Laura Tucker, Author at Make Tech Easier

Racial Bias Noticed in Twitter Picture-Cropping Algorithm

Fingers are being pointed at Twitter after its picture-cropping algorithm is showing a racial bias. They are promising to work on it.

Hexadecimal IP Addresses Creatively Used in Spam Attacks

One of the newest efforts of spammers is to use hexadecimal IP addresses in spam attacks. Learn what a hexadecimal IP address is and how it was used.

Mozilla Launches Browser Extension to Track YouTube Recommendations

Mozilla is curious why odd videos are recommended in YouTube. It has created a browser extension to track YouTube recommendations.

AT&T May Put Ads on Phones in Exchange for Discount

AT&T wants to help with your monthly phone bill and may start putting ads on phone in exchange for a $5 or $10 discount.

Spotify: Apple One Bundles Will Bring “Irreparable Harm”

Spotify knocked the new Apple One bundles right out of the gate. It said the Apple One bundles will bring “irreparable harm to the developer community.”

Amazon Adds Ability to Print via Alexa

Amazon just made the printing process even easier. Now you can ask Alexa to do your printing for you. You can also have Alexa reorder your ink and toner.

New Vulnerability, BLURtooth, Attacks Bluetooth Devices

A recent vulnerability, BLURtooth, attacks the component used for setting up authentication keys when pairing Bluetooth-capable devices.

Portland Passes Ban, Public and Private, on Facial Recognition

Portland has passed a facial recognition ban, both public and private, the toughest in the United States, to protect its citizens.

AT&T 5G Service Tests Slower than 4G

The 5G service AT&T is offering at this point is slower than its 4G in 21 out of 22 cities in testing. Yet, it still stacks up next to Verizon while being much better than T-Mobile.

Working Too Hard? Take a Break with Vivaldi Browser

The folks behind the Vivaldi browser want to help you take a break and have added the new Break Mode, which allows you to literally pause your browser.

Google Chrome for Android Picks Up Secure DNS

Google Chrome for Android is gaining the Secure DNS feature, just as the desktop version of Chrome did in May.

Google Updating Your News Update to Be Like a News Playlist

“Your News Update” from Google is an existing news aggregation service available to Android users. It’s being updated and moving to Podcasts.

Google Docs Update Includes Improved Braille Integration

If you need visual impairment assistance, Google Docs has just stepped it up with an update that brings improved braille integration

Amazon Drone Delivery Gets Federal Approval

After many years of research and development, Amazon drone delivery took a step closer to becoming a delivery solution for the online retailer.

Tesla Software Update Allows Cameras to Recognize Speed Limit Signs

In the latest Tesla software update, speed limit signs will be recognized and a warning will be given when a traffic light turns green.

Amazon Halo Band Will Track Health and Wellness

The Amazon Halo Band will measure not just your health but your wellness too with five core features: activity, sleep, body, tone, and labs.

Remote Learning Struggles with US Laptop Shortage

The worldwide health crishas left the tech world dealing with a US laptop shortage, meaning kids are the ones coming up short.

Roomba and iRobot Genius Get Smarter to Provide Partnership

iRobot is making its Roomba line smarter with iRobot Genius so that it will be your true partner in cleaning your floors instead of just a cleaning tool

Xcode Apps with Malware May Be Innocently Added to Mac App Store

Developers may be innocently adding apps created with Xcode that contain malware to the Mac App Store. Does this mean the App Store is no longer safe?

TikTok-Alternative Triller Threatened Lawsuit Over Downloads Report

TikTok-alternative Triller threatened to sue because a report said it didn’t really have the number of downloads it claimed to.

Lightroom Update Deletes Photos and Presets on iPhone and iPad

People who installed the Adobe Lightroom update version 5.4 for iPhone and iPad lost all photos and presets that were stored on the device.

Jack Daniel’s Hit with Ransomware, Decade of Data Stolen

The Jack Daniel’s distributor was hit with a ransomware attack, but the attackers’ actions were limited because of the distributor’s actions.

ZTE Will Launch 1st Phone with Front Camera Under the Display.

ZTE has found a way to create a bezel-less phone with a selfie camera. It is releasing a phone that puts the front camera under the display.

Apple Escalates Epic Battle with Fortnite

Epic Games decided to go up against Apple and its App Store practices with its Fortnite game, ending with it being removed from the App Store.

Anti-5G Group Starts Crowdfunding Campaign to Stop 5G in the UK

Concerns of what effect 5G will have on their health have led an anti-5G group to embark on a crowdfunding campaign to stop 5G in the UK.

Waze Adds Gas Station Contactless Payment Option

Waze has made a number of changes this year, with the most recent being the addition of a gas station contactless payment option.

Nearly Every Android Phone Has Over 400 Vulnerabilities

Check Point Research has discovered that nearly every Android phone has over 400 vulnerabilities because of the embedded Qualcomm DSP chips.

Toshiba Laptop Business Is No More, as Sharp Takes Over

After selling off the majority of the Toshiba laptop business two years ago, the company has now given up the remaining shares it held to Sharp.

Save $100 on Bose Headphones 700 with Alexa

You can get all you need with the Bose Noise-Cancelling Wireless Bluetooth Headphones 700 with Alexa. There’s no need to fumble with another device.

Hands-Free Voice Typing May Soon Be Available on Gboard

After hints at I/O 2019, not there are further hints that the new Google Assistant may soon be used to make hands-free voice typing avaiable on Gboard.

Save $210 on ASUS ROG Zephyrus M Gaming Laptop

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M Gaming Laptop is a Windows 10 Home computer that is portable and thin to keep it portable while providing the power needed for AAA games.

OnePlus 8 Phones Have Facebook Bloatware You Can’t Remove

New OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro phones ship with Facebook bloatware, and some of it you may not be able to remove. Is it worth it to buy one?

Save 37% on a Nexx Garage Smart Garage Opener

If you want a no-hassle smart garage opener, consider the Nexx NXG-100b Garage Smart Garage Opener which will work with your existing garage opener.

Galaxy Note 20 Ultra First Smartphone to Include Gorilla Glass Victus

The first smartphone to bear the Gorilla Glass Victus will be the Samsun Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. It will better protect your phone from drops and scratches.

Save 15% on Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer

When you’re catching those candid shots, you want to keep the camera steady. Consider buying a Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer.

Guidelines for Default Browser and Email Apps in iOS 14 Announced

Apple has released the guidelines third-party apps will need to abide by to become default browser and email apps in ios 14 and iPadOS 14.

Take Half Off Logitech M570 Wireless Trackball Mouse

You can pick up a Logitech M560 Wireless Trackball Mouse with an integrated scroll wheel and easy-to-reach back/forward buttons at half off.

Save $20 on an eMeet Luna Bluetooth Speakerphone.

With an eMeet Luna Bluetooth Speakerphone, everyone physically at the meeting will be heard and can also listen to the people who are not there physically.

Apple Expands Contactless Payments by Acquiring Mobeewave

Apple is going to make paying a bit easier with its acquisition of Mobeewave, a technology that will turn an iPhone into a payment terminal..

Save $30 on a Nixplay Smart Digital Picture Frame

With a Nixplay Smart Digital Picture Frame, you can display multiple pictures and videos and control it all with Alexa or via your smartphone.

Twitter Explains Further How Internal Systems Were Hacked

Twitter published tweets and a blog post to give further details of how several high-profile accounts were hacked in a Bitcoin scam on July 15, 2020.

Save $100 on a BLU VIVO XI+ 6.2″ Smartphone

You don’t have to pay an exorbitant price to get great features on a smartphone. Get an unlocked BLU VIVO XI+ 6.2″ Smartphone with wireless charging.

iOS 14 Beta Warns Instagram Using Camera without User Knowledge

Users of the iOS 14 beta have found that Instagram is using their camera without their knowledge. Instagram has promised to fix the breach.

Save 12% on a Riboxin Xbox Wireless Game Controller.

Fans of driving games want a realistic experience. If this is you, you’ll find that with the Riboxin Xbox Wireless Game Controller.

New Netflix Phishing Scam Can Steal Credit Card Info

Amorblox discovered a Netflix phishing scan that was designed to steal credit card information by sending am email that warned users of a billing error.