Category Archives: Blog

It may look like a painting, but this is actually what 10,000 bicycles being dumped into one space looks like.

Tens of thousands of shared bikes have been impounded by authorities, and left at a playground in the Chinese city of Hefei.

It’s simply the latest chapter in the recent shared bike phenomenon, which has seen a surge of bikes scattered around cities from service providers which hope users will hop on one of theirs.

In many of these cities, the bikes tread the line between public and private good, in a way — some cities see them as littering the sidewalk, and impound them, while others have agreed to let the bikes be, in hopes of encouraging green transportation. Read more…

More about China, Transport, Sharing Economy, Mobike, and Ofo

LG has been revealing key details about its upcoming V30 flagship ahead of the Aug. 31 launch, but one important piece of the puzzle is missing: An actual picture of the phone. 

Well, it’s not missing any more. The image of the phone from all sides comes courtesy of leaker Evan Blass, and even though it’s not an official photo (likely a press render), it looks exactly what we thought it would look based on previous leaks. Simply put, it’s very likely the real thing. 

On the front side, the LG V30 looks a lot like the G6 with even smaller bezels, especially on the bottom and on the sides. It’s the currently prevalent trend in smartphones and I like LG’s simple approach. The back shows a dual camera, a flash and a fingerprint sensor, and it looks a bit clunkier than the G6’s symmetrical design, but still better (in terms of usability) than Samsung S8’s awkwardly positioned fingerprint sensor.  Read more…

More about Lg, Lg V30, Tech, Consumer Tech, and Smartphones

Apple CEO Tim Cook has no time for white supremacists and neo-Nazis. 

He made it pretty clear in a powerful note to Apple employees, which also slams Trump’s “moral equivalence” between Nazis and human rights demonstrators. 

In the email, obtained by Recode, Cook also announced the company would make contributions of $1 million each to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the Anti-Defamation League. 

Apple plans to match its employees’ donations to these and other human rights groups on a 2-for-1 basis, until September 30. Moreover, in the coming days iTunes will offer users an easy way to join the company in directly supporting the work of the SPLC.  Read more…

More about Donald Trump, Tim Cook, Us President, Apple Ceo, and Charlottesville Protests

All men must die, but that doesn’t mean they can’t at least have some piggyback-based fun first.

Earlier this week, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (a.k.a. everyone’s second favourite Lannister) appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden.

They spent a bit of time chatting about tattoos, and then at some point this happened: Read more…

More about Uk, Game Of Thrones, Lin Manuel Miranda, James Corden, and The Late Late Show With James Corden

Supermarkets are often bustling places, meaning it can be overwhelming for people on the autism spectrum and those who care for them.

To make the experience easier, Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) and supermarket chain Coles have partnered together on a pilot program which will see stores go quiet for an hour as part of a sensory-friendly experience.

During the that time, the store’s radio will be turned down to its lowest level, and the lights will be dimmed by 50 per cent. 

Register and scanner volumes will be turned down to its lowest level, roll cages will be off the shop floor, trolley collections will stop, and PA announcements will be avoided — bar emergencies. Read more…

More about Australia, Social Good, Autism, Supermarket, and Supermarkets

A video released by Chinese state media is turning heads for all the wrong reasons.

The Xinhua News Agency, China’s official press agency, on Wednesday released a video accusing India of committing several “sins.” 

The video features a man dressed in a turban and a fake beard, speaking in a supposed “Indian” accent. 

The video, titled “7 Sins of India”, comes amid months of increasing tensions between China and India over a border dispute, which has become known as the Doklam standoff.

The three-minute long video sees a Chinese presenter explaining the Doklam standoff via a script chiding India, while the Indian “guest star” enacts a mock dialogue to a canned laugh soundtrack. Read more…

More about China, India, Racist, Doklam, and Xinhua

I’ve never looked at McDonald’s regular Apple Pies with such disdain.

Because over in South Korea, Instagrammers are smugly posting pictures and videos of their latest treat — oozy molten chocolate pies that just debuted this week.

It’s so unfair.

McDonald’s Korea calls this taste explosion the Rich Chocolate Pie, and it’s priced at $1.80 (2,000 Won).

Naturally, social media has been flooded in the past couple of days with people heading out to break themselves a little piece of Instagrammable gold. Read more…

More about Food, Korea, South Korea, Fast Food, and Mcdonald S

Esports are going to get in-depth viewer statistics and analysis with Nielsen’s new esports vertical.

Nielsen, one of the top market research firms in the world and a leading provider of television viewer statistics and consumer data, announced today that it is bringing its insights to the world of competitive game with Nielsen Esports. It’s a much-needed service for a field of entertainment that is still finding its legs on the internet and television.

Nielsen Esports will provide “sponsorship valuation, fan insights, custom industry research, and consulting services” based on data it gathers from esports events and esports communities (just like it does with television shows). Esports will finally have a go-to, trustworthy source for this kind of information. Read more…

More about Gaming, Esports, Nielsen, Nielsen Ratings, and Entertainment

In Australia, the deadline to enrol to vote for marriage equality is approaching fast.  

Australians will be sent a voluntary postal survey on the matter in September, after the country’s government failed to get its marriage equality plebiscite (a public vote on an issue which doesn’t affect the country’s constitution) through parliament twice.

The announcement of a postal vote has culminated in a campaign called Equality Weekender, a series of events, parties and barbecues between Aug. 17 to 20 around Sydney — and hopefully nationally — encouraging people to enrol or ensure they’re eligible to vote. Read more…

More about Australia, Culture, Lgbtq, Lgbt Rights, and Marriage Equality

There’s nothing that can undo the harm done by the white supremacist rally that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia, over the weekend. 

Three people are dead. Others have to live with the fear of violent racism. But during a vigil Wednesday night in Charlottesville, people gathered in the name of peace. 

Here, on the University of Virginia campus, the crowd sings “This Little Light Of Mine.” 

More than 1,000 people took to the streets, according to local NBC News reporter Victoria Wresilo.

More about White Supremacy, Charlottesville, White Supremacists, Charlottesville Protests, and Social Good