As developers for tablets and smartphones we like to keep abreast of the latest mobile technology developments . This is a daily digest of mobile development and related technology news gathered from the BBC, the New York Times, New Scientist and the Globe and Mail to name a few. We scour the web for articles concerning, iPhone, iPad and android development, iOS and android operating systems as well as general articles on advances in mobile technology. We hope you find this useful and that it helps to keep you up to date with the latest technology developments.
7 Throwback Gadgets That Bring Your Favorite Technologies Into the 21st Century
Since the rise of PCs, smartphones, MP3s and an app for nearly everything, it’s never been less practical to use old technology. But among a certain subset of people — the design- and analog-inclined — there’s a longing for a time when technology looked a certain way, or required a user’s careful touch to work.
Once you actually use old technology, it’s hard to feel as rosy about the past. Quickly, you realize that technological innovation has been a great, awesome thing, and you wouldn’t give up the convenience and speed of your laptop for even the most beautiful 20-pound typewriter. In the spirit of measured nostalgia, we’ve partnered with Best Buy to upgrade your tech — while still embracing where it all came from.
USB Typewriter
Perfect for those who are both old souls and creatures of convenience.
Typewriters are great if you crave the tactile sensation of putting words to paper like an old-timey news reporter. They are less great if you want to be a productive human in the 21st century. But that’s why these USB typewriters, billed as “a groundbreaking advancement in the field of obsolescence,” are so brilliant: they combine the pleasure you get from using a beautifully made analog machine with current USB technology. USB Typewriter, created by Jack Zylkin, offers DIY kits that help you connect your machine to a tablet or phone. Custom models are available upon request.
Sony’s (NEW) Walkman
Rewinding cassettes with a spare pencil is a distant memory.
Although Sony halted production of its cassette player in 2010 (yes, that recently), the brand unveiled the Walkman ZX2 at CES this year. The high-end device is a far cry from Walkmans of yore: it runs Android and boasts a sleek, touch-screen design, 128GB of storage, Wi-Fi connectivity, and support for a range of audio files (MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, AIFF, WAV and ALAC). The high-resolution audio comes at a hefty price of $1,000, so it’s best reserved for more discriminating ears.
Fujifilm Finepix X100T
For the street photographer in all of us.
If you miss the classic look of a 35 mm, manually operated camera, the Fujifilm Finepix X100T can help you relive some memories. Photography Blog’s review noted the camera’s “breathtakingly beautiful retro design that elicits ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from everyone that sees it,” and gave it high marks for image quality and its “hybrid viewfinder,” which combines elements from both an optical and electronic viewfinder.
Crosley 4-in-1 Turntable
A beautiful record player to go along with your retromania.
Vinyl sales increased sixfold between 2005 and 2013, and the boom continued through 2014 to the tune of 9.2 million vinyl records sold. It seems that a growing slice of music lovers are rejecting the status quo of lossy MP3 files and “those earbuds that came with my smartphone” for the warmer, richer sound of vinyl. This 4-in-1 turntable can also play AM/FM radio and cassettes, and features a wood finish reminiscent of your parents’ never-updated basement, where the dominant color scheme can only be described as “ochre.”
Marshall Stanmore Bluetooth Speaker
For those who want to rock ‘n’ roll all night / and part of every day.
Most Bluetooth speakers opt for a sleek, spaceship-like design, but this one adds much-needed rock ‘n’ roll VIBES to your home. It works with any Bluetooth-enabled device, like a cell phone, laptop or tablet. While we can’t claim that it goes to 11, multiple reviewers have enthused over the speaker’s sound quality and amplification. One called it “so small but so LOUD!” Another noted that his roommates complained after he played Kenny Loggins’ “Highway to the Danger Zone” at full blast, but we think this reflects less on the speaker than on the DJ. In short: Please rock ‘n’ roll within reason, and use your speakers responsibly.
HYPE Retro Portable Bluetooth Handset
A throwback receiver for the smartest of phones.
You might be rejoicing that you no longer need to use a landline. There’s no tangled cord, no limit to how far you can pace while still remaining on the phone, no “leaving a message” for your friends and crossing your fingers that they get it. But don’t you miss cradling the phone on your shoulder and whispering sweet nothings into the receiver? Using Bluetooth technology, this device charges your phone, leaving you free to take your call via the cordless receiver, full of nostalgia but unencumbered by a tangled, Slinky-ish tether.
USB Controllers
Because fighting Bowser on your laptop keyboard feels like cheating.
This one’s for the gamer who has nothing but love for the past. These retro controllers — mimicking old-school models for Nintendo NES, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Atari, Gamecube or Sega Genesis — are compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems. If you’re a relative noob who is wondering how on earth to play “Goldeneye 007″ on your laptop, you only need one word: emulators. Here’s one site devoted to old NES games to get you started.
Even if your tastes skew retro, you can still update your tech. Visit www.bestbuy.com for the very latest in cool gadgets.
Why Ignoring Your Update Alerts Is Worse Than You Think
The icon glares at you from your phone screen like a red badge of shame:
“UPDATE YOUR APPS,” it warns. “You are a negligent phone owner.” (Full disclosure: Yes, this is my phone, and no, I am not exceptionally proud of this.)
Clearly, some people are more conscientious than others when it comes to updating their software. Some might even say that they conscientiously object to software updates: “nothing good can come from this,” seems to be their motto.
According to an informal 2012 Lifehacker poll of nearly 6,000 readers, around 60 percent say they “always” update their software, 28 percent reported they do so “most of the time,” and a combined 12 percent said they update “only when major updates are available” or “rarely.”
Whether you’re a part of the 60 percent or the 12 percent, we’ve partnered with Best Buy to encourage you to update your tech. We’ll walk through some of the most recent updates to the most popular apps on Apple iOS and Android OS to see what you’ve been missing.
iTunes
Most Recent Update: iTunes 12.1 on iOs (January 29, 2015). Not available on Android.
The Deal: iTunes 12 launched in October to a chorus of boos from multiple publications, which lamented its non-intuitive redesign. Among other changes, Apple had streamlined the interface, discarding the sidebar in favor of a horizontal row of icons as the default setting. iTunes 12.1 introduces a new widget for the Notification Center that shows you what’s playing and allows you to skip ahead and buy songs while listening to iTunes Radio. There have been a few tweaks that make syncing your library with your iPhone or iPad a bit easier.
Caveat: Beware of the “Buy” button in iTunes Radio. If you’re already logged into the Apple Store, it’s a one-step purchase, according to Christopher Breen at ITWire.
Instagram
Most Recent Update: Instagram 6.5.3 on iOs (February 6, 2015). Instagram 6.14.1 on Android (February 3, 2015).
The Deal: In the summer, Instagram added fine-tuned editing features to appease would-be auteurs, and the company followed up with versions 6.4 (App Store) and 6.12.0 (Google Play Store) in December 2014. Most users were delighted by the addition of Instagram’s first batch of new filters since 2012: Slumber, Crema, Ludwig, Aden and Perpetua. As of February 5, videos on Instagram loop endlessly, much like competitor Vine.
Caveat: The recent update to Instagram video means that in-stream advertisements will loop endlessly — a feature that cannot be disabled. On the plus side, Instagram has said that the feature won’t use more data than usual.
Facebook
Most Recent Update: Facebook 23.1 on iOs (February 3, 2015). Facebook 26.0.0.22.16 on Android.
The Deal: Facebook is rather update-happy, delivering updates to the App Store every two weeks. In January, Facebook reported that the mobile app has gotten 10 to 15 times faster than it used to be. A blog post claims that the app now uses 10 percent less data and displays images 15 percent quicker. A boon to your news feed!
Caveat: Facebook recently updated its privacy policy on collecting and sharing user data with all of the services it owns, including WhatsApp and Instagram. Some eagle-eyed users are irked.
Twitter
Most Recent Update: Twitter 6.21 on iOs (February 10, 2015). Twitter 5.45.0 on Android (February 9, 2015).
The Deal: Many people have commented on the fact that Twitter conversations can be hard to follow, with back-and-forth tweets getting lost in a neverending stream of content. In January, Twitter made some huge changes: you now have the ability to Direct Message (DM) with more than one person a time, and the service is rolling out the ability to shoot, edit and share video in-app.
Caveat: Previously, you were only able to DM a user who followed you; conversely, you could only receive messages from a user whom you followed. According to Techcrunch, the Group DM feature doesn’t require all members of the chat to follow one another: “If anything, this means that you might be more careful about who you follow, since those people can now essentially rope you into conversations at any given time,” warns Techcrunch writer Darrell Etherington.
Google Maps
Most Recent Update: Google Maps 4.2.0 (January 15, 2015) on iOs. Google Maps 9.3.0 (January 22, 2015) on Android.
The Deal: In November, Google Maps updated to Version 4.0 to integrate other apps that are crucial on the go, like Uber and OpenTable. It also got a bit of a facelift, boasting 3D-esque buildings and to help you find your way. Version 4.2.0 allows you to filter searches for restaurants by cuisine type, see current weather information for cities around the world, navigate between two dropped pins(!) and add transit directions to your calendar, among other features.
Caveat: Apple Maps might sound like an intuitive choice, but we, along with Apple CEO Tim Cook, advise you stick with Google Maps at the moment.
Tinder
Most Recent Update: Tinder 4.1.1 (February 2, 2015) on iOs. Tinder 2.2.0 on Android (February 4, 2015).
The Deal: Being relatively new to the market — and boasting a head-smackingly simple interface (swipe, swipe, swipe) — Tinder has made few earth-shattering updates since the dating app’s launch in 2012. In 2013, Tinder finally added filters for age range, much to the relief of grown-up users. Coming up next? Tinder Plus, a new paid version of the app that features an “undo” button for accidental swipes along with a “passport” feature that allows you to outside your immediate area. This update has been rolled out internationally, but the word on the street is that it will hit the U.S. in March.
Caveat: Amorous bots and trigger-happy users, beware: The premium version of the app is introducing a factor called the “Bouncer.” Essentially, this means that Tinder has introduced an algorithm that puts a cap on the amount of likes, or “right swipes,” a user gives. If a user is in violation of the limit, a 24-hour paywall will hold him or her at bay.
Best Buy encourages you to update your tech. Visit www.bestbuy.com for the very latest in cool gadgets.
Baidu shares plunge after revenue miss
Shares in China’s biggest online search engine, Baidu, fall nearly 10% after disappointing results as users switch to mobiles.
The Sickeningly Low Vaccination Rates At Silicon Valley Day Cares
The scientists, technologists, and engineers who populate Silicon Valley and the California Bay Area deserve their reputation as innovators, building entire new economies on the strength of brains and imagination.
I'm Brianna Wu, and I'm Risking My Life Standing Up to Gamergate
This post originally appeared on Bustle.
By Brianna Wu
This weekend, a man wearing a skull mask posted a video on YouTube outlining his plans to murder me. I know his real name. I documented it and sent it to law enforcement, praying something is finally done. I have received these death threats and 43 others in the last five months.
This experience is the basis of a Law & Order episode airing Wednesday called the “Intimidation Game.” I gave in and watched the preview today. The main character appears to be an amalgamation of me, Zoe Quinn, and Anita Sarkeesian, three of the primary targets of the hate group called GamerGate.
My name is Brianna Wu. I develop video games for your phone. I lead one of the largest professional game-development teams of women in the field. Sometimes I speak out on women in tech issues. I’m doing everything I can to save my life except be silent.
The week before last, I went to court to file a restraining order against a man who calls himself “The Commander.” He made a video holding up a knife, explaining how he’ll murder me “Assassin’s Creed Style.” He wrecked his car en route to my house to “deliver justice.” In logs that leaked, he claimed to have weapons and a compatriot to do a drive-by.
After the crash, he sent me a deranged video that Jezebel called “bizarre” and “terrifying.” Sam Biddle of Gawker said that if this happened to him, he’d be “locked in a closet rocking back and forth.” For me, it’s just another Tuesday. My capacity to feel fear has worn out, as if it’s a muscle that can do no more.
The Law and Order character based on the three of us eagerly wants to push past the death threats and launch her game. The reality is, this circus has sucked every bit of joy from a career I once felt destined for. Zoe recently tweeted a picture of a vending machine with a sign: “The light inside is broken, but I still work.” There’s not a single day I don’t ask myself why I’m here, and why I keep doing this.
Software increasingly defines the world around us. It’s rewriting everything about human interaction — I spend a lot more time on my iPhone than I do at my local civic center. Facebook, Apple, Tinder, Snapchat, and Google create our social realities — how we make friends, how we get jobs, and how mankind interacts. And the truth is, women don’t truly have a seat at the table.
This has disastrous consequences for women that use these systems built by men for men. I must use Twitter, as it’s a crucial networking tool for a software engineer, yet I must also suffer constant harassment. Women’s needs are not heard, our truth is never spoken. These systems are the next frontier of human evolution, and they’re increasingly dangerous for us.
When Twitter is completely ineffectual at handling harassment — it’s because women don’t truly have a seat at the table in running it. We don’t have a voice. They tell us they’re going to do better.
When Wikipedia’s highest ruling board chooses to discipline only feminists — it’s because 9 out of 10 of its editors are men. They tell us they’re going to do better.
When a Silicon Valley founder sends a woman reporter a gift basket with a dildo and K-Y jelly then doesn’t understand why it might be offensive, it’s because most of the venture capital system and the tech entrepreneurs are men. We don’t have a voice. They tell us they’re going to do better.
Amazingly, the field of video games is the most misogynistic area in all of tech. The lead writer of Ubisoft’s hit franchise Watch Dogs angrily denied that Gamergate was a hate group, calling such statements a “smear tactic” and an “obvious lie.” During the reign of terror of Gamergate, I have had hundreds of conversations with other women. We’re exhausted, we’re terrified we’ll be next, we’re all thinking of quitting.
I have a folder on my hard drive with letters from dozens and dozens of women who’ve abandoned their dream of becoming game developers due to Gamergate, some as young as 12.
You’d hope that the gaming press would provide some sort of check on the unrelenting sexism in the game business, but the truth is, they’re complicit in creating our Gamebro culture. One of our largest gaming sites, IGN, has written one single, weak article addressing Gamergate where they don’t even mention it by name. I wish I could say I was surprised, but this is the site that advertises itself as “broverload.”
All this horror begs the question — what can be done?
Fortunately, this isn’t something that requires us to boil the ocean to solve. Here are four easily achievable things that can be done immediately.
Firstly: For the last year, Reddit has had a female CEO named Ellen Pao. She has also struggled with high-profile sexism. Ellen, you have a hate group operating on your site called Kotaku in Action, creepily called KiA. This lunatic fringe of gamer doxxers who slanders us creates a culture that is making it impossible for us to do our jobs. Before this piece ran, I reached out to Pao, who said she wasn’t ready to talk about any plans publicly. I am calling on Pao and her Reddit admins to stop letting this hate group operate on their site.
Secondly, there have been no prosecutions for the hundreds of death threats that have been sent to Zoe Quinn, Anita Sarkeesian, or myself. I am calling on law enforcement, specifically the FBI, to step it up. This will not stop until you show the public that there are consequences to these illegal acts.
Thirdly, many of the most serious harassers have committed criminal acts — doxxing us, repeatedly threatening to murder women and attempting to blackmail me and other women. Yet they keep creating new accounts and coming back to harass us. Dick Costolo, we need Twitter to work with us to ban them when they create new accounts until you can develop better tools. If Twitter reaches out to me, I’d be delighted to help the with names of specific people breaking their TOS.
Lastly, I am calling on the Obama administration to arrest and prosecute Fredrick Brennan, the owner of 8chan. 8chan doesn’t just host child pornography, it also runs Baphomet, the most hardcore doxxing and swatting site on the Internet. It’s time for Brennan to face justice.
Just before this piece went to print, I became aware of a federal judge’s private information being shared on Brennan’s platform, and I’d like share what I know with law enforcement.
Invariably, by speaking up, I’ll experience a new round of threats and harassment. The people doing this see themselves as noble warriors, not criminals. I’ll probably get more rape and death threats. I’ll be told I’m being dramatic. For pointing out the game media’s silence, behind closed doors these people will tell themselves what amazing allies to women they feel they are, and nothing will be done.
As a friend recently told me, “It’s a very dangerous time to be a woman with an opinion.”
The truth is, all of these institutions don’t care about women or the harassment we face in our lives and careers.
— Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) February 10, 2015
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Do we fight this battle now, or do men get to be the only ones shaping our future? I’m doing my part — you can do yours by sharing this piece, and helping me hold these institutions accountable.
More from Bustle:
What Is “#Gamer Gate”? It’s Misogyny, Under The Banner Of “Journalistic Integrity”
Threats Against Brianna Wu By GamerGate Proponents Are Truly Out Of Control
#GamerGate Trolls Harassed Zoe Quinn For Weeks, But She Says She Won’t Stop Fighting
Every Day Should Be 'Safer Internet Day'
“90% of young adults are using social media sites (#holycow).”
That’s what California Congresswoman Anna Eshoo said in her video address to the audience gathered at Facebook’s headquarters for this week’s “Safer Internet Day.” Safer Internet Day is a global event organized by the organization Insafe to promote the safer and more responsible use of online technologies and mobile phones, especially amongst children and young people.
I spent Safer Internet Day talking technology with parents in Southern California, at a school where I teach digital media literacy to their kids. For these parents (who, like all parents, are on the front lines of Internet safety and kids), every day is Safer Internet Day and, frankly, they could use some help from the industry and safety insiders who were gathered in Silicon Valley.
“Creating a better Internet together” was the theme of this year’s international event, and as Houlin Zhao, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) put it, “The word ‘together’ is the key. It’s a word we hear very often. But in reality, in the online world global collaboration is not so easily implemented.”
I thought about this as I watched the live stream of the event just after talking to the front line, battle-weary parents. Three clear themes screaming for collaboration between industry reps, Internet safety experts, and parents emerged. Let’s call them the “Three “E’s”:
1. Empathy: In her opening address, Keynote Speaker: California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris set the tone, speaking eloquently about the importance of creating an online culture that “supports the most vulnerable” and where kids have each other’s backs. In the session that followed, “Beyond Bullying: Dealing with Trolling & Social Cruelty,” panelists grappled with this topic, with one of the student panelists (kudos to the organizers for including young people in the conversation) saying that “teenagers act different online.” In the online environment you “take the empathy out,” she said, and kids don’t get “to see emotions.”
Technology’s impact on empathy and emotions was big concern for the parents I spoke to as well. They worry that time with tech, especially spent when children are young, will affect their social skills, and recent research seems to support their fears. A UCLA study conducted last year found that just five days of no media use improved 6th graders comprehension of nonverbal emotional cues, and just last weekend researchers from Boston University warned that using a tablet or smartphone to divert a child’s attention could be detrimental to “their social-emotional development.”
Social-emotional development is a big deal when it comes to how kids interact with others online. As Parenting Expert Annie Fox said, it’s not just part of the plate, “it’s the whole plate.”
We (parents, policy makers, industry leaders, etc.) all want kids to have each other’s backs. But they have to want to have each other’s backs, right? We can’t legislate that, can we?
2. Engagement: It takes a village to raise an iChild and parents “need to be on the front lines” and engaged in the online world. This was the sentiment heard again and again at the Safer Internet Day event. Additionally, as Cindy Southworth of the National Network to End Domestic Violence reminded the audience, parents need to self-reflective of their own tech use. Our kids are watching.
But unfortunately, “parents find the online world overwhelming,” said National PTA President Otha Thornton.
That’s what I heard from the parents I spoke with too, and this overwhelming fear can have a paralyzing effect, causing some to simply throw up their hands and give up entirely at a time when kids need us most. As Thornton put it, the online world “shouldn’t be feared, it should be embraced.”
So there’s got to be a way we can all work together to do a better job helping parents to start embracing and engaging.
3. Education: Which brings us to this most important “E.”
Zahra Billoo, from the Council on American-Islamic Relations told the audience, “Today if you get into a fight on the schoolyard or you don’t realize the effects of cyberbullying, you could go to jail. We’ve got to teach kids about the consequences of their actions online.”
She’s right. Just because kids are supposedly “digital natives,” doesn’t mean they come innately equipped with the skill of knowing the consequences of their online actions, good or bad. So I like Annie Fox’s suggestion that we “vaccinate kids before they play on the Internet.” Let’s actually give them the 21st Century skills we keep talking about.
So move over A, B, C’s. Make room for the three E’s.
VIDEO: Ikea flat-pack furniture: The game
How furniture assembly was turned into a game
Here's What Season 3 Of 'House Of Cards' Is About According To Netflix
The third season of “House of Cards” leaked online for a brief moment on Wednesday, allowing pretty much everyone who writes about pop culture on the Internet to spend 58 minutes with the season premiere. “Due to a technical glitch some Underwood fans got a sneak peak,” a representative for Netflix said in a statement. “He’ll be back on Netflix on Feb 27. #no spoilers.” Okay, fine, #no spoilers (not even about that guy), but that doesn’t mean we can’t discuss some specifics, especially those put out by Netflix itself. Ten of the season’s 13 episodes were included in the leak, each accompanied by vague descriptions that would make Matthew Weiner confused. Ahead, what fans can expect from the third season according to Netflix.
1. “A rocky start for the Underwood Presidency. Frank wants to introduce an ambitious jobs program, while Claire sets her sights on the United Nations.”
2. “Claire’s U.N. bid runs into trouble. Frank fights off mutiny with a bold address to the country.”
3. “The Russian president’s state visit becomes a cold war of wills, and some punks heat things up.”
4. “Claire bypasses Russia at the U.N. Frank tries to outmaneuver a potential challenger and ends up face to face with a higher power.”
5. “Frank declares war on Congress to jump-start his jobs program. Claire spars with the Russian Ambassador.”
6. “Frank and Claire travel to Moscow to negotiate the return of an imprisoned U.S. citizen. Claire takes a stand that jeopardizes their plans.”
7. “The damage is done and the Underwoods must repair it. But deep wounds don’t heal fast, and sometimes not at all.”
8. “A hurricane endangers more than just the entire East Coast and Frank must make a difficult choice.”
9. “The Jordan Valley erupts in chaos just as Frank’s campaign is picking up steam. Claire gets disturbing intel and counsels him.”
10. “Frank needs to deal with Petrov one on one while Claire tries to preserve the peace-keeping mission. Sacrifices must be made.”
“House of Cards” returns on Feb. 27
Here's Proof That Pricey Fitness Wearables Really Aren't Worth It
It might not be necessary to spend money on a fitness-tracking device if you already own a working smartphone.
According to a new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, free smartphone apps can be about as accurate at measuring your steps as popular wearable fitness devices, many of which cost around $100.
The study, published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, measured a bunch smartphone apps and fitness devices selected from top sellers in the United States. Researchers asked 14 participants to put on all the devices at once: on their waistbands, a Digi-Walker SW-200 pedometer, Fitbit Zip and Fitbit One; on their wrists, a Fitbit Flex, Jawbone UP24 and Nike Fuelband; and in their pockets, an iPhone 5S running Moves, Health Mate and Fitbit step-tracking apps, as well as a Samsung Galaxy S4 running just the Moves app.
Laden down with all those gadgets, each participant walked on a treadmill — first for 500 steps, then for 1,500 steps — while an observer tallied their steps. When the trials were finished, researchers checked the amount of steps each device or app had recorded, then noted the difference.
The researchers found that the accuracy of the wearable devices and the smartphone apps were about the same, and that for the most part they all tracked pretty close to the real amount of steps walked.
“For the average person who wants to know whether they are getting enough physical activity, any of these devices are accurate enough for tracking step counts,” Meredith Case, a medical student at UPenn’s Perelman School of Medicine, told The Huffington Post.
A closer look at the trial results
The pedometers worn on the waist produced the most precise results. The smartphone apps came in second, but they weren’t far behind.
The wrist devices were found to be the least precise. While the Fitbit Flex and Jawbone UP24 were fairly close to the actual step number, Nike’s Fuelband had the largest deviation.
(Nike reportedly discontinued the Fuelband last year, though the device appears to be available for purchase on the company’s website. A Nike representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.)
Unless you need to-the-step accuracy, the study results indicate that your smartphone’s built-in capacity to measure steps with a free app should be enough for fitness tracking. This means you probably don’t need to buy a wearable gadget, especially one for your wrist, unless you intend to use it for other purposes, like tracking your sleep.
That said, it’s worth keeping in mind that the study observed only 14 participants — and only a handful of devices and apps, when there are dozens and dozens available to consumers.
Companies sold millions of fitness trackers in 2014, and they’re expected to sell millions more this year, even though the market for them is contracting in response to the arrival of smartwatches. Two-thirds of adult Americans already have smartphones.
These Guys Will Help You Woo Your Crush With A Custom Song For Valentine's Day
Try to imagine the most thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift you could present to your crush. If chocolate or flowers came to mind, then you need to seriously step up your V-Day game. How about a custom-written song for your boo? For just $1 and a penchant for word play, your honey can be grooving to their very own tune.
The co-founders of Deep V Music, a New York-based comedy music production company for brands and agencies, created Mad Loves — a spin on the make-your-own story game Mad Libs. Those wanting to send a custom song to their significant other, or themselves or dog or neighbor or whatever, use a template with prompts on the Mad Love site and come Valentine’s Day, a custom song will be in their inbox. Deep V are collaborating with musical group The Gregory Brothers to create the songs.
In addition to hopefully wooing the panties off of your love, you can get a little boost of karma because all proceeds from Mad Loves are donated to Music & Memory, an organization dedicated to helping the elderly with cognitive and physical challenges to reconnect with their memories and the world around them, and the focus of the documentary “Alive Inside.”
The guys from Deep V, executive producer Garrett Philbin, chief creative director Doug Larsen and CEO/director of marketing Ben Lindell, spoke with The Huffington Post about the inspiration behind the project, their quirky sense of humor, and their Valentine’s Day plans (spoiler alert: they all shamelessly plugged Mad Loves).
Where did the idea for Mad Loves come from?
Doug: A long time ago there was a popular children’s game that I’m sure everyone remembers called Mad Libs — it’s this wacky thing where you fill out words, nouns, adjectives, and it makes up a fine story. Don’t know if you’ve heard about it.
Ben: So we stole that idea but we’ve actually been doing similar things like this for clients as a way to approach them. Instead of just approaching them by email, we’ve been approaching them with Mad Lib style songs telling them how awesome they were. We figured, hey why not translate this amazingly special skill that we’ve devised to lure people into our craft and into a product we can share with the world and at the same time, why not work with a charity?
The motto on your website is “stupid music for smart brands” — in particular, how is comedy music smart? How does it help you reach such a wide audience?
Garrett: What we say is that comedy and music individually are both great devices for communicating and both are mnemonic in their own way. So when you put funny lyrics to music, it makes it that much more memorable and also makes it that much more fun. You enjoy hearing it so that helps with the recall — if you’re smiling then you remember something better. So if we can make people laugh while delivering information on something, they’re much more inclined to remember it and have a positive reaction.
Ben: We operate under our parent company East Midwest and found ourselves working with these great YouTube comedy groups like Key of Awesome! We felt like the universe was kind of giving us a hint that being funny is the stuff that works best for us — which is pretty reflective of our personalities which are just goofy and irreverent as often as possible.
What are your Valentine’s Day plans?
Ben: Sending custom Mad Loves to all of my closest friends.
Garrett: I’m sending a lot to my harem.
Doug: I’m sending 50 or 60 Mad Loves to my girlfriend hoping that makes up for lack of a present or dinner.
'House Of Cards' Season 3 Leaked On Netflix Two Weeks Before Premiere Date
“House of Cards” appeared on Netflix two weeks early when viewers found most of the third season available to stream on Wednesday. The episodes were quickly pulled down, but viewers who had been watching the Season 3 premiere before Netflix remedied the situation were able to continue doing so even after the fix.
It appeared that 10 episodes in total leaked online, but according to a tweet from the official “House of Cards” account, the third season will have a full compliment of 13 episodes.
This is Washington. There’s always a leak. All 13 episodes will launch February 27.
— House of Cards (@HouseofCards) February 11, 2015
“Due to a technical glitch some Underwood fans got a sneak peak,” a representative for Netflix said in a statement, referencing Kevin Spacey’s Frank Underwood. “He’ll be back on Netflix on Feb 27. #no spoilers”
5 Credit Cards With Big Summer Travel Rewards
What better way to deal with winter than to start planning a summer vacation?
To that end, HuffPost Live got the scoop on the best credit cards to use for travel rewards that you can redeem in the warmer months. Jason Steele of Credit.com broke it down to HuffPost Live’s Marc Lamont Hill on Wednesday, citing five cards with great travel benefits.
“The credit card industry is so competitive that companies are just tripping over themselves trying to give you points and miles just for a chance to earn your business,” Steele said.
Watch the video above to learn which credit cards are the best for summer travel.
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Sprint lifts ban, MVNOs to gain latest iPhones shortly
New reports indicate that Sprint has dropped a previous requirement that resellers of its network — FreedomPop, Straight Talk, Boost Mobile, Virgin, and some others — wait more than a year before offering support for the latest models of Android and iOS devices. The change allows the mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) to immediately begin offering the current iPhone 6 line from Apple, the top-selling smartphone worldwide.
Study shows physicians and patients using health apps to coordinate diabetes care
Study shows how a health app was used to coordinate patient care.
The post Study shows physicians and patients using health apps to coordinate diabetes care appeared first on iMedicalApps.
Cortana Now Reads Instant Answers Out Loud in Latest update
The personal assistant Cortana that is built into Windows Phones running Lumia Denim and is now in the Windows 10 technical preview continues to get mini, behind-the-scenes updates. The latest update now brings the ability to read out loud instant answers to your questions. To this point, when you asked a question like “What time is it?” Cortana would simply display the current time. Now when you ask the same question, it reads out the time based on your location. This update to Cortana appears to be US only at this point although those of you who are in Europe
The post Cortana Now Reads Instant Answers Out Loud in Latest update appeared first on Clinton Fitch.
In London, An Empty Underground Tunnel Could Become A Biker's Paradise
If this idea becomes a reality, it could transform urban transport from the ground up. And it may be coming to London first.
In a concept from the design firm Gensler, unused and empty subway tunnels would be converted into underground bike paths.
The engineers want to deck out the tunnels with cutting-edge tech, more specifically with a floor that could light the tunnels by generating electricity from the footsteps of the people walking on it.
To start with, the designers want to make their vision a reality in London’s Tube, in an unused section of the Piccadilly Line and a piece of the Jubilee Line running from Green Park to Charing Cross.
Underground bunkers left over from the Second World War could also be folded into Gensler’s concept.
The idea is not without its problems. While underground bike paths are a safer alternative to street traffic on the surface, underground air supply could prove problematic. And in case of an accident, emergency services could require considerably longer to arrive at the scene.
On the other hand, the populations of cities like London are growing so fast that these expanding global cities are forced to think in entirely new ways. That’s something the concept of underground bike paths certainly achieves.
The concept’s future potential
Gensler designer Trevor To sees the concept as an opportunity to take advantage of a long-forgotten part of the city while integrating London’s populace into the development process. In this manner, London’s “cycling superhighway” could become the cleanest, fastest, and driest way to bike.
This post was originally published on HuffPost Germany and was translated into English.
Lumia Denim Beings Rolling to Lumia 925 and Lumia 1020 on O2 in England
It’s been a big day for Lumia Denim. In addition to the Lumia Icon for Verizon getting Lumia Denim, those of you in the UK and on O2 should start seeing the update over-the-air on the Lumia 925 and the Lumia 1020 now. This is something that O2 announced a few weeks ago that would be coming. As a reminder, you can read my Guide to Lumia Denim and my Lumia Denim Rollout Guide for more detailed information on the release and the rollout process. If you are a reader in the UK on O2, I’d like to hear how
The post Lumia Denim Beings Rolling to Lumia 925 and Lumia 1020 on O2 in England appeared first on Clinton Fitch.
Students Around The World Discuss Racism And Learn The World Isn't As Small As They Think
What makes you happy? What are some stereotypes that people have about you? Have you experienced racism and, if so, how?
These are the questions kids from around the world are asking to learn about each other.
“The World Is As Big Or As Small As You Make It,” a short documentary made with a grant from Sundance Institute and support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, focuses on the Do Remember Me project and the way it uses technology to connect students in Philadelphia and New York with kids their age across the globe.
Founder Sannii Crespina-Flores uses online chat sessions to let the students talk with kids from countries like Kazakhstan, Nigeria and France.
“I look at it as retooling what they already have, which would be their cell phones, their iPods, their iPads,” she said.
Interactions between the kids range from giving each other tours around their neighborhoods to showing off their dance and beatbox skills. They discuss the weather, their heritage and even serious topics like race.
After one African-American student described his experience with racism, the foreign student he was chatting with shared that news surrounding the deaths of Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin had gone global and reached her country.
Though thousands of miles separate them, the kids are able to create relationships on a level that Crespina-Flores says provides more bridges than gaps between the youth of the world.
“Puberty is puberty. Being a teen is a teen. They find that there are so many similarities. They’re more connected and more alike than they are separate. It’s an exchange of possibilities.”
H/T A+
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Why We're All Frustrated With How News Is Covered, According To Google
Type the words “why is the news” into Google and the site’s Autocomplete function reveals a widespread frustration among news consumers.
The suggestion is that readers and viewers aren’t exactly satisfied with the media’s longstanding reliance on an approach to news based on the adage “if it bleeds, it leads.” And this hunger for coverage that goes beyond dysfunction and disaster is about much more than what people are typing into their Google search bars.
In 2013, Wharton Business School professor Jonah Berger and his colleague Katherine Milkman studied the lists of most-emailed news stories from The New York Times over a six-month period, and found that the most shared articles evoked positive feelings from readers. And a 2014 national survey conducted by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health found that watching and reading the news was a significant contributor to some respondents’ day-to-day stress.
Here’s hoping that more news outlets will take these findings to heart, continuing to report on all the most important stories in the world but giving readers the full picture at the same time. That picture, as anyone with Google access knows, includes not just coverage of war, tragedy, corruption and everything