8th Wall’s new Cloud Editor helps customers quickly build mobile AR experiences

The world of phone-based AR has involved a lot of promises, but the future that’s developed has so far been more iterative and less platform shift-y. For startups exclusively focused on mobile AR, there’s been some soul-searching to find ways to bring more lightweight experiences to life that don’t require as much friction or commitment from users.

8th Wall is a team focused on building developer tools for mobile AR experiences. The startup has raised more than $10 million to usher developers into the augmented world.

Augmented reality developer tools startup 8th Wall raises $8 million

The company announced this week that they’ve built a one-stop shop authoring platform that will help its customers create and ship AR experiences that will be hosted by 8th Wall. It’s a step forward in what they’ve been trying to build and a further sign that marketing activations are probably the most buoyant money-makers in the rather flat phone-based AR space at the moment.

The editor supports popular immersive web frameworks like A-Frame, three.js and Babylon.js. It’s a development platform, but while game engine tools like Unity have features focused on heavy rendering, 8th Wall is more interested in “very fast, lightweight projects that can be built up to any scale,” the startup’s CEO Erik Murphy tells TechCrunch.

8th Wall’s initial sell was an augmented reality platform akin to ARKit and ARCore that allowed developers to build content that supported a wider breadth of smartphones. Today, 8th Wall’s team of 14 is focused on a technology called WebAR that allows mobile phones to call up web experiences inside the browser.

The main sell of WebAR is the same appeal of web apps; users don’t need to download anything and they can access the experience with just a link. This is great for branded marketing interactions, where expecting users to download an app is pretty laughable; moving this process to the web with a link or a QR code makes life much easier.

The startup’s cloud-based authoring and hosting platform is available now for its agency and
business users.

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This tactile display lets visually impaired users feel on-screen 3D shapes

Using a computer and modern software can be a chore to begin with for the visually impaired, but fundamentally visual tasks like 3D design are even harder. This Stanford team is working on a way to display 3D information, like in a CAD or modeling program, using a “2.5D” display made up of pins that be raised or lowered as sort of tactile pixels. Taxels!

The research project, a collaboration between graduate student Alexa Siu, Joshua Miele, and lab head Sean Follmer, is intended to explore avenues by which blind and visually impaired people can accomplish visual tasks without the aid of a sighted helper. It was presented this week at SIGACCESS.

The device is essentially a 12×24 array of thin columns with rounded tops that can be individually told to rise anywhere from a fraction of an inch to several inches above the plane, taking the shape of 3D objects quick enough to amount to real time.

“It opens up the possibility of blind people being, not just consumers of the benefits of fabrication technology, but agents in it, creating our own tools from 3D modeling environments that we would want or need – and having some hope of doing it in a timely manner,” explained Miele, who is himself blind, in a Stanford news release.

Siu calls the device “2.5D,” since of course it can’t show the entire object floating in midair. But it’s an easy way for someone who can’t see the screen to understand the shape it’s displaying. The resolution is limited, sure, but that’s a shortcoming shared by all tactile displays — which it should be noted are extremely rare to begin with and often very expensive.

The field is moving forward, but too slowly for some, like this crew and the parents behind the BecDot, an inexpensive Braille display for kids. And other tactile displays are being pursued as possibilities for interactions in virtual environments.

The BecDot is a toy that helps teach vision-impaired kids to read braille

Getting an intuitive understanding of a 3D object, whether one is designing or just viewing it, usually means rotating and shifting it — something that’s difficult to express in non-visual ways. But a real-time tactile display like this one can change the shape it’s showing quickly and smoothly, allowing more complex shapes like moving cross-sections to be expressed as well.

Joshua Miele demonstrates the device.

The device is far from becoming a commercial project, though as you can see in the images (and the video below), it’s very much a working prototype and a fairly polished one at that. The team plans on reducing the size of the pins, which would of course increase the resolution of the display. Interestingly another grad student in the same lab is working on that very thing, albeit at rather an earlier stage.

The Shape Lab at Stanford is working on a number of projects along these lines — you can keep up with their work at the lab’s website.

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Facebook sues OnlineNIC for domain name fraud associated with malicious activity

Facebook today announced it has filed suit in California against a domain registrar OnlineNIC and its proxy service ID Shield for registering domain names that pretend to be associated with Facebook, like www-facebook-login.com or facebook-mails.com, for example. Facebook says these domains are intentionally designed to mislead and confuse end users, who believe they’re interacting with Facebook.

These fake domains are also often associated with malicious activity, like phishing.

While some who register such domains hope to eventually sell them back to Facebook at a marked up price, earning a profit, others have worse intentions. And with the launch of Facebook’s own cryptocurrency, Libra, a number of new domain cybersquatters have emerged. Facebook was recently able to take down some of these, like facebooktoken.org and ico-facebook.org, one of which had already started collecting personal information from visitors by falsely touting a Facebook ICO.

Facebooks’ new lawsuit, however, focuses specifically on OnlineNIC, which Facebook says has a history of allowing cybersquatters to register domains with its privacy/proxy service, ID Shield. The suit alleges that the registered domains, like hackingfacebook.net, are being used for malicious activity, including “phishing and hosting websites that purported to sell hacking tools.”

The suit also references some 20 other domain names that are confusingly similar to Facebook and Instagram trademarks, it says.

OnlineNIC has been sued before for allowing this sort of activity, including by Verizon, Yahoo, Microsoft, and others. In the case of Verizon (disclosure: TechCrunch parent), OnlineNIC was found liable for registering over 600 domain names similar to Verizon’s trademark, and the courts awarded $33.15 million in damages as a result, Facebook’s filing states.

Facebook is asking for a permanent injunction against OnlineNIC’s activity as well as damages.

The company says it took this issue to the courts because OnlineNIC has not been responsive to its concerns. Facebook today proactively reports instances of abuse with domain name registrars and their privacy/proxy services, and often works with them to take down malicious domains. But the issue is widespread — there are tens of millions of domain names registered through these services today. Some of these businesses are not reputable, however. Some, like OnlineNIC, will not investigate or even respond to Facebook’s abuse reports.

The news of the lawsuit was previously reported by Cnet and other domain name news sources, based on courthouse filings.

Attorney David J. Steele, who previously won the $33 million judgement for Verizon, is representing Facebook in the case.

“By mentioning our apps and services in the domain names, OnlineNIC and ID Shield intended to make them appear legitimate and confuse people. This activity is known as cybersquatting and OnlineNIC has a history of this behavior,” writes Facebook, in an announcement. “This lawsuit is one more step in our ongoing efforts to protect people’s safety and privacy,” it says.

OnlineNIC has been asked for comment and we’ll update if it responds.

View this document on Scribd

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For the first time in two years, the smartphone market shows signs of life

All is not lost for smartphone manufacturers. On the heels of two years’ of global stagnation, the category is finally showing some signs of life. Much of the bounce back comes as manufacturers are working to correct for dulled consumer interest.

I wouldn’t put too much weight in the numbers right now, as they’re little more than an uptick. Numbers from Canalys put shipment growth at 1% from Q3 2018 to Q3 2019. In most cases, that would be a modest gain, at best, but this is notably the first time in two years that the numbers have been heading in the right direction.

Samsung saw the biggest gains — a phenomenon the analyst firm chalks up to a shift in strategy to eat some of its profits. The move has paid off for the quarter, with an 11% growth in device shipments, to 78.9 million devices shipped. That gives the company the largest global market share, at 22.4%.

Huawei, too, saw impressive growth, year-over-year, commanding second place with 66.8 million units shipped. Much of its growth came from China, which has ramped up spending on the company’s products as it has run into regulatory scrutiny overseas. Resumption of sales in some international markets helped juice growth as well. Of the top three, Apple continued to struggle the most, with a 7% loss from 2018.

For now, at least, none of the these numbers qualify as full turnaround for a stagnant category, though the upcoming roll out of 5G coverage could help move numbers in the right direction in the coming year.

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Daily Crunch: Twitter is banning political ads

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.

1. Jack Dorsey says Twitter will ban all political ads

Arguing that “internet political ads present entirely new challenges to civic discourse,” CEO Jack Dorsey announced that Twitter will be banning all political advertising — albeit with “a few exceptions” like voter registration.

Not only is this a decisive move by Twitter, but it also could increase pressure on Facebook to follow suit, or at least take steps in this direction.

2. Apple beats on Q4 earnings after strong quarter for wearables, services

Apple’s iPhone sales still make up over half of its quarterly revenues, but they are slowly shrinking in importance as other divisions in the company pick up speed.

3. Facebook shares rise on strong Q3, users up 2% to 2.45B

More earnings news: Despite ongoing public relations crises, Facebook kept growing in Q3 2019, demonstrating that media backlash does not necessarily equate to poor business performance.

4. Driving license tests just got smarter in India with Microsoft’s AI project

Hundreds of people who have taken the driver’s license test in Dehradun (the capital of the Indian state of Uttarakhand) in recent weeks haven’t had to sit next to an instructor. Instead, their cars were affixed with a smartphone that was running HAMS, an AI project developed by a Microsoft Research team.

5. Crunchbase raises $30M more to double down on its ambition to be a ‘LinkedIn for company data’

Good news for our friends at Crunchbase, which got its start as a part of TechCrunch before being spun off into a separate business several years ago. CEO Jager McConnell also says the site currently has tens of thousands of paying subscribers.

6. Deadspin writers quit after being ordered to stick to sports

The relationship between new management at G/O Media (formerly Gizmodo Media Group/Gawker Media) and editorial staff seems to have been deteriorating for months. This week, it turned into a full-on revolt over auto-play ads and especially a directive that Deadspin writers must stick to sports.

7. What Berlin’s top VCs want to invest in right now

As we gear up for our Disrupt Berlin conference in December, we check in with top VCs on the types of startups that they’re looking to back right now. (Extra Crunch membership required.)

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The GoPro MAX is the ultimate pocketable travel vlogging camera

GoPro’s first foray into the 360-degree action was the GoPro Fusion, and while it was a strong first offering, the new GoPro MAX ($499) is a very different – and much improved – immersive action camera that has a lot to offer experienced videographers and voices alike. To be sure, the MAX has trade-offs, but taken together, it presents arguably the best overall combination of features and value for travel and adventure vloggers who don’t want to break the bank or haul a huge amount of kit while they get out and explore.

It’s hip to be square

The new GoPro MAX’s form factor is both familiar and different for fans of the company’s Hero line. It’s almost like you stacked two Heros on top of each other, with a square box instead of a small rectangle as a result. The design helps accommodate both the dual optics that GoPro uses to achieve its 360-degree capture, as well as the built-in touchscreen display that can be used as a selfie viewfinder, too, when operating in Hero mode.

The ruggedized case can survive submersion in water up to 16 feet deep, and it’s splash proof as well. There are additional protective lenses for the two dome-shamed cameras in the box, as well, which GoPro advises you use in potentially messy environments to protect the optics. Both front and back sides of the camera also feature grills for microphones, which can capture 360 immersive audio when the camera is operating in 360 mode, or act as truly impressive directional shotgun mics when vlogging or working in Hero mode.

Like the new Hero 8, the MAX has built-in GoPro accessory mounts, that fold out of the body on the bottom. This ensure you won’t have to pack the MAX in an external cage to attach it to the wide range of available GoPro mounts that exist out there, cutting down on bulk and the amount of stuff you need to pack when you take it out on the road.

The rubberized coating ensures you can keep a firm grip on the camera when you’re using it without any accessories, and GoPro’s easy to access and prominently placed external buttons mean that you can control shutter and power while you’re using it in even the messiest circumstances. Removable batteries mean you can charge and keep a few on hand to ensure you don’t miss an opportunity to get some great footage.

360 or not to 360

The MAX is a very capable 360-degree camera, on par with some of the best in the market. It handles stitching automatically, and when paired with the MAX Grip + Tripod, it’ll even get rid of any awkward stitch lines where you’re gripping the camera. Using their software, you can then use the 360 footage to create a lot of compelling effects during edits, including panning and transitioning between views, zooming in and out, and basically pulling off final edits that you wouldn’t even be able to get with a few different cameras and shooters all going at once.

That said, there are some limits to the 360 shooting: You can see where GoPro’s software has stitched together its two wide angle captures to achieve the effect, for instance, even if only slightly. And while the tools that GoPro provides for stringing together edits are surprisingly user-friendly, you will need to spend some time with it in order to make the most of the tools available – novices can easily create somewhat disorienting cuts before they get there bearings.

The beauty of the MAX, however, is that 360 is just one of the capabilities it offers – and in fact, that provides the basis for much more interesting things that most users will get plenty more value out of. Foremost among these is HyperSmooth, which, when combined with MAX’s exclusive horizon levelling feature, makes for some of the smoothest, best quality stabilized video footage you can get with any camera without a gimbal.

By default, horizon levelling on the MAX will work in both landscape and portrait modes, and switch between those orientations when you turn the camera 90 degrees. But if you lock the orientation to landscape, you can rotate the MAX freely and the horizon stays level, with footage staying smooth and stable – to an almost spooky degree.

There can sometimes be a slightly noticeable fuzziness when you pivot from one orientation to the other in captured footage, but it’s barely detectable, and it only happens if you rotate fully 90 degrees. Otherwise, the horizon stays look and footage stays smooth, regardless of how much movement, bounce or jitters you have holding the camera. It’s amazing, and should be experienced in person to truly appreciate how much tech went into this.

The perfect run-and-gun mix

That is one reason that this is the camera you want with you when you’re out and about. But it’s not all the MAX offers in this regard. GoPro has made use of the 360 capture to implement so-called ‘Digital Lenses,’ which change the field of view, and adjust distortion to get at final results that can really change the look and feel of the video you capture. There’s a new ‘Narrow’ mode that’s even more constrained than the typical ‘Linear’ mode GoPro offers, and a new Max SuperView mode that pushes wide beyond previous limits for a really dramatic look.

Because the camera is capturing 360 content at 6K, you don’t get 4K resolution when it’s cropped down to Hero mode. But you do get up to 1440p as well as 1080p options, which are plenty for most vlogging and travel log purposes. This is one area where there’s a compromise to be made in exchange for some of the flexibility and convenience you get from the MAX, but in my opinion it’s a worthwhile trade-off.

As mentioned, you also get a ruggedized camera that can even snorkel with you in the MAX 360, as well as a selfie screen and highly capable microphones built-in (in the video above you’ll notice that there is some deterioration in sound when it detects water). It really seems like GoPro did everything they could to ensure that if you wanted to, you could easily just grab the MAX and get out there, without worrying about packing any accessories beyond maybe their Shorty tripod or that MAX grip I mentioned.

Bottom Line

GoPro’s Fusion was a compelling camera for a specific set of users, but the MAX feels like it might be flipping the script on the whole GoPro lineup. In short, the MAX seems like a great default option for anyone new to action cameras or looking for a comprehensive all-arounder that’s easy to learn, but becomes more powerful in time.

The MAX’s amazing stabilization is also probably better suited to vlogging and social video than it is to the actual action camera set, because it’s so smooth and refined. You can alter to what extent it triggers, of course, but overall MAX just seems like a device that can do magic with its built in software for aspiring content creators who would rather leave the DSLR and the gimbal at one – or who never thought to pick one up in the first place.

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How to Quickly Create Temporary Email Addresses With YOPmail

When you want to safeguard your privacy online a good place to start is by using a disposable email address. It allows you to sign up to services or send messages anonymously, or just cut down on the amount of spam your real email address receives.

One of the best options for creating temporary email addresses is YOPmail. Let’s take a look at how to use it.

What Is YOPmail?

YOPmail is a disposable email service. It lets you use any “yopmail.com” email address you want and gives you access to the inbox for that address—even if someone else is already using it.

You can use YOPmail wherever you’re asked to enter an email address but don’t want to use your real account. Use it for websites that ask you to sign up, or apps you’re testing that want you to log into, and you won’t be inundated with newsletters or have to deal with spam in Gmail.

Unlike a regular email account, YOPmail is not private or password protected, so you should only use it for throwaway purposes. Never use it for anything personal or important.

You also don’t need to set it up. Whenever you need to fill in an address form on a website and don’t want to use your own, just type in a random address and you’re good to go.

How to Create a YOPmail Account

You can, in theory, use YOPmail without ever needing to visit YOPmail.com. When you visit a website that asks for your email, enter [anything]@yopmail.com and it will be accepted as a genuine email address.

If you do need access to the inbox—maybe to validate an account, or to grab a free download a site is offering—you’ve got two options.

1. In the box at the top left of the YOPmail website, labeled Type the Email name of your choice, enter the first part of the address you chose and click Check Inbox.
2. Alternatively, just go to yopmail.com/[your chosen address] and you’ll arrive straight at the inbox. You don’t need a password in either case.

When you use a simple, common word for your address you’ll almost certainly find that it’s already being used. The inbox is likely to be full of spam and messages for other people. This is fine because all YOPmail inboxes are public and shared.

But remember that just as you can see other people’s stuff, they’ll be able to see yours. For this reason, you should never use a disposable email address for anything even vaguely connected to your real identity.

You can get a little more privacy by using a random combination of letters for your email address. It’s unlikely anyone else would use, say, dd5-73tq4@yopmail.com, so you should have that inbox to yourself. Even so, it’s still public, and not secure.

You can use the YOPmail Generator tool to help create unique addresses. Find it in the Random Email Address section of the website’s sidebar. You’ll also find links to browser plugins for Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Opera, but none of these are available anymore.

Disadvantages of a YOPmail Disposable Address

YOPmail is easy to use and works as promised. However, some sites have cottoned on to the existence of disposable email addresses, so you might occasionally find that they don’t accept YOPmail as a valid address.

To work around that, the service offers a few alternative domains you can try instead. Use any of the addresses below and the messages you receive will be automatically forwarded to the corresponding YOPmail address.

• @yopmail.fr
• @yopmail.net
• @cool.fr.nf
• @jetable.fr.nf
• @nospam.ze.tc
• @nomail.xl.cx
• @mega.zik.dj
• @speed.1s.fr
• @courriel.fr.nf
• @moncourrier.fr.nf
• @monemail.fr.nf
• @monmail.fr.nf

More Disposable Email Addresses

Using a temporary email address is a great way of protecting your privacy and cutting down on the amount of spam you get.

YOPmail isn’t the only option available. Take a look at our guide at some of the other best disposable email services for more choices.

You can also use disposable user accounts as another way of safeguarding your privacy and hiding your identity online.

Read the full article: How to Quickly Create Temporary Email Addresses With YOPmail

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10 Little-Known Corners of the Deep Web You Might Actually Like

The dark web doesn’t have a great reputation. Dodgy online marketplaces, criminal gangs, terrorist groups—it sounds like the type of place that only the most troubled members of society would want to hang out.

In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Sure, that type of content exists. But there are also plenty of dark web websites that you might actually like.

Curious? Keep reading; we’re going to introduce you to some of the best dark web websites to visit.

1. Hidden Answers

Dark Web Link: https://ift.tt/2NlTWDU

Hidden Answers is like a cross between Quora and Reddit. You can ask any question on any topic, and the community will respond. However, unlike sites such as Reddit, there’s no censorship going on. Everything you see is unedited.

The site has more than a dozen categories. The largest and most active categories are Technology, Money and Jobs, and Security and Privacy. Some of the categories are adult-orientated, so make sure you give them a wide berth if you’re easily offended.

In addition to categories, Hidden Answers also supports searchable tags. They make it easier to narrow your search if you need an answer to a specific query. You can also filter by unanswered questions if you want to offer your own pearls of wisdom to other users.

3. Illinois Institute of Technology Tunnels

Dark Web Link: https://ift.tt/2dUhvNb

Old buildings are jammed with hidden tunnels, old air vents, and disused entrances. One such group of buildings is the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.

An unnamed individual has explored all the tunnels and posted the findings to his site. He’s even managed to get onto sealed rooftops and photographed the results.

The site is packed with maps, photos, diary entries, guides, explanations, and more. It’s one of the best dark web sites to visit if you want to waste a couple of hours.

3. ProPublica

Dark Web Link: https://ift.tt/34mdlbF

In 2016, online news site ProPublica launched a dark web version of its website. In doing so, it became the first mainstream news organization to have a presence on the Tor network.

According to Mike Tigas, the ProPublica developer who built the dark web site, it was China’s online censorship that initially inspired the decision. The company wanted to protect itself in case it every found itself banned in restrictive territories.

ProPublica also wanted to give its readers more control over ad tracking and other forms of surveillance:

“It’s a very conscious decision that we have to make as an organization to decide that we want to do this. I think we all agree that letting our users choose what types of metadata they leave behind is a positive for us.”

4. Easy Coin

Dark Web Link: https://ift.tt/NCO6Kt

Bitcoin continues to grow in popularity around the world. However, one of the original tenets of the cryptocurrency—that it’s entirely anonymous—has turned out to be untrue. Sure, some anonymous privacy-focused coins do exist, but Bitcoin is not one of them.

As recently as October 2019, one of the largest illegal pornography sites on the dark web was shut down when US law enforcement agencies were able to trace the Bitcoin used to pay for the content.

If you’re a privacy fanatic and want to make sure your Bitcoin is completely untraceable, EasyCoin is one of the top dark web sites. It’s a Bitcoin wallet with a built-in Bitcoin mixer. The mixer ensures you always get fresh coins whenever you make a wallet withdrawal.

Check out the article about the legality of Bitcoin tumblers on our sister-site, Blocks Decoded, if you’d like to learn more.

5. Code:Green

Dark Web Link: https://ift.tt/1HsX4Pd

Code:Green is a website dedicated to ethical hacktivism. You can join the organization in one of six ways: as a Sympathizer, Supporter, Hacktivist, Whistleblower, Coder, or Artist.

Just keep in mind that some of the community’s projects are in breach of the law. Make sure you don’t do anything that could put your freedom in danger.

You may need someone to vouch for you before you gain access to the forums.

6. Facebook

Dark Web Link: https://ift.tt/1HN2fcd

If you’re a Facebook user, it makes sense to access the service using the official portal on the dark web.

The Tor version of the site has been live since 2016 and is mainly aimed at people from countries where Facebook access if blocked.

However, privacy-conscious users in Europe and the US will also find value. Because the site is on the dark web, it does not keep logs, use tracking cookies, or monitor your usage through the usual channels. It’s a much safer way of using a service that’s known to have a laissez-faire attitude with users’ data.

7. Beneath VT

Dark Web Link: https://ift.tt/1QaJ2Jd

Beneath VT is similar to the Illinois Institute of Technology Tunnels site. It is dedicated to the exploration of the steam tunnels that run below the campus.

You’ll find log entries, maps, videos, and an extensive list of the dangers that the various tunnels can pose to people who enter them.

Who knew that exploring old university tunnels could be so much fun?! It’s just another example of all the cool stuff on the deep web that you’ll find with a bit of digging.

8. The Hub

Dark Web Link: https://ift.tt/2wc33dk

The Hub is another of the best dark web websites to visit. Indeed, it is one of the dark web’s most popular social forums.

You’ll need to register before you gain access to the boards. Once you’re in, however, you will have access to discussions on a wide variety of topics, including general news, dark web marketplaces, crypto, and more.

9. Common Sense by Thomas Paine

Dark Web Link: https://ift.tt/1OyZQWQ

First published in January 1776 during the early days of the American Revolution, Common Sense by Thomas Paine became one of the most important documents in the country’s history. Written for people who wanted the 13 colonies to break free from British rule, it made a compelling moral and political case for independence.

Relative to the size of the population (2.5 million) at the time, it is still the book with the most sales and widest circulation in American history.

Although the book is still in print today, you don’t need to buy it. Thanks to this dark web website, you can read the entire text for free.

10. Welcome to the Game

We end with something a bit different—a game about the dark web that you can buy on Steam. The dark web game is a horror-meets-puzzle game. The goal is to find the “Red Room” in which a murder is taking place.

To find the room, the player has to solve a series of mysteries and brainteasers while avoiding hackers and kidnappers. It sounds a bit gruesome, but it’s surprisingly good fun and has a stream of positive reviews on the Steam platform.

No one really knows for sure whether red rooms exist on the dark web. We explored the idea more closely when we looked at some of the security reasons to avoid the dark web.

Share Your Best Dark Web Sites

The nature of the dark web means the list of the top dark web sites is constantly in flux. If we’ve missed your favorite site off the list, make sure you reach out in the comments and let us know.

And if you’d like to learn more about the dark web, make sure you read our other articles on debunked dark web myths and our list of shocking online accounts sold on the dark web.

Read the full article: 10 Little-Known Corners of the Deep Web You Might Actually Like

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5 Free Audio Converters Online to Convert Any File Easily

It’s surprising how often you need to convert audio files into an alternative format. Different MP3 players have different requirements. Some apps only work with specific formats, or perhaps you need to compress the size of recording to make it fit in an email or upload it to a cloud service.

Whatever the reason, the web can help. There are dozens of audio file converters out there, each of which has different features and is designed for different use cases.

Want to learn more? Keep reading to discover the top web-based audio conversion tools you can use for quick format conversions.

1. Zamzar

Zamzar is a multi-purpose file conversion tool that’s been around since 2006. It can convert audio files, text files, video files, and image files. In total, more than 1,200 different file formats are supported.

All the common audio formats are offered, including 3GP, AAC, FLAC, IMY, M4A, MID, MP3, MP4, MXMF, OTA, XMF, RTTTL, RTX, and WAV.

It is free to use Zamzar, but there are some restrictions. The maximum file size you can upload is 150MB. However, you can still enjoy an unlimited number of file conversions every day and can convert up to 25 audio files at the same time.

When you convert a file, Zamzar will store it on its own servers for 24 hours. If you do not download it within the period, you’ll need to convert it afresh. For free users, the maximum amount of data you can hold on Zamzar’s servers is 5GB.

If you need larger uploads and more server space, you could sign up for one of Zamzar’s paid plans. They start at $9 per month.

2. Online Audio Converter

The Online Audio Converter tool is ideal for people who are working with a music collection. As part of the conversion process, you can change a file’s metadata, including the track name, artist, album title, release year, and genre.

From your audio conversion needs, seven file formats are supported.

They are MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC, OGG, MP2, and AMR. Online Audio Converter can also convert audio files into iPhone ringtones using the MPEG-4 format.

A few more features help the web app to shine. For example, you can choose from four quality settings (64KBPS, 128KBPS, 192KBPS, and 320KBPS), set the sample rate, and decide whether you want the output file to be in mono or stereo.

There are also some on/off toggles such as Fade in, Fade out, Fast mode, Voice removal, and reverse playback.

You can convert your local audio files, as well as files in Google Drive and Dropbox.

3. Aconvert

Aconvert is more geared towards people who need to edit their audio files. Audio conversion is available for 13 file formats.

The supported files are WAV, WMA, MP3, OGG, AAC, AU, FLAC, M4A, MKA, AIFF, OPUS, and RA), but there’s also a tool to cut audio files and to merge audio files.

The app has a greater number of quality options than Online Audio Converter. Nine different KBPS settings are available, ranging from 32KBPS to 320KBPS. Uniquely, you can also enter your own custom KBPS setting—just be aware that the higher the setting, the larger the file size.

Similarly, you can choose from four different sample rates. Again, you can choose a custom setting if you wish.

When the audio conversion has finished, you can either download it onto your desktop or use a QR code to save it to Google Drive or Dropbox. The maximum upload size for each file is 200MB.

4. FileZigZag

Like Zamzar, FileZigZag is a multi-purpose online file converter. In addition to audio files, you can also use the tool to convert documents, images, videos, and even archive files like 7Z and ZIP.

You can use the tool to convert 29 different audio file formats, thus making FileZigZag one of the audio conversion web apps with the greatest number of supported file types.

The supported formats are 3GA, ACC, AC3, AIF, AIFF, AIFC, AMR, AU, CAF, FLAC, M4A, M4R, M4P, MID, MIDI, MMF, MP2, MP3, MPGA, OGA, OGG, OMA, OPUS, QCP, RA, RAM, WAV, and WMA.

Non-registered users can convert files up to 100MB in size. If you register for a free account, the limit increases to 180MB. For one-off larger files, FileZigZag sells 24-hour plans with a 2GB limit. Free users can only convert 10 audio files per day.

One downside of FileZigZag is its reliance on email. When you convert a file, you cannot click an instant download link. Instead, you need to wait for it to arrive in your inbox. Sometimes, there is a bit of a delay.

5. Wondershare Online Uniconverter

The last online audio converter we recommend is Wondershare Online Uniconverter. The service is unique among the apps on our list; in addition to a free online tool, there’s also an accompanying free desktop app for both Windows and Mac.

In this article, however, we’re only interested in the web app. It supports a huge number of audio file formats.

The list includes WMA, MP3, WAV, RA, RM, RAM, FLAC, MP4, AU, AIF, AIFC, OGG, WV, 3GA, SHN, VQF, TTA, QCP, DTS, GSM, W64, ACT, OMA, ADX, CAF, SPX, VOC, and RBS.

The service lacks some of the advanced tools that we’ve seen in other web apps. For example, you cannot set the bitrate or the sample rate. You can, however, convert up to 25 files simultaneously. If you have a large backlog to work through, that’s a blessing.

In its literature, Wondershare claims its audio converter is 30 times faster than any other converter app on the web. We tested the app, and it’s certainly speedy—but we can’t guarantee that the company’s “30 times” claims are accurate.

More Ways to Convert Files Online

Although there are plenty of file conversion apps for desktop, you probably don’t need them. Unless you’re a professional working with different file types all day, a web app will suffice. The five audio converters we’ve discussed in the piece have enough features and support enough number of file types to meet the needs of most users.

If you’d like to learn more about converting files online, make sure you read our articles on the best online ebook converters and how to convert videos to GIFs.

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Elegoo Mars: High Quality Resin Printing for Anyone

Our verdict of the Elegoo Mars:
If you're looking for a 3D printer, then the Elegoo Mars provides outstanding quality for a modest price. There are few reasons not to buy it!1010

If you’re looking for a resin 3D printer, then you may have heard of the Elegoo Mars. This elegant machine retails for under $300 and is capable of producing stunning 3D prints. It’s surprising how user-friendly this 3D printer is, which isn’t the case with every 3D printer we review. Read on to see our full analysis after the video.

After our review, we’re running a giveaway contest that you can enter to win a brand new Elegoo Mars 3D printer.

Elegoo Mars Features

The Elegoo Mars is a compact desktop 3D printer. This sleek unit works via a color touchscreen and the included USB flash drive. It’s compact enough to fit on your desk or into small spaces, and the UV-blocking cover is easily removed to allow quick access to the machine.

Specifications

• 1-inch (2.5 cm) per hour maximum print speed
• 100-micron layer height
• 2560×1440 2K, 5.5 inch (13.97 cm) LCD
• 3.5 inch (8.89 cm) color touchscreen
• 4.72 x 2.68 x 6.1 inch (11.98 x 6.80 x 15.49 cm) build volume
• 40W UV LED
• Measures 16.14 x 7.87 x 7.87 inches (41 x 20 x 20 cm)
• Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing technology

In a stylish dual-tone color scheme, the bottom third of the Elegoo Mars is brushed metal. It houses all the electronics, power input, and control panel. The top two-thirds contain the resin vat, Z-axis, and bed. The translucent orange cover lets you see how the print is shaping up but also serves to block ambient UV light from prematurely curing your resin and ruining an in-progress print.

The 2K display provides excellent X/Y resolution and is in theory twice as detailed as printers using a 1080P or lower resolution display. It’s not possible to control this printer from your computer or over the network, but the included flash drive comes with pre-sliced files ready to print. The 40W LED is powerful, but it’s on par with other resin 3D printers. The total build volume is tiny when compared to printers using fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology, but again, it’s equal to most other consumer resin printers.

Almost all the mechanical parts of this machine are metal, except for the resin vat thumbscrews and the bed release. It would be nice to see these in metal as well, but it doesn’t impact the quality of prints in any way. The bed is easily removed without any tools, as is the resin vat, which makes it quick and easy to get up and running.

Inside the box, you’ll find almost everything you need to get started. Alongside the printer, power supply, and flash drive, you get a small tool kit, masks, gloves, a funnel, a plastic scraper, an instruction manual, and a measuring cup. No resin is included, and while this isn’t expensive or difficult to obtain online, a small sample bottle would be been nice to get started right away with.

How the Mars Works

The Elegoo Mars uses Stereolithography (SLA) to produce a solid model. The print bed is submerged into a vat of photosensitive resin. When this resin gets exposed to UV light, it solidifies. A modified LCD display and powerful UV LED work together to produce the shapes required for every layer, and this is what makes prints so accurate. There’s only one moving part in the form of the Z-axis.

The resin vat has a clear film on the bottom, which is stretched out like a drum skin. This prevents the resin from leaking out and ruining your machine, yet allows the light to pass and cure the resin. It can be easy to damage this sheet, and over time they can wear out and go cloudy. The replacement process is easy and cheap, but no spares are included.

As this 3D printer cures resin using an LCD display, you can print massive objects in both the X and Y axis without any impact on the speed. If you want to print one or five models, they all take the same time. This is because the LCD can cure the whole bed at once, so it’s only vertical height which increases the print time.

Set up and First Prints

Running a 3D printer with a vat full of sticky resin plastic can seem daunting, but Elegoo makes this process extremely simple. This setup process far exceeds the standards set by the competition. It’s more work configuring a new mobile phone or games console than using this printer.

Before starting any prints you must level the bed. This doesn’t need doing often, but it needs doing at least once in the printer’s life. This involves undoing a screw, removing the resin VAT, and placing a piece of paper on the LCD. All the tools are provided where required. When you’re ready, you can begin the process through a button on the touchscreen. This machine handles the rest for you. It uses its sensors and motors to position the bed where it needs to be. This takes mere seconds, and when it’s done, you tighten up the screws and remove the paper.

This process is a joy to perform, and far exceeded my expectations of what you need to do before printing. Bed leveling can be the most frustrating aspect of a 3D printer, and having a machine that can handle this itself is a brilliant touch.

Once leveled you can install the resin vat, top up the resin, and place the UV cover in place. Insert the USB flash drive and begin the test print.

This test print takes roughly four hours to complete, which is about average for this printer. High-quality prints are worth waiting for and with a speed of 1 inch per hour, you may wish to leave this printer running overnight.

After four hours, the test print emerges dripping from its resin bath, like some kind of swamp monster. It’s fascinating to watch, and this test print worked the first time.

ChiTuBox Slicer

All 3D printers need 3D models to be converted to machine-specific instructions, and the Mars is no exception. The process is called “slicing”, as it involves cutting the model up into smaller layers. This machine comes bundled with a free slicer called “ChiTuBox”. Boasting over 2,000,000 users, and designed for SLA 3D printing, this slicer is a dream to use. Its friendly interface lets you arrange print jobs, generate supports, adjust settings, and check final print layers. Not only this, but it’s very fast to slice and stable to use. Even with large files it rarely struggles or hangs.

SLA 3D printers don’t support infill to save plastic, as is possible on FDM printers. This means that bigger jobs can use a lot of plastic as they must be solid. Various other 3D tools exist to “hollow out” models to save plastic, but ChituBox provides this feature for zero extra cost. This is another big benefit, and further solidifies this as the tool of choice for resin 3D printers.

If you’re not sure what purpose slicers serve, then take a look at our ultimate beginner’s guide to 3D printing, which covers the basics in great detail.

Print Quality and Cleanup

Prints produced by this machine are mind-blowing, and this is the biggest benefit of an SLA printer. Layer lines are almost invisible, and microscopic details that would be impossible for an FDM printer to produce come out clear and sharp.

Due to the limited bed size, this printer is best suited to smaller models, or those with intricate fine details. Not only does the test model feature intricate castle turrets and fine text, but it also contains miniature stairs produced to a very high level of detail for such a small size.

This 3D printer shines producing wargaming minis. The fine detail reproduction lends itself to the intricate details required by mini-figures and terrain. Tiny details such as rings, mustaches, belts, boots and more are perfectly produced.

As all prints are submerged in a bath of uncured resin they need cleaning up after printing. This isn’t difficult, but you’ll need to buy even more equipment not included in the box. Prints need excess uncured resin washing off with rubbing alcohol, and then they need to finish curing, either in the sun or with a cheap UV curing station such as those found in nail salons. You need to wear gloves and a mask when cleaning your parts.

Should You Buy the Elegoo Mars?

The Elegoo Mars is a stunning resin 3D printer and while the price tag of around $300 seems a little steep when compared to the plethora of affordable FDM 3D printers, it represents an excellent entry point into ultra-high detail 3D printing. Machines such as the Formlabs Form 3 cost several thousand dollars, and so an affordable competitor is a welcome alternative.

Resin 3D printing is not for everyone. It’s slow, and the build volume can be limiting. Uncured resin smells, and every part needs cleaning up afterward. It’s not difficult to do this, but if you lack the space or inclination to do so, you may be best served by a different style of 3D printer.

This Elegoo Mars is a dream to use. It requires little maintenance, has only one moving part, and is almost “plug and play”. You no longer have to worry about printer maintenance, rather, you can focus on designing cool 3D models to solve your problems (or print wicked little figures and trinkets).

Our friends at Elegoo have given us a brand new Mars LCD 3D printer which we are giving away for free. All you have to do for a chance at winning it is enter our contest below.

Enter the Competition!

Elegoo Mars Giveaway

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