Advertisers pull ads from Alex Jones' YouTube channel because they don't want to be linked to InfoWars
Just over a week ago, YouTube decided to remove an InfoWars video from the Alex Jones' channel for breaching site rules about harassment. In videos, students who had spoken on TV about the Parkland, Florida shooting were described as "crisis actors". Jones described the move as "giant, massive censorship" and went as far as saying his channel was about to be shut down.
Now advertisers are showing how they feel about InfoWars, with a number of large companies -- including Acer, 20th Century Fox, Grammarly, Paramount Network, Alibaba and Mozilla -- pulling advertising after learning that their ads were appearing on Jones' channel.
Kodi 18 (Leia) Alpha 1 arrives -- download it now!
Kodi continues to be in the news, often for all the wrong reasons. The media center software is synonymous with piracy, even though you need to install third-party add-ons to use it for illegal streaming purposes.
Today, however, there’s good news for Kodi users -- the team behind the software releases the first version of Kodi 18 (Leia), the next generation of its media center software, and you can download the brand new build now.
StarTech launches Thunderbolt 3 Dual-4K Docking Station with SD Card Slot
Ever since I bought my 2016 MacBook Pro, I have been obsessed with Thunderbolt 3 docks. Why? Because I like to use my laptop as a desktop when I am home. I need to connect a monitor, keyboard, mouse, external hard drive, USB webcam, and more. A TB3 docking station allows me to easily connect all these things to my MacBook Pro with a single cable, while also charging it. This solution works with compatible Windows machines too.
Today, StarTech launches the Thunderbolt 3 Dual-4K Docking Station with SD Card Slot and it looks amazing. As the name implies, it can push two 4K monitors -- one using its DisplayPort, and the other with an included (and optional) USB-C to DisplayPort cable. In addition to dual-4K, it can also handle a single 5K display. Also indicated by the product name, there is an SD card slot on the front. This is very much appreciated, as the MacBook Pro has no such card reader.
Microsoft giving free additional wireless controller when you buy Xbox One X
If you want the most powerful video game console, you should buy the Xbox One X. If you want the absolute best media player on the market, buy the Xbox One X. Yes, Microsoft's console is a wonderful device, allowing 4K video streaming, 4K Blu-ray playback, and 4K gaming. PlayStation 4 Pro cannot match the power or capabilities. You really can't go wrong buying Xbox One X.
There is one big downside to the Xbox One X, however -- its price tag. Having the best entertainment device will not come cheap. As they say, you must pay to play, and in this case, playing will cost you $500! That price is totally justified given its capabilities and specs, but it is still a hard pill to swallow. If you have been on the fence, Microsoft has a new promotion that might get you to pull the trigger -- a second controller for free! Best of all, the savings are instant -- there are no silly rebate forms to fill out.
Google launches Mobile Real-time Video Segmentation as limited beta (AI green screen to you and I)
Google is testing a new AI green screen tool for YouTube called Mobile Real-time Video Segmentation. We've become used to every chat tool worth its salt offering AR overlays and masks, but this technology makes it possible to change backgrounds -- in real time.
The technique makes use of neural networks to determine which parts of a scene are foreground to be left alone and which are background to be replaced. No special equipment is needed, and it has the potential to be used for serious videos as well as the more frivolous things masks tend to be used for at the moment.
Android P should be making its way to developers later this month
While a lot of Android users are still waiting for Oreo to arrive on their handsets -- well, let's face it, there are still plenty waiting for Nougat -- Google is hard at work on Android P. The P may or may not stand for pistachio (or possibly pie, leading to speculation of a March 14 -- Pi day -- release), but what people really care about is what's new and when they can try it out.
It shouldn't be too long until we find out more about what to expect from the latest version of Google's mobile operating system. The company is expected to release the first Android P Developer Preview later this month. This will give us a chance to see whether there really is notch support and a "dramatic redesign".
Surprise! Microsoft releases Windows 10 Spring Update Build 17112 for the Fast ring
Three days ago, Microsoft rolled out Build 17110 for Windows 10 Insiders on the Fast ring. It offered a number of improvements, and also came with an unexpected annoyance -- the Microsoft Store was missing for some users.
Today, Microsoft rolls out a surprise new update -- Build 17112. It has a number of fixes, but not for the Store issue unfortunately. It also introduces a couple of new problems.
Employees lack awareness of cyber security policies and threats
Nearly half (46 percent) of entry-level employees, and 28 percent of all employees, don't know if their company has a cyber security policy, according to new research.
The study of 1,000 full time workers from B2B research firm Clutch also shows that employees at all levels of an organization are likely unaware of the IT security threats their companies potentially face.
Have I Been Pwned is now used by governments to check for data breaches
Over the last few years, the website Have I Been Pwned (HIBP) has given people the chance to check whether their personal data was compromised in any data breaches. Now the site reveals that the UK and Australian governments are using its services to monitor official domains.
That governments should check the site's database for the presence of their own email addresses is perhaps not surprising -- it's used by just about every type of body imaginable. But now the mechanics have been opened up for these two governments.
The team behind TunnelBear VPN announces new password manager, RememBear
There are people who swear behind a password manager (and we’re one of them) and others who think to store all your passwords, logins and personal info, in one database, is asking for trouble.
They could be right. Without pointing fingers, a few popular password managers have been hacked and data leaked in the past, although as your data is highly encrypted, it’s unlikely to be cracked.
Privacy: Xbox One gamers upset after Microsoft reveals their real names
A thread appeared on Reddit yesterday in which Xbox One users say Microsoft is revealing their real names online, despite the fact they have configured their settings to block this from happening.
The thread has already gained a large number of comments. Microsoft got involved saying that it was actively investigating the issue which some gamers are describing as a serious breach of privacy and security. Almost 24 hours later, the matter may be resolved.
Dropbox partners with Google Cloud for integration with Docs, Gmail and Hangouts Chat
Dropbox has joined forces with Google Cloud to bring integration with G Suite. The move comes out of a recognition that people tend to use more than one cloud service, and it can be problematic having to deal with files and tools in different locations.
The partnership means that users will be able to open and edit G Suite files from within Dropbox. Ultimately, there will be support for Docs, Sheets, Slides, Hangouts Chat and Gmail, making it far easier to work with the cloud services from Dropbox and Google together.
Facebook admits its News Feed experiment was a failure and pulls Explore Feed
Facebook is far from immune to tinkering with its News Feed, but its recent experiment has been deemed a complete failure. Last year, the Explore Feed received a limited public launch following a period of beta testing, effectively separating news from friends and posts from pages.
Several months later, Facebook has realized what we probably could have told it from the offset: "People don't want two separate feeds." The company was heavily criticized by those living in the countries where the experiment ran, as they said it was harder to find important information.
D-Link launches affordable DIR-867 AC1750 MU-MIMO 802.11ac Wi-Fi Router
A wireless router is probably the most important piece of technology in any household. After all, it is what connects devices to the internet. Hell, a recent study found that consumers consider the wireless router to be an essential product.
Unfortunately, choosing a wireless router these days can be quite hard. Not only are there many makes and models from which to choose, but they are available at many different price points. For the most part, expensive routers offer more speed and features than the average consumer truly needs. Ultimately, many people end up spending more money than necessary. As a solution to this dilemma, D-Link launches the affordable DIR-867 AC1750 MU-MIMO Wi-Fi Router, and consumers should definitely take a look. It offers a nice balance of speed, features, and cost.
Google 'Song Maker' can turn any nincompoop into a musician
Many people have dreams of becoming a famous musician. As a teenager, I took some guitar lessons, found out I had no talent, and ultimately gave up.
Thanks to computers, however, any nincompoop can become a musician -- including me. Don’t have a good voice? Auto-tune, baby! Can’t play an instrument? No worries. Google has a new web app called "Song Maker" that can turn you into the next Tom Jones.
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