New Technology : See Where You’ve Been with Google Maps’ New Timeline Feature

google-timeline

Ah, the all-knowing Google is up to its old tricks once again. The latest idea to roll off the Mountain View production line is Google Maps’ timeline feature. If you think that Google logging everywhere you go and then displaying that information on a map/timeline is creepy, you’re probably right. In fact, we’d absolutely hate it — if it wasn’t so damn cool! So let’s take a look at Google’s latest and greatest idea, exploring some of its features along with the practical benefits it offers. Where Did It Come From? The timeline feature certainly hasn’t just appeared out of nowhere....

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New Technology : AdBlock Sells Out to Mystery Buyer, Google to Do the Right Thing… [Tech News Digest]

in-defense-of-Ad-blocking-online-ads-publishers-innovation-skip-ads

AdBlock sells out, Alphabet employees do the right thing, self-driving taxis arrive in Japan, The Martian mobile game, and the live streamer who set his house on fire. AdBlock Has an Anonymous New Owner Was casually browsing earlier using Google Chrome, opened a new tab, and this popped up: http://pic.twitter.com/BTmPabAwkd — Adam Haworth (@aahaworth) October 1, 2015 AdBlock, which is just one of the many tools used to block online advertising, has sold out to a mystery buyer. News of the sale came when Michael Gundlach, the original creaor of AdBlock, announced that AdBlock would be joining the Acceptable Ads...

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New Technology : Why Are Tweets Only 140 Characters Long?

twitter-in-back-pocket

The good news is that Twitter is planning to lift its 140-character limit for tweets. But that just raises a different question: why did that limit exist in the first place? It’s because Twitter started out via SMS. At the time, SMS carriers had a cap of 160 characters on each message, but Twitter reserved 20 characters for usernames. That’s why tweets were limited to 140 characters. But hold on. There’s more to the story! just setting up my twttr — Jack (@jack) March 21, 2006 The idea for the micro-blogging service came from Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey’s fascination with how a city functions in...

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New Technology : How to Backup Any Spotify Playlist in Seconds

Playlist-Spotify-Header

Though playlists aren’t as necessary as they used to be due to Spotify’s “Your Music” feature, many users are using them to categorize their favorite tunes. For example, the Starred playlist which was previously front and center might contain your master list of tracks; it would be a pity to lose it. Spotify really needs a way to backup all playlists with songs. A friend just lost all her songs, not playlists… I would cry… — André (@AndrC3A9) March 16, 2014 Fortunately, with just a bit of preparation you can back up any Spotify playlist. In Spotify’s app, you’ll see all...

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New Technology : How to Run Windows 1.0.1 in Your Browser

IBM PC XT

Through emulation, all things are possible, such as running Android on Windows or playing retro video games. This emulator is no different. It’s easy, and a lot of fun. It’s crazy to think that Windows 1.0.1 dropped on the world in 1985. I was three years old, so I can’t say I ever used it, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have an interest in all things retro tech and a desire to take a walk down memory lane. Whether it’s a nostalgic trip for you too or just a way to burn minutes during your lunchbreak, the ability to...

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New Technology : 3 Ways the Shift Key Will Change How You Browse the Web

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Every browser has dozens of keyboard shortcuts, but some shortcuts are more valuable than others. In fact, some are so revolutionary that you’ll wonder how you ever browsed the Web without them — similar to that feeling when tabbed browsing became a thing. The Shift key plays a big role and it’s about to change your life. Horizontal Scrolling Using the scrollwheel on your mouse — you do have one, don’t you? — is the easiest and most convenient way to browse the Web, but what do you do when you come across a page, textbox, or iframe that scrolls...

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New Technology : 5 Unique Ways to Upload Files and Share Files

unique-way-share-files

Quickly: send me a file! Even in 2015, file sharing isn’t quite solved yet. We’ve gone over the best websites for quickly sharing files more than once, but to this day the web is yet to settle on a standard – particularly if things are too big for email. There are file sharing sites that let anyone upload a file, but they tend to shut down eventually due to copyright issues or bandwidth costs. There’s Dropbox, but that largely depends on both parties having a Dropbox account or things get confusing fast. So there’s plenty of room for improvement in...

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New Technology : How Much Physical Media Would it Take to Store the Internet?

InternetPhysicalFeat

I don’t know if you knew this, but the Internet is really big. Like really, really, big. And it’s growing constantly, as more and more files are uploaded to it every minute of each day. Trying to wrap your head around the size of the Internet is downright staggering, and it kind of gives you a headache just trying to think about it. But we won’t let that stop us, as the infographic below uses the estimated size of the Internet to determine how much physical media would be required to store it all. The numbers are shocking. Via BeyoneStorage Click...

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New Technology : Snowden’s on Twitter, Here Are 7 More Privacy Advocates to Follow

snowden-twitter

Twitter got a bit of a shock on September 29 when privacy activist and whistleblower Edward Snowden joined the social network. Apparently even he knows everyone needs Twitter in their lives. Can you hear me now? — Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 29, 2015 Snowden, of course, is the man who leaked classified information that the US National Security Agency (NSA) is involved in unauthorized global surveillance of user data. It was a major intrusion into people’s privacy, and the NSA itself has been flip-flopping on its stance on is Snowden a hero or a villain. As far as the global...

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New Technology : 5 Banned Books All Geeks Should Read

banned-books

Since 1982, the annual Banned Books Week has raised awareness of literary censorship, and acknowledged authors who have had their writing repressed. This year, it’s especially timely. In New Zealand, a country generally known for its liberalism and carefree mode-de-vie, Family First (a social conservative group) was able to pull Ted Dawes’ award-winning Into The River from the shelves of the island nation, due to its depictions of drug-taking and sex. But it’s not just youth fiction that’s under threat. Everything from political treatises, books on religion and faith, and iconic novels have been banned at some point, including some...

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