For any PC user, it's important to have effective antivirus software installed. Besides protecting you against nefarious viruses and trojans, antivirus software also blocks spyware and can offer adequate protection against malware and adware.
In the past, antivirus software has been known for slowing down PCs due to its need to scan extensively on a regular basis. These days though, most software hardly makes a dent on your PC's performance, while still providing protection.
Which antivirus software should you get though? You might think that you need to spend considerable money in order to get a great antivirus software package, but that's not always the case. Plenty of free solutions now exist and are worth your time. They're often made by the same manufacturers of paid solutions, such as Panda and Adaware. Various reports have demonstrated that detection rates and accuracy are nearly as high with free software as they are with paid. You're not getting less of a valuable service here. At least, not in terms of spotting viruses, although paid software is sometimes a little smarter at spotting the loopholes. Read more...
Research scientists at Queen’s University’s Human Media Lab have built a prototype touchscreen device that’s neither smartphone nor tablet but kind of both — and more besides. The device, which they’ve christened the MagicScroll, is inspired by ancient (papyrus/paper/parchment) scrolls so it takes a rolled-up, cylindrical form factor — enabled by a flexible 7.5inch touchscreen housed in the casing.
This novel form factor, which they made using 3D printing, means the device can be used like an erstwhile rolodex (remember those?!) for flipping through on-screen contacts quickly by turning a physical rotary wheel built into the edge of the device. (They’ve actually added one on each end.)
Then, when more information or a deeper dive is required, the user is able to pop the screen out of the casing to expand the visible display real estate. The flexible screen on the prototype has a resolution of 2K. So more mid-tier mobile phone of yore than crisp iPhone Retina display at this nascent stage.
The scientists also reckon the scroll form factor offers a pleasing ergonomically option for making actual phone calls too, given that a rolled up scroll can sit snugly against the face.
Though they admit their prototype is still rather large at this stage — albeit, that just adds to the delightfully retro feel of the thing, making it come over like a massive mobile phone of the 1980s. Like the classic Motorola 8000X Dynatac of 1984.
While still bulky at this R&D stage, the team argues the cylindrical, flexible screen form factor of their prototype offers advantages by being lightweight and easier to hold with one hand than a traditional tablet device, such as an iPad. And when rolled up they point out it can also fit in a pocket. (Albeit, a large one.)
They also imagine it being used as a dictation device or pointing device, as well as a voice phone. And the prototype includes a camera — which allows the device to be controlled using gestures, similar to Nintendo’s ‘Wiimote’ gesture system.
In another fun twist they’ve added robotic actuators to the rotary wheels so the scroll can physically move or spin in place in various scenarios, such as when it receives a notification. Clocky eat your heart out.
“We were inspired by the design of ancient scrolls because their form allows for a more natural, uninterrupted experience of long visual timelines,” said Roel Vertegaal, professor of human-computer interaction and director of the lab, in a statement.
“Another source of inspiration was the old rolodex filing systems that were used to store and browse contact cards. The MagicScroll’s scroll wheel allows for infinite scroll action for quick browsing through long lists. Unfolding the scroll is a tangible experience that gives a full screen view of the selected item. Picture browsing through your Instagram timeline, messages or LinkedIn contacts this way!”
“Eventually, our hope is to design the device so that it can even roll into something as small as a pen that you could carry in your shirt pocket,” he added. “More broadly, the MagicScroll project is also allowing us to further examine notions that ‘screens don’t have to be flat’ and ‘anything can become a screen’. Whether it’s a reusable cup made of an interactive screen on which you can select your order before arriving at a coffee-filling kiosk, or a display on your clothes, we’re exploring how objects can become the apps.”
The team has made a video showing the prototype in action (embedded below), and will be presenting the project at the MobileHCI conference on Human-Computer Interaction in Barcelona next month.
While any kind of mobile device resembling the MagicScroll is clearly very, very far off even a sniff of commercialization (especially as these sorts of concept devices have long been teased by mobile device firms’ R&D labs — while the companies keep pumping out identikit rectangles of touch-sensitive glass… ), it’s worth noting that Samsung has been slated to be working a a smartphone with a foldable screen for some years now. And, according to the most recent chatter about this rumor, it might be released next year. Or, well, it still might not.
But whether Samsung’s definition of ‘foldable’ will translate into something as flexibly bendy as the MagicScroll prototype is highly, highly doubtful. A fused clamshell design — where two flat screens could be opened to seamlessly expand them and closed up again to shrink the device footprint for pocketability — seems a much more likely choice for Samsung designers to make, given the obvious commercial challenges of selling a device with a transforming form factor that’s also robust enough to withstand everyday consumer use and abuse.
Add to that, for all the visual fun of these things, it’s not clear that consumers would be inspired to adopt anything so different en masse. Sophisticated (and inevitably) fiddly devices are more likely to appeal to specific niche use cases and user scenarios.
If you find yourself in the market for a new laptop, there's an embarrassment of riches when it comes to choice. Whether you're looking for durability, power, flexibility, and more, there's a laptop out there that can scratch that itch.
But for all those choices, the prices can still be a little hard to get over. You start seeing laptops listed for $1000, $1800, $3500 and suddenly you're over this whole laptop thing.
Just take a step back and relax. You don't have to spend anywhere near that much for a reliable laptop. Sure, some of us would love to have the most powerful laptop in the world, but we have to think a little more practically. Thankfully, there are plenty of affordable laptops out there that make for the perfect addition to your daily life. Read more...
As great as Google's Pixel phones are — the Pixel 2's have arguably the best smartphone cameras and the Google Assistant has grown to be indispensable — they lack one thing that made their predecessors, the Nexus phones, so irresistible: affordable pricing.
The Nexus brand and hardware are long dead, but the key fundamentals that made the phones such game-changers lives on in Android One.
Google launched Android One in 2014 as program geared towards pushing its apps and services onto budget phones designed for emerging markets such as India. Read more...
For quite some time, fans of The Simpsons were unsure: Was that really Michael Jackson's voice on the show?
In the 1991 episode "Stark Raving Dad," Jackson voiced the character of Leon Kompowsky, a patient in a mental health facility who thought he was the pop icon.
Jackson was credited as John Jay Smith, and although producers have spoken about his appearance, the show's creator Matt Groening put the rumors to bed once and for all in an interview on Australian TV show The Weekly.
"We really did have him," Groening said.. Read more...
After months of scooter-less streets in San Francisco, city transportation officials finally broke their silence Thursday to announce which electric scooter companies would be allowed to rent out the battery-powered vehicles.
Of the 12 companies that applied for a year-long pilot program in San Francisco, only two were selected: Skip and Scoot. The two companies are allotted 625 scooters each available to riders starting Oct. 15.
The final decision came as a bit of a surprise to some companies, seeing as the city originally said it could award up to five companies permits back in June. It comes off as a retaliatory move for Bird and Lime, scooter companies that came into the city early without collaborating with officials. Uber and Lyft were also vying for a spot in their hometown's scooter program, but may have paid the price for its past transgressions when ride-hailing apps arrived in the city unannounced years ago. Read more...
Like Han Solo in the iconic cantina scene in Star Wars: A New Hope, we're sorry about the mess. And we're taking the shot first.
That's right, folks, the upcoming Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge park expansion to Disneyland is serving alcohol. We couldn't imagine recreating the sleazy intergalactic dive bar filled with smugglers and bounty hunters any other way.
Disney made the welcome announcement on the park's blog on Thursday, Aug. 30. The company also offered up some new concept art for the highly anticipated Black Spire Outpost expansion, which opens in 2019. Read more...
Snapchat users were greeted with an alarming change to Snap Maps this morning: New York City had been renamed “Jewtropolis.”
Even worse, social media was filled reports of maps on other websites and services with the same change, including Zillow, The Weather Channel, Citibike, and Streeteasy.
Whatever mapping service that Snapchat, CitiBike, StreetEasy, (perhaps others) use — it seems — is showing New York City as "Jewtropolis" this morningpic.twitter.com/nsVe8goLyo
You likely know K'naan Warsame for his FIFA World Cup anthem "Waving Flag" and his role on The Hamilton Mixtape track, "Immigrants (We Get The Job Done.)" Now, he's asking American citizens to vote on his behalf in the upcoming elections.
Though the Canadian-Somali singer and poet lives and works in New York, he's a Canadian citizen and his family still resides in Toronto, which means he's facing challenges as a result of the Trump administration's travel ban.
So he released a powerful video plea in partnership with The Love Vote, a nonprofit organization that aims to give the 50 million people like K'naan — who are unable to vote in the U.S. due to circumstances like age, citizenship status, or disenfranchisement — a space for their voices to be heard. Read more...
Only a few hours after Apple sent out this year's iPhone event invitations, purportedly leaked images of the new devices have surfaced online.
This afternoon, Apple news site 9to5Mac posted a photo of what is allegedly one of the new flagship iPhone models laying on top of one another.
If the leaked photos are to be believed, Apple fans can rejoice, because it appears that a bigger iPhone X is on its way — oh, and there could be a gold color option coming as well.
The Cupertino, Calif.-based tech company just sent out invites for a September 12 event with the tagline "Gather Around." The invite didn't offer much information about what to expect, but an outline of Apple Park appeared in what was a gold-copper color — which could be perceived as a hint about the upcoming gold iPhone color option. Read more...
Despite its California roots, In-N-Out is far from liberal.
On Wednesday, journalist Gabe Schneider uncovered a contribution of $25,000 that the famous California-based fast food chain made to the California Republican Party just this week — and it's safe to say that some folks were not happy to learn about the political leanings of their family owned go-to burger joint.
Schneider shared a document on Twitter that details the company's contributions, which were filed on August 28. While many on Twitter stood in support of the burger chain because of their political beliefs, In-N-Out was called out by some customers. Read more...
In a Facebook post made earlier this afternoon, Rossum announced her exit, bid adieu to her South Side Chicago family, reflected on her upbringing, talked about Malcolm Gladwell, and even alluded to a possible return...
However, she did not give a reason for the departure.
Rossum signs off her note, saying, "I know you will continue on without me, for now. There is much more Gallagher story to be told. I will always be rooting for my family. Try not to think of me as gone, just think of me as moving down the block." Read more...
Subwing can be attached to a small boat, allowing you to maneuver the waters. All you have to do is hang on to the wings and steer by pointing the wings in the direction you want to go. Read more...
Cherish your Johny and Papa content while it's still up, because memes are rapidly getting removed from Twitter for copyright violations.
You've probably stumbled across at least one Johny Johny Yes Papa meme while scrolling through your feed in the past week — the macrocephalic child who hungers for sugar and his tyrannical Papa who often catches him telling lies danced their way right into our creeped out hearts.
But Twitter has recently removed a vast swath of the most viral memes about Johny and his family.
Kaya, a harbor seal at the Oregon Zoo, became transfixed by a butterfly flying near her enclosure — and it is the most perfect thing I have ever seen.
Senior Keeper Micah Reese captured the moment while cleaning her enclosure, and shared the footage on Facebook last week.
"Here’s something special that made my heart smile today," Reese wrote in his caption. "I walked down to viewing before our next dive to check out our work after cleaning [the] seal exhibit this morning, and I found Kaya playing with her new friend."
In the video, sweet sea angel Kaya can be seen following the butterfly as it flies by her tank. Read more...
Like getting it on? NICE! But, um, still protect yourself. Times are tough, and the CDC is warning people about the increasing rates of STDs. Oh, also gonorrhea is starting to become more resistant to antibiotics. Have fun, but take care! Read more...
If you were a child growing up in the late 90s or early 2000s, odds are you remember the most entertaining and hilariously nonsensical way of listening to music: HitClips.
In 1999, Hasbro's Tiger Electronics released the "slick micro audio systems" known as HitClips, tiny memory card-like chips that contained a 60-second "clip" of a super popular song. In the early days, that meant tracks from Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, and Britney Spears, and later they included middle school anthems from Avril Lavigne, Hilary Duff, Simple Plan, and more.
/https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fstory%2Fthumbnail%2F80006%2F500cfb83-344a-4170-97e0-08195f51bbf2.jpg)
/https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fstory%2Fthumbnail%2F79645%2Fbdf456d0-4981-46a0-bfa7-3721c783b459.png)
/https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fcard%2Fimage%2F836343%2Fc788ccaf-f38c-49e4-b0d5-78da14bc3267.jpg)
/https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fcard%2Fimage%2F837780%2F090be948-5c7e-444c-8ac1-82440c52b403.jpg)
/https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fcard%2Fimage%2F837707%2Fc551bbdb-7350-4f33-be93-180f80f1b368.jpg)
/https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fcard%2Fimage%2F837761%2F5c36da08-0165-451d-ab71-275a75a9607e.jpg)
/https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fcard%2Fimage%2F837276%2F7d559220-c04d-4d0e-bde0-ff9975385923.png)
/https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fcard%2Fimage%2F836783%2Fe3c24147-3cea-4511-b4c6-617d724fba7f.jpg)
/https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fstory%2Fthumbnail%2F80005%2F6756fc8b-56a3-4848-9441-c9dc83a7b303.jpg)
/https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fcard%2Fimage%2F837582%2F041d2042-5eca-473b-becb-25c2b72e609f.jpg)
/https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fcard%2Fimage%2F837578%2Fc3a8fbf7-1a03-4e34-af15-20845a5ddc8d.jpg)
/https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fcard%2Fimage%2F837516%2Fc5c9c8ff-4d82-4827-8239-22af03fc61a5.jpg)
/https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fstory%2Fthumbnail%2F80065%2F5798b451-714e-42bd-957a-4d4dc0535d4d.jpg)
/https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fstory%2Fthumbnail%2F80051%2F29077026-f8e6-4af2-970c-b61e9ea652cf.jpg)
/https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fstory%2Fthumbnail%2F80058%2F697f41d0-b07c-4858-a5c5-5be93ed1b20b.png)
/https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fstory%2Fthumbnail%2F80046%2F88d9fa79-d066-4b04-9ec0-982eb2866011.jpg)
/https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fcard%2Fimage%2F835491%2Fc9cbbfb5-8a44-4560-8507-71a9a3e5c97c.jpg)