Category Archives: Blog

Let’s face it: Email is a drag. 

Whatever shine unsolicited links and messages once had back in the early days of the internet is long gone. Today, the contents of your inbox are likely closely aligned with that of your cellphone’s voicemail — unwanted and unchecked. 

It doesn’t have to be this way. It’s within your power to functionally give up email. It is surprisingly easy, and feels so, so good.  

First off, let’s all agree that writing and replying to emails is a pain. Even the companies that provide the service know it’s unbearably tedious. Google has tried to make things less burdensome on the senders’ end with Gmail’s Smart Reply and Smart Compose features, and on the receivers’ end with Nudges, but those are just annoying Band-Aids on the festering wound of obligation.   Read more…

More about Email, Tech Column, Tech, and Other

Facebook is cracking down on coronavirus rumors and conspiracy theories.

The company said that its fact checkers will debunk false claims about the coronavirus, and that it will remove some posts pushing conspiracy theories about it.

“We will also start to remove content with false claims or conspiracy theories that have been flagged by leading global health organizations and local health authorities that could cause harm to people who believe them,” the company wrote in a statement. 

“We are doing this as an extension of our existing policies to remove content that could cause physical harm.” Read more…

More about Tech, Facebook, Coronavirus, Tech, and Social Media Companies

The deadly coronavirus has spawned dangerous, baffling conspiracy theories online as officials across the globe work to stop the virus’ spread. 

As of Thursday afternoon, there had been more than 7,700 confirmed cases of the virus — which originated in Wuhan, China — and at least 170 deaths. Eighteen other countries, including the U.S., have confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization.

But as bad as the virus is, conspiracy theories and misinformation are making the situation worse. The internet is rife with misinformation about the origin of the virus and how to protect yourself from it. Some of it is dangerous, some strange, and some downright racist. All of it is seemingly designed to piggyback off the intense interest in the virus.  Read more…

More about Social Media, Conspiracy Theories, Misinformation, Coronavirus, and Culture

For a little over 12 months, I’ve been testing the same model of the same $4,000 electric bike, the Gazelle CityZen Speed T10. This may seem an excessive amount of time; normally, bike reviewers might spend a few hours or a day or a week in the saddle. But nothing about this review is normal. 

For one thing, it is completely non-technical. I’m not one of those gear-heads who knows or cares about drivetrains or derailleurs or torque. I’m the customer who goes glassy-eyed when the bike shop clerk starts talking about the advantages of each model. Like many a casual cyclist weighing whether to drop a considerable chunk of cash on an electric bike, I cared only about these basic questions:  Read more…

More about Sustainability, E Bikes, Tech, Sports, and Health

Whenever global tragedy strikes, people on the internet rush to exploit it. 

The spread of the deadly coronavirus is no different, with fake stories going viral in an attempt to accomplish who knows what. Google, however, wants no part of that, and today announced a new feature in collaboration with the World Health Organization that will hopefully both reduce the spread of misinformation and get valuable information to those in need. 

“Today we launched an SOS Alert w/@WHO, to make resources about #coronavirus easily accessible,” wrote the company’s communication team. 

“When people search for related info on @Google, they’ll find the alert atop results page w/ direct access to safety tips, info, resources & Twitter updates from WHO.” Read more…

More about Google, Coronavirus, Tech, and Big Tech Companies

Motion Pillow analyzes your snoring patterns and then inflates the pillow in an attempt to correct the positions that causes snoring.  Read more…

More about Mashable Video, Sleeping, Snoring, Future Blink, and Motion Pillow

A new iPad with a triple rear camera and 3D support could arrive as early as March. Read more…

More about Tech, Apple, Iphone, Ipad, and Mashable Video

The extreme ember attack lit numerous spot fires, quickly overrunning the crew and forcing some to evacuate less than a minute after the wind changed. Read more…

More about Australia, Climate, Science, Mashable Video, and Australian Bushfires

The resulting video looks almost like a honeycomb come alive. Read more…

More about Space, Science, Mashable Video, Galaxy, and The Sun

TL;DR: Buy a budget-friendly Slumber 1 by Zinus mattress for as little as $79 on sale at Walmart. You can get an extra firm 8-inch Zinus mattress in any size for less than $200, or you can buy a 12-inch firm king-size mattress for just $203.72. 

If you made a resolution to sleep better this year, an old mattress won’t do you any favors. The best first step to live healthier is better sleep, and a new mattress-in-a-box helps you in an flash without the hassle of driving to a mattress store. If you want the right mattress to help with back pain that doesn’t hurt your budget, this sale on Zinus mattresses from Walmart is a dream come true.  Read more…

More about Sleep, Mashable Shopping, Mattresses, Culture, and Work Life