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Google to limit offensive & inaccurate search results

April 26, 2017 Dianne Jacobs

Google is looking forward to impementing changes to its Search Quality Ratings Guidelines in an effort to limit offensive and inaccurate results on its search engine. The tech giant has recently updated its Search Quality Rater Guidelines, which human evaluators use to gauge the quality of search results. The updated guidelines provide clearer examples of low-quality results, including “misleading information, unexpected offensive results, hoaxes and unsupported conspiracy theories,” engineering VP Ben Gomes wrote in the blog post. Google has also tweaked its algorithms to prioritize authoritative results. Human evaluators use…

New Screen Protectors For Samsung Galaxy S8 Launched

April 24, 2017April 24, 2017 Dianne Jacobs

Tech Armor, the leading screen protector and mobile accessory brand, today launched a new screen protection line for the newly released Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus. With its curved edges, the 3D Curved Ballistic Glass Screen Protector for Samsung Galaxy S8 perfectly matches the rounded shape of the Galaxy S8 to cover the full front display for complete edge-to-edge coverage. The Tech Armor HD FlexiClear Film Screen Protector for Samsung Galaxy S8, a more cost-effective solution, offers edge-to-edge protection as well as flexible shock absorption. To align with…

Only 4% of Uber drivers remain on the platform a year later

April 21, 2017 Dianne Jacobs

Uber’s accelerating driver drop off rate is partially due to increased competition from companies like Lyft. But the number one complaint among Uber drivers is the pay, according to undisclosed data seen by The Information. Many Uber drivers have complained about unfair compensation for long trips, and not being able to accept tips. A spokesman’s reports that they recognize we need to improve our relationship with drivers and their experience using Uber. The ride hailing firm firm is working on a range of improvements across our products, our policies, our customer support and…

Microsoft to make major changes to Windows twice a year

April 21, 2017April 21, 2017

Microsoft just released its most recent version of Windows, the Windows 10 Creator’s Update, and said the next feature update is currently targeted for release in September. The tech giant is set to release windows 10 update twice a year, each September and March. The company is committing to this predictable twice-per-year feature release schedule, aligning with Office 365 ProPlus. The next Windows 10 feature update will be targeted for September 2017. Each Windows 10 feature release will be serviced and supported for 18 months. This is consistent with our current Windows 10…

Google to refresh play store

April 21, 2017 Dianne Jacobs

Google has recently started testing a Google Play Store “Refresh” button which allows users to manually check for updates for their Android apps. The button is a part of a larger set of experimental changes that the Mountain View-based tech giant is currently testing and is only available to select users. Provided that the company greenlights the change, the Refresh button will likely roll out to users worldwide in a few months, presumably during the second quarter of the year. The video and screenshots showcasing the latest experimental version of…

In 2017, 17% of startups have a female founders

April 20, 2017April 21, 2017

The percentage of startups that have at least one female founder was flat in the first quarter of 2017. From 2009 to 2012, the percent of venture-funded companies with women founders increased by nearly 8 percent; however, the percentage of women-founded venture-backed companies has plateaued at approximately 17 percent since 2012. And as we look at Q1 2017 data, that percent doesn’t appear to have changed. For those who are keeping track, that’s nearly five years with no percentage growth in women-founded venture-backed startups. The absolute number of companies (along…

Microsoft to allow Logins Without Password

April 20, 2017April 21, 2017

Building technology that is both secure and easy to use is a tricky proposition. Microsoft is trying to make strides by giving customers a way to sign into their Microsoft accounts with smartphones—but without having to enter passwords. As explained in a Microsoft blog post on Tuesday, customers must have either the Android or iOS version of the Microsoft Authenticator app on their smartphones, then enter their usernames as usual. Then, instead of keying in a password, they’ll receive notifications on their phones. Tapping the “Approve” notification unlocks the phone.…

BankBot trojan hits Google Play

April 20, 2017April 21, 2017

A trojan virus that affects Android devices leaked online in January. This was the BankBot, a banking malware which disguised itself as a harmless program and able to avoid Google’s security scans. Weeks after the attack, the malware found its way to Google Play Store. What makes this vicious banking Trojan threatening is that it was able to find a way of hiding in apps using a variety of names on Play Store. On is Funny Videos 2017 and the other is the HappyTimes Videos, with the latter discovered just…

Apple planning an iPhone overhaul

April 19, 2017April 19, 2017 Dianne Jacobs

Ten years after Steve Jobs held up the original iPhone to a gushing San Francisco crowd, Apple Inc. is planning its most extensive iPhone lineup to date. The tech giant is preparing three iPhones for launch as soon as this fall, including upgraded versions of the current two iPhone models and a new top-of-the-line handset with an overhauled look to commemorate its iPhone’s 10th anniversary in grand fashion, according to a new report. The technology giant is working on three iPhone models this year, including one that will deliver an…