Siri is more than a virtual assistant in this comic strip

The Apple iPhone 4s introduced us to Apple’s virtual voice-activated personal assistant Siri. And while Siri has certainly added a number of new capabilities since then, she (or he, depending on preference) is still virtual. However, in the world of comics, Siri can break away from her prison inside a device, and handle requests that she can’t do in real life.

A comic strip found on the Go Comic app called Thatababy shows how Siri could be used if only she were a physical entity instead of just a voice. The argument could be made that under those circumstances, Siri would be just like … – Source

Siri is more than a virtual assistant in this comic strip

‘Gremlins’ and ‘Innerspace’ director Joe Dante sees the good and the bad in CGI

Director Joe Dante made some of the most best-loved movies of the ’80s, including Gremlins and Explorers, so I was eager to ask him about how movies have evolved. This weekend, Dante will receive the very first Sierra Spirit Award at the Mammoth Lakes Film Festival. Shira Dubrovner, the festival’s executive director, said Dante was chosen for his persistently independent… Read More

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‘Gremlins’ and ‘Innerspace’ director Joe Dante sees the good and the bad in CGI

This text line is helping teens talk about mental health without saying a word

“He won’t stop raping me. He told me not to tell anyone.”

In August 2011, teen-focused social change organization DoSomething.org received this startling text message. It wasn’t rare for the nonprofit to receive replies unrelated to the social causes it highlighted through its mobile platform — teens often looked to talk about issues such as bullying, questioning sexuality and substance abuse. But this text’s raw honesty was particularly jarring.

SEE ALSO: 4 myths that will change how you define bullying

After one of DoSomething’s digital engagement managers hesitated to answer, another message came through from the same number about an hour later: “R U there?” …

More about Mental Health, Dosomething.Org, Social Good, Texting, and Tech – Source

This text line is helping teens talk about mental health without saying a word

The basic ingredients for life have been found in a comet's atmosphere

For the first time, scientists have directly detected a crucial amino acid and a rich selection of organic molecules in the dusty atmosphere of a comet, further bolstering the hypothesis that these icy objects delivered some of life’s ingredients to Earth.

The amino acid glycine, along with some of its precursor organic molecules and the essential element phosphorus, were spotted in the cloud of gas and dust surrounding Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko by the Rosetta spacecraft, which has been orbiting the comet since 2014. While glycine had previously been …

More about European Space Agency, Rosetta, Comet, Comets, and Space – Source

The basic ingredients for life have been found in a comet's atmosphere

Google says existing smartphones likely won't work with its Daydream VR platform

Has Google’s new Daydream VR platform caught your fancy? Are you waiting to try it on the smartphone you own? Well, sadly, you are out of luck as Google has said that existing smartphones will “most likely” not work with the Android-powered VR platform.

“I can tell you that there will most likely not be any retroactively Daydream-ready phones,” said the Mountain View, Califronia-based company’s VR division head Clay Bavor.

“We want to hold a very high quality bar, and for that to happen all of the components need to be just right. So, to VR fans, I would say, hold off for a few…

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Google says existing smartphones likely won't work with its Daydream VR platform

Jawbone stops production of its UP2, UP3 and UP4 fitness trackers?

A report published today says that fitness tracker manufacturer Jawborne has stopped production of its UP2, UP3, and UP4 models. The company is supposedly selling the inventory to a third-party company that will resell the devices. The reseller agreed to the transaction, but only by paying an unknown discount. This way Jawbone gets some badly needed cash, and the third party reseller has the opportunity to turn a profit even if it sells the inventory at rock bottom prices.

Jawbone is also said to have stopped production of its Bluetooth speakers and is currently looking around for someone … – Source

Jawbone stops production of its UP2, UP3 and UP4 fitness trackers?

'Sorry' producer Skrillex says he and Justin Bieber didn't steal a thing

Skrillex says he didn’t steal “Sorry” from anyone.

After singer-songwriter Casey Dienel — who performs under the name White Hinterland — filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against him, Justin Bieber and others behind the 2015 hit, the producer hit back Friday on Twitter, suggesting that her allegations the song samples her track “Ring the Bell” are false.

“SORRY but we didnt steal this,” he wrote. He shared a video detailing how he and songwriters came up with vocal riff — the one Dienel claims they ripped off of her 2014 track. He plays the raw vocals from the songwriting sessions and shows how they manipulated the vocals to create the riff themselves. …

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'Sorry' producer Skrillex says he and Justin Bieber didn't steal a thing

Google Nexus owners to get free unlimited photo and video storage at original quality (4K video included)

The official Google Photos Android app is about to receive an important update – from version 1.20 (this is the current one that’s available on Google Play) to version 1.21.

One of the novelties that Google is including in the updated application is free, unlimited cloud storage for photos and videos at original resolution – but only for owners of Nexus devices. At the moment, free unlimited storage supports images up to 16 MP and videos up to 1080p, so, for example, you can’t upload 4K videos and get unlimited storage space. But this will change with Google Photos version 1.21 – great … – Source

Google Nexus owners to get free unlimited photo and video storage at original quality (4K video included)

Jawbone reportedly stopped producing both fitness trackers and Bluetooth speakers

A report from Tech Insider says that Jawbone has already stopped producing its UP line of fitness bands and has already sold them to a third-party reseller. The same report says Jawbone has been struggling to sell its UP bands and needed to resell the inventory in order to stay afloat.

It has already been more than a year since Jawbone’s newest UP4 band was released and so far there hasn’t been any word of a successor to the UP4. Besides, we don’t know if Jawbone will keep making such fitness bands anymore.

To add insult to injury, the same report also states that Jawbone is…

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Jawbone reportedly stopped producing both fitness trackers and Bluetooth speakers

Massive US government study links cellphones to cancer

Yikes. The National Toxicology Program just released the results from their multi-year, peer-reviewed study investigating a causal link between cellphones and cancer. The $25 million study is the largest experiment to date looking into this link, and what they found is more than a little disconcerting. Is there a link between , but none of these experiments have had anywhere close to the scale or thoroughness of this most recent one.

What are your thoughts regarding this definite link between cellphone radiation and cancer in male rats? Will this affect your smartphone usage? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

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Massive US government study links cellphones to cancer