account of the story. From there, it is a case of collecting supporting information from a variety of sources. Snopes attempts to use non-partisan information and data sources where possible.

In some cases, this is simply impossible. As such, the Snopes team reviews the fact-checking article before publishing to ensure it meets the correct standard. Furthermore, you can vet Snopes fact-checking sources yourself. At the bottom of each Snopes article is the Sources section. Click the dropdown arrow to see the full list of Snopes fact-checking sources for the article in question.

According to the Snopes fact-checking explainer, there is no single fact-checking template. As Snopes fact checks such a range of topics, there is no single process.

The other thing to mention is that Snopes promptly corrects any mistakes it publishes. When Snopes makes a correction, you can find a list of changes at the bottom of the fact-checking article.

Who Funds Snopes?

The second thing to consider is Snopes funding sources. Who is paying for the Snopes fact-checking service?

According to the Snopes Disclosures page, Snopes is almost entirely funded through digital advertising sales, paid memberships, direct contributions, and merchandise sales.

Snopes also states that no funding source, such as an advertiser or vendor, has direct contact with anyone from the Snopes editorial team. Keeping the two separate helps maintain the impartial approach to Snopes’ fact checking.

The Disclosure page also provides a basic overview of the Snopes financing and spending for the previous year. While Snopes does not provide a detailed list of its paid memberships or charitable contributions, it does advise that it will disclose any single contribution exceeding $10,000 or more than 5% of total revenue.

At the time of writing, Snopes is running its first crowdfunding campaign, which allows readers to purchase a Snopes membership. The membership comes with various perks, such as an ad-free experience, and allows Snopes to keep the lights on while remaining independent.

Is Snopes Liberal?

Snopes is painted as a liberal bastion, helping liberal and left-wing journalists and news outlets decry and attack anything remotely conservative. Rumors regularly appear linking Snopes with George Soros and other bogey-people to discredit any fact-checking efforts.

The perception of Snopes liberal-leaning in part comes from a discredited story regarding another fact-checking website, FactCheck.org.

A story shared countless times on Facebook advised readers that “FactCheck.org exposed Snopes.com as an extremely liberal propaganda site with an agenda to discredit anything that appears to be conservative.”

The story was also accompanied by a picture allegedly showing Snopes founder and CEO, David Mikkelson, alongside George Soros. Mikkelson himself said that the person in the image “Has dark, dark hair, and there the resemblance to the photograph ends.”

Since then, the story has been discredited multiple times.

Snopes’ Trump Conundrum

Another reason for Snopes’ perceived liberal bias is that one name appears on the website more than most: Trump. Whatever your take on President Trump, one undeniable fact is that he is a constant stream of information—rightly or wrongly.

As Snopes fact checks many of President Trump’s Tweets and other assertions, of which there is a considerable volume, it is only understandable that there is a strong perception that Snopes leans liberal in its attempts to clarify his messages.

Typing “Trump” into the Snopes search bar is equally revealing; 100 pages, each with ten links containing the keyword.

However, Mikkelson refutes this image of liberal bias, especially against President Trump, stating that,

“[…] the vast majority of them are debunking false claims made about him, not affirming negative things said about him or disproving positive things said about him.”

Looking at the broader picture, then, gives a better definition.

Fact-Checking Site Perception Depends on Political Stance

The bias you perceive a fact-checking to have, be that liberal or conservative depends on your political stance. Several studies indicate that Republican supporters and Republican-leaning independents maintain a strong distrust of any fact-checking sites, including Snopes. Whereas, Democrat and Democrat-leaning independents are more likely to trust a fact-checking site.

A 2019 Pew Research poll found that around 70% of Republicans believe fact-checking sites favor one side, while this figure falls to 29% of Democrats. Interestingly, 29% of all respondents were “very confident” in fact-checking news stories themselves, with a further 46% feeling “somewhat confident” in their abilities.

This isn’t to knock either side of the political spectrum. Fact-checking the claims of our leaders is inherently political. Human nature is to protect what we believe in, and with that, people will defend from or reject information inconsistent with their ideology.

Another thing to consider is the range of fake news that focuses on conservative supporters, rather than liberal. The volume of fake news targeting conservatives is higher than for the opposite side of the aisle. Snopes fact checks all news stories and rumors regardless of political stance. But, as the volume of news targeting conservative voters is higher, so are the number of stories fact-checked and debunked.

What About Snopes Partnership with Facebook?

As one of the most popular fact-checking websites, Snopes is perfectly positioned to debunk the rampant spread of fake news throughout Facebook. In 2017, Snopes partnered with Facebook to fact check for the social network, receiving $100,000 for their fact-checking work in the first year, and $406,000 in the second year.

However, in early 2019, Snopes announced it would no longer work with Facebook. At the same time, the Associated Press also announced it would no longer fact check on the Facebook site, either.

Snopes split from Facebook so it could “determine with certainty that our efforts to aid any particular platform are a net positive for our online community, publication, and staff.”

Furthermore, David Mikkelson, and Snopes head of operations, Vinny Green, said that Snopes “have not ruled out working with Facebook or any other platforms in the future.”

Snopes Ended the Facebook Partnership

The Guardian later reported that the partnership ended due to pressure from the Snopes editorial team.

Brooke Binkowski, former managing editor of Snopes said,

“They’ve essentially used us for crisis PR. They’re not taking anything seriously. They are more interested in making themselves look good and passing the buck… They clearly don’t care.”

Another Snopes content editor, Kim LaCapria, left the fact-checking site in part due to frustrations with the Facebook partnership. As LaCapria states, Facebook wanted the “appearance of trying to prevent damage without actually doing anything.”

Although Snopes maintains that all editorial staff remains separate from the commercial side of the businesses, Binkowski said that she believes Facebook pushed Snopes to prioritize debunking stories regarding Facebook advertisers over other misinformation.

So, what do you take from all of this?

Well, Snopes broke off the partnership with Facebook. The relationship proved negative to the Snopes editorial team, as well as its impartial stance on urban legends and viral news. Deciding to cancel the fact-checking partnership is a positive step and one that recognizes the differing views on fact-checking between the two parties.

Criticism of Snopes

There are criticisms of Snopes, of course.

In some cases, critics wonder how Snopes could accurately fact check an unfolding story. Gaining access to first-hand sources in some cases is impossible due to legal obligations. Snopes works around these issues using a wide range of sources, but it does raise some cause for concern.

Another example is Snopes hiring a fact-checker that had run for political office under the ticket of a specific party. Many people would believe that openly supporting a specific party might preclude you from what must be a non-partisan role. David Mikkelson disagrees, believing anyone can work as fact-checker in the right team.

Finally, Snopes doesn’t scale well. By Snopes’ admission, it is incredibly difficult for them to counter a growing tide of misinformation. The COVID-19 pandemic is a prime example of this issue.

Dear Readers,

The magnitude of misinformation spreading in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic is overwhelming our small team. We’re seeing scores of people, in a rush to find any comfort, make things worse as they share (sometimes dangerous) misinformation.

— snopes.com (@snopes) March 23, 2020

The sudden surge in global misinformation regarding the coronavirus overwhelmed the Snopes team. It isn’t easy to hire exceptional and impartial fact-checkers at the drop of a pin, especially during such trying times.

I should add that this isn’t a “criticism” of Snopes, as that would be unfair. Rather, it is a nod to an operational issue that affects the output of the fact-checking website at a critical time.

If you don’t want to contribute to fake news, check out our tips on how NOT to spread fake news during a crisis.

Snopes Is Extremely Well Regarded with Other Fact-Checking Sites

Fact-checking websites are important. Vital even, as regular internet users attempt to figure out what is real news and what is misinformation. Even though there are numerous fact-checking sites available, almost all rate Snopes as one of the best fact-checking options around.

In short: Snopes is not fake news.

Several studies from various independent researchers include Snopes in their most trusted fact-checking site lists. Checking the independence of those sources is another story, but the majority include reasoning and methodology for their selections. This allows you to further verify Snopes as well as other fact-checking websites.

You can find some of those independent fact-checking sites in our list of the best fact-checking sites for unbiased truth.

Read the full article: Is Snopes Biased or Reliable? 5 Facts About Its Accuracy

Read Full Article

What Is an E-bike?

Bicycles are one of the best ways to get around. They are more affordable than other private transport, and then there are also the health benefits of physical exercise to consider. The overall design of a bike is so effective that there have been few significant changes in over 200 years.

However, electric bikes, or e-bikes, use a small motor to help you on your way. This reduces the effort required to cycle, especially over long distances or up steep inclines and hills. It also makes cycling accessible to a broader range of people and encourages cycling as a means of transport rather than leisure.

What Is an E-bike?

sipa/Pixabay

The most notable feature of a bicycle is the pedals. Once you get onto the bike, movement in your legs pushes the pedals. The pedals are connected to a chain that takes that action and translates it to the rotation of the bike’s rear wheel. As this setup is so simple yet effective, it can be found on all bikes around the world.

However, a significant barrier to using a bike is the initial movement from your legs. Some people have limited mobility or reduced fitness levels, making this physical exertion a challenge. Many people also see cycling as a means to reduce the environmental impact of transport.

The past few decades have seen cycling become a popular way to commute to work, for example. But even in that case, distances may be long and require navigating uphill portions—the last thing you want when you reach your destination is to be exhausted.

E-bikes aim to overcome these hurdles by adding an electric motor onto the bike. This is used in combination with sensors and a small rechargeable battery to assist your cycling, allowing you to maintain speed even when conditions aren’t ideal. As they can reach higher speeds, it’s especially important to remain aware of your surroundings, so consider investing in a set of the best bone conduction headphones as well.

There are many configurations of electric bike offering a variety of power outputs and speeds. As such, the legality and regulation of e-bikes varies around the world. In most places, pedal-assisted e-bikes, where the motor provides a small boost while you continue to cycle, are classed as bicycles and are not subject to additional regulation. However, it’s best to check your local legislation before investing.

How Fast Does an Electric Bike Go?

WaldNob/Pixabay

There are two types of e-bike; pedal-assisted and power-on-demand. The most common variant is the pedal-assisted e-bike, also known as a pedelec. Pedal-assisted e-bikes provide support while you ride, particularly in difficult, uphill, or windy conditions. Typically, these electric bikes have a maximum speed of 15.5mph and a power output of 250 watts or less. Power-on-demand electric bikes are often classed as mopeds or motorbikes rather than bicycles.

These e-bikes have a throttle on the handlebars, which allow the rider to choose when to use the motor. They are often capable of providing more power, too. Depending on your selection, a power-on-demand bike could reach much higher speeds than standard e-bikes. There is another type of e-bike which sits between the pedal-assisted and power-on-demand varieties.

S-pedelecs are pedal-assisted e-bikes that use a more powerful motor and are not typically limited to maximum speed or power output. As they do not meet the commonly accepted legal definition of a bicycle, S-pedelecs are usually classified as mopeds or motorcycles. As there is no speed cap, S-pedelecs and power-on-demand e-bikes often have much higher maximum speeds.

How Much Does an E-bike Cost?

stormautomobile/Pixabay

Typically, adding electronics, sensors, and a battery would make a product more expensive. In some ways, e-bikes are more expensive than bicycles. However, that doesn’t always hold true. Traditional bikes come in a wide variety of configurations. Some are designed for leisure, while others are optimized for regular commuting. That’s not to mention performance bikes intended for competitive racing, mountain biking, or endurance.

Your preferred activity will determine which type of bike most suits your needs. Lightweight materials like aluminum or carbon fiber increase the price, as do high-performance tires and efficient brakes. These same considerations can be found in e-bikes, too. However, the most widely available e-bikes are designed for road use and optimized to replace short journeys into town or commute to work.

That said, the initial cost of an e-bike will likely be higher than that of a standard bicycle. The added components and increased complexity make them more challenging and expensive to manufacture. Investing in a mid-range e-bike could set you back somewhere between $1,500 and $2,000.

Additionally, e-bikes will be more challenging to maintain, prompting more visits to bike repair stores, further increasing the cost. However, it’s essential to weigh these immediate costs against the benefits of an e-bike. If you want to use an e-bike to cycle to work, then you’ll be saving on other commuting expenses, as well as often saving on time and improving your health. The same is true if you intend to use an e-bike for shorter everyday journeys.

Depending on your lifestyle, you may find using an e-bike can, at least partly, replace your car or reduce your use of taxi services. That said, you can also minimize ride-hailing costs by understanding Uber’s different ride types.

Is an Electric Bike Worth It?

The past few decades have seen a renewed interest in cycling. Taking a ride on your bike increases your overall fitness and wellbeing.

On top of that, if cycle journeys could replace shorter car journeys, there would be a substantial impact on the pollution around the world. However, cycling isn’t accessible to everyone, and e-bikes open leisure rides and commuting by bike to a broader range of people.

Although it may pay off over time, the initial financial cost of an electric bike is significant. If you do invest in an e-bike, consider also purchasing one of these bike trackers to catch thieves red-handed.

Read the full article: What Is an E-bike?

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What Is Google Play Pass? The 8 Best Play Pass Apps and Games

While lots of apps and games on Google Play don’t charge you to download them, most aren’t truly free. If you feel that ads and in-app purchases ruin the experience, Google Play Pass might be for you.

Let’s take a look at what Google Play Pass is all about, along with the best games and apps it has to offer.

What Is Google Play Pass?

Similar to Apple Arcade on Apple’s platforms, Google offers Google Play Pass as a subscription service for Android users. For a fee of $4.99 per month, you get access to a premium library of games and apps. Unlike Apple Arcade, which only offers games, the inclusion of apps means it’s worth a look even if you don’t like mobile games.

Everything included with Google Play Pass is free of ads and in-app purchases, so you won’t be subject to the typical mobile gaming nonsense. If you manage a family, Play Pass offers even greater value, as you can share your subscription with up to five other family members.

You’ll need an Android device with access to the Play Store to use Play Pass, so phones, tablets, and even Chromebooks will work. Android 4.4 is the minimum required version, which all but the oldest devices should have.

Apps join and leave Play Pass regularly, so check back for new ones occasionally. If a free app that you use leaves Play Pass, you may start to see ads or prompts for in-app purchases. In case a paid app is no longer part of Play Pass, you’ll still be able to use it for a while before you have to buy it separately.

How to Sign Up for Google Play Pass

At this time, Play Pass is only available in the US. To sign up for Play Pass, open the Google Play Store on your phone and tap the three-line icon at the top-left to slide out the left menu. There, select Play Pass to review some information. Choose Start free trial to try it for a month before you have to start paying.

Once you’ve signed up, you’ll see a Play Pass tab on the Play Store’s bottom navigation bar, allowing you to browse included titles. When you open an app, you’ll see whether it’s part of Play Pass or not. If it is, you can download it at no extra charge.

For games that offer more content through in-app purchases, simply open the item like you’re going to pay for it. The title will see that you have Play Pass and unlock it automatically.

The Best Games on Google Play Pass

Whether Google Play Pass is worth the cost for you depends on how many of the apps you’ll use. Let’s first look at a selection of the best games available with Google Play Pass, then we’ll pick out a few top non-game apps.

1. Stardew Valley

This indie title captured the hearts of many with its calm farm-life simulation. In it, you move to your grandfather’s old farm and must rebuild it from scratch. Alongside growing crops and raising animals, you’ll also get to know the other villagers, potentially get married and raise a family, and explore caves.

If you enjoy other building games like Harvest Moon or Animal Crossing, you must check out Stardew Valley. It’s a relaxing title that’s enjoyable both in short bursts and big chunks of time, and will hold your attention for quite a while.

Download: Stardew Valley ($7.99, free with Play Pass)

2. Monument Valley | Monument Valley 2

Both Monument Valley titles are exactly what mobile games should be: beautiful, easy to pick up in short bursts, and fun. They center around spatial puzzles where you must spin impossible shapes and work with optical illusions to guide your character through stages.

It’s a calming, family-friendly experience that makes you think while treating you to gorgeous visuals. Play the original first, and you’ll appreciate the enhancements they made in the second one.

Download: Monument Valley ($3.99, free with Play Pass) | Monument Valley 2 ($4.99, free with Play Pass)

3. Star Wars: KOTOR

Many consider Knights of the Old Republic (or KOTOR) to be one of the greatest games of all time. It was created by legendary RPG developer BioWare, and takes place thousands of years before the Star Wars movies.

The title is well-loved for its story and characters. If you’re a fan of RPGs, Star Wars, or both, you owe it to yourself to check out this classic. While it was originally released in 2003 for the Xbox and Windows, the mobile version is a complete port.

Download: Star Wars: KOTOR ($9.99, free with Play Pass)

4. Evoland

Evoland is a short walk through the history of action video games. You start with a monochrome screen and low-res graphics, eventually unlocking various enhancements that games have received over time. You’ll go from a simple 2D adventure to 3D areas similar to a Zelda game, and even engage in turn-based combat.

It’s a short but enjoyable romp that illustrates how far video games have come in just a few decades. If you enjoy it, Evoland 2 is also on Android, but it’s not part of Play Pass at this time.

Download: Evoland ($0.99, free with Play Pass)

5. Terraria

If you enjoy games like Minecraft, you’ll love Terraria. It’s a 2D sandbox game that features action-adventure elements. In addition to building your own structures, Terraria also has caves to explore, bosses to fight, and events to discover.

This makes it a good fit if you want more direction than Minecraft offers. Terraria also features multiplayer, so you can enjoy creating and exploring with friends.

Download: Terraria ($4.99, free with Play Pass)

The Best Apps on Google Play Pass

Not interested in mobile games? Play Pass still has a selection of great apps for you. Let’s check out a few of the best.

6. Tasker

If you love tinkering with your Android device, Tasker is a must-have. It’s a well-known Android app that lets you set up automated routines based on triggers and actions. For instance, you might have your phone mute itself automatically at a certain time, or change the brightness level based on your current app.

If you put some time into it, you can do a whole lot with Tasker. It requires root for some commands, but most are available on all devices. Check out our Tasker introduction for some ideas of what it can do.

Download: Tasker ($3.49, free with Play Pass)

7. Moon+ Reader Pro

Moon+ Reader is a popular and well-reviewed ebook reader. It supports lots of popular formats and offers a wealth of customization options for reading, highlighting, and similar. The Pro version supports PDFs, offers more customization, and includes reading statistics.

If you don’t already use Google Play Books or the Kindle app to read ebooks on your phone, this is definitely worth a look.

Download: Moon+ Reader Pro ($4.99, free with Play Pass)

8. Sleepa

If you often have trouble falling asleep or relaxing, Sleepa can help. It offers a big collection of sounds that you can mix and match per your preferences. When you’re feeling anxious, put on the sounds of nature, rain, or a bustling city to help you calm down a bit.

The base app is free, but offers a subscription for extra sounds. Of course, you get to add this at no extra charge with Play Pass. The app has a clean look and features handy tools like timers and dark mode support, so give it a look if you like calming background noise.

Download: Sleepa (Free, in-app purchases available free with Play Pass)

What Will You Enjoy With Play Pass?

Now you know how Play Pass works and a bit of what it offers. However, we’ve collected just a sampling of apps and games available with Google Play Pass here. You’ll find many more available, including games and reading apps for children, video editors, audio players, and productivity tools.

Give the gallery of included apps a look if you’re still undecided. Hopefully, after seeing what’s available, you’ll know whether Play Pass is worth it for you or not.

For more game options, check out the best offline Android games that don’t need a data connection.

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Weekly Trading Calls 8-June-2020 Free

Weekly Trading Calls 8-June-2020 Free

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Intraday Trading Calls for 8-June-2020

Intraday Trading Calls for 8-June-2020

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PhotoRoom automagically removes background from your photo

Meet PhotoRoom, a French startup that has been working on a utility photography mobile app. The concept is extremely simple, which is probably the reason why it has attracted a ton of downloads over the past few months.

After selecting a photo, PhotoRoom removes the background from that photo and lets you select another background. When you’re done tweaking your photo, you can save the photo and open it in another app.

“My original vision comes from my time when I was working at GoPro,” co-founder and CEO Matthieu Rouif told me. “I often had to remove the background from images and when the designer was out of office, I would spend a ton of time doing it manually.”

And it turns out many people have been looking for a simple app that lets them go in and out as quickly as possible with an edited photo in their camera roll.

For instance, people selling clothes and other items on peer-to-peer e-commerce platforms have been using PhotoRoom to improve their photos. PhotoRoom is often recommended in online discussions or YouTube tutorials about optimizing your Poshmark or Depop listings.

Downloads really started to take off around February. PhotoRoom now has 300,000 monthly active users. The app is only available on iOS for now. And if you’re a professional using it regularly, you can pay for a subscription ($9.49 per month or $46.99 per year) to remove the watermark and unlock more features.

“Subscriptions are what works best on mobile for photo and video apps,” Rouif said.

Behind the scene, PhotoRoom uses machine learning models to identify objects on a photo. And the vision goes beyond removing backgrounds.

Photoshop, the clear leader in photo editing, has been designed decades ago. There’s a steep learning curve if you want to use it professionally. It’s hard to understand layers, layer masks, channels, etc.

PhotoRoom wants to build a mobile-first photo-editing app that doesn’t lazily borrow Photoshop’s metaphors and interface elements. “What would be Photoshop if you could understand what’s on the photo,” Rouif said.

While the app relies heavily on templates, you can tweak your images by adding objects, moving them around, adding some shadow and editing elements individually. Image composition is 100% up to the user.

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New summer templates are coming this week Wash your hands #photoroom

A post shared by PhotoRoom (@photoroom_app) on May 27, 2020 at 9:55am PDT

Like VSCO, Darkroom, PicsArt, Filmic Pro and Halide, PhotoRoom belongs to a group of prosumer apps that are tackling photo and video editing from different ways. A generation of users who grew up using visual social networks are now pushing the limits of those apps — they look simple when you first use them, but they offer a ton of depth when you learn what you can do with them. And they prove that smartphones can be great computers, beyond content consumption.

Rouif was the head of product at Stupeflix, a powerful video editing app that was acquired by GoPro back in 2016. PhotoRoom is just getting started as there are only four people working on the app, including two interns.

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Live Intraday Trading on 5-June-2020 (Profit 6500)

Live Intraday Trading on 5-June-2020 (Profit 6500)

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How to Fix Your Microphone Problems in Windows 10

A lot of Windows sound issues involve the sound output from your speakers. But what if you’re having problems with sound input; how do you fix the microphone?

Whether you’re using a headset microphone to chat in games or recording with a USB mic, we’ll share some tips to fix a lack of input or unreliable mic issues. These will help whether your mic is cutting out or isn’t recognized in the first place.

Check Windows’ Sound Settings

Before you start troubleshooting, restart your computer. You might have a temporary issue that a simple reboot will fix.

After that, your first stop for microphone troubleshooting should be the sound settings in Windows. Access these by navigating to Settings > System > Sound.

Here, under Input, open the dropdown box under Choose your input device. Select the mic you want to use; other available inputs, like your laptop or webcam’s built-in mic, will also show here.

Once you’ve picked the right mic, speak into it and you should see the Test your microphone bar move up and down. If it doesn’t, click the Troubleshoot button below and Windows will attempt to find and fix problems with your mic.

Click the Device properties link to rename the input to make it easier to find in the future. You can also check the Disable box to keep that mic from showing up, or change the Volume to adjust how loud the mic is.

At the bottom of the Sound page, you’ll find the App volume and device preferences menu. This allows you to choose a different output and input device for your open apps. Have a look here and make sure you don’t have the wrong mic selected for the app you’re using.

Troubleshoot Microphone Hardware

Moving on, you should look at your audio hardware setup, especially if you can’t get any input from your microphone at all or didn’t see it listed in the menu above.

If you use a USB mic, try plugging it into another USB port on your PC. Don’t use a USB hub—plug your mic directly into a slot on your PC. If the mic works in another USB port, the first one is likely dead or has an issue. For analog mics, make sure you have the cable plugged into the pink line-in port on your PC.

For all mics, confirm that all cables are fully inserted and that nothing is loose, including the cable for your headset mic if it’s removable, and any extensions. You should also check for fraying cables, as damaged cords can cause problems.

Image Credit: Eric Kilby/Flickr

If your microphone has a physical mute toggle, make sure you haven’t enabled it by mistake. Look for a slider or button on your headset, cord, or front of the mic.

Should you still have no mic input after double-checking the above, try plugging your mic into another computer. If it doesn’t work on the other PC, your microphone hardware may be faulty.

Finally, don’t forget to check for updated drivers for your microphone. Most headsets and microphones work out of the box in Windows, but some may require specific drivers for best performance.

Search Google for your device’s name and look for a Downloads section on the manufacturer’s website to find the driver. Updating your existing sound card drivers is important too.

Confirm That Apps Can Access Your Microphone

Windows 10 has a Privacy menu where you can block apps from accessing sensitive data like your camera and microphone. It’s possible that you’ve blocked an app from accessing your microphone here.

Head to Settings > Privacy to take a look. On the left sidebar, choose Microphone under App permissions. Make sure the slider under Allow apps to access your microphone is enabled, or no apps can use it. Take a look through the list of apps to confirm the one you want to use has access.

This first slider and list is only for Store apps, however. Scroll down further and you’ll reach a section titled Allow desktop apps to access your microphone. Double-check that the slider under this header is turned on.

While you can’t toggle mic access for individual desktop apps, you can see when they last accessed your mic. This can help you figure out if the app is detecting your mic properly.

Review Your List of Recording Devices

If your mic is still not working properly, you should next review your list of available input devices. You can do this by clicking Manage sound devices on the same Settings page as above, but it’s a little easier to do using the Control Panel.

Enter control panel in the Start menu to open it, and change Category in the upper-right to Small icons if necessary. When you see the full list of choices, choose Sound.

Here, switch to the Recording tab, which shows all the microphones connected to your PC. Right-click anywhere and confirm both Show Disabled Devices and Show Disconnected Devices are checked.

Look through the list and make sure that your primary mic isn’t disabled (right-click and choose Enable if so). When you speak into a mic, you’ll also see its bar light up to confirm it’s working.

Mic Levels and Exclusive Mode

Double-click on your mic in the Recording panel and you can edit a few options. If you didn’t change the mic’s name earlier in Settings, you can change it now on the General tab. On the Levels tab, you can adjust the input volume (and boost, on supported mics). Try raising this if it seems too low, or lowering it if your mic clips.

Depending on your mic and computer, you may see additional tabs on this page. These contain enhancements like background noise suppression and similar, which you can try if you want.

Finally, on the Advanced tab, uncheck both boxes under Exclusive Mode. The Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device box means that one app can “lock” your microphone so nothing else can use it. Disabling this can solve a lot of mic problems. You can also adjust the Default Format in the dropdown box to select the input quality.

Once you’re done making changes, head back to the Recording tab. Right-click any inputs you don’t use and choose Disable to reduce clutter in input menus. Finally, right-click your main mic and choose Set as Default Device so apps use it by default.

Record Yourself to Troubleshoot

At this point, if your mic is still cutting out in a specific game or app, you should determine whether it’s an issue with your device or the app. To do this, you’ll need to record a short clip of audio.

Windows 10’s built-in Voice Recorder app is suitable for a quick test. Alternatively, Audacity gives you a lot more options and monitors for a deeper analysis.

Simply open either app and record yourself for a minute—speak the alphabet a few times, count to 50, or similar. Then play it back and see if it cuts out or otherwise sounds unclear at any point.

If it sounds clear in Audacity, continue with troubleshooting. But if the recording cuts out here, double-check your hardware if you haven’t already. Your problem likely lies with one of the above steps.

Disable Xbox Game Bar and DVR

Windows 10’s Game Bar can record clips and screenshots of your game. While this is neat, it’s also known to cause mic issues in some games.

Head to Settings > Gaming > Game bar and disable Record game clips, screenshots, and broadcast using Game bar. Then move to the Captures tab and disable Record in the background while I’m playing a game and Record audio when I record a game.

These features are handy if you use them, but it’s better to disable them otherwise to avoid mic problems. Check out other ways to stream and record gameplay in Windows to replace this.

Adjust Microphone Settings in Your Game or App

By now, you’ve essentially ruled out a hardware issue with your microphone, and are pretty sure the problems are tied to one app. Thus, you should dig around in the settings of your game (or other software) to see if you can tweak the mic options there.

Make sure the game is using your primary microphone. Most video games have an option to reduce your mic input volume. Try dropping this a bit, as your input may be clipping and causing it to cut out. Increase it if others say your input is too quiet.

Finally, if the game has a microphone test option, see how your voice sounds. If it’s clear in the test but cuts out in-game, the cause could be a network issue. Perhaps the game’s voice chat uses a port that your router has blocked.

If your mic issue only occurs in-game, consider using a third-party program like Discord for voice chat instead of relying on the game.

Troubleshoot Mic in Zoom, Skype, or Similar Apps

It’s particularly frustrating when an app like Zoom has an issue with your mic. If you’ve walked through all the above steps, the issue probably lies somewhere in the app’s audio settings.

With Zoom, click the Gear icon on the right side to open its settings, then switch to the Audio tab. Under Microphone, you should see the Input Level move when you speak. Click Test Mic to record yourself briefly and see how it sounds. Use the dropdown box to swap your mic input to another device if needed.

Finally, make sure you aren’t muted in a call. Most chat apps give you an option to mute your microphone at the bottom of the screen, which can lead to you thinking your mic isn’t working if you forget you’re muted.

See our tips for fixing Skype issues for more advice if your problem lies with a video calling app.

How to Fix Echo on Your Mic

It’s annoying to hear everything you say again with a delay. And while mic echo is often a problem on someone else’s end, there are a few ways to reduce echo problems.

First, if at all possible, use a headset on calls. Most echo is caused by your microphone picking up audio from your computer’s speakers, which happens much more easily when using your laptop’s built-in microphone and speakers. Using headphones greatly reduces the chance of your microphone picking up that sound.

Make sure that your microphone sensitivity isn’t set too high, as discussed above. Even with headphones, a sensitive mic may pick up some sound that comes through the headset.

If you hear everything you say in your headphones, even when you’re not in a video call, you probably have a specific Windows setting turned on. Go back to the Recording tab in the Sound panel, double-click your input device, and switch to the Listen tab.

If you have Listen to this device checked, you’ll hear everything from that microphone in the select output device. This can be useful in certain circumstances, but in most cases will just drive you crazy. Uncheck the box and hit OK to stop that.

Your Mic Problems, Solved

Hopefully, one of these tips solved your Windows microphone issues. These problems can sometimes be difficult to nail down, since microphones, games, apps, and settings vary so much in each use case.

Still facing issues? If you (or a friend) have one, try another headset/mic on your system. If it works fine, it’s probably time to upgrade to a new home office headset or buy a new wired gaming headset.

Read the full article: How to Fix Your Microphone Problems in Windows 10

You Can Now Use Signal to Blur Faces in Photos

Signal, which uses end-to-end encryption on all messages, has added a new tool to its secure messaging app. The feature lets you blur faces (or anything other identifying features) in photos, making it more difficult for individuals to be identified.

This is in response to the current protests taking place across the US and beyond. And while Signal itself suggests covering your face before heading out onto the street, its blur tool offers an extra layer of protection when sharing photos online.

How to Blur Faces in Photos Using Signal

To blur your photos using Signal, first, open the app on your phone. Then, head to any of your current chats and tap the Camera icon. Select an image from your gallery, and tap the Blur icon (which looks like a soccer ball for some reason).

Tap the Blur Faces toggle on to have Signal automatically blur the faces from the photo. If Signal misses a face (or you want to blur something else out of the image) use the Blur Brush to do so. Finally, save the photo to your gallery.

Blur Tools for Signal: A new way we hope to make Signal more helpful for everyone on the street right now.https://t.co/PLyQ8YdWpN pic.twitter.com/qARojvi3wD

— Signal (@signalapp) June 4, 2020

All of the processing happens locally, meaning the original, uncensored images never leave your device. It’s important to note, however, that there are ways to unmask people in blurred images, and Signal cannot guarantee this will safeguard your identity.

You can read more about Signal’s new blur tool, including Signal’s reasons for releasing it, in a post on The Signal Blog. The feature is available in the latest version of Signal for Android and iOS (rolling out right now), so if you can’t yet see it, update the app.

Download: Signal for Android | iOS

Other Ways to Pixelate or Blur Your Images

While Signal is regarded as the most privacy and security conscious messaging app out there, it’s not the only one. So here are the best messaging apps for private chats. Meanwhile, there are plenty of other ways to pixelate or blur your images online.

Image Credit: Steve Banfield/Flickr

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