Earth can be shitty. Sometimes, being whisked away by a passing starship sounds like a pretty good idea. However—it completely depends on who’s behind the controls. Hanging with the Arrival heptapods would be pretty chill. Being shanghaied by any of the following kidnap-happy aliens, however, would not.
When Apple decided to (controversially) remove the headphone jack in the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus last year, they did make it a bit easier for customers by including a headphone jack adapter for the Lightning port on the iPhone. This meant that users with wired headphones could still plug their devices into the iPhone.
However it seems that in the future Apple may stop bundling these headphone jack adapters with the iPhone. In a note to investors obtained by MacRumors, Barclays analyst Blayne Curtis has indicated his belief that iPhone models from 2018 onwards could no longer include the accessory with the phone. “We believe it stays this year but goes away at some point, potentially in the 2018 model.”
In a way it makes sense because we can only imagine that Apple is counting on more headphones either going wireless or using Lightning as its connector of choice. In fact last when Apple introduced the new iPhones, several headphone makers came forward and appeared to be unfazed by Apple’s decision.
In any case should Apple eventually decide to ditch bundling the accessory, we expect that they could continue to be sold separately where you could by them at $9 each. However with more headphones going wireless these days, perhaps you’ll find one that you like by then, but until that happens take this report with a grain of salt for now.
Future iPhones Could Stop Bundling Headphone Jack Adapters , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.
Filters and augmented reality are kind of the things that Snapchat is particularly known for, especially with the launch of Spectacles which is basically Snap’s attempt at a wearable similar to Google Glass. That being said for those who are looking forward to more filters, Snapchat has added new World Lenses to its app.
According to Snapchat’s announcement, “Today, we’re adding new ways to use Lenses. While Snapping with the rear-facing camera, simply tap the camera screen to find new Lenses that can paint the world around you with new 3D experiences!” Interestingly enough as noted by TechCrunch, the company’s announcement doesn’t mention the term augmented reality once, despite this clearly being AR-related.
Now these filters or “lenses” are different from what the company has previously offered. As you can see in the video above, these lenses are pretty smart in terms of being able to scale to size depending on how near or far you place it from your phone. The way they’ve also been designed and placement also looks a lot more integrated compared to just slapping a sticker on top of the scene.
We have to admit that it looks pretty nifty and if you do use Snapchat quite a bit, then perhaps these new world lenses could be worth checking out.
Snap Brings New World Lenses To Snapchat , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.
It has been debated in the past and the debate is still ongoing with regards of what photos are considered to be appropriate/inappropriate when shared on social media. For example we’ve seen photos with bare butts taken down despite there being nothing sexual about them, but if you’d like to ensure your photos are not flagged, Pornhub might have the answer for you.
The company has recently launched a new app called TrickPics and according to the company, it is an augmented reality app with filters that aren’t dissimilar to what apps such as Snapchat is offering. However as expected with Pornhub, it is clear that these AR filters are meant to be used for NSFW purposes.
The app’s (vague) description reads, “Introducing TrickPics, the newest way to transform your boring old photos into something special! Our app uses augmented reality filters to add a dash of fun to your images. With more than 15 filters to choose from, there’s no end to the possibilities!” The screenshots also don’t really tell us much, but if you check out the introductory video above, it is clear that this app has been designed to (tastefully) censor your nudies.
We haven’t tried it for ourselves so we can’t really speak to how effective it is, but it is a free download so if you’re interested in checking it out then head on over to the iTunes App Store for the download. Pornhub is also offering users a free Pornhub Premium Trial for users who tag the company in their photos.
Pornhub Gets Naughty With Augmented Reality With ‘TrickPics’ App , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.
Back in 2016 we heard a report that suggested that Apple had apparently given up on building its own car. Instead it was suggested that the company could be looking at developing software for cars, and a recent permit granted by the California DMV has suggested that Apple’s car plans are still alive and well, although to what extent is unclear.
However it seems that at least one analyst believes that Apple could still be toying with the idea of making a whole car. In a report from CNBC, they quote analyst Gene Munster who suggests that Apple is “almost certainly” exploring building its own car, but he notes that there are several hurdles that could prevent that from being made a reality.
As noted on his blog, Munster writes, “Apple is almost certainly exploring how it could build an entire car, but as we learned the hard way with an Apple television, exploration does not mean a product comes to market.” However he adds that while Apple might succeed on the software side of things, finding a manufacturing partner would be something Apple needs to do.
Munster also notes that the typical design process of an automotive is 5-7 years, meaning that Apple could be very far behind the likes of companies such as Tesla and Google who have had years on Apple in the self-driving/electric car department, so until then maybe don’t get your hopes up just yet.
Apple ‘Almost Certainly’ Exploring The Idea Of Making A Whole Car , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.
Video platforms like Netflix have long had binge watching features where episodes will play back to back until you have had enough. This is done automatically where at the end of one video, the next video will play, meaning you can just veg out on your couch and not lift a finger and you’ll be entertained on hours end.
Oddly enough such a simple feature was not made available to HBO’s mobile HBO Go app, at least until now. Prior to this, users were encouraged to watch one episode at a time, but if you’re looking to binge watch shows, the update will allow you to not only pick up where you left off, but it will keep streaming episodes in a particular series until you’re sick of it or it’s done.
Interestingly enough HBO Now has had this functionality for quite a while now, so we’re not sure what took so long for HBO to finally add the feature to its HBO Go app. Even YouTube in some instances will automatically load and play the next video. The app has been updated for both iOS and Android and should already be live, so you’ll be able to get your hands on the latest update via the iTunes App Store or Google Play depending on your platform.
HBO Go’s Mobile App Will Finally Adds Binge Watching Features , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.
Different websites and services sometimes require different styles of passwords. For example some websites might be quite relaxed and simply require a password that’s 6-12 characters long. However some services, especially banking services, might require passwords that have upper and lowercase letters, and a mix of numbers and alphabets.
This means that remembering passwords can be a chore, which is why password managers exist. However if you’d rather not go through the hassle of entering a password at all, Microsoft has announced that they will be enabling phone sign-ins for Microsoft Accounts. This means that all users have to do is confirm their login via their phone with a single tap and they’re good to go.
According to Microsoft, “With phone sign-in, we’re shifting the security burden from your memory to your device. Just add your account to the Android or iOS Microsoft Authenticator app, then enter your username as usual when signing in somewhere new. Instead of entering your password, you’ll get a notification on your phone. Unlock your phone, tap “Approve”, and you’re in.”
Users will need to download the Microsoft Authenticator app on their smartphone in order to use this feature. The app is available via the iTunes App Store or Google Play so go ahead and check it out if you’re interested in taking advantage of the feature.
Microsoft Enables Phone Sign-In Feature For Microsoft Accounts , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.
News of the camera industry’s troubles is everywhere you look, and some companies have buckled under the weight. Mobile photography, on the other hand, is thriving as mobile cameras increase in quality and more consumers upgrade their handsets to better models. Chief among the best of the mobile camera offerings is the iPhone, and we’ve seen it put to the … Continue reading
U.S. surveys in recent years have calculated atheists make up between 3 percent and 10 percent of the population.
But the percentage may actually be much higher, because the stigma surrounding disbelief in God likely prevents people from honestly answering pollsters’ questions about their beliefs, according to a new report by University of Kentucky psychologists Will Gervais and Maxine Najle.
“There’s a lot of atheists in the closet,” Gervais said in a recent interview with Vox.
Gervais and Najle’s report, to be published in the next issue of the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, concluded the true number of American atheists may be as high as 26 percent of the population.
There’s a lot of atheists in the closet.”
This stands in stark contrast to surveys conducted by Pew Research Center and Gallup — highly reputable polling operations. A 2014 Pew survey found the percentage of Americans who said they were atheists to be just over 3 percent, with 9 percent of adults reporting they didn’t believe in God, which is the definition of atheism.
A 2016 Gallup poll found that 10 percent of Americans reported they did not believe in God.
Gervais isn’t buying that data.
“We shouldn’t expect people to give a stranger over the phone an honest answer to that question,” Gervais told Vox.
The University of Kentucky study aimed for a more accurate analysis using what’s called “the unmatched count technique.” Gervais and Najle sent a poll to two nationally representative samples of 2,000 adults. Instead of asking respondents directly about their belief in God, the researchers asked participants to read through a list of statements, including things like, “I own a dog,” and “I enjoy modern art.” One group of respondents had the statement, “I believe in God,” included on their list.
The participants were asked to write down the number of statements that were true for them. Gervais and Najle operated on the assumption that the two groups should have roughly the same number of dog owners, art lovers, et cetera. Any major differences would account for those who don’t believe in God.
There are profound social pressures to be — or at least appear — religious.”
Gregory Smith, associate director of research at Pew Research Center, was skeptical of the new report. “I would be very reluctant to conclude that phone surveys like ours are underestimating the share the public who are atheists to that kind of magnitude,” Smith told Vox.
But there is social stigma surrounding atheism in the U.S., which Gervais argued may lead people to tell pollsters they believe in God even if they don’t. A January 2017 Pew survey asked respondents to rate different groups on a “feeling thermometer” ranging from 0 to 100. On average, atheists received a rating of 50, the second-lowest rating for a religious group, after Muslims.
An analysis of data from the 2014 Boundaries in the American Mosaic Survey found that 42 percent of U.S. adults say atheists don’t share their vision of American society.
“Given the centrality of religious belief to many societies, and the degree to which many equate religious belief with morality, there are profound social pressures to be ― or at least appear ― religious,” Gervais and Najle wrote in the report.
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WASHINGTON ― A permanent funding fix for retired coal miners’ health benefits may be in trouble. And so could the federal government’s operation after the end of next week.
Congress in December extended health coverage for retired miners and their widows, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) promised the Senate would vote to permanently fund it when the next deadline came around.
But with days to go before Congress must pass an omnibus spending bill to keep the government operating, health coverage for miners looks like it’s about to become a major flashpoint in negotiations, potentially triggering a government shutdown.
The Senate has enough votes for permanently fixing miner benefits, but the House is a different story. Talk of a 20-month extension instead of a permanent fix is floating around the chamber, according to multiple sources. No one in leadership would confirm it, and the offices of neither Senate Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) nor Speaker Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) returned requests for comment.
When asked about a possible 20-month extension, one GOP aide would only say House Republicans were “working hard for a permanent fix.”
“Maybe Speaker Ryan would feel different if there were thousands of people in his district affected by this,” said Phil Smith, spokesman for the United Mine Workers of America.
Kicking the can down the road with another extension creates further agony for retired miners ― who in many cases have life-threatening diseases caused by years of underground work ― and their families. Smith said.
Advocates argue that a permanent solution would make the federal government good on a 70-year-old promise to protect United Mine Workers’ health benefits.
If Republican House leaders try to push through a government funding bill with only a 20-month extension, battle lines will be drawn by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) in the upper chamber.
Manchin threatened to shut down the government if help for miners wasn’t included in a continuing resolution last year, but conceded after McConnell and the president assured him a permanent solution would get a vote and have their support.
On Monday, Manchin and Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, also of West Virginia, wrote to party leaders in both chambers, urging them to settle for nothing less than a complete fix for the more than 22,000 miners who stand to lose their health care on April 28.
“As Congress considers a continuing resolution to keep the government running, we fully expect that such a vehicle will include the permanent health care fix for our nation’s retired miners as promised at the end of 2016,” the bipartisan duo wrote to McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Ryan and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). “Anything less is an unacceptable and tragic failure of this body to keep its word to the men and women who powered our nation to prosperity at the risk of their own health and lives.”
Capito has not said outright whether she would vote against a government funding bill if it doesn’t include a permanent solution for the miners. But she and other coal-state Republicans, including Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), have hinted they’d back Manchin.
Before leaving for the Easter break, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), who has long supported a permanent fix for the miners’ health care, warned during a speech on the Senate floor that another extension would be unacceptable.
“The clock is ticking down to … when the temporary miners’ health care fix we passed in December, along with funding for the entire federal government, runs out,” Brown said. “We must pass a solution, or face a government shutdown.”
Brown met with retired miners this month, and said it was the first time he’s ever received a standing ovation for advocating legislation fixing health coverage and the pension fund for miners, which is set to go insolvent this year.
The issue of retired miners’ pensions, however, is a battle that Republican leaders have made clear they want to avoid in the current government-funding negotiations.
On a call with reporters on Tuesday, Schumer didn’t mention health benefits for miners, but said talks with Republicans over the impending government funding deadline were going well.
“What I’ve said, and I think there’s quiet agreement in the four corners, is that if the president doesn’t interfere and insist on poison-pill amendments being shoved down the throat of Congress, we can come up with an agreement,” Schumer said. “Our Republican colleagues know that since they control the House, and the Senate and the White House, a shutdown would fall on their shoulders, and they don’t want it.”
It should be an easy lift for Republicans with a president in the White House that campaigned heavily to help save miners livelihoods, but there could be political calculations in play. If a 20-month extension is all that is passed, benefits will expire as voters head to the polls in November 2018 ― when Manchin, Brown, and other coal-state Democrats are up for re-election.
The provision on the miners’ health coverage would cost $1.9 billion, but the Congressional Budget Office found that a bill authored by Manchin and backed by Capito, Brown and others ― dubbed the Miners Protection Act ― would save the government $74 million over the 10-year life of the legislation. That bill also provides a fix for the pension benefits and would be paid for by increasing customs fees on imported goods.
Matt Fuller contributed reporting.
— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
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