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  • Amazon Prime Day 2018: Here’s the Lowdown

    Amazon Prime Day 2018: Here’s the Lowdown

    While the first Prime Day may have been a bit disappointing, the company righted the ship a bit in 2016 and 2017. For Amazon Prime Day 2018, Amazon is promising great deals to Prime membership holders. Firstly, let’s discuss the day of: Prime Day will be on July 16th, and will last for 36 hours. Not long, huh? The idea is to get you to spend, spend, spend, so it was never going to last long. What kind of deals can we expect? And what’s up with all this Prime Day stuff, anyway?

    Prime Day’s Origins

    In 2015, Amazon started the Prime Day tradition. The first one was a bit rocky, with some deals not being quite as advertised. When it was launched, however, Amazon had grand ambitions: they wanted a national shopping holiday bigger than Black Friday. While that may not have quite panned out yet, the company is still pushing. That said, the savings are only available to Prime members. So, if you’re still on the fence about getting Amazon Prime (and you really should have it,) Prime Day is a great day to get it to snag the savings.

    Prime Day 2018 Details

    The savings will kick off at 3 PM on July 16th, or noon if you’re on the West Coast. Previous Prime Days have only run for 30 hours, but this year it’ll run an extra six hours to 36. That means you have until late on the 17th to grab some great deals.

    There will be many of those, too: between all-event deals and Lightning Deals, there will be plenty of chances to save. Technology is the hottest item, of course, and sales on TVs, video games and smart devices are popular. However, items like food and household supplies go on sale during the event too. Since Amazon bought Whole Foods, expect to see savings there too!

    Prepare your wallet: the sale is coming.

  • How to Keep your Dog Calm During Fireworks

    How to Keep your Dog Calm During Fireworks

    If you live in a state where commercial fireworks are legal, and you have dogs, this is probably your least favorite time of year. Fireworks are bad for the environment, of course, and terrible for wildlife. Not to mention, they cause most domestic pets to panic and potentially cause harm to themselves or others. Here are a few quick tips to help sooth your pets while the fireworks are going off.

    Masking Sounds of Fireworks

    One great method to help your pup feel calmer during fireworks shows is to mask the sound. Turn up the TV or crank up the tunes, hop on the couch and snuggle with your buddy. Give them tons of treats and affection and try to just keep their mind off the explosions outside.

    If your dog isn’t big on cuddling on the couch, or doesn’t like loud music, there’s another version of this technique. Go into a bedroom with lots of soft, sound-absorbing things like pillows and blankets. Grab a huge box fan and crank it up. This will provide a ton of loud white noise. Then, get in the floor and play with your dog and keep them distracted from the otherwise-distressing noise.

    Comforting Pressure

    Some dogs can’t handle loud sounds at all, so masking it is not an option. For dogs like that, pressure is the best way to keep them calm. Not a lot, mind you, just enough to be reassuring. For a smaller dog, wrap them in a blanket and just sooth them the way you normally would.

    For a larger dog who you can’t hold tight in a blanket, you’ll have to get a bit more creative. Such a dog will need a special compression vest or suit, several of which are available online or in pet stores. Find one that’s the right size for your dog and slip them into it before the fireworks start.

    I sincerely hope these suggestions help you and your dog. With luck, no one’s pup will run away or hurt themselves this year. Until then, have a safe and happy 4th of July.

  • Tesla Production for Model 3 Triples in Second Quarter

    Tesla Production for Model 3 Triples in Second Quarter

    After some recent controversy, a lawsuit against a saboteur and some unpopular layoffs, Tesla has some good news. After releasing the production numbers for the second quarter of 2018, the company has seen a three percent uptick in stock prices. It seems they kept their self-set goal of ending July producing more than 5000 Model 3’s per week. This is good news for the company as it seeks to fulfill the record-breaking orders for Model 3’s. This uptick in Tesla production indicates the potential for a profitable third quarter, a rare sight for the ambitious automaker. 

    Tesla’s Profit Loop 

    Tesla doesn’t often turn a profit. This is an odd piece of trivia for a company this big and this ambitious, and it is especially disappointing when one considers the recent layoffs. That said, this uptick in Tesla production does bode well for the company’s bottom line. The question is, will the company follow its typical loop that it follows after a profitable quarter? The few times Tesla has turned a profit in the past, it has immediately funneled that cash into production of a new vehicle.  

    When the Model S, and later the Model X, began to turn profits, production on the next vehicle would rapidly devour those profits. This is consistent with a company that aims to radically change the face of transportation, but it’s frustrating for investors and enthusiasts alike. 

    Tesla Production of Model 3’s Could Be Different 

    The Model 3 production line could be different for the company, though. As their first mass-market car, the Model 3 is meant to make the company a household name. While the Models X and S were experimental proof-of-concept style cars, the Model 3 is meant to be for anyone who wants an electric car. So, maybe this time Tesla will actually just make a profit and be okay with that.  

    No one expects them to stop planning for new cars, like the Roadster and Model Y concepts. It would, however, be nice to see them focus on just producing good, affordable electric cars. Especially in light of their recent layoffs and the controversy surrounding recent accidents with Autopilot, a bit of goodwill will go a long way for them. In the meantime, Tesla has expressed its goal for August is to produce more than 6,000 Model 3’s per week. It seems like they might just do it. 

  • Technology Rumors: Microsoft’s Andromeda May Not Materialize

    Technology Rumors: Microsoft’s Andromeda May Not Materialize

    Microsoft’s rumored dual-screen “Andromeda” device might not become a reality after all. Leaked APIs and patents for a folding, phone-sized device have been swirling for some time. The project is said to have been headed by Terry Myerson during his time at Microsoft, but he departed the company back in March. The resulting reorganization in the company has likely shuffled the dual-screen smart device further back in the release schedule. However, that’s not the only challenge the rumored tech would be facing to see release. 

    Microsoft’s Smart Device Record 

    For one thing, Microsoft isn’t exactly a winner in smartphone world. While you can still get a Windows phone, the platform isn’t exactly a success story. The mobile platform has almost no third-party support, which has always been Microsoft’s Achilles heel. In order to make a hypothetical dual-screen pocket device attractive to customers, Microsoft would need to address the third-party issues they had with Windows phones.  

    Why Release it at All? 

    Another hurdle Andromeda would need to leap is a problem of purpose. Who exactly is the device for? What niche does it fill that isn’t covered by existing technology? Why does it sport two screens, and is it worth the unusual design? Smartphones are ubiquitous, and nearly every customer carries one. However, attempting to sell that customer another smart device that has less overall functionality has proven to be unpopular. Look no further than the recent decline in interest in tablets to see evidence of this. As such, a dual-screen smart device would have a hard time defining its niche in the crowded gadget market. 

    Any Hope for Andromeda? 

    Microsoft notably killed the dual-screened Courier concept in 2010 after lukewarm internal reception. Similarly, in 2014, the company shot down its prototypes for a Surface Mini, something between a tablet and a phablet within the Surface family. As such, you can see the trend of devices in this space not making it to a public release. That said, that doesn’t mean there’s absolutely no hope for the rumored device: recent reports hold that another small Surface-like device is on the release schedule for Microsoft. Only time will tell, but the prospects for the unusual hinged device seem grim. 

    Feature Image Credit: The Verge 

  • Believe it or Not, Volkswagen’s Record-Breaking I.D. R is Electric

    Believe it or Not, Volkswagen’s Record-Breaking I.D. R is Electric

    While some still doubt electric cars, Volkswagen has brought a record-breaking electric car to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The I.D. R is a powerful vehicle because of, not in spite of, its electric engine. The record, an astonishing 7:57:148, wowed the competition and showed that a sub-8-minute time was actually possible.  

    How Electric Beat Combustion 

    The Hill Climb is a great place for an electric race car to show up combustion engines. For one, the attitude of the hill makes it difficult for combustion to occur in the engine. For another, the temperature range is ideal for batteries. Further, you need not worry about range beyond the relatively short climb, so the battery doesn’t have to be big. The lack of the combustion engine cuts the weight of the vehicle down considerably, too! 

    I.D. R: Awesome, if Unpractical 

    While the record-setting vehicle is certainly a treat to see in action, it’s hardly a read-world indicator of electric supremacy. While companies are making great strides with electric engines, the I.D. R is hardly the model to base on. For one, it was made specifically for high-end racing and would be impractical in normal situations. Volkswagen isn’t trying to market it that way, of course, but it’s still worth noting. The best part of showcases like this, for automakers, is the controlled setting.  

    That all said, this does inspire confidence that electric innovations in everyday vehicles is on the way. While many still feel as though electric is a distant fantasy, companies like Volkswagen and Tesla are looking to change that. Tesla, for its part, is having some issues with production numbers, but their ambition is unquestionable.  

    One thing is certain though: if Volkswagen can set world records at prestigious races with an electric engine, the time for electric to shine is now. Oil companies will fight it tooth and nail, but electric might just be the way of the future. I, for one, can’t wait to not have to gas up anymore; that stuff’s expensive! 

  • Google’s DeepMind AI Now Capable of Rendering Scenes

    Google’s DeepMind AI Now Capable of Rendering Scenes

    Google’s DeepMind neural network is now capable of rendering scenes. Not just any scenes, mind you, but complex ones. Using its neural networks and learning functions, DeepMind is capable of rendering hypothetical images it hasn’t seen before. While that might all sound rather abstract and hard to understand, it’s a huge leap for learning software. What exactly does this mean, and what effect will it have on AI going forward? 

    Rendering Scenes 

    The reason this is important, if somewhat boring-sounding at first, is that it represents a logical form of imagination. The AI is now capable of understanding a description of a geometrical scene, rendering it, and then rendering it from angles it has neither been showed nor had described. This is something humans do already, and easily.  

    So easily, in fact, that you’re likely overthinking what is being described. If you see an image on a car, you can assume that it has four wheels, whether or not you can see all four in the image. Similarly, you can intuit that the pavement behind the car in the image is still there. You can even guess that there are seats inside the car, as well as a steering wheel and a radio.  

    DeepMind’s New Functionality is a Game-Changer 

    This is the AI equivalent of imagination. An AI capable of understanding spatial scenes and making predictions based on limited data is a quantum leap forward. What’s more, the developers overseeing DeepMind didn’t anticipate this functionality.   

    Ali Eslami, a Google team leader, had this to say in a phone interview with Ars Technica. “One of the most surprising results [was] when we saw it could do things like perspective and occlusion and lighting and shadows. We know how to write renderers and graphics engines.” However, the most compelling thing Eslami found that the laws of physics represented were discovered by the software. The software was said to be a “blank slate,” and it was able to “effectively discover these rules by looking at images.” 

    We’re living in an exciting era. AI advancements have been coming faster and faster, and soon we may even see fully aware learning software. This is both exhilarating and terrifying.  

  • Verizon’s Unlimited Internet Scam Breakdown

    Verizon’s Unlimited Internet Scam Breakdown

    Due to some massive fraud and outright lies to their customers, Verizon has to update their unlimited plans. They have some how managed to sell consumers 4G LTE service at the most expensive price rates in the industry while limiting them to dial- up internet speeds. For those of you to young to remember what dial up speeds mean its internet speeds of 56kbps. For comparisons sake the official legal speed requirements to have a mobile service labeled 4g is 4 Mbps. Nearly 900 times what Verizon is reducing its ” Unlimited” customers cellular service to. Now we get a price increase to combat the options to Verizon’s Unlimited internet ruse.   Let’s take a dive in to  how the Big Red Machine is  dividing up “unlimited” and reserving the most useful features and the best speeds for the more expensive tiers.

    Go Unlimited: You get Verizon’s Unlimited data, but at any time, your service might be temporarily slowed down in favor of other customers when the network is busy or “congested.” Mobile hotspot speeds are restricted to just 600kbps. Video streaming off Wi-Fi is limited to 480p.

    $75 single line / $130 for two lines / $150 for three lines / $160 for four lines

    Beyond Unlimited: You get Verizon’s Unlimited data free of potential slowdowns until you pass 22GB of usage in a month. The mobile hotspot feature offers full LTE speeds until you hit 15GB of usage. Video streaming is limited to 720p.

    $85 single line / $160 for two lines / $180 for three lines / $200 for four lines

    Above Unlimited: You get Verizon’s Unlimited data free of potential slowdowns until you pass 75GB of usage in a month. Which is probably a ceiling you’ll never hit. Hotspot is full speed LTE until 20GB of usage. Video, even on the highest plan, is still limited to 720p. Each month, Verizon tosses in 5 TravelPasses (good for 4G speeds until you cross 512MB of daily usage) that work in over 130 countries.

    $95 single line / $180 for two lines / $210 for three lines / $240 for four lines

    Verizon charges an extra $10-per-month fee if you want to stream 1080p video on your smartphone. This add-on is only available to Beyond Unlimited and Above Unlimited customers.

    The Final Thought

    I have personally experienced the slow down, nay, collapse of the mobile service that I pay a premium price for. In a recent trip to the movies to see American Animals my internet speed was metered to the point of not being able to load a single fandango web page.

    I ran a speed test to reveal my internet speed had been reduced to  .03 Mbps. While  I wish i could say this was a extremely rare case and I was in the middle of the Daytona 500. I was not, just  a random Tuesday at off peak times. This seems to be the norm rather then the exception. Looks like ill have to fork over another $20 a month, per line, to get the service they originally roped me into.

    I wish we could blame this on net neutrality but they have been playing this game long before it was legal again.  I guess ill just be another one of Verizon’s massively duped customers.

  • Microsoft’s Andromeda Can Fold Our Lives

    Microsoft’s Andromeda Can Fold Our Lives

    Microsoft’s dual-screen Andromeda computing device, which is understood to launch and explode the pocketable PC has been gather rumors for months like a snow ball. While not much is solid we know this will collaborate the mobile space with the laptop PC power.  Now, according to recently leaked internal emails, we are learning that Microsoft’s Andromeda is a “new and disruptive” device that will be part of the company’s Surface hardware family.

    What We Already Know

    Microsoft says “It’s a new pocketable Surface device form factor that brings together innovative new hardware and software experiences to create a truly personal and versatile computing experience,”. Microsoft’s Andromeda could become the ultimate convertible computing device. It will have the capability to transform into any one of five form factors depending on usage. While today’s convertible notebooks with 360-degree hinges can only be used in up to three usage modes, Andromeda can transform between closed, flat, convex, concave, and full modes.

    Microsoft’s Andromeda is  a unique and innovative response to the massive and putrid disaster that Windows mobile and its terrible devices have become to be.  Microsoft commented on what this foldable surface could be by saying  “It will blur the lines between mobile and stationary computing,”. Microsoft is tentatively planning to release Andromeda in 2018. They also noted similar devices from some of Microsoft’s top OEMs to “follow afterwards.”

    We have know for years that Intel is also working on similar dual-screen devices. Its said  that it will eventually exploit and embody Microsoft’s software break through with Andromeda. Intel has already created prototype devices with dual displays and electronic paper displays s.  Asus and Lenovo are creating devices that are inspired by Intel’s own concepts. I can say with the ut most certainty one device will be available later this year.

    The Final Thought

    The pictures of Microsoft’s Andromeda paint a much better vision then I can with words. Mark my words thought, his is the future being developed today. The 20’s, the 2020’s,  will roar once again with the foundation this foldable tech will bring. Our future will hold just one device, a tablet, laptop, smartphone, TV and massive desktop in one pocket.  I’m excited the tech of my 40s could finally be the consolidation I’ve always desired. Now I’m getting very excited for this next decade. One device to rule them all…..

  • Got an Amazon Fire Tablet? It’s an Echo Show Now

    Got an Amazon Fire Tablet? It’s an Echo Show Now

    That’s right, with an upcoming software update, your Amazon Fire Tablet becomes an Echo Show. The update, called “Show Mode,” is Amazon’s newest effort to make Alexa an everyday name. If you already have a case with a stand, you can simply set your tablet up in it, swipe down on the screen to activate Show Mode, and ta-da! You have a makeshift Echo Show. You can now use your voice to check the weather, sports score, compose messages and more.  

    Performance 

    The microphone on a Fire Tablet isn’t quite as strong as the one on a true Echo Show, of course. That said, in a relatively quiet space, the tablet should have no trouble picking you up. If you’ve never used Alexa before, prepare to be impressed. If you have, however, you might notice that she’s a little quieter here in her new housing. The tablet doesn’t have terribly strong speakers, either. If you connect your tablet to a Bluetooth speaker you can remedy that, though.  

    Show Mode Charger 

    Amazon is also prepared for the cries of “this isn’t even that useful.” How so, you ask? Why, with the Show Mode charging stand! The charging stands will be available for the HD 8 and HD 10 tablets and will effectively turn your tablet into a full-blown Echo Show. Setting the tablet upright and charging it at the same time, the charging stand lets you just put the tablet in Show Mode and walk away. There are a few downsides, though. The first is the lack of any extra microphones: you’ll be stuck with the tablet’s existing, sub-par mics. The other is the price tag, running at $40 for the HD 8 and $55 for the HD 10. That’s kind of pricey for a glorified metal stand with a charging cable running along it.  

    Bottom Line 

    If you already have a Fire Tablet, congratulations! It’s now an awkward, scaled-down Alexa device. You’re going to get a kick out of this, and it’s a free update. If you don’t own one already, though, this won’t be pushing you to get one. You might as well just get an Echo Show if an Alexa-enabled display is something you want. If the display isn’t a concern, the Echo Spot is a great device, and it only costs around $40. Still, this is cool news for those who already own one of Amazon’s tablets! 

  • Popular Scam Targets Uber Drivers

    Popular Scam Targets Uber Drivers

    A highlight of the current gig economy is the isolation contractors feel when working for companies like Uber. Since the company is so compartmentalized, drivers often feel alienated and alone on the road. Scammers have picked up on this, and a robust, complex scam has been targeting newer Uber drivers for more than a year. 

    The Scam 

    The scam in question involves misusing the information that customers get when they hail a ride through the Uber app. When you hail a ride, you see information about the driver, like their name and license plate number. Not to mention, you can call them through the app. That call gets a randomized, anonymous number with a 415 area-code, the same as Uber’s headquarters. 

    Upon hailing the cab, the user then calls the driver and claims to be from corporate and explains that there’s an issue with the driver’s account. The account needs to be verified before the driver can complete the fare, the scammer says. This is the tricky part: the scammer asks for the email and password of the driver. Then, the scammer has the driver tell them the code that they were just texted. You’ve probably guessed it: this is a phishing call, and that code was the two-factor verification. Now, the scammer is into the driver’s Uber account. “Alright, everything’s good here. We’ve transferred that ride to another car, but you’re free to keep driving.” 

    After that, of course, the damage isn’t done, but just beginning. The scammer will use their access to the driver account to change their account settings so that they can profit from any work the driver does. They’ll profit from any work the driver has done when Uber pays out for their work on Sunday. 

    The Company’s Responsibility to Uber Drivers 

    As of yet, Uber hasn’t formally acknowledged this scam to their new drivers. Lyft, which has been targeted by similar scams, has directly addressed drivers regarding it. Lyft drivers are thus less likely to fall for it, as their company has helped safeguard them. Uber, by contrast, is letting its drivers fend for themselves out there. There are dozens of things the company could do to fix this situation, but as of writing they claim that their authentication processes should keep drivers safe.  

    A few targeted by the scam are contacted by Uber to inform them of potential illegal activity on their account. However, if Uber took steps like Lyft, they could avoid the issue altogether. Something as simple as Lyft’s pre-recorded message that tells a driver it’s a customer calling them would take the legs out from under this scam. Uber, ever the helpful and caring employer, has done no such thing. If you’re an Uber driver, take steps to protect yourself, and don’t give anyone your account info.