Rakuten confirms it is shutting its US online retail store, originally known as Buy.com, over the next two months; Rakuten bought Buy.com for $250M in 2010 — Japanese conglomerate Rakuten has pulled the plug on its U.S. online retail store, originally known as Buy.com …
The hearing at times felt like gaslighting, with the CEOs trying to convince lawmakers that the evidence the House collected wasn't really evidence of anything — It is less clear that tech executives' strategy of evasive answers will continue to work now that lawmakers have begun doing their homework.
Emails in 2006 show Google almost struck a deal with Pure Digital, makers of the Flip Video, to make a “Google branded camera” to increase Google Video uploads — Before GoPro took off, there was Pure Digital — Before Android, before the iPhone, and before GoPro became a known brand …
Cook says strong Mac and iPad sales in Q3 were likely boosted by stay-at-home rules while iPhone and wearables were negatively affected by retail closures — - Store reclosures ‘weigh on results,’ he says in interview — IPad, Mac sales benefit from the increase in remote learning
EA reports Q1 revenue of $1.46B vs expectations of $1.06B, up 20.7% YoY, live services increased 16% YoY to $1.1B; player engagement “exceptionally high” — Electronic Arts reported financial results that beat Wall Street's expectations with revenue growing 21% to $1.46 billion for the first fiscal quarter ended June 30.
The FCC granted Amazon's request to operate its Kuiper low Earth orbit satellites, on condition it doesn't interfere with previously approved rival ventures — The Federal Communications Commission has authorized Amazon's plans for a Project Kuiper constellation of 3,236 satellites …
Zuckerberg says there is “no end in sight” for US Facebook employees working from home due to the surge in US COVID-19 cases — - Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday said there is no timetable for when employees will return to the company's offices amid a continuing surge in Covid-19 cases in the U.S.
Microsoft last week launched a preview of a new enterprise-only option that blocks Windows' telemetry from reaching Redmond's servers.
The option wasn't given an official label in the July 23 announcement, but at the sign-up site was defined as "The Data Processor Service for Windows Enterprise" – a mouthful even for Microsoft, known for interminable titling.
Marisa Rogers, the privacy officer responsible for Windows and Microsoft's browsers, pointed out that enterprises and other organizations – universities, for the most part – now have two choices when it comes to what their PCs report to Redmond. "Enterprise customers had two options in managing their Windows 10 diagnostic data: 1) allow Microsoft to be the controller of that data ... or 2) turn off diagnostic data flows altogether."
One of the most significant differences between Samsung phones and tablets and other Android-powered devices is the operating system. Sure, it’s Android, but it’s so heavily modified that it’s barely recognizable. Even the digital assistant is different, as Samsung uses Bixby, while most Android devices rely on Google Assistant instead.
That might be changing soon, though, as a report from Bloomberg indicates that Google and Samsung are in talks to scale back the use of Bixby and move Samsung devices over to Google Assistant.
According to the report, Google and Samsung are discussing some significant changes to Samsung’s devices. Rather than pushing Samsung’s application marketplace and Bixby, Samsung would put more focus on Google Play and Google Assistant. The report doesn’t indicate that Samsung’s software would be removed, but just that it would be scaled back.
When Bloomberg reached out to Google for comment, the representative didn’t deny the talks but didn’t confirm them either.
The representative said, “Like all Android device makers, Samsung is free to create its own app store and digital assistant. That’s one of the great features of the Android platform. And while we regularly talk with partners about ways to improve the user experience, we have no plans to change that.”
Google and Samsung are negotiating a major deal that would give the search giant's products more prominence on Samsung phones https://t.co/Op810UAuj3
— Bloomberg (@business) July 29, 2020
Samsung also commented, downplaying the talks but not denying them outright.
“Samsung remains committed to our own ecosystem and services,” said the Samsung representative. “At the same time, Samsung closely works with Google and other partners to offer the best mobile experiences for our users.”
Of course, if this were to happen, Samsung probably wouldn’t do it for free. Google would stand to make a lot of money if it was to have Google Assistant and Google Play featured more heavily. Samsung is the largest smartphone maker in the world, which means a lot of users would likely embrace Google’s ecosystem if this were to go through.
Right now, nothing will change. Samsung’s current suite of devices will continue to use the company’s modified version of Android OS and Bixby. However, if the talks go ahead, future Samsung devices could look a lot more like Google’s Pixel phones than the current lineup.
Are you thinking about getting a Samsung device like the Galaxy S20? Then here’s everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy S20 series before you throw down your hard-earned money.
Image Credit: Samsung
Read the full article: Samsung Phones May Get More Google and Less Bixby
Google AR search results are one of the coolest new things to come out of Google’s labs in recent months. After all, who doesn’t want to have a wide variety of animals blasted into their living room on command?
Starting today, Google has made its augmented reality search results a bit more terrifying with the addition of 23 3D insects.
If you want to check out the new insects, you’ll need to have an ARCore-supported Android device or an iOS device running iOS 11 and up. From there, you’ll just need to search for the insect you want to see in its larger-than-life form.
The Verge found that there are a total of 23 insects added with this update. And here’s the complete list of 3D insets you can now check out in augmented reality:
Typing in any of the names listed above will bring up your typical results, but you’ll also see a button labeled View in 3D. You just need to tap that button and you’ll be able to view the insect either in your room through AR or only on a blank background.
This update is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what you can find within Google AR search results. There are all sorts of animals, such as dogs, cats, tigers, and more. You can even look at different kinds of dinosaurs right in your home.
It’s a cool feature that makes searching the internet a more engaging and exciting experience. And if you can’t get enough augmented reality, check out these fantastic augmented reality applications you can download right now.
Read the full article: Google AR Adds 3D Insects to Its Search Results
Buying furniture can get pretty expensive. Fortunately, there are other people on the internet who are keen to give away their old goods. Below, we’ve listed four free furniture websites where you can find what you need, based on a couple of key geographic regions.
These sites are great for anyone who is on a minimal budget but still needs to fill their apartment or home.
Before you stuff your room with random items, you might want to consider how those objects look side-by-side. You can also learn the basics of design through these free online interior design courses that you can take right now.
If you already know what you’re doing, however—or you don’t care about how things look—then head over to Craigslist: the ultimate cornucopia of stuff.
Craigslist is available worldwide. It’s also the best site on this list to find free second hand furniture if you’re living in the US. Really, you can discover anything here—including a few dubious ads while looking for new items. So be careful when responding to advertisements, and make sure you know how to look for signs of a scam.
On the “Free” section of the website:
With that said, if you’re planning to pick something up at someone’s house (and not the curb) be wary. As mentioned, there are some dubious ads and individuals on the site, so asking to meet someone outside in a public place would be best.
Additionally: If you want to sell your goods, instead of finding goods, here is a list of sites like Craigslist to buy and sell used stuff online.
If you’re UK-based and you’re looking for some appliances via free furniture sites, the site Preloved has a nice little section called Freeloved. There, you can find all sorts of goods, including free furniture that you can pick up and use for your own apartment!
When you log onto the site:
Based on what we saw through our exploration of the site, there are no real categories for what types of free items exist. So when using this site, you’ll need to bring along some of your Googling skills. It’s useful to know how to search for keywords.
Now let’s say you’re on the North American side of the pond, but you’re not in the US. In fact, you’re north of the border in Canada, and you want to know where to get free furniture, too.
If this describes you, then you can use Kijiji.ca as an alternative to Craigslist. It basically performs the same classifieds function and works in a very similar manner. While you can browse the site without an account, you will need to register with your email address to use the website to its full extent.
By going to the Kijiji website, clicking on the “Free Stuff” link, then navigating to your geographic region, you can find all sorts of free items, including furniture. The furniture ranges from pianos to bookshelves and comes in various stages of pre-use.
I’ve personally used Kijiji for a variety of different functions, from apartment hunting to looking for old items to refurbish. My advice for anyone who wants to use Kijiji is the same advice you would give to a person using Craigslist:
Note: Kijiji was originally introduced to both Canadian and US markets, but became “one of eBay’s unsuccessful attempts to challenge Craigslist,” as detailed by The New York Times. While Kijiji never did well in the US, it reached stratospheric heights of popularity in Canada. It still holds onto that popularity to this day.
Jumping back across the Atlantic: If you’re based in the UK, the website Gumtree has a small selection of freebies where you can find various pre-used items, including free furniture.
To find the free second hand furniture, go to the website, then choose For Sale > Freebies from the directory at the top. You can also just bookmark the link we included above.
As for the selection of goods provided:
The internet can act as a massive retail repository for new and used goods. If you keep on digging, you can find free things to buy, including many practical items like free furniture. However, as with the case concerning all online classifieds, be very careful of who you speak to. Be careful about where you meet, as well.
If you’re looking for more resources to set up a comfortable living space, here’s a list of household hacks and DIY experts who can help you organize your home.
Read the full article: Where to Find Free Furniture Online: The 4 Best Sites
It’s natural to take design inspiration from other people’s work. But there’s nothing more annoying than seeing a font you love and not knowing what it’s called, or discovering that it’s way beyond your budget.
Fortunately, there are lots of tools to help you identify typefaces, or find similar fonts for free. So, let’s take a look at the best ways to find free fonts similar to paid fonts.
If you already know the name of the font you’d like to use, but just can’t afford to buy it, then Alternatype is the tool to use. The site has a large database of typefaces—just enter the name of the one you like and it will suggest one or two free alternatives.
Downloadable and web fonts are both supported, with a download link for each. There’s also a Specimen option that allows you see the font in action before you decide to use it.
Identifont works along similar lines, allowing you to enter the name of the font to get a list of possible alternatives. Each font page includes a display with upper and lower case characters, a few symbols, and links to where you can get the fonts.
But there’s more. Identifont also allows you to match fonts by feature. Click through a series of options—does it have serifs, descenders, and so on—and you’ll end up with a list of suggested alternatives. You might not find an exact match this way, but you could find something you like even more.
Unusually, you can search dingbats fonts as well, to find those that contain certain symbols.
If you’re not sure of the name of the font, or it’s not showing up in the Alternatype or Identifont databases, you could use an image to identify it instead. Using What Font Is, you can either upload a screenshot of the text or just use a link to an online image where the font appears.
You will then need to identify the individual letters in the word or phrase in your image. What Font Is can present you with all results, or filter down to only free fonts or only fonts that can be used commercially.
The larger the characters are the better chance What Font Is has of identifying the font. A few tests with smaller images yielded inaccurate results.
WhatTheFont, from myfonts.com, is quick and easy to use. Drag your image into the browser window and it should automatically detect the text. If not—or if there’s more than one font in use—adjust the crop box to select the text you need.
Hit the Identify button to instantly see some font suggestions. Once you’ve got your results you can test them out with text of your own. Commercial fonts are included among the results, with no filter options.
If you like WhatTheFont, there’s a mobile app version for iOS and Android, too. You can use these to take photos to identify fonts in magazines or on billboard posters.
Font Matcherator is available from fontspring.com, and claims to be more powerful than its rivals.
It works with images you upload, or on any image from the web—you just need to know the URL. It works best with text on a plainer background. We found it struggled to auto-detect text on busier images.
When this happens you can crop in to the text manually, and home in on specific characters to improve the recommendations.
What we like about Font Matcherator is that it works with OpenType font features, including substitute glyphs. So if you’ve got handwritten fonts, for example, it should work well with them where other services may struggle.
All of these other services run in your web browser. But if you’ve got Photoshop you can just use that instead.
The benefit is that it doesn’t just work with online fonts (Typekit or Adobe Fonts, in this case), it can match those you’ve already got installed on your system. Given how easy it is to amass a huge collection of fonts—and how hard it can be to organize them—this is a really valuable feature.
To get started, open the image containing the font you want to match. Go to Type > Match Font. Then drag the crop box over a portion of the text, and wait for the results to appear in the Match Font dialog box.
While it’s always good to be inspired by typography you see in existing projects, when it comes to free fonts you aren’t short of choices.
For the best free web fonts, take a look at our guide to Google Fonts you can use in presentations. Alternatively, you can download hundreds of fonts from our pick of the best sites for free fonts.
Read the full article: How to Find Free Fonts Similar to Paid Fonts
Dominoes is a type of turn-based tile game that has been around for a very long time. Each deck of dominoes has a collection of tiles marked with spots that correspond to different moves that you can make in a game.
There are also multiple, different domino games that you can play with a deck—just like you can with a deck of cards.
In the current era, the popularity of dominoes has continued. Now, you can play game of dominoes online as well. With that in mind, here’s a list of free dominoes games that you can play online, either on your phone or in a web browser.
As a large website devoted to casual apps, Agame.com has tried to bill itself as one of the principal places where you can “try many of the world’s best free online games.”
On Agame.com, the genres range from racing games and simulators, to board games like checkers. They also have a section devoted to dominoes, which we’ve explored in depth.
In the dominoes section, you can find lots of different apps, ranging from Block to Deluxe. Each of these games is free-to-play, and you can try them out at whatever speed you desire. Overall, we found these games enjoyable, although the interface for them was not the most responsive. There are also a lot of ads.
Basically, if you want to play a dominoes game online, Agame.com is free, easy, and can be accessed in your browser. Best of all, if you tire of dominoes, you can quickly try playing another genre on the website. It’s a great way to spend some time on a lazy weekend afternoon.
NB: Some of these games require Adobe Flash, but not all.
Playdrift is another website that allows you to play dominoes online, either with an account or as a “Singleplayer” guest facing off against a bot. If you’re a casual player looking to breeze your way through a short period of boredom, then playing as a guest is really all you need.
When playing in single-player mode:
Once all of these options are settled, you can start playing.
Additionally, the interface is responsive to your screen size, so you can resize Playdrift in one window while doing something simultaneously in another. As it is not a timed game, this means you can leave it alone for hours, and take your turns at your leisure.
Another major upside to using Playdrift is that it has far fewer ads than a site like Agame.com. These ads can and do disrupt your gameplay if there are too many of them at a time, so it’s good that Playdrift avoids this.
Overall, the website is engaging and user-friendly. Other than that—if you’re looking for additional, slow-moving, casual games with a user-friendly interface—here’s a list of the best classic board game apps for your phone.
Are you sick of browser games? Would you rather have your casual apps “to-go”? Then you need to download Dominoes, a game for Android and iOS.
To play, just open the app on your phone, Click New Game, then choose the settings for the game (i.e. first move, difficulty levels, starting hand, and win points). Then you’re set.
Some really cool features from this game that may make it preferable to playing dominoes in your browser:
Overall, Dominoes is a fun, casual app to try out.
Download: Dominoes for Android | iOS (Free)
Are you looking for a mobile dominoes option that is a bit flashier? If so, Dominoes Jogatina is another gaming app for Android and iOS. It’s free to play with a subscription available.
When you download the app, you can create an account, or play free as a guest. Additionally, there’s an option to upgrade to a VIP account, if you want to play without any ads.
Considering how many ads Jogatina plays, this subscription might be something that folks should look into. This is especially true if you play the game all of the time.
Despite the frequent ads, Jogatina is a slick-looking app that is actually lots of fun to play. The different domino games that you can try out include Draw, Block, and All Fives. You can play against users or bots, too.
When all is said and done, Jogatina is a good distraction for anyone who prefers to play on their phone. It’s also a good app if you don’t mind paying a bit of extra money to get an enhanced experience.
Download: Dominoes Jogatina for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
Dominoes is a fun game to play, and it’s fairly simple. After all, if you’re just looking for something casual to do to pass the time—whether you’re tied to your desk or on-the-go—then one of these websites or apps should do the trick. Even if you’ve never played dominoes before, it will make it easy for you to learn.
If you’re looking for more casual games to try out, and your heart isn’t set on dominoes, then read up on the mobile gaming hidden gems everyone should play.
Read the full article: The 4 Best Free Dominoes Games to Play Online
During hearing, Rep. David Cicilline confronted Mark Zuckerberg on the spread of misinfo on Facebook, saying it has grown too big to contain dangerous content — Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), the chairman of the House antitrust subcommittee, on Wednesday confronted Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg …
Amazon emails released by the antitrust subcommittee show Amazon's plan to weaken Diapers.com before buying its parent company Quidsi in 2010 — - Representative Scanlon says emails show Amazon is too powerful — Bezos testified that he couldn't remember Diapers.com episode
Tim Cook defended Apple's removal of rival screen time apps from the App Store when questioned during the hearing, saying Apple was concerned for kids' privacy — Apple in early 2019 removed or restricted many popular screen time and parental control apps on the App Store due to their use …
Apple exec emails from 2011, revealed at the hearings, show the company considered taking a 40% cut for some digital subscriptions, like Hulu, via Apple TV — Apple Inc. executives almost a decade ago considered taking a cut of 40% from some third-party subscriptions accessed through its platform …
At the antitrust hearing, Cook was questioned 7 times, Bezos 13 times, Zuckerberg 16 times, and Pichai 16 times, the latter three for at least 50 minutes each — At the “Online Platforms and Market Power” virtual antitrust hearing today, the House Judiciary Committee questioned Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos …
Sundar Pichai received bipartisan criticism during Wednesday's antitrust hearing, facing questions about Google's digital ads business, privacy practices, more — The leaders of four of the world's most powerful tech companies — Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google — appeared on Wednesday …
Are you itching for a real challenge on your iOS device? Do you like games that leave you on the edge of your seat? What about games that make you feel nostalgic at the same time? If you answered “yes” to all of these questions, perhaps roguelike mobile games are your cup of tea.
If you’re not familiar with the term: roguelikes are a sub-genre of games that originated from a single title in 1980 called Rogue. Rogue was a dungeon-crawling adventure game that gave players a different dungeon layout for each attempt. If you died, it was permanent.
This means that in roguelikes, every move counts, and even the smallest mistake can cost you. As such, this genre of games is often difficult to play, as you fight to survive.
Sounds enjoyable? We’ve rounded up the best roguelikes for iOS that you can find on the app store. All you need to do in download and install them, and then see how long you can survive!
Wayward Souls is one of several action-adventure roguelike games for iOS. According to the developer, “It was inspired by Spelunky, Secret of Mana, and our previous game, Mage Gauntlet.”
The game features a retro-inspired aesthetic with a pixel art style for the visuals. The graphics will appeal to anyone who grew up with a SNES. Developer Rocketcat also upped the ante with a spooky soundtrack that is sure to delight.
NB: You can now play SNES games on your Switch.
In Wayward Souls:
The best part about Wayward Souls is that there is loot, and lots of it. The weapons and gear that your character uses may also change the gameplay entirely, so it’s best to try out everything that you can.
When it comes to gameplay:
Verdict: Wayward Souls is one of the best mobile roguelikes on iOS, and it’s a must-have for any fan’s collection.
Download: Wayward Souls ($6.99)
Tiny Tomb is another roguelike iOS game. Despite the fact that it’s free-to-play, the quality of the game is incredible. The ads that it shows you are minimal, leading to an almost seamless, in-game effect.
The goal of this roguelike, as in Wayward Souls, is fairly simple: you must march your hero through a series of procedurally generated dungeons to retrieve loot and items, all without dying. Every step counts.
The difference here is that each dungeon layer in this game is tiny, and there are a lot of dungeon layers to each level. This, of course, gives the game its name: Tiny Tomb.
Things to note:
Verdict: While this app definitely gets nerve-wracking at parts, it’s not actually fast-paced, meaning it strikes a nice balance between being difficult enough to be interesting, and easy enough to understand for those who are getting into the genre. This makes it one of the best roguelike games for iOS.
Download: Tiny Tomb: Dungeon Explorer (Free, in-app purchases available)
Are you looking for a Nuclear Throne clone for iOS? Then your search ends here with Soul Knight, a vintage-styled game with pixelated art that pays homage to the classics.
The main objective in Soul Knight is to get through each dungeon layer by eliminating all the enemies around you. Even though it sports a pixelated aesthetic, Soul Knight packs plenty of dynamic lighting and detailed textures into the game. Plus, the soundtrack is one that all gamers will fall in love with.
In Soul Knight, the gameplay definitely gets chaotic. While there are a variety of classes available in the game, you start off with one and must unlock the rest by earning enough coins to buy them.
For gameplay:
Verdict: Whether you’re a casual gamer, or a veteran, having less work to do means more room for enjoyment. Games like Soul Knight are always a win.
Download: Soul Knight (Free, in-app purchases available)
Are you interested in an app that combines a rhythm game with a dungeon-crawling roguelike? Crypt of the Necrodancer fits this bill, and is definitely memorable.
Much like the other iOS roguelikes we’ve mentioned, NecroDancer features fun pixel art that brings a sense of nostalgia. Music is half of the experience for the game, so it’s important that you have your sound turned on. Just watch the trailer to find out why.
For gameplay:
What makes this game stand out from the rest is that you must move in sync to the music, including when you’re executing an attack. As such, NecroDancer involves hand-eye coordination like never before, as you need to keep an eye on the score’s screen (and your health) while tapping to the beat to survive.
Verdict: Because of the unique rhythm mechanic in Crypt of the NecroDancer, it’s a bit more challenging than other roguelikes. However, once you get used to the controls, it’s an incredibly fun and rewarding experience.
Download: Crypt of the NecroDancer ($3.99)
Do you prefer trying out an iOS roguelike that’s incredibly easy to pick up and play? Unlike most of the games we’ve mentioned, Dungelot: Shattered Lands does not feature a retro art style. Instead, it offers up fun and cartoonish graphics that suit the quirkiness of the game. The soundtrack is also delightful.
In Dungelot, players get to explore three separate acts with increasing difficulty. The twist?
Like Tiny Tomb, each stage takes place on a small 5 x 5 grid. You have to tap on tiles to reveal enemies and items. To get to the next floor, you must find the key to its door, which is locked.
For gameplay:
Verdict: While Dungelot: Shattered Lands looks kind of simple at first glance, there’s a lot of strategy and planning involved. It becomes addictive to play as you keep trying to do better on the next run. However, it should be noted that this game has not received an update in several years.
Download: Dungelot: Shattered Lands ($3.99)
Roguelikes go in and out of fashion depending on the year, but this repeat popularity means that there are always new options and old favorites to try out, available on platforms like iOS.
If the intensity of roguelikes stresses you out, however, here are the most relaxing puzzle games for your iPhone.
Read the full article: The 5 Best Roguelikes for iPhone: Survive If You Can!
Hello, my name is Srikanth. I'm interested in learning new things and sharing with everyone.
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