Google unveils plan to better fight terrorist videos on YouTube

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Terrorism is a scourge on society. When people live in fear, they cannot truly be free. While some governments are constantly working to fight terror, it cannot be done alone. To truly keep people safe, the private sector must participate in anti-terrorism efforts too -- especially when fighting propaganda and recruitment.

A good example of this is Google with YouTube. The company's video-streaming site is ubiquitous for a reason -- it is easy to use and non-restrictive when it comes to content. In other words, Google has supported free speech on its platform, but with that said, it also takes down videos that violate the terms of its service. Unfortunately, disgusting content -- including terror-related videos -- have slipped through the cracks. While expecting perfection is unrealistic, Google still wants to do better. In fact, the search-giant is presenting a four-part plan to better fight terrorism on YouTube. In addition, the company is working with other tech giants, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Microsoft to bolster its efforts.

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Debian 9 'Stretch' is finally here -- download the Linux-based operating system now

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Debian is a very popular Linux-based operating system, but its development does not exactly move at a breakneck pace. In other words, it tends to focus on stability rather than bleeding edge. In fact, the development of Debian 9 "Stretch" has been going on for over two years!

Today, Debian 9 'Stretch' finally sees release. It is chock full of changes from the prior version. While GNOME 3.22 is the default desktop environment, you can opt for plenty of others, such as Xfce, KDE Plasma, and MATE. Users will appreciate LibreOffice 5.2, which is included. Also of significance, MariaDB replaces MySQL.

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Before you buy Microsoft Surface Pro, check out the ASUS Transformer Pro T304 Windows 10 PC

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The Surface Pro only just went on sale, but you might want to reconsider that purchase. Don't get me wrong, Microsoft's hybrid tablet looks great, but ASUS has a very similar new Windows 10 PC that might be better. Called "Transformer Pro T304," it features the ports that are missing from the Surface Pro, such as HDMI and USB-C -- no dongles needed. Don't worry, there is a USB Type-A port too.

Not only does the Transformer Pro T304 have plenty of ports, but plenty of horsepower too. Regardless of configuration, you get a 7th-generation Core i7-7500U and 12.6-inch display with a 2160x1440 resolution. While the display is slightly larger than Surface Pro, the resolution on the ASUS machine is less -- something to consider. For memory, 8GB is standard, but you can opt for 16GB. The increase in RAM also gets you a storage bump, going from 256GB to 512GB. The superior model also gets Windows 10 Pro rather than Home.

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Here's when you can buy Samsung's artsy 'The Frame' television

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In many homes, a large television is the focal point of the living room. When people gather in that area, they tend to sit in chairs that face the TV. Times are changing, however, as people are spending more time watching videos on laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Maybe it is time to redefine the way we think of the television.

Samsung has done exactly that, you see, with its all-new 4K televisions called "The Frame." Since they were unveiled earlier this year, some people have been clamoring to get one. It isn't hard to see why -- they are super-thin and can be "framed" to look like works of art. You can then display images of art on the screen when not in use. In other words, you can look sophisticated as if you don't own a TV when company is over, while secretly watching The Bachelor and Maury when alone. Thankfully, we finally know the release date.

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Razer Blade Stealth Windows 10 gaming laptop gets refresh with larger 13.3-inch display

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Thunderbolt 3 is a total game-changer. With the appropriate hardware, you can add desktop-class graphics cards to a svelte laptop. Having the ability to game at home while retaining portability is a godsend.

One of the best examples of this is the Razer Blade Stealth. It leverages Intel graphics when on the go, but by adding the optional Razer Core graphics card adapter, you can use a desktop GPU. In other words, it is only a gaming laptop when paired with an external GPU. The popular notebook has recently received a refresh, moving from a 12.5-inch screen to a more roomy 13.3-inch. The machine gets a 7th-gen Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM by default -- nice!

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Microsoft Modern Keyboard with Fingerprint ID is designed for Windows Hello, coming soon

Microsoft Modern Keyboard with Fingerprint ID

Earlier today, Microsoft quietly unveiled a cool new product. Called "Microsoft Modern Keyboard with Fingerprint ID," it is designed for Windows Hello -- the biometic login feature found in Windows 10. It features Bluetooth 4.0/4.1 and a wireless range of up to 50 feet.

The weird thing about the product is that it has what Microsoft calls a "hidden" fingerprint scanner. I call this odd because the scanner is literally in a key with a fingerprint label on it! In other words, it is hiding in plain sight. It seems Microsoft is proud that the reader itself is "hidden" underneath the key, but since it is labeled as such, I don't know why that matters.

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JBL releases Everest 2.0 Bluetooth headphones

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Bluetooth headphones are all the rage nowadays, thanks to smartphone manufacturers -- such as Apple -- that have omitted the 3.5mm audio port from their phones. iPhone is not the only such device -- there are some Android devices that don't have the headphone jack either. While you can add the jack back with a dongle, a wireless option can be much more freeing.

Today, JBL unveils four new Bluetooth headphones under the Everest 2.0 branding. What makes this particularly cool is that the line has models ranging from $100 to $300, making it possible to find a set that best meets a budget. They are quite differing in style too, featuring in-ear, on-ear, and around-ear options. While only the top model has adaptive noise-canceling technology for listening, all four feature an integrated noise-canceling microphone, making them good for communication tools too.

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Microsoft Surface Laptop and Surface Pro now available -- which Windows 10 PC will you buy?

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Microsoft has been developing its Surface line of computers for years, and it has been exciting to see the evolution. What started out as a tablet with a terrible keyboard has evolved into a world-class desktop (Surface Studio), tablet (Surface Pro), and notebook (Surface Laptop). Slowly but surely, the company has created a diverse product line that focuses on elegance and productivity.

While pre-orders were already available, today is finally the day you can buy the all-new Surface Laptop and Surface Pro. Consumers have a hard decision to make -- which one should they buy? While Surface Pro stays true to the original Surface mission of being a tablet and laptop in one, the Surface Laptop is true to its name -- a notebook only.

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Microsoft becomes open source Cloud Foundry Foundation Gold Member

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Microsoft is an open source champion. It is weird to say, I know, but it is fact. Yeah, the company makes most of its money from closed source technologies, such as Windows and Office, but it is an open source contributor as well. It has made many quality open source projects available, such as Cognitive Toolkit and PowerShell. Heck, it was even revealed that Microsoft has the most open source contributors on GitHub! Its support for Linux on Azure deserves major kudos too.

Today, Microsoft takes its open source focus even further. You see, the Windows-maker has become an official Cloud Foundry Foundation Gold Member. Microsoft is in excellent company, with other big-name Gold Members, such as Google, Ford, and Huawei.

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Tails 3.0 is here -- download the Debian-based Linux distro and take back your privacy

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If you are reading this, your privacy is under attack. Don't think hackers or government agencies have any reason to spy on you? Think again. Information is power, and collected data is very valuable. Only a sucker would argue that it doesn't matter because they have nothing to hide. Your liberties can be eroded when you don't join the battle for the overall greater good. In other words, it is important to fight for your rights before it is too late.

One way to fight for your privacy is to hide your internet activity from prying eyes. A great option for this -- especially in countries where exercising free speech can get you jailed or killed -- is Tails. This is a privacy-focused Linux-based operating system that is designed to run as a live environment -- preferably from an optical disk to best hide tracks. It was made famous by freedom-fighter Edward Snowden. You may not want to use the OS all the time, but it is a great tool for when you absolutely need privacy. Today, the Tails Linux distro reaches a significant milestone -- version 3.0 is stable. You can download the ISO immediately.

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Creative unveils Sound BlasterX AE-5 gaming sound card with 32-bit DAC and RGB lighting

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If you thought the concept of a sound card was dead, you'd be wrong, but I wouldn't blame you for thinking it. After all, on-board motherboard sound is often excellent, and many people will choose a USB DAC nowadays as an upgrade.

Today, Creative unveils a new PCIe sound card that will get you excited. Called "Sound BlasterX AE-5," it is chock full of features and impressive specs. While overkill for most, it features an insane 32-bit/384kHz DAC. It offers connectivity for a 5.1 speaker setup. Since this is a gaming product in 2017, it of course has RGB lighting -- it comes with attachable RGB light strips to illuminate your case. While this card is designed for gamers, it will also be ideal for audiophiles listening to music.

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Logitech Circle 2 is a versatile home internet surveillance camera for both inside and outside

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Internet-based home surveillance cameras are gaining in popularity nowadays, thanks to decreasing cost and easier setup. These devices allow you to monitor your home using your smartphone for ultimate convenience.

Back in 2015, Logitech unveiled its first such product. Simply called "Circle," it was affordable and easy to use. The problem? It lacked versatility. It didn't offer much in the way of positioning and couldn't be used outside. With that said, the battery aspect allowed it to be moved about a residence. Today, the company unveils the successor -- Circle 2. This time the camera is far more useful, even offering the ability to be used outdoors. There are two models -- wired or wire-free, both of which work with Amazon Alexa.

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Fedora 26 Beta Linux distro is finally here with GNOME 3.24 and updated LibreOffice

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Fedora 26 Beta is finally here! Why do I say "finally?" Well, as is becoming more common nowadays, the Beta release was delayed. This isn't the end of the world, however, as there is nothing wrong with making sure everything is ready -- especially a beta.

While you never want to run pre-release software on a production machine, I must confess that the Alpha version has been rock solid on my laptop -- it is probably safe. With that said, if you can be patient, we should have a final version on July 11. Can't wait for a stable Fedora 26 and like living dangerously? You can download the Beta today -- at your own risk.

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Dell refreshes Alienware Area-51 with AMD Ryzen Threadripper and Intel Core X options

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The news from E3 2017 is coming fast and furiously. Just yesterday, console gamers were treated to something very exciting -- Xbox One X. While Microsoft's latest console is a bit pricey, the cost is probably deserved -- it is the most powerful gaming system ever.

Today PC gamers are getting some big news from Dell. The company is refreshing its Alienware Area-51 gaming desktop with the latest-and-greatest from both AMD and Intel. Yes, folks, Threadripper and Core X will soon be configuration options for the beautiful computer.

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Google launches 'Qibla Finder' augmented reality web app to help Muslims pray

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When Muslims pray, they are supposed to face Mecca -- a city in Saudi Arabia. This can be difficult for those that travel, as the direction can change based on the person's current location. For someone that tends to always be in the same city, this can be far easier to remember day to day.

If you are a Muslim that desires absolute accuracy when praying, Google has a new solution for you. Called "Qibla Finder," it is a web app that will show you the exact location to face.

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