Month: May 2018

Controversy Erupts over Securus Location Tracking Used by Law Enforcement

The New York Times reported that a company called Securus is offering a service to law enforcement allowing them to track real-time locations of cell phones. The report claims that Securus is offering this service without going through the due process of law, allowing law enforcement to sidestep the proper legal process and track suspected criminals. This is done using a location API, the type of which is typically used to advertise to cell phone users based on location.

Securus

Securus, when confronted on the legality and procedures of this service, had this to say: “The responsibility of ensuring the legal adequacy…lies with our law enforcement customers and their counsel.” This shirking of legal responsibility is not only incredibly flippant and ill-advised, but also incorrect. A senator from Oregon named Ron Wyden has stated that these claims are going to be investigated, and further pushed for the FCC and AT&T to give detailed answers to the questions of how this will be dealt with.

Regarding the process for accessing the Securus service, Wyden wrote: “To access this private data, correctional officers simply visit Securus’ Web portal, enter any US wireless phone number, and then upload a document purporting to be an official document giving permission to obtain real-time location data.” This is certainly an unprecedented use of such technology, and one that many would find to be both invasive and frightening.

Sidestepping Legal Process?

Up to this point, law enforcement agencies have had to rely on records from phone companies to view location data, and that data is only acquired by having a warrant granted by a judge. By providing this same service to law enforcement in just a few clicks, Securus is directly sidestepping the entire legal process associated with location tracking. This story is only just beginning, as there are likely cases going before the courts to address the questions of the legality of this practice.

May 16, 2018
Is The Phone Notch Here to Stay?

It seems Apple once again has set a trend for the smartphone industry. The beta for Android P operating systems is now being rolled out and developers are revealing more details of the new Android operating system. According to developers, the new OS supports three different phone notch designs: the standard, iPhone X style notch that many find so odd, a top-right corner notch that looks even more strange, and a double-style, top and bottom notch. This somewhat solidifies suspicions that notch-style designs may be the norm for smartphones going forward.

Why Notches?

Many find the phone notch to be an odd choice, aesthetically. Why break up the edge-to-edge screen display with a random notch? Well, the answer is one of functionality: if the whole front face of the handset is a display, where do you put the hardware? Things like selfie cameras and speakers for actual phone calls have to go somewhere. This question has a few answers, but it seems, for now, the answer that manufacturers have chosen is the small cut-out notch.

Surprisingly Appealing

The success of the iPhone X is no mistake, to be sure: it’s our favorite smart phone right now too! People love the edge-to-edge display, and most users have said they got used to the phone notch pretty early on in their time with the new handset. The initially off-putting design actually has its own aesthetic appeal in addition to being something of a technological necessity for the time being. I, for one, don’t mind it too much. For many, though, these notches are incredibly bothersome and break up an otherwise uninterrupted screen. In any event, it looks like the notch is here to stay.

May 16, 2018
You Need a MoviePass Subscription for Summer

Moviepass is an incredible deal, if you don’t have one already you are really missing out. Yes, there are many arguably nonsensical reasons not to get one. Its too good to be true, I heard their investment company is running out of money,I don’t like that they know what movie im going to go see, I cant reserve my seat in advance, yes yes all barley valid points not to have a once in a life time opportunity for an all you can see movie theater pass.

What about the “They don’t make anymore good Movies any more” reason? Well we all know we are going to see Deadpool, Solo, Jurassic World 2 and Mission: Impossible – Fallout, But here are the Top 5 movies out this summer that you wouldn’t pay to go see in the theaters, but should probably go see in the theaters, and could see for free with your Moviepass, so go see them Movies..

1.Christopher Robin

Disney’s new take on Winnie the Pooh, titled simply Christopher Robin, from director Marc Forster. Ewan McGregor stars in this as a working-class family man in London. He re-encounters his childhood friend Pooh, who helps him to rediscover the joys of life. The main cast includes Hayley Atwell, Mark Gatiss, Adrian Scarborough, Roger Ashton-Griffiths, and Paul Chahidi. For the voices: Jim Cummings as Winnie-the-Pooh, Chris O’Dowd as Tigger, Toby Jones as Owl, Peter Capaldi as Rabbit, Sophie Okonedo as Kanga, and Nick Mohammed as Piglet. This teaser only introduces us to Pooh, with more characters to come. This comparison is going to upset a few of you, but this kind of reminds me of Hook – a grumpy guy revisits his past to discover happiness again.

2.Hereditary

A24 has revealed another acclaimed horror film , Hereditary, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. This movie focuses on the Charlie, the young daughter in the film, played by Milly Shapiro . From writer/director Ari Aster, Hereditary is about a close family that starts to unravel following the death of their reclusive grandmother. As an overwhelming terror takes over their household, their peaceful existence is ripped apart, forcing their mother to explore a darker realm in order to escape the unfortunate fate they’ve inherited.

Toni Collette stars, along with Gabriel Byrne, Alex Wolff, Ann Dowd, and Zachary Arthur. This film is incredible, and will be one of the big breakout horror hits this year, for sure. Don’t miss it when it comes to your local cinema – it’s not only terrifying to watch, but an extremely impressive film between performances and cinematography and script.

3.Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Just this trailer will make you tear up, then also remind you how important and wonderful goodness and happiness are. Focus Features has revealed a documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, made by Oscar-winning doc filmmaker Morgan Neville. This is more than just a profile of the late Fred Rogers, known best as Mr. Rogers – it’s a wonderful look at how a man tried to make the world better by figuring out how to speak to kids and teach them the importance of compassion and understanding and helpfulness.

This premiered to glowing reviews at the Sundance Film Festival this year. Someone wrote about it: “This is the documentary we all need right now. It’s a heartwarming, rousing film about how goodness makes an impact in society. It shows us that we can make a difference if we help someone else, if we support them, and believe in them, and remind them that they are perfect just they way they are.” You have to see it.

4.Tag

“You never know when someone’s going to pop up.” And… you’re it! Warner Bros has finally getting us excited for the summer comedy movie Tag, based on the true story of a massive game of Tag that a few guys have been playing every year since they were kids. The game is so competitive, so intense, that people will fly all around the country just to not be the one who is “it”. Yeah, it’s crazy.

The movie is about a small group of former classmates who organize the elaborate, annual game. With a rockin’ cast: Ed Helms, Jake Johnson, Annabelle Wallis, Rashida Jones, Isla Fisher, Leslie Bibb, Hannibal Buress, with Jon Hamm and Jeremy Renner. As fun as this looks, it is actually going to have anything to say, or just: hey, be as crazy as you can, because why not have fun. You know you will enjoy this film and you also know you wont spend $15 to find out how much… Moviepass

5.Alpha

An enemy will become an ally.” Sony Pictures’ epic new action thriller titled Alpha, formerly known as The Solutrean. This is the latest feature film from Albert Hughes, who last directed The Book of Eli in 2010, and it’s set during the last Ice Age – 20,000 years ago (kind of like Emmerich’s 10,000 BC). This epic adventure follows the story of Zeta, played by Kodi Smit-McPhee, a young man injured on a bison hunt left for dead. He befriends a lone wolf and together they figure out how to survive in this harsh environment. So basically it’s The Revenant meets 10,000 BC. The full cast includes Natassia Malthe, Leonor Varela, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Mercedes de la Zerda, and Jens Hultén. The Wolves look so cool, Im looking forward to this one…fo free!! Moviepass.

The Final MoviePass Thought

I know you know Im making sense. You are right now thinking, I would not have planned to see any of these in the theater but with a Moviepass subscription I will go check theses out. This right here is what is going to turn Moviepass to the next big Netflix. Im mean come on, one of these movies has John Hamm in it…and im going to see all of them for less then half of the big blockbusters I was going to see anyways. Happy summer at the movies for me.

May 16, 2018
NES Classic to Return to Store Shelves in June

The beloved Nintendo Entertainment System lives again, again! NES Classic Mini systems are slated to return to retailers June 29^th, according to Nintendo, and the company claims the systems will be available until the end of the year. This is fantastic news for retro gaming enthusiasts looking to relive some of the most iconic games of all time!

Tremendous Hit

Since its initial release in Fall 2016, the NES Classic has been a tremendous hit, selling out its initial run in record time. Following its astonishing success, Nintendo released the SNES Classic, a miniature version of the NES’s successor, which experienced similar sell-outs. Finally, this Summer, fans who missed the initial release window will have a chance to snag the tiny retro console for MSRP, which is $60. For those who held out for a re-release, or simply couldn’t find a reasonable price on the secondhand market, this news is great!

eBay Scalpers

Notably, the NES Classic and its successor were both heavily targeted by eBay scalpers, scam artists who buy collectibles in large quantities and resell them on eBay and similar sites for absurd markups. Nintendo clearly didn’t expect such a massive demand for the systems, and scalpers capitalized on the low supply by further bottlenecking it and preying on nostalgia. This time around, however, Nintendo promises a much higher supple of both NES and SNES Classic systems, ensuring retailers will have them stocked for MSRP. This is awesome for customers, and terrible for scalpers. Win-win!

NES Classic systems come preloaded with 30 iconic games, including Super Mario Bros, the Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Balloon Fight and more! You can grab one of your own and enjoy games from the 80’s that helped redefine the gaming industry when the system re-releases on June 29^th.

May 15, 2018
Is Google Duplex Too Real?

We’re living in the future. If you needed a reminder of this, you need look no further than the prevalence of artificial intelligence on the cusp of becoming indistinguishable from humans. At their I/O 2018 conference, Google showcased their new Duplex technology. Duplex allows Google Assistant to make phone calls for you to set up appointments and reservations. The unique trick here is just how lifelike and eerie the Assistant sounds on the phone. It says “umm,” and “mmm-hmm.” It uses upward-lilting speech to sound authentic. It sounds completely human.

How Far is too Far?

Google claims that the Duplex technology will identify itself as such when it goes live. This, at least, covers our initial fears that people will be unaware that they are interacting with artificial intelligence. However, the presence of this technology alone could be cause for concern: what if another, less responsible company develops similar technology? What if scammers steal the technology and use it to operate elaborate phone scams? The potential for abuse is certainly high. It remains to be seen what protections Google has in place for this lifelike AI.

So What?

Maybe you don’t mind the idea of lifelike-sounding machines calling you. If they sound human and I’m not aware that they’re machines, so what? Why should I care? Google already promised it would even identify itself! To which I would say: I don’t think we need to worry about Duplex itself. I thoroughly believe Google will be responsible with this tech, if only because all eyes are on them. They are a leader in AI research and this is a pioneering piece of technology that many will likely follow. As such, I have no doubt Google will toe the line and act ethically with their new tech. The question remains, though: will those that follow do the same? Now that the door is open, who knows what kind of potential for misuse of this technology puts on the table.

This is Just the Beginning

Either way, Google is not alone in pushing the boundaries of AI applications. Microsoft and Facebook are also pursuing the future of AI in attempts to make their products synonymous with the burgeoning tech. These companies and others like them are all racing to hit the market with the most lifelike, the most impressive and least detectible AI before their competition. We can only hope they temper their haste to be the first to market with a desire to act ethically and responsibly with technology that will change the way we interact with our world.

May 15, 2018
Tech Trivia That Will Blow Your Mind!

If you’re like me, you love technology and you love trivia. And what better than trivia about technology? Today we’re rounding up our top ten favorite pieces of tech trivia!

PayPal, then and now

Photo Credit: Barron’s

Way back in the dark ages of 1999, a survey found that PayPal, with its unique business model, was voted in the top ten worst business ideas. Ironically, the company is now worth millions of dollars.

Apollo 11

Photo Credit: TripAdvisor

The Apollo 11, the first spacecraft to carry humans to the moon, is an iconic piece of technology in human history. Fascinatingly, the computers carried onboard have less processing power than modern-day cell phones. You carry technology in your pocket that would have been unthinkable fifty years ago.

Email, pre-WWW

Photo Credit: Amazon

Before the World Wide Web and the establishment of URLs, individual web pages were numbered and accessing them was less than easy. In this era, it was possible to send email, but it required a rotary phone to connect to a now-obscure service called Micronet via your computer. The webpage number for email? 7776.

The First Computer Mouse

Photo Credit: Newegg

In the early 60’s, Stanford Research Institute professors Douglas Engelbart and Bill English Stanford unveiled their “X-Y Position Indicator for Display Systems,” a device designed to point to elements on a computer display. We would come to refer to such technology as a computer mouse!

First designed for use with the Xerox Alto computer and demoed in 1968, Engelbart also showed off early version of word processing and computer graphics. Engelbart is also responsible for the name “mouse,” as he thought the cord that ran from the pointer to the computer was reminiscent of a mouse tail!

Ever-shrinking Computer Memory

Photo Credit: AIS Computer Centers

It’s well-known that memory is always getting smaller and more efficient: where once SD cards with a few gigabytes of memory cost $100, they now cost less than $30. Going back sixty years, however, is even more quaint.

In 1956, IBM unveiled the RAMAC computer, one of the first devices to use a hard drive-like device for memory. The RAMAC (Random Access Method of Accounting and Control) had 5 megabytes of storage and weighed over 2000 pounds.

Most of the Worlds Currency is Digital

Photo Credit: PYMNTS.com

According to educated guesses by global economists, only 8 percent of money in the world is physical cash. The rest exists only in the form of ones and zeroes on the internet. This is fascinating, showing just how much we’ve come to rely on technology for our global economy. With most transactions occurring digitally and paper money and coins becoming less prevalent, it won’t be surprising to see physical money phased out entirely eventually.

QWERTY May have been invented to slow typists

Photo Credit: USB Typewriters

The story goes that, originally, typewriters were laid out in alphabetical order, but the QWERTY layout was implemented to slow down typists. Supposedly typists had become so fast that they were consistently jamming their typewriters as the arms would cross and lock up. In order to combat this, the QWERTY layout would set commonly used letters further apart, leading to less jams and overall more efficient typing.

Domain Names used to be Free

Photo Credit: Quora

Until 1995 it was free to register a domain name. Let that sink in. From as little as 23 years ago, understanding of just how big and important the Internet was going to end up being was almost nonexistent. By 1995, though, a company called Network Solutions was given the rights to charge for domain name registration. A percentage of money from this, though, ended up going to the National Science Foundation for Internet Research.

A Hollywood Star Helped Invent Wi-Fi

Photo Credit: Tablet Magazine

Hedy Lamarr is remembered for her roles in early-era Hollywood films. She is also remembered by many for her exceptional contributions to computer technology! Together with George Antheil, she helped create radio signal technology that was intended to prevent torpedoes from being jammed. While her ideas were patented, they weren’t implemented until the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the Navy would use them to develop several new radio forms, including Wi-Fi.

Amazon’s Name was Chosen so it Would Be Higher in Alphabetical Order

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Amazon is the odd Internet giant that has been around since the early days. As a direct example, take the anecdote of how the company got its name. CEO Jeff Bezos originally thought to name the company Cadabra, but a combination of that name being misheard as “cadaver” and a desire for visibility changed his mind. In the 90’s it was common to browse the Internet using Yahoo’s search directory, which listed websites alphabetically. Thus, Amazon was chosen to put the company near the top of the list.

May 15, 2018
The Robotics Kit Roundup for Students

If you know any students who are enthusiastic about robotics and looking to build their own robots, you might be wondering which kits are the best. Never fear, because we’ve rounded up our favorite robotics kits for students. Read on to find out our favorite robotics kit for aspiring tinkerers!

Meccano-Erector MeccaSpider Robot Kit

This $100 kit is for children 10 or older. Taking between one and three hours to build, this spider-themed kit has some fairly neat features. Firstly, it sports on-board buttons that allow the builder to set it in different preset modes, such as “guard” and “game” modes. It has a reservoir for water so that it can shoot “venom” (which is awesome) and it sports an infrared sensor to detect opponents

The robot can be controlled from a linked smartphone app, allowing for some fun, hands-on play with the device after it’s complete. This kit is part of the “STEM” initiative, a push by the Department of Education to prepare students for careers in science and robotics. The MeccaSpider is an intermediate level robot.

UBTECH Jimu Robot DIY Buzzbot & Muttbot Robotics Kit

For a reasonable $135 this kit can be built into either Buzzbot (a goofy-looking humanoid bot) or Muttbot (a goofy-looking dog bot). This one is somewhat simple, using a combination of six servos and a small computer to power the robot, whether it be the kid or dog robot.

Using linked smart phone apps, kids can string together a series of saved poses, allowing them to animate scenes. These programmed procedures are a neat way to teach kids about programming while they also learn about robotics.

Makeblock DIY Ultimate Robot Kit

If you’re looking for a more expensive robotics kit that can build into many different types of robot, this kit is for you. For $350, the Makeblock DIY Ultimate Robot Kit can be built into a robo-bartender, a servo arm, a self-balancing bot and many more. Powered by Scratch 2.0, a kid-friendly programming language, this kit does a great job teaching kids tons of lessons in both robotics and programming.

This robotics kit is also compatible with Raspberry Pi mini computers, which allows young mechanists to have a great amount of customization and control over their creations. If your little builder is ready for a step towards the “real thing, ” this kit is a great choice!

Elegoo UNO Project Smart Robot Car Kit

The least expensive robotics kit on this list, the Elegoo Smart Robot Car is only $74. This device is simple, with a small number of parts and a fast build time. This makes it a great choice for an aspiring builder’s first kit! It sports a few different modules, such as infrared and Bluetooth, making it a very customizable build.

It also sports connectivity with third party modules, allowing for a unique build. Note, the expansion modules have to be compatible with a 3-pin XH2.54 interface to be used with this kit.

May 15, 2018
Which Chat App is Best?

Practically everyone and their mom has a smartphone now. It’s easier than ever to stay connected to all our friends and family through a chat app! However, not everyone wants to be in huge group chats, and some people would prefer not to give their personal number out just to join in the conversation.

With that in mind, we’ve got a round-up of our favorite chat apps! Read on to find out which apps we love to use to stay connected.

Facebook Messenger

Facebook is the undisputed king of the heap when it comes to social media. Almost everyone has a Facebook profile, and as such, almost everyone has access to Facebook’s messenger app. This app is clean, functional and usable, which is all par the course for what we’ve come to expect from the biggest social media platform on the internet.

The app experience is somewhat bare-bones, however, which is disappointing when comparing it to Discord or Slack. However, Messenger makes the list for its ubiquity. If you need to make a group chat with friends or just message someone to start a conversation, Messenger is a fine choice.

Kik

Kik is something of a replacement for normal phone functions of texting and calling. With a unique video chat functionality that allows for small, thumbnail-sized video feeds while still texting, Kik certainly sets itself apart. Kik has a cool feature to check your phone’s contacts to add them to your contacts in the app. It also has a great interface: clean, smooth and easy to use. You should definitely give Kik a shot, especially if you’re looking for a more in-depth one-to-one text app than your phone’s text messenger allows for.

Slack

Mostly used by businesses, but also popular for gaming groups, Slack is a great chat suite. Sporting a good desktop app and a solid phone experience, Slack gets right to the point. With a no-frills interface that still allows for all the requisite emojis and gifs, Slack gets out of the way of your conversations.

If you’re a small business owner looking to pull all your employees into a chat together to coordinate your efforts, Slack is perfect. Similarly, if you’re trying to organize a gaming group and you don’t like Discord’s app, Slack is a great choice.

Our Favorite Chat App: Discord

This one is actually no contest. Discord is the best chat app in existence, bar none. There is no overstating how many awesome features are packed into Discord’s stellar desktop and mobile applications. Discord sports a user-friendly server set-up that can be subdivided into channels.

Functionality for tons of different types of games and news feeds can be integrated into servers at the admin’s discretion. Do you like Dungeons in Dragons? Install a bot that rolls dice and looks up stats in your server. Do you love sports? Install a bot that gives your final scores for your favorite teams. I can’t recommend Discord enough, whether you’re a gamer, professional, or anything in between.

May 15, 2018
The Best Tablet Computer Bang for Your Buck

Ah, the tablet. While everyone loves their smartphone, sometimes you want a bigger display. Whether you like the convenience of watching movies in bed, want a good device to play games on, or need to do actual work, tablets offer tons of handy versatility! However, some brands of tablet can be prohibitively expensive. If you’re looking for something more affordable, we’ve compiled a roundup of our favorite budget tablets!

Amazon Fire HD 8

Found on Amazon for $60, this little tablet is a great value for your money! Amazon’s proprietary tablet makes an awesome e-reader, as you might expect from the one-time bookseller. While the Amazon Fire 8 has rather lackluster cameras and somewhat less sharp display than its competition, it’s still a great value. If you want a tablet that works for web browsing, watching movies and reading books and don’t need a ton of fancy features and software, then this is a great pick. If you’re looking for something a bit better overall, but a tad pricier, read on!

Lenovo Tab 4 8

Lenovo, a respectable name on its own, has created a neat little tablet with a lot of personality in the Tab 4 8. If you’re already familiar with the Android OS from your smartphone then you’ll have no trouble with the OS in tablet form, which can make this a good choice for those who don’t want to learn a new OS. The Tab 4 8 is very solid, coming in at “middle of the pack” in nearly all ways, including its desirable price tag: you can pick this one up for $130. The Tab 4 8 has good battery life, a decent display, an inoffensive, likable design and great overall software performance. While this is a full $70 more than the Fire HD 8, you get a completely superior overall product, so if you don’t mind spending a bit extra then this is a great choice for you.

iPad 2017

The 2017 iPad is seeing a price drop now that the 2018 models are hitting the market. The iPad is far and away the most expensive tablet on this list, selling for around $270 on Amazon right now, but you absolutely get what you pay for. Retina Display and FaceTime cameras, Apple mainstays, are certainly great to have here, and the always-awesome iOS software is just as great on a tablet as on a smartphone. While it is expensive compared to the others on this list, if you’re looking for a tablet under $300 that delivers a premium experience and works like a dream, the iPad remains the best tablet out there. While some are put off by the relatively expensive accessories and high price of the device itself, this remains your best value, dollar-for-dollar, in tablets.

May 15, 2018
Laptop Lookout: HP Envy 17
HP is announcing an update to its Envy Line. HP Envy 17 will be available this summer, and is packing a nice bit of power. Now in 2018, HP has slimmed the bezels around the screens on the Envy laptops. Making the 17 big, powerful and beautiful.

The Great
- Great Screen
- Fantastic Performance
- Great Battery
- Sleek Desgin
The Not
- Bigger, Heavy
The Conclusion

THe HP Envy 17 is a powerful laptop, pretty that most can afford. Its big, to big to always have with you, but it should keep you from missing your desktop PC in most ways.

The Envy 17 packs a high-end quad-core mobile processor that will deliver more power than most people will use. Our tests on other laptops have shown that a simple dual-core processor suffices for mainstream applications, but quad-core comes in handy for more intensive uses such as gaming and creating graphics-heavy content.

Sound Upgrades

HP has now designed a row of Bang & Olufsen-tuned speakers line the front and they’re angling up at 45 degree. This points them at your ears for listing and not lower, much better sound receptions. I guess its the little things. The volume is now controlled by a touch scroll wheel in the base, where there is also a high-speed wireless charger.

Webcam, Pop Up

I’ve seen this getting adapted around a few tech devices that I hope catches on. Its the pop up camera. I know its kinda gimmicky but i like the assurance of not having some hack in to my camera and spy on my life. The pop up camera can be popped down and blinded when I’m not using it.

Lets Talk Speed

Speed and performance are off the charts. On the performance front, HP has updated from 7th Generation CPUs to the latest 8th Generation Intel Core quad-core CPU (4C/8T) running at a base frequency of 1.8 GHz with a maximum Turbo frequency of 4 GHz while fitting in a 15W TDP at base frequency. The 17-inch runs the massive processor but has 12GB of DDR4-2400 in a 4+8 GB tilted configuration.

Quick Spec Look
- CPU: Intel 8th-generation Core i7-8550U
- Memory: Up to 16GB of DDR4-2400 SDRAM (the base model has 8GB)
- Display: 17.3-inch FHD (1920×1080) IPS WLED backlit touchscreen
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce MX150 with 2GB GDDR5 memory
- Storage: 1TB 7,200rpm hard drive with a 16GB Intel Optane Memory module, plus a DVD drive
The Final Thought on the HP Envy 17

Solid, solid upgrades, beautiful design. I didn’t want to talk to much about the look of this, because its impressively stunning and something to experience first hand with about pre-building expectations. Just look at it you will know what I mean. Its got the screen and power we need but I think it will be more of a home computer for us, because of its size and weight, and not get to travel and see the world like the smaller versions. Sad
May 14, 2018