Month: May 2018

The Top New Features Coming with Android P

Android P, the newest OS for Android devices, was shown in greater detail at the I/O 2018 conference. If you missed it, or just want a recap, here’s a quick rundown of the coolest new features coming with Android P!

Gesture Navigation

Since 2011, Android devices have utilized three navigation buttons: home, back and multitask. Android P sports only a home button, relegating other tasks to gesture control, much like the iPhone X. This might be a drawback to users accustomed to the older style, but it will surely open up screen space for more attractive app designs.

Additionally, as iPhone users have known for years, gesture controls feel much more natural for a device meant to get out of your way. Navigation buttons feel very analog, which is at odds with a smart phone’s purpose of making things easy and quick.

App Suggestions

Another iOS-like feature, Android P will now intelligently use your habits and location to suggest apps to you. When you plug in headphones in the morning for your job, you may be prompted to open Spotify. When you get home and crash on the couch, Facebook could be suggested. These and other minor quality-of-life app integrations simply make your phone feel more like a natural extension of you.

Additionally, app “slices” are going to be integrated into the core functionality of the phone, another idea inspired by Apple. For instance, when using the map to look up various places, you may see a price from Uber or Lyft, encouraging you to open that app.

Adaptive Battery Life and Brightness

More ways to save your battery and save you headaches, Android P is said to intelligently learn which apps you use which days and preemptively turns off apps to save battery life. Google says this technology works with Deep Mind technology, using deep learning algorithms to better suit users’ needs.

Similarly, Android P introduces adaptive brightness, a system powered by similar learning algorithms. Between the time of day, amount of light hitting the sensor, user behavior and other factors, adaptive brightness seeks to help users manually adjust the brightness less and just enjoy their phones more.

Best New Android Feature: App Timers and Shush

Interestingly, Android P also comes with functionality to help you use it less. Firstly, the app dashboard will show you which apps you use the most, and which the device feels as though you are spending too much time using. Through this functionality you can set self-imposed time limits on apps, and the OS will shut them down after you have used up your self-allotted time.

In that same vein, Android P introduces Shush functionality. Shush is similar to a Do Not Disturb mode and can be enabled by setting the phone down with its front face on a surface. In Shush mode, the phone won’t alert you of any notifications, audio or otherwise. These features are very responsible and help users more tightly control their smart phone usage.

May 11, 2018
Google Home Receiving New Functionality

At this year’s I/O 2018 press conference Google unveiled a slew of new features and functionality for their Google Home platform. If you missed the event live, no worries, we have a recap of all the updates for Google Home right here!

Google Smart Display

As a direct competitor to Amazon’s Echo Show, the new Google Smart Displays go on sale this July. Representing a leap forward for the Smart Home line, the Smart Displays will be able to play YouTube videos and display search information directly on the screen. With all the Chromecast and Google Assistant support you’ve already come to expect from the platform, the Smart Display is an even better way to help you stay organized and connected.

Duplex Functionality

By far the most astonishing thing seen at I/O 2018 was Google’s new Duplex software. Essentially a highly advanced conversational AI, Duplex uses tons of neat linguistic tricks to sound eerily human. Originally pitched as a service that can make phone calls in lieu of users, in order to set up reservations and the like, Google has also teased that the highly advanced conversational program will make its way into the Google Home suite. Google Assistant functionality that speaks and reacts like a real person sounds simultaneously creepy and awesome. I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords!

Play Movies Compatibility

Bafflingly, Google Home has only recently received the functionality to launch movies purchased from Google’s own Play Store. Google Home has long had the ability to launch Netflix and other streaming services with just voice commands, but Google is only just now rolling out support for playing Google Play Movies from your library. While this one seems like a no-brainer, it’s always nice to small quality of life improvements like this not get overlooked in favor of massive new updates like the upcoming Duplex support.

May 11, 2018
GPU Prices (Finally) Dropping

If you’re like me and have less interest in using a GPU for cryptocurrency than video games, you’ve surely lamented the absurd prices of high end graphics cards over the last few years. Thankfully, prices are finally starting to drop on GPUs due to a variety of factors.

The Crypto-Elephant in the Room

For starters, the market for cryptocurrencies like BitCoin and Etherium is starting to cool down. This has been gradual, as the initial rush for the currencies was exponential, but now more reasonable expectations for the technology have led to most currency miners backing off somewhat on their investments in expensive mining rigs.

Supply is Meeting Demand

GPU manufacturers are finally starting to meet up with demand on their shipments. High end graphics cards are not easy or cheap to produce, and so the initial gold rush for cryptocurrency largely wiped out back inventory of premium GPUs. However, enough time has now passed that manufacturers are filling shipments again, which is great for consumers.

ASICs on the Horizon

Seeing the potential in the market, computer parts manufacturers have promised to deliver dedicated mining rigs, called ASICs, by the end of 2018. In preparation for this, most major mining operators are pulling back in their GPU purchases, consolidating their funds for the release of dedicated platforms for their trade. This is only good news: miners will be happy to have more specialized set ups and gamers will be able to affordably acquire high-end GPUs without taking out a small loan.

Bottom Line

Don’t feel the pressure to buy a new GPU right away. If you really want one, now isn’t a bad time, as most high-end cards are going for right around MSRP now, which is fantastic. However, as supply continues to catch up to demand and the release of ASICs rigs grows nearer, we will likely see further discounts on GPUs when the mining bubble moves on. Less likely, but more helpful for consumers, would be if the cryptocurrency bubble burst altogether.

While some gamers and PC enthusiasts have fingers crossed, that eventuality seems to be less likely the longer BitCoin and the like persist. Either way, we’ll very likely continue to see price drops on graphics cards for the foreseeable future.

May 11, 2018
The Top Ten Films About Artificial Intelligence

With Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant becoming more lifelike and responsive with each update, it’s growing more and more likely that we will soon see fully-fledged artificial intelligence that rivals that of humans. While the future is looking brighter for AI in the real world, pop culture has taught us that most AI constructs will inevitably run amok and try to kill all humans! With that in mind, let’s run down our list of our top ten favorite films about artificial intelligence!

Tron

Photo Credit: Moviefone

The 80’s classic was mind-blowing when it released. Casual moviegoers, unfamiliar with abstractions such as cyberspace and digitization, were treated to a visually stunning and downright puzzling film when they first saw Tron. Now regarded as a cult classic, and having garnered a sequel and animated series, Tron makes for a fantastic look back at an early visualization of a digital space.

Starring Jeff Bridges as Flynn, a hacker and programmer, the nerd-tastic tale has him being pulled into the world of the arcade game he has created to do battle with the evil, rampaging Master Control Program. The story is quaint and cheesy today, but audiences at the time generally found the plot “incoherent” and hard to follow. Oh, how times have changed!

I, Robot

Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox

Released in 2004, this gritty, noir-style action film is loosely based on the Asimov compilation of the same name. Will Smith stars as Del Spooner, a detective investigating a murder he blames on a robot, despite such an act being strictly forbidden by all robots’ programming.

A fantastic meditation on what it means to be human, and what makes something alive, I, Robot is the rare action movie that makes the viewer actually think in between bombastic shootouts. Will Smith’s Spooner is equal parts engaging and frustrating, as his anti-robot bias is affirmed and challenged in equal measure by the film’s plot.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Photo Credit: YouTube

While the plot may be somewhat derivative and the action a bit too fast-paced for deep meditations on the dangers of unchecked AI development, the second Avengers film does an excellent job of entertaining. Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Captain America and the rest of the Avengers crew have to throw down with Ultron, an AI construct that Tony Stark and Bruce Banner accidentally create while experimenting with the mystical Mind Stone.

Ultron decides to protect humanity from itself and creates its own vibranium body and an army of drones that do his bidding. The film ultimately pits the Avengers and their new artificial life form friend Vision against Ultron and his robo-soldiers in a spectacular final battle.

Ex Machina

Photo Credit: Nerdist

The classic tale of scientist creating a synthetic companion modeled after a human female is a pretty well-established trope. Metropolis and Weird Science, to name a few, explore this narrative. In Ex Machina, protagonist Caleb is brought in by his friend Nathan to administer a Turing test to Nathan’s AI Ava. Ava is a humanoid robot with highly advanced programming, and Caleb soon finds himself caught in a power struggle between Nathan and Ava.

The uneasy chemistry between human and machine is the focus here and is all too familiar to viewers who commonly interact with rudimentary artificial intelligence. Ava’s intentions are mysterious, her origins and dubious and her methods are worrisome: she represents all of humanity’s anxieties about artificial intelligence.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence

Photo Credit: Time Out

A sci-fi take on Pinocchio, Spielberg’s sprawling technological opus is a treat for the eyes, if a little long in the runtime. With superb performances by Jude Law and Haley Joel Osment, A.I. juggles its myriad of ideas regarding morality and mortality with respectable deft. The film tells a touching story of a robotic child programmed to love unconditionally, and his journey to find a place he can call home.

The film has a surprising amount of pathos for a story that almost exclusively follows artificial life forms. A unique take on an artificial intelligence-centered tale, the robots aren’t depicted as the antagonists, but instead, time and circumstance keep our characters from their goals.

Terminator

Photo Credit: Mental Floss

What if the artificial intelligence only wants to terminate you? I’d be surprised if you haven’t heard of this one. At the very least, you’ve probably heard someone doing a poor Arnold impersonation of one of his iconic lines. Terminator is the rare absurd sci-fi action movie that crosses over into the mainstream. Between the mechanical sheen and menace of the titular antagonist and the over-the-top, cheesy action sequences, Terminator oozes “80’s action flick,” wearing that badge proudly for all to see.

The plot revolves around some pretty absurd sci-fi tropes: in the future, machines, led by a system called SkyNet, have taken over the world. The only hope for humanity is John Connor, a resistance fighter who leads the scattered human enclave. In order to secure victory, SkyNet sends an advanced robotic assassin back in time to kill Connor before he becomes the savior of humanity. A ton of ridiculous action set-pieces in then-modern America ensue.

The Matrix

Photo Credit: Letterboxd

Another very well-known action film with AI at its center, the Matrix is an interesting tale of perception, reality and questioning the status quo. When Thomas Anderson, also known under his alias Neo, discovers that his reality is actually a simulation, he joins a resistance against the machines who rule over his world. As another take on the “evil A.I. overlords” story, the Matrix uses surprisingly deep philosophical ideas to power its action and shootouts.

Highly influential upon release for its use of slow-motion special effects and “bullet time” whirling camera techniques, as well as its intriguing premise. The Matrix is largely considered to be a turning point for Hollywood blockbusters.

Her

Photo Credit: Roger Ebert

Featuring excellent voice work from Scarlett Johansson, Heris a surprisingly sweet romance film about an AI and her human operator who fall in love. The quasi-Romeo and Juliet tale is effective at bringing about genuine emotional depth by imbuing the titular AI, Samantha, with very human desires and behavior.

The film paints a fascinating picture of human emotional complexity conflicting with computerized algorithms. Protagonist Theodore, who is a sensitive and soft man, finds himself unable to cope when he discovers Samantha’s functions are also dating thousands of other operators and AI constructs. The near-limitless potential of Samantha’s intelligence allows her to grow exponentially, and experience far more than Theodore could ever imagine.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Photo Credit: Den of Geek

The first time the crew of the Starship Enterprisewere seen on the silver screen, they did battle with a mysterious gas cloud known as V’Ger. While the film is somewhat divisive among fans, it makes this list for its fascinating antagonist. V’Ger, who turns out to be a sentient ship, is on a mission to obtain all the information in the universe and is tearing through reality to do so. When Commander Spock finally manages to mind meld with the A.I., he learns that it was originally the Voyager 6 probe, upgraded and given new purpose by a race of sentient machines.

Blade Runner

Photo Credit: Mashable

The cream of the crop when it comes to entertaining films about artificial intelligence, Blade Runner is a weighty, cerebral noir film. Main character Rick Deckard, played by Harrison Ford, works to untangle a deep conspiracy involving the shadowy Tyrell Corporation and its lifelike robots. These robots, called Replicants, are able to near-perfectly mimic human emotions and responses. Deckard, as a “blade runner,” is specialized in hunting and “decommissioning” rogue replicants.

Sporting unique pacing and unconventional story structure, Blade Runneris one of the very best cyberpunk films ever made. If you haven’t seen it, you really should! It also received a sequel in the form of Blade Runner 2049, a worthy successor to the original and a bit more accessible to modern audiences.

May 11, 2018
Four Big Reveals from Google’s I/O 2018 Conference

Google’s massive I/O 2018 conference unveiling all their new tech and software has come and gone. If you missed it, don’t fret! We’ve got you covered. Check out the biggest news from Google this year!

I/O 2018 Reveal #1: Smart Compose for G-Mail

As a hybrid of predictive text and AI assistant, Smart Compose aims to make your email composition faster and easier. Using knowledge of your typing patterns and schedule, Smart Compose helps you automatically fill in chunks of sentences and streamlines your typing process.

This functionality is sure to be useful for those who have to compose dozens of emails a day. Helping cut down on the amount of time those people spend typing will allow them to focus on more productive or thought-heavy tasks, rather than bogging them down with routine emails.

I/O 2018 Reveal #2: Android P Public Beta

Google announced that they are rolling out the public beta of their new Android OS, Android P. Uniquely, this beta isn’t exclusive to Google’s Pixel line of phones. It will also be available on select phones from other manufacturers. Notably, the OnePlus 6 will be eligible for the beta when it releases later this year.

Android P is slated to be the next “big” thing. It streamlines the user experiences and adopts a more modern software suite. The new OS opts to clear out the four navigation buttons in favor of an iPhone X-like home button in the shape of a horizontal bar at the bottom of the screen. Android P also sports app suggestions based on time and location, another idea inspired by iOS.

I/O 2018 Reveal #3: Google Smart Displays

Continuing Google’s push to be a part of your daily routine, their Google Assistant functionality gets an update this summer with the launch of Google Smart Displays. These displays will be like Google Home speakers with screens, for lack of a better descriptor.

Coming in July, these smart displays are poised to compete with Amazon’s Alexa-powered Echo Show displays. Interestingly, Google’s device can play YouTube videos, while the Echo Show doesn’t have that capability.

I/O 2018 Reveal #4: Google Duplex

This robust speaking AI software stole the show. Google Duplex is a feature of Google assistant capable of making realistic phone calls to businesses to make reservations and other phone-based services. Duplex sounds natural, lifelike, and completely unlike any speaking AI we have heard before.

Complete with pauses and “ums,” Duplex manages to navigate conversation better than some humans and will be revolutionary for those with phone anxiety or those who simply don’t have time to make phone calls in their busy day.

May 11, 2018
Hottest Nintendo Switch Games of 2018

With Summer and E3 rapidly approaching, you’re surely looking for something new to play on your Switch. While the release of Super Smash Bros, Fire Emblem and Pokemon are still a little way off, there’s no need to worry: there’s still a ton of cool games to check out on your Switch! Today we’re rounding up our favorite Switch titles of 2018 so far!

Bayonetta 2

A port of the Wii U hit, Bayonetta 2 is available as a standalone digital release, or as a physical release that comes included with a copy of the first game. Bayonetta is a must-have for fans of fast-paced, frenetic action.

With a main character who oozes style and dispatches angels and demons without breaking a sweat, Bayonetta follows in the footsteps of greats like Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden. If you missed this one on Wii U, or if you just want another crack at the addictive action on the go, you should check out the Switch version!

Kirby Star Allies

Everyone’s favorite pink puffball is back on the Switch! While Star Allies doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it is still an excellent addition to Kirby’s impressive library of games. Sporting silky-smooth drop-in drop-out couch co-op and the triumphant return of power combinations, this is a game built with friends in mind.

Whether you’re all on the couch in the living room or huddled around the console in tabletop mode, Star Allies makes for a great centerpiece to an afternoon hanging out with buddies. If you’ve enjoyed Kirby’s previous 2D platformers, you’re going to find a lot to love in this beautiful HD update to the classic formula.

Celeste

Okay, this one isn’t Switch exclusive, but it really might as well be. A charming (and burtally difficult) 16-bit platformer, Celeste tells the tale a young girl trying to climb a mountain. The game has pitch-perfect controls, witty writing, likable characters and cool retro graphics. While the game’s soaring difficulty curve might put some off, the game offers an assist mode to help players who are struggling.

However, the game’s story directly addresses how personal growth occurs when we challenge ourselves to reach new heights. This game is a showcase of how to marry game mechanics with story: with each level you beat, you get that much closer to scaling the mountain. But, the more you push, the harder it gets. Perseverance, determination, and some tight platforming skills are required to reach the top.

Our Favorite Switch Game Right Now: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Another port of a fantastic Wii U game, this sequel to the 2006 revival of Donkey Kong Country deserves your attention. If you liked the originals back on the SNES, or their Game Boy Advance remakes, you should give this game a shot. Combining the old-school philosophy of level design and world building, DKC:TF consistently challenges the player to up their game.

With a pitch-perfect difficulty curve that keeps you learning new ways to challenge yourself and superb visuals and music, this entry in the storied series deserves your attention. On the Switch it gains a new level of portability over its original incarnation, which adds even more reason to check out this version.

May 11, 2018
Laptop Lookout: MSI GS65 Stealth
Laptops are the cornerstone of our computing resources in this day and age. We need power, robust performance and ultimate portability for every aspect of our daily lives. This is a guide and insight to the best tablets on the market and today I’m here to talk about the GS65 Stealth. This is a Thin ultra-portable 15.6-inch laptop with a thin bezel gaming display and its brand new gold-and-black premium design. Its a complete laptop solution that can fit in any dynamic.

The Great
- Attractive, subtle design
- Gorgeous, fast display
- Excellent performance
- Effective thermal management
The Not
- Bottom gets burning hot
- Lack of biometric login
- Poor audio
The Conclusion

The MSI GS65 Stealth laptop is making a run at being my favorite gaming laptop. It is a powerhouse of a machine with cutting edge components, which includes an 8th-generation Intel Core i7-8750H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 GPU.

Taking the reigns as the best gaming laptop is a tall task that MSi Set out on, The result is a sleek, portable 15-inch laptop within a 14-inch device that’s capable of high-end gaming as well as intense productivity work for a decent price – cheaper than key competitors.

The Design

There are no sharp angles or red LEDs all over this laptop, on the contrast really, you are going to l find a sleek, all-black device with subtle gold accents on its lid, within its dual hinges and surrounding its touchpad. Those gorgeous gold accents are also found highlighting the laptop’s heat vents, but nowhere else on the brushed, black aluminum frame. The result is one of the most visually arousing laptops on the market. its nice

The Display

It is bright and it is beautiful. 144hz panel the refresh rate is just right for seizure inducing gaming and contents of dark corridors in games just fine at even 50% brightness. Plus, MSI’s True Color 2.0 produces color gamuts that meet 100% of Adobe RGB and close to 100% of sRGB standard, and also supports game-specific color modes as well as anti-blue light modes.

The Performance

The H-series Intel Core i7 processor, paired with that Nvidia Max-Q GTX 1070, make quick work of everything we throw at the GS65 Stealth. Its a combination matched with the screen and design that have this laptop purring. If it can handle a full run at Battlefront II it will surely handle your morning email parade whilst listening to Golic and Wingos morning show with power to spare. AS far as battery goes well you should know that almost none of these gaming laptops bring decent battery life to the table, but it is quite adequate considering the teeth on this guy.

MSI GS65 Stealth Quick Spec Look
- CPU: Intel Core i7
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB GDDR5X VRAM, Max-Q)
- RAM: 16GB
- Screen: 15.6-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) anti-glare, wide-view 144Hz panel
- Storage: 512GB M.2 SSD
The Final Thought

The MSI GS65 Stealth is officially the most impressive Nvidia Max-Q gaming laptop that I’ve tested. Only the Razor blade pro can even compare. GS65 Stealth with lots of pre-loaded software, but it artfully avoids ‘bloatware’ status by providing functionality that’s actually useful. Its sleek, pretty and great as a everyday work laptop as well as a monster for gaming. Its reasonably priced and considering everything it is an incredible value.
May 10, 2018
Google ARCore 1.2 to Offer New Functionality for Augmented Reality

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality technology are both major focuses for Google at the moment, judging by their I/O 2018 press conference and continued support for ARCore. The ARCore software attempts to replicate some of the functionality of Google’s Project Tango hardware on conventional smart phones. Augmented reality features such as wall detection, image recognition and more are core features of Project Tango and ARCore.

Cloud Anchors

The fantasy-sounding Cloud Anchor technologies allows for multiplayer experiences in augmented reality. Sharing simulated 3D objects with multiple users allows for several people at once to manipulate the same augmented reality experience. This could allow for such fascinating digital projections like chess games with no need for pieces or a board. The imagination of developers is really the only limit to this exciting new technology.

Cross-Platform

More exciting still, Google is building this ARCore technology to work across iOS devices as well as Android devices. This is sure to broaden the user base of the new functionality and make it more desirable for developers to adopt the experimental augmented reality software.

Improved SDK

Speaking of developers, Google also promises an improved software development kit for programmers looking to make new augmented reality apps. The Sceneform SDK will allow developers to use common 3D widgets without having to go through the process of animating and programming them. This shared toolkit will likely continue to make augmented reality projects desirable to build for Android devices, helping solidify Google as a primary supporter of the burgeoning technology.

May 10, 2018
Apple Issues Ultimatum to App Designers

New guidelines are now in the hands of Apple developers. By July 2018, all new apps will need to support the unique dimensions and top-of-screen notch on the iPhone X. This new guideline applies not just to new apps, but to all apps that already exist on the Apple App Store.

Apple’s Statement

“iOS 11 delivers innovative features and the redesigned App Store to hundreds of millions of customers around the world. Your apps can deliver more intelligent, unified, and immersive experiences with Core ML, ARKit, new camera APIs, new SiriKit domains, Apple Music integration, drag and drop for iPad, and more. Starting July 2018, all iOS app updates submitted to the App Store must be built with the iOS 11 SDK and must support the Super Retina display of iPhone X.”

iOS 11 SDK

The SDK in question is the new iOS 11 SDK, or software development kit. This will mean that all apps will support the features and unique screen characteristics of the iPhone X by the end of the summer. Most developers have found the top notch to not be the hardest thing to design their apps around. Instead that the always-on home indicator (the thin bar that indicates access to multitasking, etc.) has been the largest design challenge.

This approach is nothing new and is similar to Apple’s support of previous iPhone releases. Most popular apps have already updated to reflect these design changes. Those that haven’t were already expected to follow suit shortly, even without the ultimatum from Apple. Given that the iPhone X has been fantastically popular this comes as no surprise.

And the iPhone X’s popularity is no mistake! The iPhone X is also our favorite premium smart phone! To find out why, go check out our roundup of our favorite smart phones.

May 10, 2018
The Ultimate Dating App Roundup

Finding the right dating app can be just as difficult as finding the right date! Let us be your knight in shining armor by cutting through the dating jungle: Here are the top ten dating apps for finding your perfect match!
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Happn

Happn is a dating app focused on the plot of How I Met Your Mother. Just kidding! The premise of this app is that you likely pass “the one” on the street or on your way to work all the time! All of your matches are people with whom you’ve crossed paths, helping you to break the ice with people in your day-to-day routine. Happn lets you sync your Facebook, Instagram and Spotify to your profile, which allows for quick profile set up and music taste pairings.

Zoosk

Zoosk is unique in that it allows user to use photo verification. This ensures a degree of “catfish protection” for users, helping ease anxiety that potential dates are who they say they are. Zoosk, sadly, had to lay off a large number of their staff recently due to losses to apps like Tinder, but they remain a great choice for dating app for those who don’t wish to use Tinder!

OK Cupid

OKC uniquely doesn’t require you to link your Facebook. It’s one of the very few dating apps to do this, but it does allow for Instagram sync for pictures. OKC allows for rather long and in-depth profiles, which is nice for getting to know more about potential dates. However, anyone can message you, which can be a big downside when you continuously get messaged by people you don’t want to talk to in the first place.

Match.com

This dating app is actually from one of the oldest dating sites on the internet. Match certainly has experience under their belt, having been a part of the dating site world long before apps even existed. While the userbase is large and the interface is good, Match requires a somewhat pricey subscription in order to use more useful functionality. The user interface is less than perfect, but that’s not as big of a deal-breaker. If you’re looking for more mature matches, this app, with its pricey subscription, might be for you.
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Hinge

Hinge, interestingly, matches you with friends of friends. Using your Facebook profile, you connect with friends two or three degrees separated from yourself. This helps cut down on inappropriate strangers, as does the messaging funtion: you can only message people you’ve matched with. Otherwise, this app resembles Tinder, but it’s definitely geared more towards dating than hooking up. This is visible in the “what kind of relationship are you looking for?”-style questions and in-depth personality quiz.

Bumble

Bumble is very female-user-friendly: when a male and female user match, the female user has to initiate messaging. This is meant to make women who use the app feel more comfortable that they won’t be harassed by men and is meant to increase the overall user experience. Matches expire after 24 hours, which helps encourage interaction. The dating app also has a code of conduct and takes obvious pains to help its user feel safe and unintimidated. A really awesome choice for those nervous about dating apps!

Plenty of Fish

POF is an old dating app, like Match, and it also sports a tremendous userbase. It has somewhere over 90 million users, which is positively massive, and boasts that users are highly likely to match within 24 hours of using the app. POF also has functionality like Tinder, in its swipe system, and a “recently nearby” feature like Happn. This dating app is also totally free, which is great for users looking to match without spenidng money on a dating service.

Tastebuds

Tastebuds is the dating app equivalent of sending a crush a mix tape. Using music tastes to help connect people, this app is really cute and can be used to find friends as well as dates. You can set up your profile with a song clip and most of the questions in the chemistry test are music related! While the lack of a “matched” section to see the users you’ve matched with is frustrating, this is still a good choice for audiophiles to find people with tastes like their own! Not to mention how much less arbitrary of a sorting mechanic music is than, say, whether or not you like Harry Potter or some other nonsense.

Coffee Meets Bagel

The oddly named dating app Coffee Meets Bagel has an interesting design. It matches you with one profile (which it adorably calls bagels) per day, and you choose whether to like or pass the bagel. If you match with them you open a message thread with one another that stays open for eight days. This eight day limit encourages exchanging info and getting together, or, worst case scenario, allows users you had less chemistry with to simply go away after messaging stops. Unfortunately, the app is very slow paced compared to options like Tinder, which can be a bad thing: a dating app that encourages you to be passive is kind of missing the point. But if you’re looking for a low-pressure, measured pace, then this one is right for you!

Our Favorite Dating App: Tinder

You knew this one would be on the list. You probably even knew this one would be atop this list. For those of you who are somehow still unaware, Tinder is the gold standard for dating apps. Tinder requires a Facebook account be linked, which is pretty standard fare. You are given 500 characters to write a brief bio and you can post up to six pictures of yourself.

When you find new users, you swipe left or right, either liking them or passing on them. If you and another user both right swipe (like) each other, you are encouraged to message one another. This clean, user-friendly interface makes this app incredibly popular among singles. While it has something of a reputation as a place where people come to find hook ups, it also has a good track record of helping people meet lasting partners.

May 10, 2018