Geekish

Anyone who works as a freelancer these days has to be at least a bit familiar with techie things. But it isn’t just that. When I was a kid and those vaguely SF puppet shows were on the television and all the other kids wanted to be Greg Gogetem or Steve Savetheuniverse, I wanted to be the guy in a white coat and glasses called Doc or Brains. Here are some technology-related feeds I find useful and/or entertaining.

Slashdot » The Wikipedia Zero Program Will End This Year

Sunday 18 February 23:40:00 UTC 2018

Wikimedia: Wikimedia 2030, the global discussion to define the future of the Wikimedia movement, created a bold vision for the future of Wikimedia and the role we want to play in the world as a movement. With this shared vision for our movement's future in mind, the Wikimedia Foundation is evolving how we work with partners to address some of … [Link]

Mashable » Adam Rippon just won a different kind of Olympic prize: A spot on NBC

Sunday 18 February 23:12:53 UTC 2018

Adam Rippon may be done skating at this year's Winter Olympics, but thankfully that doesn't mean we've seen the last of him. In addition to winning a bronze medal in the team skating event, the 28-year-old figure skater has made headlines both as one of two openly gay U.S. male athletes competing in Pyeongchang and for speaking up to Vice President … [Link]

Slashdot » Occupational Licensing Blunts Competition and Boosts Inequality

Sunday 18 February 22:40:00 UTC 2018

Occupational licensing — the practice of regulating who can do what jobs — has been on the rise for decades. In 1950 one in 20 employed Americans required a licence to work. By 2017 that had risen to more than one in five. From a report: The trend partly reflects an economic shift towards service industries, in which licences are … [Link]

Mashable » Now you can shoot enemies out of the sky like Iron Man using augmented reality

Sunday 18 February 22:39:32 UTC 2018

Every New York Toy Fair is a constant reminder that kids are so friggin' lucky these days. Take the Avengers: Infinity War Hero Vision Iron Man AR Experience role-playing mask (yes, that's what it's called) Hasbro just announced. It's no ordinary mask. Slap a phone inside and put on the gauntlet and you can actually blow up enemies in augmented reality. … [Link]

Slashdot » 'Microsoft Should Scrap Bing and Call it Microsoft Search'

Sunday 18 February 21:40:00 UTC 2018

Chris Matyszczyk, writing for CNET: Does anyone really have a deep, abiding respect for the Bing brand? Somehow, if ever I've heard the brand name being used, it seems to be in the context of a joke. That doesn't mean the service itself is to be derided. It does suggest, though, that the brand name doesn't incite passion or excesses … [Link]

Mashable » Anyone can use Facebook to boost a message. Even Russian agents.

Sunday 18 February 21:38:00 UTC 2018

There’s no longer any question at all: Russians meddled in the 2016 U.S. election, and they relied on social media tools we can all use. Facebook and its photo-sharing site, Instagram, are mentioned dozens of times in the indictment handed down Friday by special counsel Robert Mueller. Twitter, YouTube, and PayPal are also mentioned at various points. SEE ALSO: The 9 … [Link]

Mashable » Apple's slow iPhone X sales are hurting Samsung too

Sunday 18 February 21:09:07 UTC 2018

It’s not just Apple feeling the effects of lackluster iPhone X sales. Samsung is also now grappling with the same problem. Since Apple relies on the Korean tech giant for the iPhone X's expensive display panels, it is now searching for a new buyer, according to a report from Nikkei. SEE ALSO: Why Apple doesn't need to sell more iPhones anymore … [Link]

Mashable » Researchers discover hidden details lurking beneath a Picasso masterpiece

Sunday 18 February 20:56:46 UTC 2018

There are many layers to great art — sometimes literally. We are reminded of this fact by researchers at the Art Institute of Chicago's Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts, who have revealed hidden details lurking beneath the Pablo Picasso masterpiece "La miséreuse accroupie." SEE ALSO: This app tells you which museum art you look like and it's way too … [Link]

Slashdot » AI Can Be Our Friend, Says Bill Gates

Sunday 18 February 20:40:00 UTC 2018

An anonymous reader shares a report: "AI can be our friend," says Gates. In response to the question, "What do you think will happen to human civilization with further development in AI technology?" Gates says the rise in artificial intelligence will mean society will be able to do more with less. "AI is just the latest in technologies that allow … [Link]

Slashdot » Tokyo To Build 350m Tower Made of Wood

Sunday 18 February 19:40:00 UTC 2018

A skyscraper set to be built in Tokyo will become the world's tallest to be made of wood. From a report: The Japanese wood products company Sumitomo Forestry Co is proposing to build a 350 metre (1,148ft), 70-floor tower to commemorate its 350th anniversary in 2041. Japan's government has long advertised the advantages of wooden buildings, and in 2010 passed … [Link]

Mashable » Google tests its answer to Apple's screenshot-editing tools

Sunday 18 February 19:13:40 UTC 2018

One of the best features in iOS 11 was the addition of new markup features that made it much easier to edit screenshots without having to go find them in the Photos app. Now, Google is coming out with its own take. Android already includes ways to do this, but — like so much of Android — it depends on which … [Link]

Mashable » Parkland shooting survivors call for a march on Washington, D.C.

Sunday 18 February 18:40:19 UTC 2018

They will be heard. Less than a week after the tragic mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 dead, survivors have announced a march on Washington D.C. to demand an end to gun violence. SEE ALSO: Emma Gonzalez has no time for NRA-funded politics. 'We call BS,' she screamed. The call went out on Sunday morning talk … [Link]

Slashdot » Give Workers 10,000 Pound To Survive Automation, British Top Think Tank Suggests

Sunday 18 February 18:40:00 UTC 2018

Britons should be able to bid for 10,000 pound (roughly $14,000) to help them prosper amid huge changes to their working lives, a leading think tank suggests today. From a report: The Royal Society for the Arts (RSA) has released research proposing a radical new sovereign wealth fund, which would be invested to make a profit like similar public funds … [Link]

Slashdot » Contractors Pose Cyber Risk To Government Agencies

Sunday 18 February 17:40:00 UTC 2018

Ian Barker, writing for BetaNews: While US government agencies are continuing to improve their security performance over time, the contractors they employ are failing to meet the same standards according to a new report. The study by security rankings specialist BitSight sampled over 1,200 federal contractors and finds that the security rating for federal agencies was 15 or more points … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Guidebook Launches Open API for Mobile App Platform

Sunday 18 February 17:32:15 UTC 2018

Guidebook, Inc. today announced new Integrations and an Open API to connect mobile event apps with CRM, event registration, and marketing automation software. The Guidebook Integrations help marketing, sales and event leads eliminate the hassle, errors and overhead of manual data entry to quickly make sense of unstructured event, attendee and engagement data. [Link]

Mashable » 'Black Panther' just had the biggest box office debut ever for a Marvel solo movie

Sunday 18 February 17:22:13 UTC 2018

Excited for Black Panther? So are we. Which is why we're rolling out obsessive coverage with Black Panther Week. We knew Black Panther would be a hit. And now, the box office figures are here to prove it. The latest chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe opened with an estimated $218 million earned over the weekend, including Monday's holiday. That's … [Link]

Mashable » Why has 'Phantom Thread' given us so many great memes?

Sunday 18 February 17:00:00 UTC 2018

Spoilers follow for Phantom Thread, so if you've yet to see that beauty, go do that. Oscar-nominated Phantom Thread is more than an exceptional film. It's also a surprising fount of memes. On its face, the Paul Thomas Anderson movie doesn't seem like it would inspire such a wide range of jokes. The 1950s period piece tells the story of genius … [Link]

Slashdot » Who Killed The Junior Developer?

Sunday 18 February 16:40:00 UTC 2018

Melissa McEwen, writing on Medium: A few months ago I attended an event for women in tech. A lot of the attendees were new developers, graduates from code schools or computer science programs. Almost everyone told me they were having trouble getting their first job. I was lucky. My first "real" job out of college was "Junior Application developer" at … [Link]

Mashable » The best VPNs for Mac users looking for privacy

Sunday 18 February 16:00:00 UTC 2018

Every product here is independently selected by Mashable journalists. If you buy something featured, we may earn an affiliate commission which helps support our work. There are a number of reasons why you might want to start using a virtual private network or VPN. VPNs offer many benefits, like getting around geographic restrictions for streaming content. They can also help protect … [Link]

Slashdot » US's Greatest Vulnerability is Ignoring the Cyber Threats From Our Adversaries, Foreign Policy Expert Says

Sunday 18 February 15:40:00 UTC 2018

America's greatest vulnerability is its continued inability to acknowledge the extent of its adversaries' capabilities when it comes to cyber threats, says Ian Bremmer, founder and president of leading political risk firm Eurasia Group. From a report: Speaking to CNBC from the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, the prominent American political scientist emphasized that there should be much more government-level … [Link]

Mashable » Emma Gonzalez has no time for NRA-funded politics. 'We call BS,' she screamed.

Sunday 18 February 15:24:45 UTC 2018

Remember the name Emma Gonzalez. She surely has many more speeches to come. In the aftermath of last week's shooting in Parkland, Florida, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School senior and survivor stepped up during an anti-gun rally to deliver a fiery speech. Like so many others, Gonzalez is fed up. She's seen firsthand the desperate need for tighter gun controls, … [Link]

Slashdot » New AI Model Fills in Blank Spots in Photos

Sunday 18 February 14:43:00 UTC 2018

A new technology uses artificial intelligence to generate synthetic images that can pass as real. From a report, shared by a reader (the link may be paywalled): The technology was developed by a team led by Hiroshi Ishikawa, a professor at Japan's Waseda University. It uses convolutional neural networks, a type of deep learning, to predict missing parts of images. … [Link]

Mashable » Behold: Lego's 1,400-piece 'Kessel Run Millennium Falcon' in all of its glory

Sunday 18 February 14:16:35 UTC 2018

Think you know everything there is to know about Han Solo's legendary Millennium Falcon? Think again. At New York Toy Fair, we got a sneak peek of the famed space freighter as we'll see it in Solo, back when it belonged to Lando Calrissian. Serious fans will have the opportunity to build it themselves in Lego form — and let's just … [Link]

Mashable » Somebody finally made motorized Heelys, and they look pretty fun TBH

Sunday 18 February 14:08:00 UTC 2018

Remember Heelys, those horrendously unsafe sneakers with the built-in wheels that were popular in the early 2000s? Yeah, they're back from the graveyard… sorta. Razor (not to be confused with Razer) has taken the same concept of wheels-on-heels and motorized the whole dang thing. SEE ALSO: Lego unveils 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' sets and we're pretty darn excited Their $130 footwear … [Link]

Slashdot » We've Reached Peak Smartphone

Sunday 18 February 13:15:00 UTC 2018

You don't really need a new smartphone. From a column on the Washington Post (may be paywalled): Sure, some of them squeeze more screen into a smaller form. The cameras keep getting better, if you look very close. And you had to live under a rock to miss the hoopla for Apple's 10th-anniversary iPhone X or the Samsung Galaxy S8. … [Link]

Mashable » The next generation of work perks ironically focus on work-life balance

Sunday 18 February 12:30:00 UTC 2018

While Amazon continues its search for the next North American city to host its second headquarters, the online shopping company is no doubt also looking at what to include in the future HQ2 building no matter where it is. Its workplace amenities will help recruit talent and keep them at the company. Just look at its Seattle campus with its giant, … [Link]

Mashable » .tech could be the next big domain extension — and you can get on board now

Sunday 18 February 11:00:00 UTC 2018

Heads up: All products featured here are selected by Mashable's commerce team and meet our rigorous standards for awesomeness. If you buy something, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. If you’ve tried to get a .com domain name, you know that getting your first — or second, or third — pick can be almost impossible. How in the world was [insert … [Link]

Slashdot » Facebook Plans To Use US Mail To Verify IDs of Election Ad Buyers

Sunday 18 February 10:00:00 UTC 2018

Facebook will start using postcards sent by U.S. mail later this year to verify the identities and location of people who want to purchase U.S. election-related advertising on its site, a senior company executive said on Saturday. From a report: The postcard verification is Facebook's latest effort to respond to criticism from lawmakers, security experts and election integrity watchdog groups … [Link]

Slashdot » Google is Making it Easier For 911 To Find You in an Emergency

Sunday 18 February 6:43:00 UTC 2018

An anonymous reader shares a report: When you call 911 from a cellphone, your location is typically sent to the call taker by a wireless carrier. But that information isn't always so accurate. Well Google might have a better way of going about it and it tested its system across a few states in December and January, the Wall Street … [Link]

Slashdot » Silicon Valley Singles Are Giving Up On the Algorithms of Love

Sunday 18 February 1:30:00 UTC 2018

The Washington Post: Melissa Hobley, an executive at the dating app OkCupid, hears the complaints about the apps [being unable to find good matches] regularly and thinks they get a bad rap. Silicon Valley workers "are in the business of scalable, quick solutions. And that's not what love is," Hobley said. "You can't hurry love. It's reciprocal. You're not ordering … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Electronic skin animates heartbeat on the back of your hand

Sunday 18 February 0:25:57 UTC 2018

A flexible e-skin containing a few hundred micro LEDs can display your vital signs or messages from your doctor [Link]

Slashdot » Deep Neural Networks for Bot Detection

Sunday 18 February 0:01:00 UTC 2018

From a research paper on Arxiv: The problem of detecting bots, automated social media accounts governed by software but disguising as human users, has strong implications. For example, bots have been used to sway political elections by distorting online discourse, to manipulate the stock market, or to push anti-vaccine conspiracy theories that caused health epidemics. Most techniques proposed to date … [Link]

John Gordon Ross

A Man for All Reasons