Author Archives: Carol Edwards

   

   

   

    

      

    

   

    

    

   

   

   

  

   

   

     

   

   

   

   

   

    

More about Tech, Google, Social Media, Google, and Big Tech Companies

There are few things more pretentious than the Genius Verified series, which has over-the-top artists explain the lyrics to one of their songs in front of signature yellow background.

YouTuber Zane Hijazi poked fun at the series with an explainer of his song “Boom,” which he refers to as “a story” and a “positive epidemic.” Explaining that his love interest has him feeling “like an animal,” he makes sure to hold up a dog to explain that it too is an animal. 

“We all have dirty little secrets,” Zane continues. “But I, I have a little dirty secret … I’m not wearing any underwear.” 

He then describes how he wants to take his “babe” on a long drive out of Los Angeles because he “only wants her presence.” Read more…

More about Youtube, Viral Videos, Genius, Culture, and Web Culture

Everyone starts off as a beginner. Even someone great at what they do like Michael Jordan was a beginner at basketball at one time and look how far it took him. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be the Michael Jordan of droning one day.

But for now, you have to start somewhere. We scoured the internet looking for the best and brightest drones for first-timers. No matter what your field of interest, like photography or racing, we found a drone that’s perfect for you. 

We also didn’t forget all the kids out there looking to get into droning. We found just the right drones for children ages 8 and up, while also taking into consideration teenagers and parents who want to know there are safety features and settings that will help prevent accidents and mishaps. Read more…

More about Tech, Drones, Quadcopters, Mashable Shopping, and Consumer Tech

Brrrr…. It’s cold in here. 

The winter months can be harsh since the days are shorter and the weather is, of course, much, much colder — especially if you live in the midwest and east coast. Temperatures can drop down to below zero Fahrenheit from day-to-day, while having a roof over your head doesn’t guarantee instant warmth.

So how can you turn up the heat in one part of the home without turning it up everywhere else? If you invest in a good space heater, you can assure yourself a nice and toasty winter as you anxiously wait for the spring to finally come. Read more…

More about Tech, Polar Vortex, Shopping Amazon, Space Heater, and Shopping Linkshare

Ever watchful of its competitors (and not so concerned about your privacy), Facebook has been paying people so it can keep tabs on their phone and internet usage.

As unearthed by TechCrunch, the research program dubbed “Project Atlas” sought users who would be willing to install an app that gave Facebook unfettered access to their iOS or Android phones for $20 a month, plus referral fees.

Facebook recruited users aged 13-35 years old via beta testing services like Applause, BetaBound and uTest, with the latter company running ads for a “paid social media research study” on Instagram and Snapchat. Read more…

More about Tech, Facebook, Data Privacy, Big Tech Companies, and Facebook Is Bad

It’s very early in the year but we’re already calling the winner for best online feud of 2019.

The self-described “Venom fucker” community (that is, people who want to have sexual relations with the eponymous slimy alien bodybuilder monster from that comic book movie) are outraged at the people who want to bang real-life serial killer Ted Bundy. 

And honestly? They’re not wrong.

Over the weekend, a tweet gained traction in which one such Venom fucker came for the neck of the “Ted Bundy fuckers” trying to defend themselves by comparing the two monster-loving fandoms.  Read more…

More about Watercooler, Entertainment, Twitter, Zac Efron, and Tom Hardy

It turns out Apple products are good for more than just spying on people. 

In an otherwise dreary Jan. 29 earnings call, Apple executives had one standout bit of cheery news for wary investors: Apple News supposedly has the largest audience of any news app. Specifically, according to Apple, the service has 85 million monthly active users. 

That number, up from 70 million unique users in 2016, paints a picture of a growing service that is slowly rising to challenge Facebook’s hold on the media ecosystem. But it still has a long way to go before it manages to dethrone the Boy King of Silicon Valley.  Read more…

More about Apple, Apple News, Tech, and Big Tech Companies

Apple really isn’t selling as many iPhones.

The company reported earnings for its December quarter Tuesday, revealing that iPhone revenue fell 15 percent, compared with the same time last year. That would be a steep decline for any quarter, but is particularly significant for a holiday period, when sales are typically strong. 

We don’t know exactly how much iPhone sales are suffering, as Apple conveniently announced last quarter that it would stop breaking out individual unit sales for the iPhone and other products. But sales are down enough to hurt Apple’s bottom line. Revenue was down 5 percent overall this quarter, largely due to weaker demand for iPhones.  Read more…

More about Apple, Iphone, Tim Cook, Tech, and Big Tech Companies

On Monday, Ashton Kutcher tweeted that he’d be “changing [his] social media strategy.” On Tuesday, he tweeted out his phone number.

No, Kutcher probably wasn’t hacked. And if he did actually give out his private phone number, he probably has a new one now.

The number he shared is connected to an ostensibly new messaging service provider called Community, which, according to its privacy policy, allows subscribers to send messages to their “fans and followers.” Read more…

More about Twitter, Social Media, Ashton Kutcher, Culture, and Web Culture

Facebook appears to be talking out of both sides of its mouth again.

On Monday, the nonprofit news organization ProPublica published a report stating that Facebook had intentionally disabled its ability to monitor political advertising on the platform — which doesn’t exactly sound like the transparency Mark Zuckerberg promised. 

ProPublica uses a plugin that allows it to see which ads a consenting user sees on Facebook. It also tells the organization how those users were targeted. For example, if you’re someone who told Facebook that you are “liberal,” you might see ads for liberal causes. But this sort of targeting can also get much, much more granular. Cambridge Analytica targeted people with political ads based on their denim preferences. Read more…

More about Facebook, Journalism, Cambridge Analytica, Tech, and Politics