Aug
06

I used Hotel Tonight to book a discounted staycation — but I wasn't prepared for one major drawback

Trump issued a new executive order Friday seeking to force ByteDance to sell popular viral video app TikTok.Trump's order aims to retroactively invalidate ByteDance's purchase of Musical.ly, the app that eventually became TikTok, citing national security concerns.Trump's legal authority to invalidate the deal rests on an investigation by the CFIUS, a division of the US Treasury responsible for reviewing foreign deals that could pose security risks.Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said in a statement on Friday that the agency had completed an "exhaustive review" and "unanimously recommended" that Trump unwind the deal, according to Bloomberg reporter Saleha Mohin.The move comes on the heels of an executive order Trump issued last week that also targeted TikTok by banning American companies from doing business with its Chinese parent company ByteDance.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order Friday again targeting viral video app TikTok and its Chinese owner ByteDance.

The order seeks to unwind ByteDance's acquisition of Musical.ly, a lip-sync video app that the company purchased in 2017 and eventually merged with TikTok, claiming it raised national security concerns.

The order states that ByteDance's purchase of Musical.ly "is hereby prohibited, and ownership by ByteDance of any interest in Musical.​ly in the United States, whether effected directly or indirectly through ByteDance, or through ByteDance's subsidiaries, affiliates, or Chinese shareholders, is also prohibited."

It gives ByteDance 90 days to sell off any assets that enable it to operate TikTok within the US as well as any data it obtained from US-based TikTok or Musical.ly users.

"As we've said previously, TikTok is loved by 100 million Americans because it is a home for entertainment, self-expression, and connection," a TikTok spokesperson told Business Insider. "We're committed to continuing to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform for many years to come."

Any deal terms would be subject to approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a division of the US Treasury Department responsible for overseeing transactions between American and foreign companies that could pose national security risks.

A 1988 law allows Trump to block foreign deals like ByteDance's acquisition of Musical.ly, but only after CFIUS conducts its own security review.

CFIUS has been probing the Musical.ly deal since late 2019, and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said in a statement Friday that "CFIUS conducted an exhaustive review of the case and unanimously recommended this action to the President in order to protect US users from exploitation of their personal data."

—Saleha Mohsin (@SalehaMohsin) August 15, 2020

However, forcing ByteDance to divest its US-based TikTok assets is still not the same as a nationwide ban on TikTok, a move legal experts said would be legally dubious.

Last week, Trump took another swipe at TikTok, issuing an executive order that makes it illegal for American companies to do business with TikTok, effectively giving ByteDance 45 days to sell the app.

Already, last week's order is generating legal challenges.

US-based TikTok employees said they plan to sue the Trump administration, arguing the order will make it illegal for their employer to pay them, and TikTok plans to file a separate lawsuit of its own.

Trump has frequently attacked TikTok over the past few months, alleging the Chinese government could pressure it to spy on Americans by accessing their data, censor content Beijing finds politically objectionable, or sway US elections by quietly manipulating its algorithms.

Original author: Tyler Sonnemaker

Continue reading
  42 Hits
Aug
02

Analysts are bullish about Apple after its stock soared to all-time highs (AAPL)

You can download music from Tidal to your phone and listen to it later when you have no internet access or don't want to use your cellular data to stream audio.  To download an album or playlist, toggle the Download button at the top of the page for those tracks.To play downloaded tracks, put Tidal in Offline mode using the Settings page.Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

As a Tidal subscriber, you have access to roughly 60 million tracks – but that doesn't do you any good if you're in a location without internet access. Tidal allows you to download songs to your phone and play them back anytime, even if you are in Airplane Mode or if you don't have Wi-Fi and would prefer not to use your cellular data plan to stream audio.  

There are a few limitations to downloading in Tidal, though. First, you can only do this using a mobile app on your phone – you can't download tracks to your computer. Second, you can only download entire albums or playlists, not individual tracks. 

If you want to download from Tidal and listen to music offline, here's how to do it. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Apple)

Samsung Galaxy S10 (From $699.99 at Walmart)

Apple Macbook Pro (From $1,299.00 at Apple)

Acer Chromebook 15 (From $179.99 at Walmart)

How to download an album from Tidal 

1. Start the Tidal app on your phone.

2. Find an album you want to download. Browse or search for an album you want to download. 

3. Open the album and confirm you see the tracklisting.

4. Swipe the Download button to the right to turn it on. The songs on the album will be added to the download queue and stored on your phone.  

Swipe the Download button to download album tracks. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

How to download a playlist from Tidal 

1. Launch the Tidal app on your phone. 2

2. Tap "My Collection" at the bottom of the screen.

3. Select "Playlists."

4. Choose the playlist you want to download. 

5. Swipe the Download button to the right to enable downloading. The songs in the playlist will be added to the download queue.

Like individual songs, downloaded playlists will be stored on your phone. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

How to play the music you've downloaded from Tidal without Wi-Fi or data service

1. With your data and Wi-Fi off or unavailable, launch the Tidal app. 

2. After it opens on the "My Collection" page, locate the "Downloaded" link and tap it. 

3. Choose the tracks you want to listen to and wait for it to begin playing automatically. 

If your phone is offline, your Downloaded music will be the only option in Tidal. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

How to play the music you've downloaded from Tidal without turning your data off 

1. To force your phone to play downloaded tracks, and avoid using cellular data, open the app. 

2. Tap "My Collection" at the bottom right of the screen.

Open Tidal's options page from the My Collection screen. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

3. Choose the Settings icon in the top right. 

4. Turn on Offline mode by swiping the button to the right. 

Offline mode forces only your Tidal to operate without using data. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

5. When you want to use data to listen to Tidal again, select the Home button at the bottom of the screen.

6. Tap "Go online" to take Tidal out of offline mode. 

Original author: Dave Johnson

Continue reading
  37 Hits
Aug
02

SoundCloud is reportedly close to selling stakes that will help to keep it afloat

You can cancel an Uber Eats order without having to contact customer service or the restaurant.To cancel an Uber Eats order on the Uber Eats app, navigate to the Upcoming Orders tab and select the "Cancel" option. When you use the Uber app for an Uber Eats order, you will need to tap the Account Profile icon before accessing your Orders list.  You may be able to get a refund on a canceled Uber Eats order if you're able to cancel it before the restaurant accepts the order. Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

Uber Eats has made ordering food as simple as a few taps on your phone screen. Once you order, the app will offer an estimated delivery time. Then all you have to do is sit and wait for your courier to arrive.

Of course, when things are that quick, it's easy to make mistakes. Whether you forgot to add an item to your cart or suddenly changed your mind on that late-night order, there's plenty of solid reasons you may need to cancel your order. 

Cancellation is usually possible, with the only catch being that, depending on how far along in the preparation process, you may or may not be eligible for a refund.

Uber Eats orders can only be refunded before the restaurant accepts the order. At many restaurants, this happens automatically or within one minute of the order being placed. That means you have a tight window to get a refund on your order. 

If you need to cancel an Uber Eats order, here's how to do it.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Apple)

Samsung Galaxy S10 (From $699.99 at Walmart)

How to cancel an order on the Uber Eats app

1. Open the Uber Eats app. 

2. Tap the Orders tab in the app's bottom menu.  

The "Order" tab looks like a receipt. Abbey White/Business Insider

3. Choose the "Upcoming" tab to see your in-progress orders.

4. Find the order you want to cancel and tap 'Cancel Order.'

This can be found to the right of your order total. Melanie Weir/Business Insider

5. A window will appear asking you to confirm your cancellation and warning you of a cancellation fee if you continue. Tap 'Cancel Order' to confirm. 

Confirm that you want to cancel the order. Melanie Weir/Business Insider

How to cancel an Uber Eats order on the Uber app

1. Open the Uber app. 

2. Select "Order Food."

This will be to the left of the "Ride" option. Abbey White/Business Insider

3. Tap the Profile icon in the upper-left. 

The silhouette icon is next to the search icon. Abbey White/Business Insider

4. Choose Orders. 

Orders is the first option in your Account menu. Abbey White/Business Insider

5. Your most recent order should appear first. Select "Cancel Order." 

This is located under the “Get Help” button. Abbey White/Business Insider

6. In the window that appears, confirm that you wish to cancel your order. 

Axel Springer, Insider Inc.'s parent company, is an investor in Uber.

Original author: Melanie Weir

Continue reading
  33 Hits
Aug
02

Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf: What the 'big innovation house' that powered the mobile boom is betting on next

You can change the language on HBO Max in a number of different ways.If a show is offered in multiple languages, you'll see this option labeled with a play button icon on both its details page and during playback. You can search for shows in language genres, such as the "Latino" shows and movies tab.If you're looking to change your app language, you can change your device or browser settings.Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

Playing a show or movie on HBO Max in another language is as easy as one click — if the show offers other languages, that is.

If an HBO Max title has language options other than English available, you'll see this option labeled on both the title's details page and during playback. For most shows or movies, this means it will play with that language's subtitles (the audio will remain the same). Unfortunately, overall, only a small percentage of popular shows are offered in another language.

You can also change your device or browser settings for the app to reflect your language preference. 

Here are all the ways you can try watching HBO Max in another language.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

HBO Max (From $14.99 a month at available at HBO Max)

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Apple)

Samsung Galaxy S10 (From $699.99 at Walmart)

Apple Macbook Pro (From $1,299.00 at Apple)

How to play HBO Max content in another language

For the most part, browsing different language options looks exactly the same whether you're accessing HBO Max through the mobile app or your desktop. Unfortunately, many videos are not offered in multiple languages. If this is the case for the show or movie you want to watch, you won't see anything labeled in its details page. This means that it is only offered in the language in which it was recorded.

1. To browse genres, click or tap the three bars in the upper left corner.

2. You can sort through titles alphabetically or by type at the top of the search page. 

HBO Max offers the "Latino" category, where you'll find shows and movies filmed in Spanish. 

Tap or click the "Latino" genre. Marissa Perino/Business Insider

You can also choose the "International" genre, which will include a variety of shows and movies produced in other languages. HBO notes that these titles will play with their original audio with English subtitles. For shows that were produced in English, there is no audio dubbing available in other languages.

Browse titles in the "Latino" or "International" genre pages. The "Latino" page is pictured here. Marissa Perino/Business Insider

3. Click or tap to explore the show's details. 

If there are no language options displayed in a show's details, that means there aren't any alternatives available. Marissa Perino/Business Insider

4. Once you've selected a show, you'll see its alternate languages listed next to a play button icon. 

If you're on your desktop, this option is visible in both the show's details and during playback. 

Click to switch to Portuguese while watching HBO Max online. Marissa Perino/Business Insider

If you're on the mobile app, this option is only visible on the details page, not during playback. 

Tap to switch to Portuguese while using the HBO Max mobile app. Marissa Perino/Business Insider

5. Tap the other language to begin watching. 

6. To switch back, you'll have to return to the details page using the "Back" button and then select the other language.

How to change the HBO Max app or site language by changing your device or browser settings

While changing your device or browser settings won't change the language of your show or movie, it can alter descriptions or labels to match your language preference. These changes can include altering settings on your Android phone or tablet. If you use an Apple device, the process will be different on an iPhone or iPad versus a Mac computer. 

Additionally, this can mean altering your browser preferences. Each browser's settings will look slightly different, though all should offer other languages. This includes Google Chrome and Firefox. The browser should translate the HBO Max webpage.

Insider Inc. receives a commission when you buy through our links.

Original author: Marissa Perino

Continue reading
  31 Hits
Aug
06

A former Google data scientist studied thousands of people on Wikipedia and uncovered key insights about what makes people successful

Taking a screenshot on your Motorola smartphone might seem tricky, but the process isn't actually all that complicated.

Read on for a quick tutorial on screenshotting using a Motorola smartphone.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Motorola Moto G Power (From $249.99 at Motorola)

How to take a screenshot on Motorola

1. On your Motorola smartphone, open up the app, image, or content you wish to screenshot.

2. Touch the power button with one of your fingers, but don't press down yet. Touch the lower volume button with a different finger. 

Place your fingers on the power button and the volume down button. Motorola

3. Press down on the power button and the lower volume button at the same time to take the screenshot.

If you successfully took the screenshot, you'll hear a small click (if you have your volume on) and see a brief flash on your smartphone's screen.

How to view a screenshot on Motorola

After you've taken a screenshot, it will be saved in one of your Motorola smartphone's image folders. You can view the screenshot from there.

1. Open your Motorola smartphone's camera app.

2. Open the camera's photo gallery.

3. If you don't see a thumbnail for the screenshot right away, look for a folder titled "Screenshots." Where the screenshots are saved may vary from smartphone to smartphone.

After you've located the screenshot, you can view it by tapping on it. You can also send it to other smartphone users through the messaging app of your choice, so long as the app in question supports image sharing between devices.

Insider Inc. receives a commission when you buy through our links.

Original author: Chrissy Montelli

Continue reading
  32 Hits
Aug
06

Declassified photos show the US's final preparations for the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

You can log out of your Tidal account from your computer's browser by clicking your account name or through the mobile app's settings icon.You can authorize any number of mobile devices to play offline music. You may want to deauthorize a device if you no longer own it or use it for Tidal.To deauthorize a device using the mobile app, open the settings page, and go to "Authorized devices."Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

Tidal doesn't always keep accurate track of your authorized devices. There are bugs in the Tidal service that often prevent authorized devices from showing up in the list on the web and mobile devices. Unfortunately, there's no known workaround for these issues right now. 

But as a Tidal subscriber, you can sign into the service on as many devices as you like, including phones, tablets, and PCs. Once logged in, Tidal will allow you to listen to music on a single online device or up to five offline devices. 

You don't have to sign out of one device to play on another, either. The music should automatically pause. However, if you are no longer using Tidal on a device or no longer own the device, you might want to deauthorize it. 

Once you've decided you want to logout of Tidal on a device, here's how to do it.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Apple)

Samsung Galaxy S10 (From $699.99 at Walmart)

Apple Macbook Pro (From $1,299.00 at Apple)

Acer Chromebook 15 (From $179.99 at Walmart)

How to log out of Tidal on a computer

1. Open my.tidal.com in a web browser.

2. Click your account name at the top left of the screen.

3. In the dropdown menu, choose "Log out."

You can sign out of Tidal in a browser with a single click. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

How to log out of Tidal in the mobile app

1. Start the Tidal app. 

2. Tap "My Collection" at the bottom right of the screen. 

3. Select the Settings icon at the top right. 

The Settings icon is shaped like a gear. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

4. Tap your account name at the top of the page. 

5. Scroll down to the bottom of your profile page and tap "Log out."

Sign out of Tidal on your phone from the bottom of the settings page. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

How to deauthorize a device on Tidal using the mobile app

1. Start the Tidal app.

2. Choose "My Collection" at the bottom right of the screen. 

3. Tap the Settings icon at the top right. 

4. Scroll down and select "Authorized devices."

5. Select the device you want to deauthorize.

6. Tap "Deauthorize device." 

There's no confirmation as your device will deauthorize immediately. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

How to deauthorize a device on Tidal on a computer

1. Open my.tidal.com in a browser. 

2. Log in if you're not already signed into your account. 

3. Choose "Offline devices."

"Offline devices" will help you deauthorize a mobile device. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

4. On the Manage your offline devices page, select the device you want to deauthorize. 

5. Click "Remove Device."

Original author: Dave Johnson

Continue reading
  34 Hits
Aug
07

Bitcoin is breaking records

There are a lot of different Samsung tablets on the market right now, and as a result, it might be frustrating trying to track down tutorials that apply to your specific tablet's model. 

All you want to do is take a screenshot – how are you supposed to know which internet tutorial works for which tablets?

We'll let you in on a little secret: there's one method of screenshotting that works for all Samsung tablets, no matter which model you have.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (From $129.99 at Samsung)

How to screenshot on any Samsung tablet

1. Open the content you wish to screenshot. This might be anything from text messages or social media to images or apps.

2. Locate the power button and volume buttons on your Samsung tablet.

Find the power button and the volume down buttons. Target

3. Place one finger on the tablet's power button. Don't press the button yet; just rest your finger on it.

4. Place another finger on the tablet's "volume down" button, gently like you did with the power button.

5. Quickly press both the power button and the "volume down" button at the same time.

When done correctly, your Samsung tablet will take a screenshot of the content on its screen. You can view screenshots in your tablet's photo gallery and send them to others or post them on social media from there. 

There are several other methods for taking screenshots on a Samsung tablet, but this method is the only one that works on all types of Samsung tablets. Now that you're an expert, try it on your own. There's a lot out there for you to share.

Insider Inc. receives a commission when you buy through our links.

Original author: Chrissy Montelli

Continue reading
  34 Hits
Aug
07

We tried out indoor skydiving – the adrenaline-fuelled hobby where you face wind speeds of 165 mph

You can turn shuffle mode on or off on Tidal using the shuffle button in the player controls at the bottom of the screen.The Tidal web page and mobile app features two shuffle controls. The larger one only shuffles the current album or playlist, but can't be used to turn off shuffle mode. On the mobile app, tap the minimized player controls at the bottom of the screen to make it larger, then you can find the shuffle control in the bottom left corner of the screen. Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

Whether you like shuffling your music or prefer albums to be played in the order the band envisioned, there's no debate that many music players and streaming services make it hard to find the shuffle controls. 

Tidal's shuffle controls may be initially confusing because the large, obvious shuffle button can only turn shuffle mode on, not off.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Tidal Premium Subscription (From $9.99 per month at Tidal)

How to turn shuffle play on and off on Tidal on a computer

1. If you're using Tidal in a web browser, you'll find an obvious "Shuffle" button at the top of the page, to the right of the album or playlist cover art, near the "Play" button. You can click this to shuffle your music, but it will not turn off shuffle play.

The "Shuffle" button at the top of the page shuffles music but doesn't turn shuffle mode off. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

2. To turn off shuffle mode, click the "Shuffle" icon at the bottom of the web page in the player control strip, located to the left of the "Previous" track button. 

You can use this button to turn shuffle mode on or off, and you can tell it's on when the button turns blue. 

The "Shuffle" button in the player controls at the bottom of the page can toggle shuffle mode on or off. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

How to turn shuffle play on and off on Tidal on a mobile device 

1. On the Tidal mobile app, you'll find a "Shuffle" button in the middle of the screen, to the right of the "Play button." Tapping this button will shuffle your music, but it will only turn shuffle play on, not off.

On the mobile app, the "Shuffle" button will shuffle your music but won't turn shuffle mode off. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

2. To turn off shuffle mode, tap the player controls at the bottom of the screen. By default, these controls are minimized, but tapping it causes the player to take up the whole screen. 

3. Click the "Shuffle" icon at the far left of screen, next to the "Previous track" button. You can use this button to turn shuffle mode on or off, and you can tell it's on when the button changes color. 

On the mobile app, the "Shuffle" button in the player controls at the bottom of the page toggles shuffle mode on or off. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

Insider Inc. receives a commission when you buy through our links.

Original author: Dave Johnson

Continue reading
  31 Hits
Aug
07

Apple is reportedly working to make the iPhone 8's face scanner work even on flat surfaces (AAPL)

You can enable the text-to-speech feature on your Kindle Fire device to have written content read aloud.Both Kindle content and your personal documents can utilize the text-to-speech feature.Text-to-speech inputs are also available for languages other than English and can be downloaded via the progress bar within the book itself.Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

If you are vision-impaired or simply want to hear your book or document aloud rather than reading the text, Kindle Fire has a text-to-speech feature that will translate the written words to audio so you can listen aloud. Best of all, text-to-speech is not only available for Kindle books but also for many (though not all) personal text files.

Turning on text-to-speech is easy and should only take a few seconds. Books in the Kindle store will even notify you if the capability is available before you purchase, though the feature must be turned on within the book or document itself, where available. Once enabled, you can begin playing the audio immediately. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Amazon Kindle (From $89.00 at Amazon) 

Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet (From $59.99 at Amazon)

How to enable text-to-speech on your Kindle Fire

1. On your Kindle Fire, open the book or document you wish you read. 

2. In the upper right corner of the screen, tap the three vertically stacked dots to reveal a list of menu options. 

3. Tap "Additional settings."

Under the three-dot menu, select "Additional settings." Jennifer Still/Business Insider

4. Scroll down until you see the "Text-to-Speech" option and toggle the button to the "on" position, which will turn the toggle box orange. 

Toggle the "Text-to-Speech" button to the "on" position. Jennifer Still/Business Insider

5. Hit the "back" button to return to your book. 

6. To begin utilizing text-to-speech, tap the screen and then tap the play button at the bottom to begin hearing your book. Your book or document should then begin to be read aloud.

Hit the "Play" button to begin listening. Jennifer Still/Business Insider

 

Disclosure: Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, is an investor in Business Insider.

Insider Inc. receives a commission when you buy through our links.

Original author: Jennifer Still

Continue reading
  32 Hits
Aug
06

UK companies will face far tougher fines if they lose customers' info in data breaches

NASA announced on Friday that its next mission with SpaceX won't launch until late October at the earliest.The mission, called Crew-1, will ferry four astronauts to the space station and back: Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, Mike Hopkins, and Soichi Noguchi. It was initially slated to launch as early as September, but NASA said the change accommodate the schedules of other astronauts going to and from the International Space Station.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

SpaceX and NASA will launch their next batch of astronauts to the International Space Station no sooner than October 23, the space agency announced on Friday. 

That pushes back the anticipated start date of the Crew-1 mission, which was originally slated to launch as early as late September.

Crew-1 is technically SpaceX's first official, contracted astronaut mission for NASA, since the one it recently completed was a demonstration. The successful completion of that test, called Demo-2, paved the way for at least six more planned ISS missions as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. 

NASA said in a press release that it pushed back the launch "to best meet the needs of the International Space Station" by coordinating with the schedules of other astronauts going to and from the ISS. That includes NASA astronaut Kate Rubins and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, who are slated to blast off on a Russian Soyuz rocket on October 14. The Crew-1 mission will also wait for NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy and cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner to return to Earth from the space station on October 22. 

Plus, the new timeline will allow the Crew-1 astronauts' stay on the ISS to intersect with that of the members of the Crew-2 mission scheduled for spring. 

NASA also said it is still wrapping up data reviews and certification processes following the Demo-2 mission, a key step in preparing for Crew-1. 

From top left: Shannon Walker, Soichi Noguchi, Victor Glover, and Michael Hopkins pose with SpaceX founder Elon Musk and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. Jim Bridenstine/NASA

Crew-1 includes NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Mike Hopkins, and Victor Glover, as well as JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Soichi Noguchi. Hopkins is slated to be the mission's commander, Glover the pilot, and Walker and Noguchi mission specialists. 

The team plans to stay on the ISS for the standard six months, during which they'll conduct space walks, do science experiments, and work on regular station maintenance. 

In partnering with SpaceX, NASA is reducing its reliance on Russian Soyuz spacecraft, which have recently cost up to $90 million per seat. NASA hasn't been able to launch its own astronauts in American systems since 2011, when it ended the space shuttle program. A seat on a SpaceX shuttle is projected to cost $55 million, though that figure does not include the funding NASA gave the company to develop its new Crew Dragon spaceship in the first place.

Original author: Susie Neilson

Continue reading
  30 Hits
Aug
06

Electric-car startup Faraday Future signs lease on California factory site

You can take a screenshot in Minecraft on a wide variety of platforms.If you're playing Minecraft on a Mac, PC, or Chromebook, you can use your computer's built-in screenshot tools.If you're playing Minecraft on a gaming console, you'll press the Share or Screenshot button on your controller.Taking a screenshot on an iPhone or Android device only takes a quick button press.Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

Minecraft is one of the most popular games of all time, whether you're playing it with others or by yourself.

But no matter how you play, half the fun comes from sharing your creations or exploits with others. Taking screenshots is the easiest way to do that.

Here's how to take a screenshot in Minecraft, on nearly every platform that it's available on.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Minecraft Java Edition (From $26.95 at Minecraft)

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Apple)

Samsung Galaxy S10 (From $699.99 at Walmart)

Apple Macbook Pro (From $1,299.00 at Apple)

Acer Chromebook 15 (From $179.99 at Walmart)

Nintendo Switch (From $299.99 at Target)

Xbox One S (from $389.95 at Amazon)

Sony Playstation 4 Pro (from $359.99 at Game Stop)

How to take a screenshot in Minecraft on a Mac, PC, or Chromebook

If you're running Minecraft Java Edition on a PC, you only need to press the F2 key to take a screenshot. The screenshot will be saved to a particular Minecraft folder — you can find it by searching for ".minecraft\screenshots" on your computer.

If you're playing Minecraft Windows 10 edition, however, you can take a screenshot using any of Windows' built-in screenshot tools — these include the Print Screen button, and the Windows Game Bar menu. For a full list of Windows' screenshot tools, check out our article, "How to take a screenshot on Windows 10 computers in several different ways."

On a Mac computer, press Command + Shift + 3. This will take a screenshot of the entire screen, which will then be saved to the desktop.

On a Chromebook, you can press Ctrl and the "Show all open windows" button, which is the button that looks like a box with two lines to its right. It might also be labeled F5. The screenshot will be saved to your Files app.

Taking a screenshot on a Chromebook requires a quick keyboard shortcut. Amazon; skitching by William Antonelli/Business Insider

How to take a screenshot in Minecraft on a PlayStation, Xbox One, or Nintendo Switch

To take a screenshot on the PlayStation 4, simply press and hold the Share button, or press the Share button and then the triangle button. And if you're one of the few people who still uses a PlayStation Vita, you can take a screenshot by pressing the Start button and the PS button at the same time.

Once you press the Share button on your PS4 controller, you can take a screenshot or video clip. Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider

On an Xbox One, press the Xbox button twice in quick succession, then press the Y button to take a screenshot.

Every Nintendo Switch controller has a button in the shape of a small black square on the left side. To take a screenshot on a Switch, all you need to do is press this button.

If you're using detached JoyCons, the screenshot button will be on the left JoyCon. Nintendo; skitching by William Antonelli/Business Insider

How to take a screenshot in Minecraft on an iPhone or Android device

To take a screenshot on an iPhone with a home button, press the home button and the lock button at the same time. On an iPhone without a home button, press the lock button and the raise volume button at the same time.

For Android devices, press the power button and the lower volume button at the same time to take a screenshot.

Original author: Chrissy Montelli

Continue reading
  32 Hits
Aug
07

10 things in tech you need to know today (GOOG, AAPL, AMZN, MSFT)

The market for venture capital is "surprisingly rabid" despite the economic uncertainty produced by COVID-19, FirstMark Capital partner Matt Turck said.Turck said that investors have started approaching promising startups that aren't even looking for funding as they seek sure bets.That's made the market "more intense than it's probably ever been," Turck said.Although many smaller startups are having trouble getting funded, big deals for established companies have continued apace as investors look for safe places to put their money.This trend is especially surprising after the mass layoffs at startups in the spring at the the onset of the U.S. outbreak of COVID-19, when companies were hunkering down in fear of a tight cash supply.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

FirstMark Capital partner Matt Turck had no immediate plans to invest more money into Crossbeam, a Philadelphia-based enterprise tech company that he led Series A funding for last year.

But when Crossbeam CEO Bob Moore told Turck the company was being courted by new investors, he decided to jump on board a new round. Last week the company announced completing a $25 million round led by Redpoint Ventures and joined by FirstMark.

"It's a little bit of a surprisingly rabid funding market right now," Turck told Business Insider. "Five months ago everybody thought the market was going to slow down considerably. Then lo and behold, fast forward to today, it's actually more intense than it's probably ever been."

The initial U.S. outbreak of COVID-19 was as brutal on the startup world as it was on the rest of the American economy, with venture-backed names like Lyft, Bird, and AirBnB laying off workers by the thousands. Some 551 startups have laid off over 77,000 employees since March 11, according to Layoffs.fyi Tracker, a site helping to match out-of-work tech workers with jobs.

But a rough spring has become glorious summer for some startups. Analysts have noted while smaller startups have had a hard time attracting funding, many larger companies have pulled in eye-popping amounts of capital from investors seeking a safe bet.

Payment platform Stripe raised $600 million in April. Grocery delivery service Instacart raised $325 billion in multiple funding rounds. AI startup Gong raised a new $200 million venture investment just months after raising a $65 million Series C in December. And faux-meat maker Impossible Foods announced snagging $200 million at a $4 billion valuation Thursday.

"It's a little bit of a 'haves' and 'have-nots' market," Turck said. "If you're doing something that venture capitalists think is interesting, then the amount of inbound you get these days, like in May, June, and July, has been sort of crazy."

That's led to VCs taking a more proactive approach to funding, Turck said.

"The general concept of funds approaching companies when those companies are not raising money has gone from something that was not that usual, to something that's becoming pretty prevalent," Turck said. "At least for the best companies."

Original author: Max Jungreis

Continue reading
  30 Hits
Aug
11

A group of Uber investors want Benchmark Capital kicked off the board after the firm sued former CEO Travis Kalanick

You can block someone on Pinterest by going to their profile and selecting the three horizontal dots above their board. When you block someone on Pinterest, you can no longer message each other, follow each other, or save one another's pins.Once you block someone, you can still show up in each others' feeds and searches, and pins of theirs that you saved will not disappear from your boards unless you delete them manually.Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

Pinterest is the perfect platform for keeping your ideas organized, whether you're trying to put together plans for a bachelorette party, a home remodel, or a Dungeons and Dragons game. 

On Pinterest, you can browse your feed based on interests and "pin" what you like to your board. Occasionally you might follow someone if you consistently like what they post. A private messaging function, similar to what's available on most social media, allows you to directly communicate with other Pinterest users.

But if you find yourself receiving hateful messages, spam, or want to limit the private interaction someone has with you on the social site, the best thing to do is block the user who is sending them.

When you block somebody on Pinterest, they will no longer be able to follow you, message you, or save your pins. If they try to, they'll be notified that you blocked them. They can still appear in your searches and on your feed, and pins of theirs that you have saved will not disappear.

If you want to block someone on Pinterest, here's how to do it. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Apple)

Samsung Galaxy S10 (From $699.99 at Walmart)

Apple Macbook Pro (From $1,299.00 at Apple)

Acer Chromebook 15 (From $179.99 at Walmart)

How to block someone on Pinterest on a computer

1. Log in to Pinterest.com on a web browser. 

2. Visit the profile of the user you wish to block.

3. Tap the three horizontal dots on the upper left corner of their profile board.

On the website, personal and business accounts can be blocked the same way. Abbey White/Business Insider

4. In the dropdown menu that appears, tap the Block button.

This will prevent the blocked account from messaging or following you. Abbey White/Business Insider

5. A message will appear asking you to confirm this action. Tap Block again to complete the process and block the user.

How to block someone on Pinterest on the mobile app

1. Open the Pinterest app on your mobile device. 

2. Go to the profile of the user or business you want to block. 

3. Tap the three horizontal dots in the upper right corner of the profile

4. Tap Block from the pop-up menu. 

The three dots are located to the right of the red Follow button. Melanie Weir/Business Insider

5. Select Block again to confirm the action. 

The block button is in red on the right. Melanie Weir/Business Insider

Insider Inc. receives a commission when you buy through our links.

Original author: Melanie Weir

Continue reading
  32 Hits
Aug
11

Machine learning can tell if you’re wearing swap-meet Louie

When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

Thor lays down the thunder in "Marvel's Avengers." "Marvel's Avengers" / Square Enix Players can try "Marvel's Avengers" weeks before it releases on September 4 with the ongoing beta program.From August 14 to August 16 PlayStation 4 owners can try the game for free, while PC and Xbox One players can join the closed beta by preordering or applying for beta access.Between August 21 and August 23 the beta will be open to all players on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.Players who preorder "Marvel's Avengers" will also get to play three days early, starting September 1.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Fans will get to try "Marvel's Avengers" — the upcoming video game adaptation of the blockbuster comic book and movie franchise — weeks before the game officially launches thanks to an ongoing beta program through the month of August.

Announced in 2017, "Avengers" is an online action game set in an alternate version of Marvel's universe, allowing players to form their own team of four heroes to take on the forces of a nefarious organization called A.I.M. The beta gives players a snippet of the game's story mode, but focuses primarily on the countless multiplayer missions that allow players to team up, improve their characters, and unlock new costumes and powerups.

Players spend time as Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and Ms. Marvel (not to be confused with Captain Marvel) during the beta, but only the latter four can be selected for online missions. Each character has a unique playstyle to match their superpowers, ranging from Iron Man's free flight and arsenal of weapons, to Black Widow's grappling hook and hand to hand combat abilities.

Read more: I played 7 hours of the new Marvel's Avengers game coming later this year. It's going to make a lot of people very happy.

The game is developed by Crystal Dynamics, the studio behind the recent reboot of the "Tomb Raider" franchise. In an interview with Business Insider, Crystal Dynamics studio head Scott Atmos said that the combat team tried to design each character as though they were starring in their own action game. Game systems designer Lauryn Ash said the team collaborated closely with Marvel to incorporate the kinds of iconic costumes, personalities, and overall atmosphere that diehard fans expect for their heroes.

"Marvel's Avengers" will continue receiving playable updates after release, including new heroes and story missions. Crystal Dynamics says new heroes will be free for all players, though there is an in-game credit system for unlocking specific costumes.

How to play the "Marvel's Avengers" beta before release

Dave Smith/Business Insider; Crystal Dynamics

Marvel's Avengers beta will take place between August 14 to 16, then continue from August 21 to 23. According to the game's social media accounts, beta access will typically run from 9 p.m. on Friday in your time zone, until 9 p.m. on Sunday, but exact hours may vary.

Verizon Wireless or Fios customers can apply for an "Avengers" beta code through a special partnership, too.

August 14 to 16

Free open beta for PlayStation 4: Access by downloading the game from the PlayStation Network store.Preorder/closed beta for Xbox One: Players who preorder "Marvel's Avengers" will automatically gain access.Preorder/closed beta for Steam/PC: Players who preorder "Marvel's Avengers" will automatically gain access, or you can apply for access via Intel Gaming or Verizon.

August 21 to 23

Free open beta for PS4, Xbox One, and Steam/PC: Access by downloading the game from your respective digital store front and applying for a Square Enix member account (required to play online).

"Marvel's Avengers" preorder benefits

"Marvel's Avengers" / Square Enix

There are several versions of "Marvel's Avengers" available for sale. Preordering any version will get you access to the beta, while the Deluxe Edition will also let you play the game three days early on September 1, instead of its listed release date of September 4.

The Deluxe Edition also includes an exclusive set of outfits for the seven playable Avengers, while the "Earth's Mightiest Edition" includes a SteelBook case an a full set of Marvel collectibles. PlayStation 4 owners can access a special digital version of the game that offers 1,000 in-game credits as well.

You can preorder "Marvel's Avengers" on your console or at any video game retailer, including Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart.

Subscribe to our newsletter.

You can purchase syndication rights to this story here.

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Original author: Kevin Webb

Continue reading
  35 Hits
Aug
07

Deliveroo is considering fitting rider huts with games consoles to entertain drivers while they wait for orders

German software giant SAP launched a handful of activities to keep employees connected amid the coronavirus crisis, including a wine tasting session and a Tinder-like app for connecting colleagues for virtual lunches, Bloomberg reported.The company noticed that many of its single employees missed the in-person interactions of the office: "We realized we needed to address their loneliness and isolation, but do it in an open and positive way," an exec told Bloomberg. The company has 100,000 employees across 180 countries and one of the biggest, unexpected challenges of the shift to remote work was finding ways to keep them connected, former co-CEO Jennifer Morgan told Business Insider in April.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

German software giant SAP created a slew of employee-bonding activities as the coronavirus crisis has kept most of its employees home since March, according to Bloomberg, including an in-house app where employees can swipe left or right on each, a format popularized by the dating app Tinder. If employees match, they can coordinate a virtual lunch over video call. 

That custom-built app and SAP's other initiatives came to be after its human resource team noticed that many of its single employees were missing the social interactions they'd typically have at the office, according to diversity and inclusion officer Nina Strassner. 

"We realized we needed to address their loneliness and isolation, but do it in an open and positive way," she told Bloomberg reporter Benedikt Kammel.

In shifting its employees scattered across 180 countries to remote work, one of the biggest, unexpected challenges was actually helping workers who lived alone feel safe and connected, former co-CEO Jennifer Morgan told Business Insider in April.

"Because I have a family — as many people around me do — I didn't realize that, with 100,000 people, there's a lot of people who are alone," she said. 

So, the staff created a variety of activities its employees could enjoy from home, including film screenings, video game competitions, and wine tastings where bottles were delivered for free and sommeliers guided participants, according to Bloomberg. Around 1,700 workers also attended a virtual barbecue led by expert butchers. 

While those experiences are focused on SAP's German workers, different regions are employing their own new initiatives to keep company morale alive during isolation, too. In North America, the company is hosting a "Tour de SAP" Peloton competition, spokesperson Lesa Beber told Business Insider. And in the San Francisco Bay Area, the company has reworked its annual summer paint night and escape room tradition by coordinating small groups that can meet and do the activity together. 

"We take every opportunity to listen to our employees ," Beber told Business Insider via email, "And ensure we are doing everything we can to ensure they are comfortable and feeling empowered."

LoadingSomething is loading.
Original author: Keerthi Vedantam

Continue reading
  38 Hits
Aug
12

The most spectacular meteor shower of the year peaks this weekend — here's how to watch

You can make a kids profile on Disney Plus to monitor and restrict the kind of content your children have access to.Setting up a kids profile on Disney Plus is just as easy as setting up a regular, unrestricted profile — you only need to do one thing differently.Kids profiles can see any movie or show rated below PG. Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

You might think that making a kids profile on Disney Plus, Disney's new streaming service, sounds redundant. After all, it's a service full of stuff from Disney — surely it must all be safe for kids, right?

But, that's not necessarily the case. With all the properties Disney owns — between Marvel, FOX shows like "The Simpsons," and the recently added, somewhat explicit Broadway musical "Hamilton" — there are a lot of things on Disney Plus a parent might not want their kid seeing.

When you make a new Disney Plus kids profile, that means whoever is using that profile will only be able to watch shows and movies rated G, TV-Y, TV-Y7/Y7-FV, or TV-G. Nothing PG or above will be available to them. 

You can turn this setting on at any time, even on existing profiles, through the account settings menu. This setting will carry over on your account across all the devices it's signed in on, so you never have to worry that your child will see something you don't want them to.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Disney Plus monthly subscription (from $6.99 at Disney+)

How to set up a kids profile on Disney Plus

1. On your smart TV, on the left sidebar, select the option for "My Profile," with your icon next to it.

Select "My Profile" from the sidebar menu. Melanie Weir/Business Insider

On the app, tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Tap your profile icon to bring up your account menu. Melanie Weir/Business Insider

On a web browser, click your profile icon in the top right corner of the screen.

2. Choose "Add Profile."

If you're trying to turn an already existing profile into a kids profile, instead choose "Edit Profiles" and select the one you want to change.
Choose "Add Profile." Melanie Weir/Business Insider

3. Pick an image for the new profile from the list of icons.

4. Type in the profile name. You can make this the name of the child who will be using it, or just keep it as a generic "Kids Profile" if you'd rather.

5. Toggle the switch labeled "Kids Profile" to the "On" position. 

On your TV, you can do this just by selecting the button once with your remote.
Toggle "Kids Profile" to "On." Melanie Weir/Business Insider

6. Select "Save" to finish creating the profile. 

Once this is done, you can start using this profile by selecting it when you return to the main menu.

Insider Inc. receives a commission when you buy through our links.

Original author: Melanie Weir

Continue reading
  29 Hits
Aug
12

Snapchat has 173 million users but it's struggling to grow outside North America (SNAP)

When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider Sony's WH-1000XM4 headphones are among the best wireless noise-cancelling headphones you can get in the $350 price range.They have excellent noise cancellation, phone call quality that cuts out a tremendous amount of ambient noise, great battery life, and amazing audio performance. If you're not satisfied by the way they sound out of the box, you can use Sony's Headphones app to tweak them. It's worth doing, because you can get better sound than the historical gold standard in wireless noise-cancelling headphones — the $400 Bose 700. If you're looking at wireless noise-cancelling headphones, chances are you're also looking at the Bose 700. If so, check out our direct comparison between the Sony WH-1000XM4 and the Bose 700. 

Right off the bat, the Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless noise-cancelling headphones should be serious contenders for your head and ears.

Indeed, "wireless" and "noise cancelling" have been popular criteria, and Sony gets these two aspects absolutely right. You're also getting great sound quality that you can refine to your liking by using the Sony Headphones app, and you might even like them more than the historical gold standard in wireless noise-cancelling headphones — the $400 Bose 700. 

If $350 is in your budget for wireless noise-cancelling headphones, the XM4 should absolutely be high up in your shortlist, but make sure to read the full review below to ensure they're for you.

Specifications

Drivers: 40mm domeConnectivity: Bluetooth, NFC, 3.5mm jack, USB Type-C chargingCodecs: LDAC, DSEEBattery Life: 30 hoursApp: Sony Headphones for iOS and Android

Comfort and design

Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

The XM4 are very comfortable headphones. The earcups covered in smooth leatherette are plush and don't grip onto my head, but they're just tight and lightweight enough that the headphones stay on while tilting and turning my head in every direction. For reference, my head around my brow and tips of my ears measure in at about 23 inches. The headband is made of something firmer, but also covered in smooth leatherette, and it doesn't apply too much pressure, nor does the top of my head get sore after long periods of listening. 

Design-wise, the XM4 are pretty neutral and modern looking. Their matte plastic exterior is available in black and "silver," which looks more like a kind of light tan or gray beige. You could make the argument that there should be more metal for a pair of $350 headphones, but metal would probably add more weight, and it wouldn't really add much more to their premium feel.

Sound quality

Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

What's objective and definitive is that the XM4 gets the basics right — they have a very rich sound and a good, fairly wide soundstage. Sony also boasts that it collaborated with Sony Music Studios Tokyo for the sound quality of the XM4s. To be honest, I'm not the right person to tell you how much that counts for, but I thought I'd mention it. 

Outside of that, it's hard for me to tell you whether these sound good or not, because everyone hears differently and everyone has a preference to how their music sounds. And that happens to be an area where the XM4s shine. Their sound is customizable via the Sony Headphones app, and you can change the sound to however you want it to be. Customizing sound through equalizer (EQ) settings isn't new, it's just particularly effective with Sony's app and the XM4 headphones. 

Thank goodness the XM4s are customizable, because their out-of-the-box sound isn't my favorite. In their default state, the XM4s have big, powerful sound that leans heavily towards bass and doesn't give very much attention to higher frequencies, which leads to a muffled sound that frankly isn't very impressive. If you like clarity and a better balance that features a little more treble and highs, the XM4 won't be for you, and you'll want to go into the Sony Headphones app to customize the sound. 

So that's what I did, and I found an adjustment that makes my music sound amazing to me, and it was pretty easy and quick. In fact, my own customization turned the XM4 into a pair of headphones that are going to be hard to replace. It was worth going into the app and playing around with the sound settings, as I prefer the way the XM4 sound compared to the Bose. (If you're curious, I use the "Bright" preset, and set the "Clear Bass" to +5 or more.) 

Some don't really care too much and just want a pair of headphones that they're told sound good without fiddling around in an app, and for those people, I'd suggest the $400 Bose 700 that can often be had for less. They offer excellent sound out of the box.

Noise cancellation and battery life

Noise cancellation on the XM4 is excellent and on par with Bose, which have set the standard for noise-cancelling wireless headphones with the Quiet Comfort line, and most recently its 700 line. 

In an office-type environment at about 53 decibels, including air conditioning droning and a couple of loud fans, I could listen to music at significantly lower volumes than without noise cancelling. The ambient noise from the air conditioning and fans, and even the sound of my wife on a phone call in the same room was all but forgotten while listening to music. 

Without music, some higher frequency fan noise was still audible, but the XM4 made the room significantly quieter and more comfortable to work in. I could also still hear my wife's phone conversation, but again, it was totally tolerable, and I could still easily work comfortably without feeling distracted. 

I even tested the XM4 next to my home's 10KW backup power generator, which produces between 65 and 85 decibels — a range that decently represents a Midtown Manhattan avenue. The XM4 did remarkably well at cancelling out the generator's noise considering my proximity to the generator, and that the noise was coming exclusively from one source rather than the "everywhere" nature of noise in Manhattan.

In a sentence, the XM4 will absolutely make subway and walking commutes in busy cities significantly more tolerable and comfortable. 

As for battery life, Sony touts an impressive 30 hours, and five hours of listening time from a quick 10-minute top-off charge with 1.5A or more adapter. All in all, battery life in real life is great — it never felt as if I was constantly charging the XM4. 

Phone calls

Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

Sony has worked to improve the ambient noise reduction during phone calls, and that work paid off. I had a phone conversation at around the 65-75 decibel range (near my generator), and the person I was speaking with said, for the most part, they wouldn't know I was next to a noisy engine that produces 10,000 watts of power at 240 volts. 

Basically, that means you can walk around a city's busy streets and have a comfortable conversation with barely any city noise making its way into the phone call.  

That brings the XM4s up to the Bose 700 region for phone call performance, which is saying something. The Bose 700 were a revelation for ambient noise control for phone calls. 

Apps and other features

The Sony Headphones app is utilitarian but necessary to customize the sound to your liking, and while it was quick and easy for me, I see plenty of room for improvement to make it more intuitive and more attractive, especially for those who are less inclined on tech.

Sony has loaded the XM4s with one feature that's incredibly important for a pair of wireless headphones in 2020 and beyond, as well as a bunch of features that aren't entirely necessary, even questionable. 

First, the important feature the XM4s include is Bluetooth multipoint technology, which lets you connect to two devices at the same time. Multipoint is essential if you often switch between your phone and computer — you can listen to music from your computer with the headphones, as well as pick up a phone call from your phone without any manual switching. 

Another feature that works well is "Quick Attention," which reduces your music's volume and turns off noise cancelling when you place your hand over the right earcup. That's great when you need to communicate with someone briefly, like when you're buying something. Volume and noise cancellation come right back when you remove your hand from the right earcup. I'd still think I'm being rude if I kept my headphones on while communicating with another human being, but at least the motion of putting your hand to the earcup is an indication that you're doing something to pay attention to them. 

There's also "Speak To Chat," where the headphones detect when you're talking, and music and noise cancellation are totally turned off. When the headphones detect that you're no longer talking, music and noise cancellation are re-engaged after a set amount of time. It works well, but if I'm going to chat with anyone for more than a brief amount of time, I'm going to take off the headphones. If it's not obvious, this is one of the questionable features.  

The Sony app includes a noise cancellation optimizer designed to, well, optimize noise cancellation for you by analyzing anything that might alter the earcups' seal around your ears. I'm not entirely sure if it works, to be honest, but optimized or not, sound quality and noise cancellation remain excellent.

There's also a "360 Reality Audio" feature that supposedly enhances audio with some kind of surround sound enhancements. The setup process is odd, as you need to take photos of your ears, and it only works with the Tidal, Nugs, and Deezer streaming apps. I don't use any of these apps, so I couldn't test this feature. Honestly, these kinds of features rarely end up enhancing anything for the better. 

Should you buy the Sony WH-1000XM4?

Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

Yep!

I could leave it at that, but I need to disclose that the XM4s work best if you use the Sony Headphones app. Maybe you'll like the default sound, but I find it lackluster. After a little effortless tweaking, the XM4 became one of my favorite pairs of all-around headphones — you're getting some of the best sound quality, comfort, noise cancellation, and phone call quality in the $350 price range. 

If $350 is on the higher side, you could still pick up Sony's previous generation in the XM series, the WH-1000XM3. Sound quality, noise cancellation, and comfort are all just a hair under the new XM4, but for the sub-$250 price tags we're seeing these days for the XM3, they're a bargain. To note, the XM3s would also benefit from some minor finagling with the app to get the sound you like. See what we said about the XM3 headphones around the time they were released. 

If you're truly not interested in playing around with an app and you "just want a good pair of headphones," I'd recommend the Bose 700 instead. You can check out the Bose 700 review here. 

Pros: Comfortable, long battery life, excellent noise cancellation, great audio quality, incredibly effective sound customization, impressive ambient noise reduction for phone calls

Cons: Default sound is muffled and lacks highs and clarity, app is utilitarian and not super intuitive

 

Original author: Antonio Villas-Boas

Continue reading
  35 Hits
Aug
11

Snap confirms that it paid $213 million to buy Zenly and $135 million for Placed (SNAP)

You can set up text-to-speech donations on Twitch through a widget called an "Alert Box."With text-to-speech donations enabled, viewers can attach messages to their donations, which will then be read aloud on your stream.You can also set up a blacklist of words that the text-to-speech robot won't read.Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

If you're active on Twitch, you might have seen popular streamers get donations from viewers. Many streamers also use text-to-speech donations, which lets a robot read each donor's name and attached message out loud.

These text-to-speech donations are a great way to acknowledge your donors and encourage more people to donate.

Keep reading to learn how to set up text-to-speech donations on your Twitch channel, using Streamlabs on your Mac or PC.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Apple Macbook Pro (From $1,299.00 at Apple)

Acer Chromebook 15 (From $179.99 at Walmart)

How to set up text-to-speech donations on Twitch

Before you can set up text-to-speech donations on Twitch, you'll need to set up an Alert Box using Streamlabs OBS. Alert Boxes can be found in Streamlabs OBS under "Themes" in the "Widget Themes" section.

After you've picked out an Alert Box theme you like and added it to your stream's channel, you can set up text-to-speech donations.

1. Go to streamlabs.com and log into your Twitch account.

2. Once you're logged in, click on "Alert Box" in the left side menu.

Open the "Alert Box" menu. Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider

3. Make sure your Alert Box isn't set to v2 Beta. This guide is for the original version of the Streamlands Alert Box. Alert Box v2, which is still in beta, is organized differently. If you have the beta v2 version of Alert Box enabled, you'll need to click the v2 slider to disable it in order to follow this guide.

The slider next to Alert Box v2 Beta should appear black and white instead of green and white. Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider

4. Scroll down to the settings menu and click on "Donations." Then, click on "Open Text to Speech."

You'll find text-to-speech settings in the "Donations" tab. Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider

5. Click "Enabled" to enable text-to-speech donations. You can also customize a few text-to-speech settings from this screen if you wish, such as the volume level and language spoken when your donation alert sounds.

Make sure to click the "Enable" option. Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider

6. Now that text-to-speech has been enabled, you'll want to make sure your stream obeys Twitch's Terms of Service, in case anyone abuses your text-to-speech function by submitting profanity. Scroll back up to the settings menu and click on "General Settings."

7. Scroll down to the "Profanity Filter" section, click on the drop-down menu, and click on the customization settings you prefer. You can also set custom "bad words" to include in the profanity filter; just type in the word or phrase you want to blacklist, then click "Blacklist."

These filters can protect you from mischievous viewers. Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider

8. Once you're done customizing your settings, scroll all the way down and click "Save Settings" to apply your changes.

Insider Inc. receives a commission when you buy through our links.

Original author: Chrissy Montelli

Continue reading
  29 Hits
Aug
12

Fired engineer James Damore: Google is 'almost like a cult' (GOOG)

Good morning! This is the tech news you need to know this Thursday. Sign up here to get this email in your inbox every morning.

The Trump administration is asking a court to dismiss the tech industry's legal challenge his executive order taking aim at social media companies. The lawsuit was brought in June by the Center for Democracy and Technology, a group backed by Facebook, Twitter, and Alphabet subsidiary Google, which called Trump's directive "unconstitutional."Uber and Lyft have threatened to temporarily shut down in California if a court rules their drivers must be classified as employees. A group of companies that rely on independent contractors has proposed a third way of classifying workers, which includes a benefits pool that can follow workers across apps and platforms while maintaining flexibility. Lyft reported a 61% revenue slowdown as the coronavirus hobbles ride-hailing, but still managed to beat Wall Street expectations. Unlike Uber, Lyft has no food delivery or international businesses to rely on for revenue as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage across the US. Airbnb's revenue reportedly plunged 67% in the second quarter as COVID-19 wreaks havoc on its business. The steep drop-off is a reflection of the impact of COVID-19, which has restricted travel across the globe.Facebook and Snap both reportedly inquired about acquiring TikTok rival Dubsmash. As TikTok's future in the US remains uncertain, short-form video-making apps and formats have emerged as competitors eager to attract some of TikTok's 100 million monthly US users.Instagram could face up up to $500 billion in fines in a class-action lawsuit alleging it illegally harvested biometric data. A new lawsuit accuses Instagram of collecting people's biometric data without their consent in violation of a state law.Chinese giant ByteDance is engaging in early discussions with Reliance Industries about backing TikTok's business in India. TikTok has been banned in India since June 29 as a fallout of geo-political tensions with China that led New Delhi to ban the app along with 58 other Chinese apps over security and privacy concerns, TechCrunch reported. Palantir is planning to go public through a direct listing of its shares in late September. The company, which sells data analysis software used by governments and large companies worldwide, might still change its plans, Bloomberg reported. Google, Facebook, Twitter and other major social media companies are working together to scenario-plan for the last three months before Election Day in the United States. Politico reports that the Silicon Valley tech giants are gaming for scenarios including a situation in which there is no quickly declared winner in November's election. Twitter launched a new API as it tries to make amends with third-party developers. The API v2 is the first complete rebuild of Twitter's API since 2012, when the company famously began limiting how third-party developers could build on its product, The Verge reported. 

Have an Amazon Alexa device? Now you can hear 10 Things in Tech each morning. Just search for "Business Insider" in your Alexa's flash briefing settings.

Original author: Callum Burroughs

Continue reading
  41 Hits
Aug
08

Pro.com raises $10M funding round to expand its home improvement service to more cities

Foxconn chairman Young Liu said Trump's trade war against China means its "days as the world's factory are done," Bloomberg reported Wednesday.Foxconn, the largest iPhone maker globally, said it plans to diversify production lines to avoid tariffs the Trump administration has imposed on Chinese-made goods, according to Bloomberg.Liu told Bloomberg that the company is looking to a variety of regions including India, Southeast Asia, and the Americas.Trump has waged a years-long economic battle against China, imposing extensive tariffs and targeting a range of Chinese companies, though evidence strongly suggests that most of the burden has fallen on Americans.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Over the past 50 years, China has become a global economic powerhouse, due in large part to the rise of its manufacturing industry. But the CEO of one of the largest companies in that space, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., predicted that era could be coming to an end.

Young Liu, chairman of Hon Hai, which is more commonly known as Foxconn, told investors this week that China's "days as the world's factory are done," Bloomberg reported Wednesday.

Liu said during Foxconn's latest earnings call that Trump's trade war with Beijing has forced electronic device makers to diversify their supply chains to other countries so they don't get hit with tariffs on Chinese-made products, according to Bloomberg.

Foxconn, the largest global manufacturer of iPhones, plans to do the same. Liu told Bloomberg that 30% of the company's production capacity is now outside China, a 20% increase from the previous June and that it's interested in expanding in a variety of regions.

"No matter if it's India, Southeast Asia, or the Americas, there will be a manufacturing ecosystem in each," Liu said, according to Bloomberg.

Trump has imposed expansive tariffs on goods imported from China as part of his years-long trade war against the country, but most evidence points to a net negative impact for US companies, individuals, and the overall economy.

An analysis from Bloomberg Economics previously estimated that the Trump administration's punitive measures will end up costing the US $316 billion by the end of 2020, and independent researchers from the New York Federal Reserve, Princeton, and Columbia estimated that the tariffs would cost Americans roughly $831 per household over the course of 2019.

Tensions temporarily deescalated last December when Trump and China reached an interim trade deal, but a survey from the US-China Business Council this week found that only 7% of businesses viewed the gains from the deal as outweighing the costs incurred by two years worth of tariffs.

Trump recently reignited tensions with China with two executive orders seeking to ban viral video app TikTok and messaging app WeChat, which are owned by Chinese-firms ByteDance and Tencent, respectively, from operating within the US.

Original author: Tyler Sonnemaker

Continue reading
  37 Hits