The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a warning against the hazards of cellphone radiation this week. Yes, the thing we are all addicted to and can’t seem to put down is leaking electromagnetic radiation and now California has some guidance to safeguard the public. The CDPH asks people to decrease their use of these devices and suggests keeping your distance when… Read More
It’s one thing for an autonomous car to strut its stuff on smooth, warm California tarmac, and quite another to do so on the frozen winter mix of northern Finland. Martti, a self-driving vehicle system homegrown in Finland, demonstrated just this in a record-setting drive along a treacherous (to normal drivers) Laplandish road. Martti is one of two cars designed by VTT Technical… Read More
EyeEm is unveiling new tools to help the brands and marketers using the site to source their images. Underlying these tools is a technology called EyeEm Vision, which we described in-depth earlier this year. The goal is to expand image recognition so that it’s not just identifying the objects in the photo, but also its aesthetic qualities. EyeEm’s co-founder and chief product… Read More
It looks like Wag may get another huge injection of cash following a big financing round earlier this year, according to a report by Recode, and also based on what we are hearing. We had heard a bit ago that Wag was looking to raise around $100 million, which the Recode report also suggests. But it now looks like Softbank is in talks to invest around $300 million in the dog-walking app… Read More
Security news is currently awash with a series of accusations against one of the world’s leading antivirus developers, Kaspersky Lab. The claims come on the back of months of speculation regarding Russian intent in foreign political events. This article isn’t delving into those accusations. This article is focusing on the allegations leveled at Kaspersky Lab, and whether it is safe to use their security products. Alleged Spying The Wall Street Journal reports that Kaspersky Lab is merely a tool of the Russian security services and is undermining U.S. government agencies by stealing data. Hackers targeted a specific contractor after identifying critical...
Read the full article: Is Kaspersky Still Reliable Antivirus Software?
Fitbit is, once again, not having a good day after spending the year in mostly middling status as it looks to prove there’s a market for fitness trackers as well as its own smartwatch. The culprit today is a Wall Street firm slapping a “sell” rating on the company’s stock, which often results in a resounding rejection of its potential going forward and sparks a sharp… Read More
Linux users are a discerning bunch. Part of the reason they choose this operating system is because they like things just so. Open source software allows them to tweak things to achieve that. It follows that they might be the same way in other areas of their lives, which means they’re probably difficult to buy gifts for. With the holidays coming up, you may be a little nervous deciding what to get for the Linux lover in your life. Below we’ve gathered some Linux gifts ideas for any budget. Because if there’s one thing Linuxers love, its when someone new...
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Despite not being as powerful as software specifically for statistics, Excel is actually quite adept at running basic calculations, even without add-ins (though there are some add-ins that make it even better). You probably know that it can do arithmetic, but did you know that it can also quickly get percentage change, averages, standard deviation from samples and populations, standard error, and student’s T-tests? Excel has a lot of statistical power if you know how to use it. We’ll take a look at some of the most basic statistical calculations below. Let’s get started! How to Calculate Percentage in Excel...
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he iMac Pro exists because it turns out that there is a lot of air underneath the aging Mac Pro and above the incredibly popular MacBook Pro. A single-digit percentage of Mac customers buy the Mac Pro and, in recent years, Apple had been seeing a major rise in “pro” customers of all shades purchasing iMacs because of their incredible screens, all-in-one form factor and overall ease… Read More
You’ve built yourself an epic vlog setup, camera rig, or YouTube studio, so what’s next? Besides story and audio, lighting is one of the most important considerations when making movies, and it can help to dramatically improve your image quality. Today I’ll show you how to assemble a lighting kit to make you the envy of YouTubers all over. Photo and Video Lighting Basics Before jumping in and loading up your Amazon basket, an understanding of lighting basics helps. One of the most popular approaches to lighting talent is with three-point lighting. As the name suggests, this uses three lights...
Read the full article: Best Gifts for Vlogging and Photography Hobbyists: Video Lighting
Google is bringing Google Assistant to even more smartphones, and, for the first time, tablets too. This means that even if you own an older Android handset or budget Android handset you should still be able to start using Google Assistant. Unfortunately, it’s only coming to newer tablets. Assistant was initially only available on the Google Pixel. Then, Google rolled it out to handsets running Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) or Android 7.0 (Nougat). Now, Google Assistant is coming to smartphones running Android 5.0 (Lollipop), and tablets running Marshmallow or Nougat. Stuck Using an Old Version of Android In February 2017, Google...
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Maybe you received an Arduino starter kit as a gift recently, or maybe you keep hearing about this awesome hobby for tinkerers and you want to get a taste, or maybe you’re an Arduino pro who just needs some fun ideas for the holiday season. If so, you’ve come to the right place. Everyone should learn a bit of Arduino, and these project ideas are great examples of what you can do with just a bit of knowledge and guidance. Here are seven ways to spruce up your Christmas this year, ranging from beginner-friendly to impressively complex. 1. Motion-Activated Greeting...
Read the full article: 7 Arduino Christmas Projects You Can Make This Year
Facebook today is launching a new feature designed to give users more control over what content they see in their News Feed: a “Snooze” button. The option, which will become available via the top-right dropdown menu on a post, will mute content from a person, Page or group for 30 days. The new feature can serve as a way to dial down the content you don’t want to see,… Read More
Unless you’re a chef, or just enjoying cooking, coming up with interesting recipes on a daily basis can be a chore. That’s why you need a smart Instant Pot (or pressure cooker). But which one? Many of us are hampered by a lack of space in the kitchen. So that means along with not having a lot of room to spread out while cooking, you probably don’t have the cabinet space for every latest and greatest kitchen appliance. And then there’s the small matter of having the free time to do all the cooking, which is many times easier said...
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Say “goodbye” (in the AIM voice, if possible) to Aol Instant Messenger. Back in October, Oath (the combined entity of Yahoo and Aol) announced that it would shutter AIM on December 15. Yes, today is the day. All good things come to an end. On Dec 15, we'll bid farewell to AIM. Thank you to all our users! #AIMemories https://t.co/b6cjR2tSuU http://pic.twitter.com/V09Fl7EPMx —… Read More
Looking for information about Google Chrome? You’ve come to the right place. Google’s browser is by far the most popular in the world, but that doesn’t always mean that it’s easy to use. Whether you’re interested in Chrome’s options menu or just want to learn how to do something specific, this FAQ will help. Let’s answer some of the most common questions about using Google Chrome. 1. What Version of Chrome Do I Have? Google makes it easy to check what version of Chrome you’re running. To have a look, follow these steps: Select the three-dot Menu button in the...
Read the full article: The Essential Google Chrome FAQ
Linux may have more than one desktop environment, but if you’re making the switch for the first time, GNOME is the one you’re most likely to encounter. It’s the interface embraced by many of the most popular Linux operating systems (“distributions”), such as Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora. GNOME is pretty easy to figure out. We’ve provided a general explanation of the desktop and our beginner’s guide to Ubuntu goes even more in-depth. But once you know how to use GNOME, and especially if you’ve already been using it for years, you’re going to want to know about the latest apps...
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Building a smart home is easier than it seems. And a great first step is to install a smart thermostat to replace your old-school model. One of the best options on the market is the Ecobee4. This smart thermostat, usually around $250, features built-in Amazon Alexa capability and can also work with Apple’s similar HomeKit protocol. Most importantly, thanks to smart sensors, it can make every inch of your home more comfortable no matter the season. ecobee4 Alexa-Enabled Thermostat with Sensor, Works with Amazon Alexa ecobee4 Alexa-Enabled Thermostat with Sensor, Works with Amazon Alexa Comes with built-in Alexa Voice Service,...
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Adobe Photoshop is a powerhouse when it comes to photo editing. You can do everything from smooth skin, remove blemishes, and more. With Photoshop’s selection tools, you can also find out exactly what you’d look like with a different hair color, without going through the trouble of dyeing your hair. How to Select Your Hair in Photoshop Open the Quick Selection Tool in the Tools Menu. You can also use the keyboard shortcut W. Select the area of the portrait with hair. You can use the square brackets [ and ] to increase and decrease the size of the brush. Hold...
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Looking to get an Xbox Live Gold subscription for free? We have bad news and good news. The bad news is that most offers you see for “free” Xbox Live Gold are scams. They either redirect you through endless amounts of ad-filled surveys, or try to steal your personal information in exchange for a “free” membership. Don’t believe them. The good news is, there are a few legitimate ways to join Xbox Live Gold for free. How to Get Free Xbox Live Gold Use a free trial card included with select games. When you buy certain titles, they include a...
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