Google wants to run some competition for Twitter and Facebook, and win a place among social media services. The company decided to bring its own news feed on the Google app, for users of both Android and iOS. This new feature will pick up stories based on your interests and show them to you.

Your own customized feed on Google

Everybody knows that Google knows mostly everything you do online, and now it wants to put this knowledge to good use. Based on your search history and those topics you often consult, it will build up this personalized collection of news it is simply calling “the feed”.

This feed is meant to replace Google Now, and will display news and stories which are relevant for you, as they will be related to what you usually search for. Also, the links you stumble upon will be flagged with an x and a message telling you you’ve shown interest in that particular topic.

If you are not really interested in something, you can also tell Google and help it refine its recommendations. By tapping that x, you can mention if you’re not actually interested in the topic. Also, you can prevent posts from a certain publication to appear on your news feed.

This will help you get all the new and the old news on your favorite topics

However, this custom feed gets even better. Google won’t show you only the latest news. If something looks relevant and in accordance to your interest, it will be brought up even if it’s older. This is quite nice, since it helps you stay away from tons of useless information and be up-to-date only with something that really interests you.

Therefore, from now on, Google’s feed will analyze your search history and dig up content of interest. Moreover, with the help of AI algorithms, it will try to detect what you should be interested in in the future. This might allow you to discover new things which fit your taste.
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The world of expensive smartphones was left in shock after the luxury smartphone manufacturer Vertu announced it would disappear from the market. The company revealed it was struggling to convince rich people to buy its devices, which could be easily explained by the overwhelming prices it offered.

Vertu sold gold-plated smartphones ornamented with jewels

Vertu started as a company with a clearly devised area of target customers, as the smartphones weren’t affordable for anyone. It hoped that offering luxury phones plated with red gold of 18 carats and jewels would speak to the upper layer of society. However, spending $46,600 on such a device seemed too much even for them.

Soon after Vertu announced the company would be dissolved, it revealed what was the main reason which led to this decision. It seemed that it had a huge deficit of £128 million. This represents roughly the price of 3,555 smartphones from the Cloud de Paris Red Gold collection.

They didn’t give rich people what they wanted

For the past years, the company went through ups and downs, but this didn’t automatically mean the end should come. In 2015, Vertu was bought by a Chinese firm, which then sold it to Hakan Uzan, a Turkish exile, in 2017. However, its exquisite offer of gold-plated phones wasn’t able to save it, so Uzan decided it was best to give it up.

But why wasn’t Vertu actually what rich people wanted? Although they have plenty of expensive technology at hand, this smartphone seemed to offer something different. Also, the excessively rich seem eager to spend money on anything covered in gold.

This is why it seems hard to understand why Vertu wasn’t successful. Do the rich actually not want gold-plated phones with advanced technology? Or were these smartphones overpriced pieces of tech with a poor performance? What is clear is the fact that luxury phones are not the future, or maybe they came ahead of their time.

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After the latest Summer Sale on Steam, the system was taken over by a series of numerous bans, overpassing the previous banning records recorded per day. On July 5^th, one day after the sale was over, more than 40,000 Steam accounts were shut down.

Overwhelming number of banned Steam accounts

A third party tool is responsible with recording the number of bans issued every day on Steam. It seems that the automatic no-cheating system created by Valve reached the overwhelming number of 40,411 banned accounts the day after the Summer Sale ended.

This is a huge number, compared to the usual 3,000 or 4,000 users banned every day. In October 2016, Valve also scored a record when it banned 15,277 accounts in a single day. However, there is still a huge difference between that and the current banning record.

Many users resort to cheats during sales

These users have received a VAC ban, which no longer allows them to connect to the Valve servers. Therefore, all their items and purchases are now useless. During sales, many users acquire cheap game copies, and then create more accounts to see which of their hacks are detected by Valve.

This huge number of bans shows the anti-cheating system has improved, and is way better at detecting cheaters. Valve declared that, once you are the subject of a ban, the decision is irreversible. However, if it discovers the banning has been wrongful, you can be granted access to the servers again.

Apart from those VAC bans, 4,972 more users were banned. This happened on June 6^th, when other players reported the cheaters in-game. Then, the number of bans returned to normal. This banning spree led to the loss of in-game items and skins worth $9,580, without counting the price of the games which lost connection to the servers.
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Monolith surprised us with the release of a special Nemesis system for Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. This complex system generates enemies automatically, and makes the entire gameplay feel more fluid, and all the components of the action are better anchored. Such a system is great, and the developer knows that, so it decided to bring it to the sequel Shadow of War as well.

Import your enemies and allies into the Middle-earth sequel

This has probably convinced you that Shadow of War will be great. However, it’s not over yet. If you grew attached to your allies in Shadow of Mordor, or want to get the chance to fight the same fierce enemies, you will be able to take them with you in the sequel. All these exciting changes will come under the update called Nemesis Forge.

Also, making use of the update is easier than you thought. All you have to do is open Shadow of Mordor and select the Nemesis Forge gaming mode. The mode will assume you’ve gathered enough experience in the game to detect the enemy with the highest rank. Also, it can find out who your most loyal Orc is, and then gets them ready for import to Shadow of War when the game is ready.

How to access the Nemesis Forge update

However, Nemesis Forge is available only under certain conditions. You have to purchase both Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War, and that on PC. However, Monolith might have used a misleading phrasing, since the update is available on PS4 and Xbox One as well.

To celebrate the update, Shadow of Mordor has been available to play for free up until now. Also, this could have been a strategy to attract new players and increase its fanbase. Also, you can still purchase the special Game of the Year edition for only $4.

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At Mobile World Congress Shanghai, Qualcomm announced the release of high-tech fingerprint sensors which can read your fingerprints in almost any conditions. More precisely, the sensors will work even if you place your finger over the display, glass, or metal.

The new Qualcomm Fingerprint Sensors are more modern and can support more kinds of form factors. Now it will be easier for you to authenticate on your phone and, at the same time, benefit from advanced security features. Also, the sensors can work through slightly thicker layers of glass or metal.

The new fingerprint sensors are modern and bring improvements from the previous generation

In fact, the series includes three different types of sensors. One sensor works for glass surfaces, another is for display, while the third one works for metallic surfaces. The display sensor is the first to become available on the market. It will be an ultrasonic scanner, being able to scan your fingerprint even through an OLED display.

The glass and metal scanners will come with improvements. They will be able to scan through surfaces of 800 micrometers of glass and, respectively, 650 micrometers of aluminum. This is quite a big progress from the previous scanners, which supported only a thickness of 400 micrometers of aluminum or glass.

What devices are they compatible with?

These fingerprint sensors are designed for the new line of Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, but they might be compatible with other chips as well. The first processors which will make use of the sensors are the recently announced Snapdragon 630 and 660. When it comes to the operating systems, they will work on both current and future Android versions.

Samsung reported it faced some difficulties in including this kind of technology for Galaxy S8, S8 Plus, as well as Galaxy Note 8. When it comes to Apple, the company was still undecided if it should feature the upcoming iPhone 8 with such a fingerprint sensor.
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Twitter wanted to make all the apps look more similar, regardless of the OS they run on, so the company will now be issuing a major redesign. The new appearance will bring the same look on iOS, Android, Tweetdeck, or Twitter Lite.

Bringing a uniform look to all Twitter versions

The general redesign is inspired from the latest changes Twitter has brought to its Android app. More precisely, what it will do is move the profile on a side navigation tab. Also, the typography of the apps gets a fresh new look, and will be the same among all devices.

When you tap on your profile picture situated at the top, the side tab opens. There, you have several options you can choose from, such as viewing your profile, your Moments, or opening the Settings. This is the novelty that Twitter brings with the redesign.

The rest of the app looks quite similar to the previous versions. There no other new options, but everything is organized so that there is much use of white space. Also, the icons look slightly different. They are now softer, and look rounder, while the reply button has a whole new appearance.

Several design changes make the app more friendly

Twitter changed the arrow button with a speech bubble, since it better suggests the idea of replying. The arrow got people confused, since many thought it means “back” and tapped it to return them to the previous page they had visited.

The iOS version no longer makes use of the in-app browser, as it was changed for Safari View Controller. This comes with an AutoFill feature and Reader view, which loads stories by default in this format. However, this is possible only for the articles that support it.

The redesign might be making use of a bit too much white space but, overall, it looks good and brings a nice touch to the app. Over the next few days, it should start rolling out to all versions of the Twitter app.
Image Source: Pixabay

On Tuesday, the day when Microsoft usually releases its monthly patch flow, users were amazed by an unusually high number of updates. Although support for both Windows XP and Windows Vista has ended, Microsoft provided them several individual patches. Last month, they made the same move, and made many users question its purpose.

Microsoft added security updates for Windows XP and Vista

Microsoft wanted to reveal the mystery, and explained that their priority was to have their users protected, especially if they were using older and more vulnerable operating systems. Therefore, XP and Vista users are strongly advised to apply these updates immediately, and make sure their systems are safe.

However, there is one more reason why Microsoft is so careful. At the time of the Shadow Brokers attacks, the company released some security updates which fixed most of the vulnerabilities targeted by them. Yet, they only took into account the protected systems, meaning Windows 7 or newer.

These systems have been left unprotected for several months

Afterwards, the company declared that all supported platforms were safe from the three exploits which circulated during these attacks: ExplodingCan, EnglishmanDentist, and EsteemAudit. Older security holes had been resolved starting with Windows 7, but this still left older systems at risk. Therefore, this was the reason for this avalanche of updates for XP and Vista.

In other words, if your PC runs XP or Vista, you have been vulnerable to attacks all this time, and Microsoft was well aware of it. However, it only decided to solve the problem now. So, this month’s updates come with extra protection for older versions of Windows.

You can either receive them through Windows Update, or go and download them manually from Microsoft. To find the desired updates, go to Security Adviser 4025685, and choose Older Platforms Table 3 of 3. This is where you should be able to find all the necessary links.
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Fans have been looking forward for footage of the upcoming Kingdom Hearts 3, and Square Enix has finally kept its promise. During the Kingdom Heart Orchestra World Tour concert which took place in Los Angeles, the company released a trailer offering an insight into the gameplay and design of the game.

The beloved Kingdom Hearts characters are back

The trailer shows how the JRPG has not betrayed the fans’ expectations by bringing back the lovable trio of main characters made up of Donald, Goofy, and Sora. However, they are not the only one to make a comeback, all for the excitements of fans. Hades and Pete are among the others which will spice up the gameplay.

Apart from the characters, the trailer also offers a complete look at the game’s combat system. It promises fans that they won’t be disappointed, offering plenty of action and iconic combos between characters, such as the one made up of Donald and Goofy.

We already have the character list and details on the combat system. The only thing that’s missing is a sneak peek on the story behind Kingdom Hearts 3. Square Enix couldn’t leave this behind, so the trailer points to an evil plot conceived by Pete, Hades, and Maleficent. Also, Xemnas makes some references to Roxas.

Another trailer is to be released soon

Now you may think two and a half minutes are not enough to satisfy your curiosity, but Square Enix assures us it won’t be long until more information on Kingdom Hearts 3 is revealed. At the end of this trailer, you will find out that a more complete one will be presented during Disney’s D23 Expo which takes place on July 23^rd.

Unfortunately, the release date is unknown. It seems quite unlikely that Kingdom Hearts 3 will be released this year, even though four years have passed since the official announcement of the game during E3 2013.

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Amazon announced a new tool for its smart assistant Alexa to help you surf the TV much easier. Before, Alexa allowed you to control Fire TV and open your favorite show on Netflix, but now this will be available for any streaming service, cable company, or any provider of TV programs. The tool will shortly come at the help of developers, and will allow them to create voice controlling for these apps.

Changing channels by voice using Amazon Alexa

The new Video Skill API is the tool developers need to allow people make use of Alexa and Echo devices to control the programs they’re viewing on TV. By using voice control, they will be able to change channels, search for a particular show, browse movies by genre, pause the program or restart it, and all they have to do is ask the assistant to do it.

However, these changes won’t come instantly. Before providing handsfree control of the apps, developers need to update them and make them compatible with the API, and some might not be willing to do it. Even so, Amazon revealed that several companies have already started using the API. These include NetGem, YouView, and Dish.

This option will come for several TV provider services

Dish announced the integration of the Alexa smart assistant in May, and became the first TV provider in the US which allows users to remotely control their channels using their voice. Therefore, users who own Alexa-equipped devices have to run a few setup processes to pair them up and they’re ready to go.

Amazon revealed that several other TV services have adopted the API. However, they cannot reveal any names yet, since the apps and pairings are still in development. This Alexa configuration will allow not only for remote control of the channels, but it can also help the assistant improve its responses without the user being actively involved.
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Now that the internet is overtaken by fake news and dozens of phishing attempts, everybody finds it hard to stay safe online, so it must be even harder for children to distinguish between what is harmful and what is not. Therefore, Google decided to start a project and help children make smart decisions while online.

Google teaches children to stay safe on the internet via games

Be Internet Awesome is Google’s project which teaches children how to identify potential threats while browsing the internet. The project contains a teaching online game for children, a curriculum to be used by schools and teachers, and a series of videos for parents and children to watch together.

The game, Interland, is in fact some sort of puzzle which leads children through four mini-games. Tower of Treasure is the first one, which teaches children how to come up with strong passwords, and that these passwords contribute to your safety against hackers.

The second one, Reality River, is devised like a quiz. With the help of 10 multiple choice questions, children find out who is to trust while online. Kind Kingdom educates kids on trolling, and teaches them to be nice not only in real life, but also on the internet. In the end, Mindful Mountain tells children not to share their private info unless they trust the person they are sharing it with.

Be Internet Awesome is supported by many organizations

To develop the Be Internet Awesome project, Google collaborated with several organizations which deal with internet safety, such as Keep Safe Coalition, ConnectSafely, and Family Online Safety Institute. Therefore, the lessons they developed together meet the standards imposed by the Society for Technology in Education.

Be Internet Awesome is a clever idea of Google’s to teach kids the basics of the internet safety in the most enjoyable way. The company has already started promoting this project among schools and parents, so that children can gain access to the games and enjoy a more fun way to learn.

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