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Google is fixing Maps to deal with locations pegged to offensive search queries

May21
by on May 21, 2015 at 10:05 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Google, Insider

White House Google Maps
Earlier this week, there was some controversy over some less-than-ideal results on Google Maps. Basically, entering a certain n-word into Google Maps with could lead you the White House. Ouch. Google today apologized for the incident on its blog for Maps, and then noted it was making changes to prevent it from happening again. Apparently, the association with the search queries and locations were caused after people had used the term in online discussions. Google linked these discussions to the White House. The company says its team has been working to fix the problem, updating its ranking algorithm to prevent…

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Ad-blockers aren’t ‘immoral,’ but maybe you’re using them wrong

May21
by on May 21, 2015 at 9:12 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Insider, Opinion

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Last week we learned that some European mobile networks plan to block advertising across their services beginning later in 2015. In response, Editor-in-Chief of The Next Web, Martin Bryant, wrote that ad blocking is “immoral” and that “ad-blocking folk out there are happily starving sites.” While I agree that blanket ad-blocking is perhaps unfair, I believe some level of ad blocking is a necessity with the internet that exists today. Before I became a writer I worked in desktop support and later as an infrastructure engineer and could have been described as an ad blocking zealot. The IT nerd in me wanted…

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Build your own propane-powered golf ball cannon

May21
by on May 21, 2015 at 8:01 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Shareables

gun
When it comes to DIY projects, there are two very different types of people. There are those who assemble patio furniture, lay mulch in their flower beds, and lay tile in their bathroom. And then there are those who build a ridiculously impressive propane-powered golf ball cannon. While you’re not going to be laying down the law with your new creation, it does allow you to shoot golf balls out of an RPG-looking launcher using the basic design principles from another amazing DIY project – the Sci-fi pop gun. The build requires PVC pipe, a self-igniting torch, and some tubing found…

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Is your ISP secretly throttling your internet speed? Here’s how to find out

May21
by on May 21, 2015 at 7:30 pm
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web, Shareables


While the Title II classification of ISPs as common carriers was a victory for all, there is growing concern that ISPs could go on with business as usual with clever tricks designed to skirt the rules of the classification. While knowingly stepping outside the boundaries of the Title II classification carries the possibility of hefty fines and additional regulation by the FCC – for the most part – the average consumer would never realize throttling or degradation was even taking place. The ‘Internet Health Test‘ by Battle for the Net is an attempt to install a sense of checks and balances for…

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Adobe is shutting down Photoshop Touch to focus on Creative Cloud apps

May21
by on May 21, 2015 at 7:19 pm
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web

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Come May 28, Photoshop Touch will no longer be available for download. Instead, Adobe is focussing on building its suite of mobile apps to better mimic Photoshop’s powerful desktop tools. Photoshop Touch recreates much of the core tools found in the desktop version of Photoshop, but falls short of being as powerful. Adobe is instead fleshing out their Creative Cloud apps like Shape CC, Color CC, Brush CC, Comp CC and Photoshop Mix. A subscription service is offered for users who want to tap into Adobe’s Creative Cloud, which syncs edits to a cloud server for easier use between apps or from…

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