Category Archives: Blog

We each carry around with us a little supercomputer that can fit inside our pocket. It does everything we could ask it to do; it checks the weather, searches the internet, plays games, streams media, takes pictures, and analyzes dataSmartphones are great, except for the fact that newer, better versions are always on the horizon.

Most of us can probably eke out a few years with our smartphones, but the upgrade cycle means it’s always tempting to splurge on a shinier model. You can usually save a few bucks by trading your old phone in when you buy a new one, but there are times you might end up with an extra, aging smartphone hanging around. Read more…

More about Iphone, Smartphone, Tech, and Consumer Tech

Facebook Stories still aren’t being used widely, but the social network is nonetheless committed to experimenting with new ways to distribute them.

Now, Facebook is testing a new mobile feature that would combine Stories and News Feed posts in a swipeable carousel of sorts. This is all according to software engineer and researcher Jane Manchun Wong, who recently tweeted about being part of the test.

The carousel, if rolled out to all Facebook users, would turn the social network’s traditional vertical-scrolling News Feed into something closer to Instagram Stories — with regular posts and Stories being given equal placement in the feed.  Read more…

More about Tech, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Whatsapp

If it felt like everyone and their mother (of dragons) was watching Game of Thrones on Sunday night, it’s because they were. 

According to HBO, a staggering 17.4 million viewers across cable, HBO Go, and HBO Now tuned into the Game of Thrones: Season 8 premiere on Sunday — surpassing Thrones‘ previous ratings record from the finale of Season 7, which brought in 16.9 million viewers in July 2017. 

The debut of Thrones’ final season marked the largest night of streaming activity in HBO’s history, and that means great things for the service’s other series. 

Barry, a tense dramedy starring Saturday Night Live alum Bill Hader, followed Thrones and saw its best night ever with 2.2 million viewers.  Read more…

More about Ratings, Premiere, Record, Game Of Thrones Season 8, and Streaming Service

Jack Dorsey’s mother and father, the ’80s band Whitesnake, a “war room” associated with Donald Trump’s reelection campaign — these are a few of the more than 10,000 accounts Twitter has quietly verified in recent months, despite putting its verification program on hold.

The company has said little publicly about verification, which it suspended in 2017 following backlash over its verification of a white supremacist. But data viewed by Mashable suggests the company is verifying a flurry of accounts each month despite the supposed break. 

Celebrities, and others with backchannel connections to the company, are able to become verified as Twitter ignores everyday users and those without insider access. In many ways, this secretive process is now more opaque and unfair than it was when anyone could apply on Twitter’s website. At a time when Twitter says it’s trying to be more transparent about its rules, the lack of an official verification policy is hurting groups already susceptible to abuse, critics say. Read more…

More about Twitter, Verification, Tech, and Big Tech Companies

Warning: Spoilers for Game of Thrones: Season 8, Episode 1 below

When you play the game of thrones, you win… or you get roasted Ned Umber-style. (RIP teeny, tiny boy.)

Game of Thrones: Season 8 has only just begun, but Twitter users are already launching their red-hot, post-premiere roasts and takes. 

From Bran sitting in a courtyard all night to Cersei missing out on those elephants, here are some of the funniest Twitter reactions to the Thrones premiere heard round the world.

On that very Harry Potter-esque dragon riding scene

More about Hbo, Game Of Thrones, Twitter Reactions, Jokes, and Game Of Thrones Season 8

*** Warning: Spoilers ahead for Season 8 of Game of Thrones ***

The final season of Game of Thrones was always going to be the end for someone.

In the teaser for the second episode of Season 8, there looks to be trouble ahead for Jaime Lannister, who features prominently alongside Daenerys Targaryen.

“When I was a child, my brother would tell me a bedtime story about the man who murdered our father,” Daenerys opens in the teaser. 

“Of all the things we would do to that man.” Read more…

More about Entertainment, Hbo, Game Of Thrones, Entertainment, and Game Of Thrones

Game of Thrones Season 8 arrived full-force, with Jon Snow learning his true identity during the very first episode.

Jon’s BFF-slash-true brother Samwell Tarly had a rough episode, learning that Daenerys executed his father and brother just after gleefully being introduced to her by Jorah Mormont.

Disillusioned with the dragon queen, Sam runs into Bran (but he’s not really Bran, idk if you’ve heard, he’s the ~*~*~Three-Eyed Raven~*~*~), who says that only Sam can tell Jon the truth. This is not an enviable position, which is probably why Sam literally hides in the crypts, but Jon catches him and then there’s nothing to do but have the awkward convo. Read more…

More about Entertainment, Television, Hbo, Game Of Thrones, and Game Of Thrones Season 8

Has it really been a year since Beyoncé’s era-defining performance at Coachella?

It certainly hasn’t been forgotten at this year’s Coachella, with the pyramid stage from the iconic performance finding new life as an installation on the festival’s grounds.

The first woman of color to headline the festival, the singer reunited with other members of Destiny’s Child for the two-hour performance, which also featured appearances by her husband Jay-Z and her sister Solange. 

More about Entertainment, Music, Beyonce, Coachella, and Entertainment

In the lead-up to the premiere of Game of Thrones‘ final season, the show’s cast and crew have been understandably getting nostalgic.

That includes the Mother of Dragons herself, Emilia Clarke, who on Sunday posted an adorable Instagram shoutout to her green screen baby dragon, ahead of the first episode of Season 8.

“Me and my baby (dragon) (Drogon) just very excited for you all to see #season8gameofthrones which if I’m not mistaken begins….now,” she captioned the post, which shows Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen cuddling up to what will eventually be rendered as her beloved Drogon. Read more…

More about Game Of Thrones, Dragons, Emilia Clarke, Entertainment, and Movies Tv Shows

Feel like you might be ready to lead? Maybe you’re thinking about starting an MBA but need some inspiration before you make your move? Look no further than your screen. Yep, as usual, pop culture is here to save the day. 

These fearless film and television characters are guaranteed to inspire your inner leadership skills whether you’re planning on managing a team, dreaming of being your own boss or you’re simply looking for a competitive edge in your career. 

Miranda Priestly 

With her scathing commentary and unbelievably high expectations, Miranda Priestly, editor-in-chief of Runway magazine, might be one of the silver screen’s most feared (and revered) bosses.  Read more…

More about Business, Entertainment, Study, The Office, and Online Education