Google’s new celebrity video app is basically AMA for search

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Google’s making it easier for celebrities to control what appears in their search results.

Thursday, the search giant released a new app called Cameos, which lets celebs record vertical full-screen video answers to commonly searched-for questions about them.

SEE ALSO: Google Chrome is getting a major redesign, and you can try it out right now

Google has opened the app up to an array of musicians, athletes, and other public figures. Those who have access can choose from a set of common Google questions and record brief video answers. Those videos will then appear at the top of relevant search results. Read more…

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Google never really left China: a look at the Chinese website Google’s been quietly running

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More information is leaking out about just how Google is planning to re-enter the Chinese market with a mobile search engine application that complies to the country’s censorship laws.

The Intercept first broke this story when a whistleblower provided them documentation detailing the secret censored search project (codenamed Dragonfly). According to them, an overlooked Google acquisition from 2008 — 265.com — has been quietly laying down the foundation for the endeavor. 

SEE ALSO: Google is developing a censored news app for China

Back in June of 2008, Google acquired the Chinese website 265.com, which Chinese internet entrepreneur Cai Wensheng, known as “King of the Webmasters,” founded in 2003. Cai is the current chairman and founder of the company behind the popular selfie app Meitu. As an early domain name investor, Cai “found it frustrating to have to type domain names in English,” according to a 2010 Wall Street Journal profile. So he set up what amounts to an early-internet web directory, or daohang — which roughly translates to navigation — as they’re known in China. His internet portal, 265.com, which provided Chinese internet users with a list of popular website links right on its homepage, was an instant success.  Read more…

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‘Instaception’ is the coolest new makeup trend on Instagram

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Posting your makeup skills on Instagram is cool and all, but can you paint an Instagram post on your face?

Makeup artists are flexing their skills with the Instaception challenge, going all out on one eye, and then painting borders so it looks like a screenshot of an Instagram post. 

SEE ALSO: All the weirdest beauty trends 2018 has given us so far

A post shared by Abby Roberts (@abbyrobertsartistry) on

The trend started with @dom.skii, who first posted the look three weeks ago and captioned it “picture perfect.” He framed his eyes with the like, comment, and share icons.  Read more…

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How new fathers use private online groups to make sense of their roles

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A lawyer in Bermuda became internet-famous for dancing ballet alongside his two-year-old daughter, comforting her stage fright by being there and doing the dance moves right with her. He knew the part because he had practiced ballet with his children before – and said it was just a normal part of fathering daughters.

That isn’t a common sentiment about fatherhood, even now. But social norms have been changing over the past 40 years, as more women – and mothers – have entered the workforce. While mothers still do more work at home, the burden is becoming more equal. However, the concept of father-as-breadwinner is still stronger than ideals of fathers as nurturers. As a result, fathers often find themselves out of place at parks, malls and other areas frequented by mothers and children. The same problem happens when they visit most parenting forums online. Read more…

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Diabolical people are putting fake power outlet stickers on walls

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Searching for an open power outlet in an airport is often a frustrating experience.

It’s certainly not helped by what seems to be a raft of pranksters who are putting stickers of fake power outlets onto walls, bins, and any highly visible surface.

SEE ALSO: This photo of Melania Trump gardening is Twitter’s new favorite meme

This diabolical feat has been captured by people on Twitter, who’ve brandished an avowed aim to make enemies of the people who are behind these stickers from hell.

Whoever put up this fake sticker of an open outlet at the airport, you are now my enemy for lifepic.twitter.com/TYEJKmY6Zg

— Brandon Ewing (@Atrioc) August 6, 2018 Read more…

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Apple self-driving cars could have AR windshields perfect for FaceTime

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Your car could act a lot more like your iPhone in the future — at least according to Apple patent filings for an augmented reality windshield.

Patently Apple found a European patent application for a windshield display that presents map and road conditions in autonomous cars. Apple has been testing self-driving cars, but hasn’t divulged much about the project. We reached out to Apple about the AR display, but haven’t heard back.

So yes, in the future might be able to sit back and relax in your self-driving car while information flashes on the heads-up display. (Don’t get too excited, though. Companies file many patents that never become actual products.) It’s reminiscent of the augmented windows proposed on the ultra-high-speed Hyperloop. Based on where you look and the scenery outside, you’ll see different things on your screen.  Read more…

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Verizon and Apple partner to offer unlimited customers a musical perk

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It seems Verizon is taking a page out of T-Mobile’s handbook in terms of adding value to its unlimited plans.

Verizon is entering into an exclusive, multi-step partnership with Apple. Step one is to offer a musical perk. Both new and current Verizon Unlimited customers will get 6 months of Apple Music at no extra charge. 

SEE ALSO: Apple Music has reportedly overtaken Spotify in U.S. subscribers

Even better, if you’ve already taken advantage of the free three months of the streaming service that Apple offers, you’re still eligible for this deal. This means that Verizon Unlimited customers could have up to 9 months of Apple Music for free. Read more…

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Twitter CEO explains alleged ‘shadow bans’ — again

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Twitter’s CEO is still going out of his way to appease conservatives and conspiracy theorists.

One day after publicly reaffirming his company’s decision not to suspend InfoWars host Alex Jones, Jack Dorsey went on Sean Hannity’s radio show to reassure conservatives that Twitter does not “shadow ban” people for their political beliefs. 

SEE ALSO: Twitter is basically OK with harassment, just don’t @ anyone

Shadow banning is the term used by some conspiracy theorists to describe Twitter’s practice of limiting the visibility of users who engage in trolling, harassment, and other toxic behavior. But for the far-right, it’s become a rallying cry — proof that Twitter does in fact “censor” users with whom it disagrees. Read more…

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And now professional golf is being ransomed for bitcoin

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Raise that single gloved-hand to your mouth in shock: The hackers have gone after golf.

America’s last bastion of proud visor-wearers is scrambling this week, after unknown criminals took over the PGA of America’s servers on Tuesday — locking the golf association out of its files just days before the official Aug. 9 start of the PGA Championship in Missouri. And you better believe those hackers want bitcoin. 

SEE ALSO: Ransomware has been around for almost 30 years, so why does it feel like it’s getting worse?

That’s right, the PGA was hit with ransomware. 

So reports Golfweek, which notes that the now-encrypted files include “extensive promotional banners and logos used in digital and print communications,” in addition to “development work on logos for future PGA Championships.” Read more…

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NYC caps number of Ubers and Lyfts in the streets and gives drivers higher hourly rate

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Uber, Lyft, Via, Juno, and other ride-hailing app drivers have some new protections and minimum pay guarantees in New York City after a city council vote this afternoon.

One of the votes put a cap on the number of vehicles licensed to drive for apps like Lyft and Uber. The “pause” will last 12 months; at that point the city will review how the break affected congestion, public transit, drivers, and passengers. It’s not a permanent ban on new ride-hailing vehicles, and there is some flexibility, like for new accessible vehicles. 

New York is the first major American city to take a stand on the number of vehicles Uber, Lyft, and other ride-sharing apps can have out on the street.  Read more…

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