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  • Alex Jones, Milo Yiannoupolis, Others, Banned from Facebook, Instagram

    Alex Jones, Milo Yiannoupolis, Others, Banned from Facebook, Instagram

    Controversial right-wing personalities like Alex Jones were banned from Facebook and Instagram on Friday. The figures also included Milo Yiannoupolis and Laura Loomer, avowed far-right commentators who are well-known for their combative and confrontational personalities. The bans also extend to Facebook-owned photo-sharing app, Instagram.

    Far-Right Bans Laid Down by Facebook, Instagram

    Facebook’s Reasoning

    The reasoning behind the banning, as stated by Facebook, was that the people in question violated their terms of service and community guidelines. As Facebook puts it, Alex Jones and the other figures represent dangerous ideologies and as such banned them. For comparison, the platform also banned Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, as well as numerous other figures from all sides of the political spectrum.

    “We’ve always banned individuals or organizations that promote or engage in violence and hate, regardless of ideology,” went a Facebook statement following the bans. “The process for evaluating potential violators is extensive and it is what led us to our decision to remove these accounts today.”

    Facebook noted that part of the reasoning behind the banning of Jones included his show hosting Gavin McInnes, founder of the Proud Boys and known “white nationalist”. This move highlights Facebook’s increasing attempts to take responsibility for the voices of hate on their platform.

    Outcry

    There was some outcry regarding the banning on Facebook and Twitter among various far-right groups. Many complained that the move violated the First Amendment rights of the banned individuals, including notable Twitter personalities. However, this is a misunderstanding of the First Amendment, which protects speech from censorship by the government.

    As neither Facebook nor Instagram are governmental agencies, their moves have no interaction with the Bill of Rights. Oddly, their moves to ban people from their platforms on the basis of violating terms of service line up neatly with normal Conservative values that include lack of government oversight into private industry.

  • PowerBeats Pro Review: An Alternative to AirPods?

    PowerBeats Pro Review: An Alternative to AirPods?

    AirPods are the de facto true-wireless earbuds on the market, thanks to Apple’s dedication to high quality and brand recognition. However, Beats has a new entry in the wireless market coming on May 10th, the PowerBeats Pro. Are they a true competitor to Apple’s throne?

    Well, Beats is owned by Apple, so it might not be as much of a competition. However, the question remains: are these wireless earbuds worth it? While the two companies have shared innovation from the AirPods on the PowerBeats Pro, these are decidedly different products.

    PowerBeats Pro

    Details and Specs

    Out of the gate, the only finish available will be the plain black. However, as time goes on, Beats will roll out navy, moss and ivory color options. The earbuds offer up to nine hours of listening time, making them a solid option on that front. Likewise, the H1 chip seen in Apple’s AirPods is on display here.

    The sound is high quality, spacious and roomy in ways that earbuds often aren’t. The earbuds hook around the ear, locking in place tightly, making them better options for jogging or swimming than AirPods. As you might expect, the PowerBeats Pro are water and sweat resistant.

    Much like the AirPods, these come with a charging case that is slick and helps you keep up with the earbuds when not in use. Speaking of, the rounder, larger design makes these much harder to lose or misplace than AirPods.

    Bottom Line

    If you’re an active type who enjoys jogging, climbing or swimming while listening to music, then these earbuds are likely a great pick for you. If you feel like it’d be too easy for you to lose AirPods, then the PowerBeats Pro, with their larger design and variety of color options, might be the right option for you.

    You can pre-order the newest Beats headphones online at Apple’s site now. They’ll be made available on May 10th, and they’ll be retailing for $250.

  • Car Designs that Need to Die: Worst Design Mistakes

    Car Designs that Need to Die: Worst Design Mistakes

    When you see a great-looking car, the design can really stick with you. Looking at a well-styled car reminds you that there are a ton of ugly looking vehicles out there. While the 80’s had tons of box-shaped cars and the 2000’s had endless lines and curves, the late 2010’s have been full of odd design choices. Today we’re looking at our least favorite designs in modern cars.

    Worst Car Designs in 2019

    Ornamental Exhaust Ports

    There are a lot of pieces of design language that speak to a car being a sporty, muscled and mean vehicle. One of these is a large number of exhaust tips. However, when a designer adds fake exhaust tips that are entirely ornamental, it usually draws a chuckle. If a car is powerful and needs the extra exhaust ports, add them. But don’t try to trick drivers into thinking it’s a better car than it is.

    For reference, the ugly-looking fake exhaust ports on the Audi A6 are the most egregious in this category.

    Vents for Looks

    It’s one thing when an affordable car, like the Honda Civic, styles itself in a model like a sports car. However, when a vehicle like the Kia Stinger sports strictly ornamental vents it looks like someone is trying way too hard. The Stinger is already a beast, why include vents just for looks? The car is already sick enough on its own.

    Jewel Headlamps

    Jewel headlights, or Spider headlights as they’re also known, are a particularly ugly modern design trend. The headlights look like a string of jewels or an arachnid’s eye structure, and it’s a weird look. There’s no functional purpose for all of these light points in one headlamp, and it simply confuses the eye.

    Oversized Grilles

    Vehicles like the Toyota Avalon sport absurdly oversized grilles. In the case of the Avalon, roughly 70 percent of the grille is non-functional. While the Avalon is an all-around solid vehicle, the comically oversized front grille gives it an awkward and goofy appearance.

  • You Need a Smart Plug: Peace of Mind and Convenience at Once

    You Need a Smart Plug: Peace of Mind and Convenience at Once

    We’ve all been there: you’re driving to work and start to worry. Did you turn off your curling iron? You’re left sitting at work worrying that you should head home and check, but you don’t have time to step away from your desk. If only you could just check and turn it off from your phone!

    Well, good news: now you can. By installing a smart plug in your bathroom, you can activate and power down your appliances from a distance.

    Why You Need a Smart Plug

    Electrical Safety

    The most straightforward reason to have a smart plug is so you can make sure your appliances are turned off even when you’re not home. This can be done through connecting your smart plug to your Wi-Fi and then using a phone app to control whether it sends power. No more worrying about your curling iron burning the house down!

    Convenience

    Smart plugs are also eminently convenient. You can plug any old appliance into a smart plug and make it a smart device. Floor lamp that’s awkward to get to? Smart plug it, now it’s a smart lamp. Fan in your room that you turn on when it’s hot and you’re trying to sleep? Power it on from your phone instead of having to cross the room.

    Smart Integration

    You can even integrate smart plugs into your existing smart home setup. If you use Google Home or Amazon’s Alexa, you can integrate most smart plugs into your voice control. Simple controls like “turn on the lamp in the living room” can be keyed to specific plugs.

    Nothing feels quite as high-tech as calling out to your personal AI assistant to turn the lights on and having it listen. It’s a stark reminder that we live in exciting times for technology and technical advancement!

  • Do You Get Enough Vitamins? Try These Vitamin Subscription Services

    Do You Get Enough Vitamins? Try These Vitamin Subscription Services

    Everything has a subscription these days. You subscribe to a video streaming service like Netflix. You could have a shave club subscription, or maybe a makeup subscription. Maybe you get meal boxes in the mail, or something more fun like a Loot Crate-style grab bag. But do you get your vitamins delivered to your door?

    Most people don’t get nearly enough vitamins, and it shows in their overall health. After all, it’s hard getting enough vitamins in a normal diet. Don’t worry: today we’re going over the best vitamin subscriptions for those trying to get healthy.

    Vitamin Subscription Services

    Why Get a Subscription?

    Personalized vitamin subscriptions are an important service when you compare them with a normal multivitamin. Mass-market vitamins have to appeal to the widest number of people, but that means that they could be full of stuff you’re already getting enough of.

    Subscription services are wonderful because they’re personalized. You get exactly the vitamins that your diet is missing, so you’re that much healthier! Not to mention, it’s nice to get them delivered right to your door. You don’t need to remember to go out and get them, or be bothered with a trip to the supermarket.

    The Best Subscription Services

    Generally speaking, you want to go with a service that fits your budget and offers you the best value. Some of the more well-regarded vitamin subscription services are HUM Nutrition and Persona Nutrition, both of which offer you access to professional nutritionists. These two services are a bit on the pricier side, however.

    If you don’t care about having contact with a dietician or nutritionist, Rootine offers a subscription service of personalized vitamins for $60 per month. Similarly, Vitafive offers less expensive prices for vitamins in gummy form, and even offers support for Amazon Prime users.

    Other services that get good reviews and offer personalized services are Care/of and Ritual. Care/of sends you multiple pills or powders for your vitamin regiment, whereas Ritual just sends you one pill that has all the stuff you need in it.

  • Ready to Jam? Best Wireless Speakers for Music Streaming

    Ready to Jam? Best Wireless Speakers for Music Streaming

    Who doesn’t love to jam to their favorite tunes? In the era of streaming music, it’s never been easier to get your hands (and ears) on your favorite music. If you’ve been looking for a good wireless speaker for your music streaming, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s look at some of the best wireless speakers on the market!

    Best Wireless Speakers

    Denon HEOS 1

    Nothing beats a speaker that’s as rugged as it is high quality. That’s what the water-resistant Denon HEOS 1 brings to the table, all for the low price of $169. Control options through Alexa and Google Assistant are available, so you can stream your music straight to the smart speaker.

    Importantly, the sound quality is quite good. This speaker brings big sound when you want to really rock out, making it a good value. If flexibility is what you’re looking for, this is the speaker for you.

    Apple HomePod

    If you’ve got a bit of money to spend and don’t already have a proper smart home speaker, consider the Apple HomePod. Apple’s smart speaker uses their Siri voice assistant to synchronize all of your smart home devices. It’s also a really great speaker!

    The HomePod is also the best option for Apple fans who use Apple’s Music streaming service. If you’re already sold on the iPhone, Apple Watch and MacBook line of products, the HomePod is the right smart speaker for you.

    Sonos One

    The Sonos One comes in at $200, and it’s one of the best wireless speakers you can buy for the value. It features Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa support, making it as much a part of your smart home as any other smart device. The sound quality is full and rich, and it can fill a room with great-sounding music.

    You can pair two Sonos One speakers together, as well. This results in a high-quality and flexible audio system that can span multiple rooms. For the price, this is one of the best values you can get in a wireless speaker.

  • Borderlands 3 Preview: A Billion Guns

    Borderlands 3 Preview: A Billion Guns

    Gearbox really needs a win after the fiasco that was Battleborn. That ill-fated first-person MOBA was unfairly stacked against Overwatch at a point in time when “hero shooters” were at their peak popularity. Thankfully, Borderlands 3 seems poised to put Gearbox back on the map as a developer. A game that promises a billion guns is exactly what they need right now.

    Borderlands 3: Step Back into the Borderlands

    The New Vault Hunters

    Four new Vault Hunters are taking up the mantle from the previous protagonists. This time around, we’ve got beastmaster FL4K, secret agent Zane, Siren Amara and heavy-gunner Moze. Each of these Hunters comes with unique skill trees and class abilities, not dissimilar from prior games’ protagonists. Each of them can be customized to granular details, meaning no two Vault Hunters will be the same.

    Unmitigated Mayhem

    This time around, the game promises even more massive boss battles, wacky enemies and exotic locales. While previous entries were land-locked to the planet of Pandora, that’s not the case this time around. In BL3, players will begin aboard their spaceship, the Sanctuary III, a starship capable of traveling to distant planets.

    In order to get a break from the drab, sandy locales of Pandora, the galaxy will be the player’s oyster. Traveling to new planets, seeking out countless recently opened Vaults and cracking bad-guy skulls will be the main attraction. Oh, and there will be “a billion guns,” according to Gearbox. Awesome.

    New Loot System

    Speaking of those guns, you’ll be happy to know that players get individualized, instanced loot now. That means your buddies can’t just swoop in and grab up the best guns before you get a chance to grab them. On that same token, players will also no longer be punished for playing with their higher-leveled friends.

    If you join a friend at a higher level, their enemies won’t just smash you to bits. Instead, you’ll each do normalized damage to the bad guys, and vice versa. Also, you’ll each see level-appropriate loot, which means that there are less barriers to playing with buddies now.

    Of course, if you preferred the old style, you can turn on “classic mode” to enjoy the old-school Borderlands loot system. In either case, Borderlands 3 will be landing on PS4, Xbox One and PC on September 13th, 2019. Are you excited?

  • Tesla Being Sued Over Fatal Autopilot Crash

    Tesla Being Sued Over Fatal Autopilot Crash

    Surprisingly, luxury automaker Tesla is being sued over a deadly crash that occurred in early 2018. The family of Walter Huang, who died in a tragic accident when his Model X hit a central concrete median, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. The suit claims that Tesla’s autopilot feature was to blame for Huang’s death, not his own inattentiveness at the wheel.

    Tesla Being Sued over Autopilot

    The Crash

    Huang was 38 when he passed away on March 23, 2018. He was driving in Mountain View, California, deep in Silicone Valley, when his autopilot misread the lane and didn’t brake before striking the concrete median. According to the complaint, not only did Huang’s vehicle not brake, it accelerated into the barrier.

    Mark Fong, a partner at a firm that is representing Huang’s family, released a statement. He stated that Tesla is “beta testing its Autopilot software on live drivers,” and that “The Huang family wants to help prevent this tragedy from happening to other drivers using Tesla vehicles or any semi-autonomous vehicles”.

    The Suit

    The lawsuit alleges that Tesla holds liability for Huang’s death due to a defective product design. The suit also alleges that Tesla failed to warn drivers enough about the autopilot system’s limitations, and that they intentionally misrepresented the system and advertised it falsely.

    The complaint does not specify the amount of damages the plaintiffs are seeking. However, it does name the State of California as a defendant for not replacing the guardrail that should have surrounded the median that Huang hit. Presumably, that guardrail would have greatly reduced the impact of the crash.

    Tesla’s Response

    As of yet, Tesla has made no formal response to the complaint. Likewise, the State of California has made no statement regarding the suit. It is worth noting that when news of Huang’s death was made public, Tesla stated that “safety is at the core of everything we do and every decision we make, so the loss of a life in an accident involving a Tesla vehicle is difficult for all of us.”

    At the time of that news breaking, Tesla expressed deep sadness over the crash. However, official reports stated that, despite Tesla warning drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and remain attentive while using autopilot, “the vehicle did not detect the driver’s hands on the steering wheel in the six seconds before the crash.”

  • Which is the Better Smartphone OS, Android or iOS?

    Which is the Better Smartphone OS, Android or iOS?

    When it comes to smartphone platforms, there are two big names to choose from. On the one hand, you have iOS, the original smartphone operating system and a very stable option from Apple. On the other hand, you have the much more open Android system from Google that is used on most other major smartphones. Which is the right call for you?

    Android vs iOS

    Open vs Closed Systems

    Apple is known for their user-friendly, “it just works” attitude towards design. In order to achieve this, however, Apple’s platforms, like iOS and Mac OS, are much more closed-off. While iOS is a very user-friendly and pleasing platform, it doesn’t offer the same range of customization and granularity that Android does.

    Android, on the other hand, has a bit more of a learning curve. It’s more akin to using a Windows computer than a Mac. There are a ton of options available to users, but they also require you learn a lot about your phone and how it works. That said, this openness also comes with a price: platform instability and malware.

    Aesthetics and Functionality

    Generally speaking, both iOS and Android allow users to do roughly the same things. Sending text messages, making phone calls, navigating the internet and using apps are all the same across the two systems. Both allow for music playback, both have support for all major apps and neither has a glaring hole in its functionality.

    If you like the idea of controlling the aesthetics of your phone’s operational appearance, however, Android is for you. Landing pages, backgrounds and basic phone operations are much more malleable on Android, though this does mean you can accidentally make your phone very difficult to navigate effectively.

    The Phones

    One of the biggest drawbacks to iOS is the closed nature of the system in more ways than one. Namely, iOS is only available on iPhones, and not everyone loves Apple’s design ethos. Some people just can’t afford the newest Apple phones, while others don’t like the minimalist design.

    Android, on the other hand, is available on phones from a wide number of manufacturers at wildly varying price points and design styles.

    Bottom Line

    If you’re the kind of person who likes an “all-in-the-box” design style, you’ll love Apple’s iOS. If you prefer to customize your phone and make everything your own, however, you’ll likely prefer to use Android.

  • Amazon Alexa to Have Full Spanish-Language Integration in 2019

    Amazon Alexa to Have Full Spanish-Language Integration in 2019

    Spanish-speaking Amazon Echo users have reason to be excited: Amazon has announced that their Alexa voice assistant will support Spanish-language commands before the end of 2019. This news coincides with reports that app developers who have Alexa-enabled features on their apps can request developer kits to develop Spanish-language skills.

    Amazon to Speak Spanish Soon

    Amazon’s Statement

    This news comes courtesy of Amazon themselves. The company made the news public in a blog post relating to the future of Alexa and Alexa-enabled devices.

    “Along with the Echo family of devices, later this year Bose, Facebook, and Sony will bring Alexa Built-in devices and Philips, TP Link, and Honeywell Home will bring Works with Alexa devices that support Spanish in the US,” Stated Amazon in their post.

    Why Spanish?

    Spanish is one of the most-spoken languages on Earth, and the number of markets Amazon is opening itself up to is enormous with this move. More than just making it possible to sell Echo devices in Spanish-speaking countries, this also means that native Spanish-speakers in places like the US can feel more comfortable using the device.

    This could also prove a useful learning tool for people who want to learn Spanish. What better way to learn a language than to speak it daily?

    Smart Homes and Accessibility

    Amazon’s goal, of course, is to get Alexa into as many homes as possible. The smart-home speakers Echo and Show are two of Amazon’s best-selling products, so it makes sense the company would want them to be as accessible as possible.

    If you’re wondering what all the fuss over Alexa is about, consider trying an Amazon Echo Dot, the introductory level smart-home speaker. It starts you off with an Alexa-enabled device and shows the power and convenience of smart speakers. The Echo Dot is available from Amazon for $50 for the third-generation speaker.