Published on November 13, 2021

More than one year into the pandemic, and professionals across the globe have seamlessly eased into the new normal of remote working. Rather than WFH (work from home), WFA (work from anywhere) is the new norm and is expected to be the future of workplaces. This has permanently altered our professional and personal lives and enabled us to literally WFA be it an office cubicle, your kitchen counter, your friends house, the beaches, or even the hills.

We are now witnessing an emerging trend of professionals finding comfort in their vacation houses across the country to take a much needed workcation. With paid cloud storage models, and internet connectively still a challenge in remote areas, having offline storage has become even more essential. Here are some leading products from brands such as WD and SanDisk to help you work seamlessly, no matter where you are:

Wake-up to the experience of a fully charged and backed-up phone

Multiple Qi-compatible devices to charge but dont want the hassle of carrying too many wires? Dont fret as SanDisk has got you covered. The SanDisk Ixpand Wireless Charger Sync is the worlds first 2-in-1 dual functionality device equipped to help you charge as well as back-up & store your data. Travel, sleep, charge, repeat and with the convenience of just one cord, back-up your precious memories to 256GB of expandable storage without changing your daily habits. Consumers looking for a fast and hassle-free charging solution can opt for the SanDisk Ixpand Wireless Charger 15W too.

The Ixpand Wireless Charger Sync is available now in 256GB* capacity with MSRP of Rs. 9999 and the Ixpand Wireless 15W Fast Charger with QC 3.0 Adapter is priced at MSRP of Rs. 2999 on Amazon India. The wireless chargers are backed by a two-year limited warranty.

Multiple devices one solution

Transfering data between devices that use different operating systems can be a nightmare. Well, not anymore, the SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe is the perfect knight in shining armor. This is SanDisks first 2-in-1 flash-drive with dual Lightning and USB Type-C connectors allowing seamless access and file transfer between Type-C devices, including Android Phones, and iOS devices. Every time youre on the move and dont have your laptop handy to transfer content from one phone to the other, this flash drive can offer hassle free content transfer. Another added benefit available to users of SanDisk storage devices is the SanDisk Memory Zone App. An easy and one stop solution to file and manage storage that makes backups and freeing up space much easier for the customers across their SanDisk ecosystem. Go, globetrotter!

64GB, 128GB and 256GB storage variants | Rs 4,449, Rs 5,919 and Rs 8,999 INR respectively on Amazon India

Unlimited Storage in the palm of your hands

The SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe is designed keeping in mind the high penetration of Type-C and Android smartphone users in the country. This high performance USB allows users to transfer and back-up content between multiple Type-C and Type-A devices without any hassle. The ease of data transfer makes this the best alternative to cloud storage, as you dont have to pay monthly subscriptions and works even when youre crossing borders and are in a low connection zone. The next time youre on the road and someone sends you high-res images on your non-work phone and you need to pass them along urgently without affecting the quality, you know what to do.

32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB capacities, with an introductory price of INR 856 for the 32GB version and INR 11,813 for the 1TB version

Unleash the creator in you

All work and no play indeed makes Jack a dull boy, which is why you need to relax and rejuvenate too on your next workcation. Especially, if you love going on challenging treks and nature walks capturing scenic views through your lenses then the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSDs are the perfect fit for you. These SSDs have a tough rubberized coating that can withstand impact and are weather-resistant built for all seasons. With an unmatched combination of superfast data transfer speeds and portability, they are purpose-built to keep up with todays high-quality content demands. Now you can go out for a photography session amidst that spot everyones talking about show off your shots to your friends back home real time by uploading that photo on your chat groups in a blink.

500GB for Rs 7,999, 1TB at Rs 12,999 and 2TB for Rs 27,499, with a 4TB model as well. The PRO version is available in 1TB for Rs 19,999 and 2TB for Rs 34,999.

Continue reading here:

Enjoy your workcation without worrying about low bandwidths and depleting storage! - APN News

Analysis: researchers have developed adversarial image generators to fool facial recognition software and protect privacy rights

When you post an image of yourself on a social media platform, what audience do you have in mind? Friends? Family? Facial recognition software? Probably not the latter. But images which we post online are used routinely as reference examples for facial recognition systems. These may be developed by social media companies, security companies, intelligence agencies or any private individual with enough computer power to create a Deep Neural Network system.

Clearly lots of people dont care as we post images of ourselves with abandon. However, there is a privacy concern here that is coming back to bite us, especially our children who generally post the most and tend to have the least information about what the imagery is used for. Once you can be recognised by AI, your image can be-cross referenced with CCTV footage or pictures taken of you in public, giving the holder of the captured image, access to your online identity. Public anonymity is breached.

Such abuse of images is in violation of peoples privacy rights, but it is very difficult to counter. The laws do not yet exist to protect peoples imagery and minors currently have no right to be forgotten online.

We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

From RT Radio 1's Today show, CNN"s Donie O'Sullivan discusses Clearview AI's facial recognition technology

Researchers at the Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics at DCU have been working on a technique that gives power back to the individual to hide their own face and the faces of their loved ones from any facial recognition software that is scraping images from social media platforms or anywhere else online. Its an ingenious technology that uses an aspect of the recognition software against itself.

'Adversarial example images are used by developers to disrupt facial recognition technology in order to test the process. Andrew Merrigan, working with ProfAlan Smeaton, is looking at ways to make adversarial image generators that can be applied by ordinary social media users to make their images unrecognisable to AI, while looking exactly the same to the human eye. The researchers envision a simple app through which users could run images before posting them online. To their friends and family, the image looks exactly the same. To AI, it does not provide a match to any other photo and is of no use as a data point in facial recognition models.

The use of facial recognition systems, coupled with the unauthorised use of images taken from social media sources, is a threat to individuals' privacy. The use of facial recognition systems is constantly increasing throughout the world. The development of open-source facial recognition models based on Deep Neural Networks makes it possible for anyone with access to moderate computing power to create this software. More troubling perhaps is the rise of companies using images from social media with or without users' consent.

We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

From RT Six One News in 2015, new facial recognition software system launched by Garda

Deep Neural Networks are known to have superior performance compared to more conventional approaches when applied to a variety of computer vision tasks including facial recognition. They are, however, susceptible to adversarial examples where images are crafted so that the machine's interpretation differs greatly from that of a person looking at the same image. The original image is altered by adding patterns of noise to the image of the face at the level of individual pixels, noise which is imperceptible to the human eye but cannot be ignored by face recognition algorithms.

This is another example of how images and videos contain information encoded at the pixel level, which can be hidden in plain sight. An example of this hidden information are the slight changes in skin colour caused by the pulses of our heartbeat. As blood rushes to our skin it changes colour and gets redder with every heartbeat. This can be identified in videos, but is not visible to the human eye. Last year, the team used this hidden pulse information as a way to detect deepfake videos.

A user uploading largely adversarial images of themselves would poison any pool of reference example images of their face

The motivation behind the work is to create a small effective model, which can be deployed on user devices, to enable them to convert facial images into adversarial examples, prior to sharing them online. The model needs to be efficient enough to run quickly on small user devices like mobile phones. It must be able to modify images in a minimal way so as to be largely unnoticeable by human observers.

Using a model such as this, a user uploading largely adversarial images of themselves would poison any pool of reference example images of their face. This would mean that images taken from a source not controlled by the user, such as a surveillance camera, would not have a strong match to the user because the examples used as reference would not match the users true identity. This could be an important step in helping individuals maintain privacy against those who would use their images for facial recognition without their consent.

The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RT

Read more here:

Here's how to stop facial recognition systems in their tracks - RTE.ie

We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views.

In today's world, there's really nothing we don't access online, whether it be your bank information, email accounts, credit card numbers, or photos, which leaves you susceptible to your personal information falling into the hands of a hacker. Whether or not you're aware of it, we're all guilty of clicking an enticing pop-up ad that makes us the perfect prey for a cyberattack.

Although the internet can sometimes feel like a warzone, there's a way you can take control of your cybersecurity: A reliable VPN can keep ad trackers and blockers off your back, allow you to bypass censors, and more, all without logging your activity. VPNSecure delivers just that, and it's now on sale for $33.99 when you use our Pre-Black Friday sale coupon code: SAVE15NOV.

VPNSecure is a cross-platform VPN service that guarantees your information will be safe and private every time you go online. VPNSecure hides your location and IP address, avoids geolocation blocks on content viewing networks when abroad, supports P2P torrents, and allows you to simultaneously connect five devices. It also securely encrypts your traffic when logging into your private email accounts because nowadays, even a 2FA login isn't enough to keep the hackers away.

Not only can you surf the web undetected, the VPNSecure guarantees zero browsing logs are recorded, relieving any doubts that your online activity won't be private. Additionally, the subscription grants you the ability to choose a data cipher and provides you with unlimited bandwidth when downloading and uploading data. Don't fall victim to one of the many different cyber crimes happening every day, when the solution to online security is one subscription away.

Gift yourself eternal peace of mind this holiday season with the VPNSecure subscription service, now at the incredible price of only $34 with the Pre-Black Friday coupon code SAVE15NOW.

Go here to read the rest:

Keep hackers out with VPNSecure, now just $34 during this-Black Friday sale - Boing Boing

Amid the pandemic, millions turned to TikTokthe short-form content app originally called Musical.lyfor solace. For months, lip-syncing and eight counts of elbow jabs and windmills took the place of doomscrolling. And for those not rhythmically inclined, there was a neck of the TikTok woods for everyone to discover from true crime to tech and, of course, one of the fastest-growing areas on the platform, beauty.

Beauty TikToka corner of the app where users can find 60-second product reviews, makeup transformations, hair tutorials, and more, became a beast on its own. The space is currently in a "hyper-growth phase," according to Olga Pelovangu, the global brand partnerships for beauty and tech at TikTok.

And with over 67.9B views on the hashtag beauty alone, the vertical even has the power to sell out a cult-favorite lipstick overnight. The appeal of beauty TikTok is understandable; long product reviews, tutorials, and educational videos are formed into bite-sized mini clips that make it easier for users to digest information. On the app, anyone with a ring light, iPhone, and a down-to-earth personality can become a star, unlike competitor YouTube, where multiple camera light sources, a quality high-definition DSLR camera, and a "certain look" was the formula for climbing up the ranks on the site.

TikTok allows creators to be, whether they're a board-certified dermatologist with a few extra hours on hand to respond to other users' burning skincare questions or a regular girl from Massachusetts testing out new products while "swearing like a sailor" in-between her makeup application. Unfortunately, navigating beauty TikTok can be overwhelming, especially when a straightforward hashtag yields millions, sometimes billions, of video results and a slew of questions such as, Who's the best in hair to follow? What dermatologist can I trust for product recommendations? Do I need this new foundation?

To cut through the noise, we created our very own TikTok Beauty Universitya guide to popular creators who have mastered the art of schooling users in hair, makeup, and skincare. So when they speak, we listen, we buy, we repeat.

Welcome to TikTok Beauty University. What class will you head to today?

Think of Dr. Camille Howard-Verovic as your guardian skincare angel. If youve ever skipped out on wearing sunscreen one day and felt like someone was watching you, chances are youve come across Dr. Camilles TikTok account. Her advice and recommendations come off as a concerned big sister or best friend reminding viewers constantly to wear sunscreen and not believe everything that goes viral on the app. Skeptical about a product? Dr. Howard-Verovic uses her platform to debunk the silliest skincare trends. She initially joined TikTok in May 2020 to see what was appealing to her TikTok-obsessed niece. I quickly found that the platform was an excellent medium to educate my audience about skin health. I also realized there was lots of skincare misinformation, and I wanted to address some crazy skin trends, she explains.

Like the time she came across the trend of people using menstrual blood to treat acne. Im happy that people are excited about skincare and skin health. But It doesnt have to be complicated, and you dont need a 10 step routine to have healthy skin, she adds. One of the most rewarding parts of being on TikTok is helping those who look like her find better ways to treat their skin woes. Dermatology is a dynamic specialty in which there is a healthy mix of procedures and clinical decision-making. I find so much in having an answer for my colleagues and patients, she says. I think it is important to be a Black physician on social media. After about six months on TikTok, I received so many messages from young women who want to be dermatologists.

TikTok Made Me Buy It: Finipil Lait 50 Antiseptic Cream, $17; amazon.com

Shocker, working at a furniture store is as dull as youd expect. When Alessandro took a job at his local furniture store, he would often sneak out to browse the aisles at the Ulta Beauty store located next door. I would leave my job and walk around Ulta Beauty for hours, talking to the employees and swatching makeup. I'd spend a good two hours out of my work shift at Ulta every day, just hanging out with the employees, he recalls. When the pandemic hit, Alessandro was laid off and turned to TikTok to respite from his woes. I remember I applied for unemployment. But that was a blessing in disguise because I was able to focus my time on TikTok. Right now, it's my full-time job, he says. A job that has garnered 47 million likes, over 822,000 followers, and a shout-out from Selena Gomez since he first joined in April 2020. Gomez reacted to his video using the brand's setting spray and exposed him to a larger audience. Whether reviewing high-end or drugstore products, Alessandros audience can always expect genuine takes on the industrys buzziest products.If its not worth the buy, Alessandro will let you know in a heartbeat. I say what's on everyone's mind, you know?" he says. "I feel like people appreciate the transparency."

TikTok Made Me Buy It: Rare Beauty Always An Optimist 4-in-1 Prime & Set Mist, $24; sephora.com

To command the attention of 6.6 million followers on TikTok on the giant topic of skincare is no easy feat. But thats the beauty of Hyram Yarbros pagehis takes on beauty and skincare are anything but boring. Cocktailing humor, authenticity, and research together, Hyrams following turns to him for unfiltered reviews on the skincare industrys buzziest products. Through his platform, he hopes to make information accessible for those who cant afford a visit to the derm's office. Growing up, Hyram wished he had someone like himself to introduce him to skincare.

Raised on a cattle ranch in Arizona, Hyram was only aware of skincare's luxury experience rather than the actual benefits. In Arizona, the humidity level was so low Hyram struggled with severe eczema breakouts. Once he moved to Hawaii for college, the humidity helped to hydrate his skin. But after experiencing breakouts during college due to stress and lack of sleep, Hyrams friends recommended that he start investing in skincare products. I have combination skin," he adds. "So my struggles put me in a good position to be able to trial all different kinds of products to be able to recommend to my audience because they have different skin types." On TikTok, he excels in the duet format in which creators can build upon another creators video by uploading a side-by-side clip reacting to the original video. Adopting this formula has allowed him to debunk skincare myths, respond to his audiences concerns, and inject humor in product reviews. However, he lives by one rule only: sunscreen is the most critical step in a skincare routine.

Yearning to make a bigger impact in skincare outside of TikTok, Hyram founded his own namesake label Selfless by Hyram earlier this year. "The idea of Selfless by Hyram was to show people that we can make a positive difference in the world through skincare, but also on the business side. We, as businesses, have so many opportunities to do so much more to leave a bigger impact on the world rather than just take from customers," he says. The best part about creating his line was tailoring products to concerns culled straight from his comment section.

TikTok is also grounds for making derms, estheticians, and influencers shriek in fear due to many DIY skin hacks. What Tiktok has introduced is the importance of preventative, not reversive skincare," he says. "So theres this perspective shift where people are taking care of their skin so that they can prevent that long-term damage, and that's what skincare is about."

TikTok Made Me Buy It: Evenprime Barrier Serum, $36; amazon.com

For Seun Okimi, her first memory of beauty was feeling like the other in a world that praised European beauty standards. I was wondering: Why didn't I fit into the beauty standard that I saw around me? Why am I different?" she says. So Okimi diverted her attention to the art of reinvention and began learning the process of crafting different hairstyles by installing wigs and weaves. She quickly realized that she could create a slew of styles that Black women could also try when they wanted to be different. She cut her teeth as a content creator on YouTube but turned to TikTok more recently. Her TikTok page is very unlike the content she was creating on YouTube.

With each video she uploads, sh,e teaches her audience never to lose hope or patience when it comes to your hair. I think a lot of people have this idea that their hair won't grow. So Im showing that we can grow our hair, or even if it is short, it's beautiful to have short hair as well, she says.

Okimi takes an educational approach to her videos, teaching her audience how to care for protective styles, install natural-looking wigs, and prevent breakage and shedding on 4C hair. "To feel beautiful, we feel like we have to do so much to our hair and struggle," she says. "We don't have to struggle so much to get to where we want with our beauty. We are beautiful without struggle."

TikTok Made Me Buy It: The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution, $8; ulta.com

Dermatologists have a bad rep of not always being the most personable, but with TikTok, Dr. Shah aims to show his audience that dermatologists arent robots. When you see a dermatologist in the office, the patient and doctor have to build that trust, so you feel comfortable opening up," says Dr. Shah. "Its the same thing on TikTok. I get so many messages from people who tell me they went to a dermatologist because of my videos and they found skin cancer, or that they finally got onto an active prescription treatment and their skin is getting better from my product recommendation."

He offers some more wisdom for TikTok users. When you're authentic, people will see that, and then more organic opportunities will come to you, he advises. Always be skeptical when something's going viral, whether it's good or bad. If a product is the best product ever, ask yourself, Is it really? Do I personally really need it? Finally, always think about why you're buying what you're buying.

TikTok Made Me Buy It: Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, $30; nordstrom.com

On Makeup By Tammis page, everything is better with a littleerr, a lot ofcolor. In a world of soft glam mugs, Makeup By Tammi and her dramatic purple winged liner looks stick out amongst the crowd. The London makeup artists aesthetic is not for the faint of heart; eyeliners and eyeshadows bend to her will as she draws cow spots around her eye in one video and a smoky sunset eye in another. At the height of the pandemic, she launched her Bandana Series, in which she selected a random bandana shade to base her makeup look. People should have fun with their makeup; add colors or graphic liners, there are no rules, she says. A lot of people can be intimidated by bright makeup, but when they see it on someone, especially someone that looks like them, it can encourage them to try it.

Clarke enjoys watching and creating short yet concise videos that teach users how to take care of their skin and makeup in mini videos. Beauty TikTok is so amazing because it almost simplifies the process; it can show people they can take care of their skin with just three simple steps, or how to make their makeup last longer with just two steps, she adds. Her favorite makeup tip? Use a little powder before foundation if you have oily skin like me because it buys you a few extra hours wear before the oils come through the foundation, she advises.

TikTok Made Me Buy It: L.A. Girl Pro Matte Mixing Pigment, $10; ulta.com

Mikayla Nogueira may opt for soft yet stunning makeup looks now, but her entry into the makeup world began with blood, zombies, and clowns. I was eight years old when I discovered makeup for the first time. My dad ran a top-rated haunted house attraction, and I got to watch special effects makeup artists every single day doing this crazy Halloween makeup on people. I was fascinated by it, she says. By 15, she joined her fathers haunted house as a makeup artist and even decided to take on prom and wedding clients. I was obsessed with [makeup]; I didn't care about anything else. Makeup was my whole life. I would have done anything for makeup, she says. Until she became discouraged by the lack of beauty gurus who she could relate to. My dream was to be social media beauty star. I wanted to make a bigger impact. But I felt like I didn't fit the mold of what was accepted in the beauty realm. And I didn't think that that was possible for me, she remembers. After facing several rejections from top makeup retailers, Nogueira was convinced makeup wasnt the path she should embark on. Then, Ulta called back and offered her a job. Then, the pandemic happened, and she was suddenly out of a job with a lot of free time on her hands. Enter: TikTok.

I kept watching hours worth of TikTok and loved how cool the app was. The catfish challenge was popping off at the time where you show a before and after of yourself in glam, she says. At first, her years-long acne struggles discouraged her from posting the video, but she uploaded it anyway and went viral. If her goal was to teach people to be their unapologetic selves, she also had to walk the walk. I'm unapologetically and authentically myself in my videos," she says. "And I will never change that. I will never try to be someone I'm not because my biggest value that I have as a person is just to be myself."

Fans of Nogueira love her intricate eyeshadow designs just as much as they love her thick Boston accent. I swear like a sailor and that who I am, she says proudly. Just dont call her an influencer. Yes, I heavily influence people, and I've had these viral videos that have caused makeup artists to sell out. But in my opinion, that's just a result of me having a good time and me showing people that makeup can be fun and it's not so serious. I'm a beauty content creator. I create fun, energetic, authentic, unique content, Nogueira adds.

TikTok Made Me Buy It: Kryolan Ultra Setting Spray, $39; amazon.com

You go to Deborahs TikTok page for natural hair tips, but stay for a masterclass in the art of transformation. When shes not morphing her natural hair into twists or puffs or wigs, shes offering natural hair product recommendations or tips for growing your hair in under a minute. I slowly noticed the lack of representation for people with kinky/coily hair while scrolling through my FYP. I decided that there wasnt enough relatable or helpful content for people who look like me and have my hair texture, so I decided to be a part of that representation, she says of her account, which boasts over 123,000 followers and over 5.6 million likes. The message of Deborah Oguches platform is simple: Type 4 hair is worth caring for and worth celebrating, Oguche says.

The lightbulb moment to start creating her own hair love content didnt spark until September 2020, when she joined TikTok in the thick of the pandemic. So by December 2020, the biology student at Temple University picked up a new side hobby: creating relatable content for people who type-4 hair.I want to build a community where all hair textures are uplifted and represented, she adds. If I can be the reason just one person out there starts their hair love journey, I consider that a win for my platform.

TikTok Made Me Buy It: Gold 'N Hot Professional Ionic Soft Bonnet Hair Dryer, $50; ulta.com

Three years ago, Afsennahand her followersnoticed her hair was thinning. I got comments about my hair, which made me insecure, so I started to buy everything in the hopes that it would work, she explains. She turned to oiling her hair, as in lathering her strands with a slew of different oils, to strengthen her hair but was left hopeless. Instead of giving up, she began to research scalp care and specific ingredients for her hair type. She couldve chosen to gatekeep her discoveries but turned to TikTok in January 2021 to share her hair journey and tips. Having healthy, nice, and long hair is not only genetics. When you dont take care of your hair, your hair will get damaged regardless of whether you have the most beautiful hair. Prevention is everything, she tells ELLE.com. You can learn everything on Afsennahs page, from the difference between hair porosities to the best foods that promote hair growth to her very own hair routine. The self-professed BFF your hair needs, Afsennah, can be found in her TikTok comment section, answering her follower's questions, no matter how small. Her straightforward approach to the seemingly never-ending world of hair oil keeps her 293,000 followers coming back for more.

TikTok Made Me Buy It: Yootech Wireless Charger, $14; amazon.com

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

Excerpt from:

An Extensive Guide on Who To Follow on Beauty TikTok in the Haircare, Makeup, and Skincare Space - ELLE.com

If you dont hear one, dont worry another will be along soon, was the philosophy pop used to revolve around in the days before algorithms and smart speakers.

Back then you couldnt move for catchy songs in major keys, choruses you could yell, middle eights and cute little guitar solos. Welcome to the world of mass consumption.

Brighton quartet Fur appeared to still be clutching that memo over twenty-five years past its eat by date when in 2017 they scored a completely unexpected coup after uploading their first single If You Know That Im Lonely to YouTube.

Suddenly, from playing compact and bijou hometown venue Sticky Mikes Frog Bar, the band William Murray, guitarist Harry Saunders, bassist William Tav Taverner and drummer Flynn Whelan were getting offers to play venues twenty times its size, from exotic places like Indonesia. So far, the distinctly Beatles sounding tune has piled up streams in the tens of millions.

Critics snarked about blatant attempts to surf the AI waves to glory (an accompanying video with the lads doing a passable Monkees impression didnt help) but when youre hot, youre hot, right?

Well, wrong. Sort of. Its taken four years to get from that overnight success to getting their debut album out, but Murray and co. have remained sanguine about it, releasing the lo-fi stopgap Facing Home mixtape in 2020, and now arriving here in an assured, collective state of mind.

They wisely choose not to include their millstone/moneymaker (depending on your perspective) amongst the eleven tracks here, but anyone expecting radical departures (or anything you could class as radical at all) has on this basis definitely confused their Radios One and Two.

No matter though, because when youre sort of writing for all the people who only know one of your songs the job is to gently wean them off the Abbey Road-isms of your past, and for the most part When You Walk Away does the job nicely.

Perhaps illustrating the dilemma they faced, the title-track comes in two renditions, one at the beginning and then again at the end. Part 1 (hey, this is what they called it) is a jangle overture which appears to have spent some time in close proximity to an early Strokes record, but satisfies neatly enough.

Last but not least, the Cast-esque second stanza boldly embraces environmental issues by recycling the chords from its twin but winds its way downtempo and lasts a climactic five minutes plus; with a trace of sax to round things out, its also comfortably the better version of the two.

The rest sounds like feeding tokens into an indie jukebox; Anybody Else But Me is so sugary your dentist would probably warn you about it whilst To Be Next To Her and Shes The Warmest Colour Of My Life still have Alan McGee on hold. The wistful strum of No Good For You provides a moment of introspection, but What I Ams icky retro-gloop never escapes the box with token written on it.

So, is this all this a plan, or just dumb luck? Fur reckon that its down to fate, saying: Theres something looking over us a natural development of patience and how we perceive things.

When You Walk Away is just about good enough to make you care which, but a hit factory needs better finished articles than this.

Andy Peterson

View post:

Fur - When You Walk Away | Album Review | Live4ever - Live4ever

Twas the night before Christmas... and your child was desperate to open a present. Sound familiar? We thought so.

Christmas Eve has a tendency to be a bit of a rollercoaster. Its the last day to get your ducks in a row and the kids excitement levels are through the roof.

Much like leaving a mince pie or swig of the strong stuff out for Father Christmas, and a carrot or two for his fleet of reindeers, the Christmas Eve box is becoming quite the festive tradition. It allows kids to open a present a day early, and is a lovely way to kickstart the celebrations. But which one should you buy?

How we tested

Christmas Eve came early for our two little testers, aged three and five years old. Together, we looked at a range of boxes both pre-filled and empty suitable for the job. We paid close attention to the festive detailing, the size of the box in question and gave extra kudos for those that could be personalised.

Of course, price was under close inspection too, given not only the expense of Christmas, but the contents that may be required to put in the box too.

Read more:

The best Christmas Eve boxes for 2021 are:

Best: Overall

Rating: 9/10

Personalisation adds to the magic of Christmas and, naturally, the personalisation experts at My 1st Years are offering a selection of unique Christmas paraphernalia, from decadent decorations to enchanting gifts, for 2021. Before the big day though, kick proceedings off with this charming Christmas Eve box. Theres complimentary personalisation up to 12 letters, and the boxs dimensions are 28.1cm x 16.3cm x 14.2cm, meaning theres room for a teddy, a pair of socks, Christmas jumper and any extra festive fodder you fancy. We love the American airmail-inspired design, complete with cute star handle for easy opening. Made from plywood, the quality is impressive and will see you through plenty of Christmas Eves to come. Time to start a new tradition, we think.

Best: For toddlers

Rating: 9/10

A dead giveaway that theres only one more sleep to go is a new pair of pyjamas to cosy up with on Christmas Eve. Baby and childrens specialist, JoJo Maman Bb has gone one step further by creating this beautifully presented Christmas Eve pyjama gift set. Untie the ribbon and inside youll find cotton reindeer pyjamas with tartan bottoms, adorable matching reindeer slippers with a Velcro fastening, and a stocking to hang out in anticipation of the big day. Only available from ages 18 months to two years, while your toddler mightnt show quite as much appreciation as the doting parents, this is a festive fanfare which will see you uploading #babyspam in no time at all.

Best: For playing

Rating: 9/10

Orchard Toys is the king of educational games. We recently crowned its famous shopping list game (8.50, Orchardtoys.com) our best buy in our review of the best kids memory games, and continue to be impressed with the brand. This dedicated Christmas Eve box features a festive version of the award-winning shopping list matching memory game, with the trolley replaced by a stocking, and a 20-piece jigsaw puzzle. Designed for ages three to six, were confident this will occupy overexcited kids.

Best: Luxury box

Rating: 9/10

Want to add a touch of luxe to the night before Christmas? Available in sizes two to seven years, this Christmas Eve box from Selfridges is the most indulgent of all the boxes we tested. At 70, its a little pricey, but we think its a seasonal showstopper. So, whats inside? Every child deserves to snuggle up to a soft Jellycat toy on Christmas Eve, and it doesnt get much more apt than a furry penguin. Its Polar Express paperback book makes for a wonderful pre-Christmas read, but the real standout product for us are the navy star pyjamas. With an all-over satin texture, these 100 per cent cotton pyjamas have gorgeous gold star embroidery and pearlescent buttons making them the perfect pair of PJs to fall asleep in on a special night, and wake up in on the most magical day of the year.

Best: Gift experience

Rating: 8/10

Now, for something a little different, look no further than a Christmas Eve box from the company that allows your family to have a live video call with Santa from the comfort of your home. Designed to be opened either before or during your call with Santa, or on Christmas Eve (its worth bearing in mind that the call is an additional 19.99), youll be sent a selection of Christmas-inspired paraphernalia. If you want to heighten your childrens experience, wed suggest sourcing an extra box to put the items in to add to the excitement. Youll get Santas bingo and Santas dice games to play as a family, two colouring-in sheets complete with four mini colouring pencils, a sachet of reindeer food a personal favourite as well as a letter from Chief Elf, and a fridge magnet.

Best: Festive-inspired design

Rating: 8/10

In the shape of a traditional gingerbread house, this Christmas Eve box is illustrated as a winter wonderland with Christmas trees, mince pies and snowmen to name but a few. Our favourite feature? It has to be the multicoloured pom-pom attachments sitting atop of the snowy roofed lid, mimicking Christmas lights. At nearly 20cm wide and 22cm tall, itll fit a handful of small festive treats. We love the fun design of this box, which is printed on recycled Kraft paper and is widely recyclable after use.

Best: For timelessness

Rating: 8/10

With plenty of space for fun festive treats (sized 30cm x 20cm x 13cm), this sturdy wooden Christmas Eve box from Hobbycraft is a classic. Inscribed with Christmas Eve Box and snowflake detailing, the light wood gives an understated Scandi feel. Fill this box up each year to celebrate the night before Christmas in a new family tradition.

Best: For versatility

Rating: 9/10

Not your conventional Christmas Eve box, but gold is part of the Christmas palette, right? American-born brand Meri Meri is known for its partyware and seasonal decorations, so naturally its set of cat suitcases clawed its way into our round-up. Made with some serious attention to detail, the suitcases are beautifully crafted from laminated card featuring brass buckles, neon cord stitching and gold leatherette handles (and ears, of course!). The large case is just the right size for pre-Christmas treats at 29cm wide, while the smaller one is 24cm wide, and will fit a few smaller objects. Okay, so its not full of yuletide cheer like many others in this round-up, but we think these suitcases will be used beyond Christmas Eve, making them a purrrrfect choice.

Best: For gifting from afar

Rating: 9/10

Have a chocolate lover in your household? Yes, youre not alone. This year Marks & Spencer has thought of it all with its Christmas letterbox gift, which we think makes a wonderful Christmas Eve gift if youre unable to be there in person. It may be compact enough to fit through your letterbox, but fear not, as its packed to the rafters inside. Containing some of M&Ss favourites, Colin the Caterpillar mint faces, and festive inspired Percy Pig sweeties, youll also find unusual suspects like tasty sprouts and minty snowballs. Theres also a little pack of Christmas jokes, which had the whole family chuckling.

Best: Purse-friendly option

Rating: 8/10

No peeking this Christmas Eve box is inexpensive at 7 and the cheapest of all that we reviewed. But it does the trick and is surprisingly sturdy given that its made of cardboard. At 28cm wide and a similar length in height, with just one more sleep to go, open the lid and fill with festive trinkets such as a small book, something edible and a little toy to cuddle up with before the big day arrives.

The personalised red Christmas Eve box from My 1st Years is a worthy winner for us. Made from sturdy wood, itll see you through many Christmas Eves, while the festive detailing provides Yuletide splendour. But the star on top of the tree has to be the complimentary personalisation, which is a magical touch!

For the latest discounts on Christmas presents, try the links below:

Swap plastic tat for durable, fun gifts this Christmas with our round-up of the best stocking fillers

IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing.

Read the original post:

10 best Christmas Eve boxes that will fill children with festive cheer - The Independent

Yes, everyone downloaded TikTok this year. But there are plenty of other iOS and Android apps worth using.

Whether we needed to chill out, do some work, or get some fresh air, here are the best apps that the Mashable staff used in 2021.

Angi launched in March 2021, but it may be familiar to some. Formerly known as Angie's List or HomeAdvisor, the app connects people with local contractors and home services such as plumbing, landscaping, and electrical work. Shopping for contractors is an absolute pain, but Angi makes the process just a little bit easier, and lets you see real reviews and ratings from professionals in your area. The quotes are free to you, but keep in mind that Angi charges contractors every time they bid on a project.

Brian Koerber, Culture Editor

Every city thinks its local radio station is the best in the world. But L.A. locals might be right. KCRW DJs spotlight both local and international artists, play live shows, and serve as music supervisors for movies and TV shows.

Luckily, anyone around the world can listen to KCRW programming for free with the station's app. What does that get you? The KCRW app features the excellent "Eclectic 24" channel. As the DJs note on air, this is curated by humans, not algorithms and therefore isn't influenced by money from record labels.

The app has been around for a while, but as of this spring, it became compatible with Apple CarPlay.

Rachel Kraus, Reporter

Does anyone of a certain (younger) age even own a home printer/scanner anymore? The good ones cost way too much to justify the rare usage and the cheap ones are, well, cheap and prone to breaking down.

So, let's give a collective thanks to Google for making the most of our Android phones and putting the power of a scanner in a convenient app called Stack. Now, scans are as simple as pointing your phone at a document and taking a picture. Stack will convert the image to PDF, and give you the tools to sharpen and crop it. And, since this is a Google app, it's seamlessly integrated into all of your GSuite services, so sharing, uploading, and labeling that scanned doc is only a few taps away.

Joseph Volpe, Deputy Tech Editor

Forest (iOS, Android)

An oldie but a goodie, Forest which helps people become less dependent on their phones remains my favorite productivity app. Set a desired number of minutes you want to focus, and Forest will lock your phone screen while a virtual tree grows in your app. When the tree grows to completion you can use your device again, and youll earn coins that you can save and use to plant real trees in Africa, thanks to a partnership with the nonprofit Trees for the Future.

Nicole Gallucci, Assistant Culture Editor

White Noise Lite is the only app that's never let me down. It isn't new, but it's literally the only app I could not live without. Quite simply, it plays white noises for me a fake AC that drown out outside sounds to aid sleep. The app has been a godsend during a strange year, during which good rest was tough to come by. If you're a light sleeper, its an amazing, simple tool to get a better night's sleep.

Tim Marcin, Reporter

I've been using Aloe Bud since 2018, and it's the only app that makes practicing self-care feel like less of a chore. It allows you to set daily reminders to stay hydrated, fuel up with a snack, move your body, and more, and encourages you to check-in via your personal dashboard whenever you complete an activity.

In a world where most of us are stuck at our desks for a majority of our days, it can be easy to forget to take care of ourselves both mentally and physically. But Aloe Bud's gentle nudges make the experience less judgmental and more positive than other self-care apps I've used in the past. Plus its super retro aesthetic is the cherry on top.

Brenda Stolyar, Reporter

Yosemite is much nicer than your couch.Credit: LA Times via Getty Images

The new National Park Service app has info on more than 400 national parks in the U.S., and even lets you reserve campsites where available. Plus, you can use it offline, so you can access maps, visitor guides, and more in remote areas with no cellphone reception. Keith Wagstaff, Tech Editor

Startup Carbon Health developed a streamlined way to set up COVID-19 tests and get results. That includes COVID tests needed for travel.

Sasha Lekach, Reporter

Best app for beginning or returning runners

Not a new app, but new to me. Really easy UI for tracking walking/running for beginners.

Alex Perry, Reporter

More here:

Best iOS and Android apps we used in 2021 (so far) - Mashable

Check all options to listen or watch UFC 264: McGregor vs. Poirier live streaming for free on Reddit, Crackstreams & Twitch below. One of the biggest bouts in Las Vegas MMA history takes place on Saturday, July 10, 2021 night when Lightweight title pair Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier face off at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Lets see below between MMA streams UFC 264 McGregor vs. Poirier live where and how to watch free from any location.

The UFC 264 fight card is headlined by the anticipated trilogy match between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor. Wondering where to watch UFC 264 live stream free? You can watch Mcgregor vs Poirier 3 live online through Espn+ UFC live stream.

>>>Click To Watch UFC 264 Live Stream Free!

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is a mixed martial art promotion company under Dana White as the president. It has featured some of the highest-level fighters in the sports world since its debut.

Two of the most popular fighters in the entire UFC will meet for a third time on Saturday, July 10 at UFC 264 (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+ PPV). What happens next will have major implications for the careers of both Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier.

Mixed Martial Arts is a full-contact fighting sport incorporating different techniques from all over the world. Currently, it has 8 weight class divisions for men and four weight class divisions for women. The Men division includes Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, Middleweight, Welterweight, Lightweight, Featherweight, Bantamweight, and Flyweight. The Womens division also has Bantamweight, Flyweight, Strawweight, and Featherweight.

The pair last met at UFC 257 in January, with Poirier emphatically defeating the former two-belt champion. Poirier enters their rematch with a 27-6-1 record, while McGregor holds a 22-5 mark.

Watch Here: UFC 264 Live Stream

But thats just one fight in a full night for UFC at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

When is UFC 264 ? Date, Start Time

UFC 264 takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs live on ESPN + pay-per-view, with prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

The Men and Womens divisions all had bouts that have been announced and scheduled for the next-in-line event. The rumors of the McGregor vs. Poirier fight fallouts have been cleared and are off the table! Here comes the 568th. Prepare to be awed! UFC 264 is here!

UFC 264 full fight card

Main card

Preliminary card

How to Watch UFC 264 Live On ESPN+?

If youre in the US and trying to track down a stream for Poirier vs McGregor 3, then ESPN Plus has you covered. The network holds exclusive rights to UFC 264, meaning it is the one place to watch the whole card. You can tune in to watch all of the action including preliminary fights on Saturday, July 10 from 6.pm ET / 3pm PT.

There are three options on cost, which depend on whether or not you already subscribe to the service.

If you already enjoy the fruits of ESPN Plus, then its very straight forward. Its a classic pay-per-view scenario, and youll need to spend $69.99 to watch UFC 264.

If you dont yet subscribe to ESPN Plus, then you can take advantage of this great value offer. Youll need to go for the UFC Bundle, costing you $89.98. That gets you both the UFC 264 PPV and a year-long subscription to ESPN+ that would normally cost $60 alone!

Your final option is to buy access to UFC 264 for $82.99 and, with it, get one month of access to the Disney Plus Bundle. So thats a jam-packed 30 days of everything on Disney Plus think all of Marvel, Pixar, The Simpsons, Star Wars and stacks more the full catalog of live sports and documentaries on ESPN+, AND the hundreds of box sets and films on Hulu.

How to watch UFC 264 live stream free online?

As usual, the UFC 264 main card will be aired via pay-per-view on ESPN+. This one will run you $69.99 if youre an existing ESPN+ subscriber, otherwise you can bundle in a yearly subscription to ESPN+ for $89.98.

The early prelims for the event will be available on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass, while the prelims will be televised on ESPN and streamed through ESPN+ (no pay-per-view necessary).

How to watch UFC 264 live stream in the US?

ESPN networks owns over 10 different channels, but the UFC 264 Prelims will be on ESPN+ as well as ESPN. Both networks will be broadcasting the full Early Prelims and Prelims Cards, with nine total fights including a bout between two Welterweight fighters, when Carlos Condit (32-13) takes on Max Griffin (17-7).

The UFC 264 Prelims on ESPN+ is also available as part of the Disney Bundle. For $12.99 you get access to the best sports action on ESPN+, the best family fun on Disney+, and the best TV hits and originals on Hulu.

You can get the UFC 264 Prelims from ESPN on the five largest live TV streaming services. Sling TVs Orange Plan offers the lowest regular price to score ESPN. FuboTV is new to the UFC game, as the live TV streaming service recently added ESPN.

Hulu + Live TV offers a nice free trial, and has the ESPN channels along with a few other sports-focused channels. You can also watch the UFC 264 Prelims on YouTube TV, and that could be better options for big time fans of other sports too because they offer a wider selection of other sports channels. Also AT&T TV is an option for fans who want ESPN and local sports networks as long as they dont mind paying a little extra.

How to watch UFC 264 fight live streaming in UK

UK fight fans can watch UFC 264 Poirier vs. McGregor 3 live stream on BT Sport. You dont need a long term contract either with the BT Sport Pass. For just 25 a month, fans can see UFC Fight Night events along with Premier League football and tons of other sports.

You can watch the BT Sport coverage live stream of UFC 264 Poirier vs. McGregor 3 starting at 1 a.m. BST. The event will stream in the BT Sport Box Office app, available for iOS and Android, or on the BT Sport website.

How to stream UFC 264 live online in Canada

In Canada, the prelims (6:15 p.m. ET) are on TSN5 and the UFC 264 main card is available on PPV.

How to watch UFC 264 live stream from anywhere

By ordering the PPV tickets, you can watch the UFC 264 McGregor vs Poirier live bout from anywhere in the world on 12 June 2021. The PPV tickets are available in ESPN+.

the available options for live streaming MMA include:

How to watch UFC 264 live stream on Reddit And other social media?

Well, youve known that UFC 264 is going to rock the MMA Fights. Do you know youve another exciting alternative? Crackstreams, Reddit that is also absolutely for free. Well, you can use the social media mentioned here below to enjoy the live streaming:

Well, now weve known the name. You need to have an account on any of these social media. If youve all these accounts, then go for the research and get better options. Lets know how you can use these social media for better access and result in detail.

Reddit

UFC 264 show Live Free Reddit is another place where you can watch the show. It doesnt matter if youre in the United States or anywhere else in the world, you can watch it through a special Reddit channel.

Facebook

If you have a Facebook account, you can enjoy the UFC 264 live stream performance for free. Well, all you need is to do good research. Youll find various pages or groups of TSO fans. Some of them might stream the event live to share their joy.

Instagram

Instagram is always famous for streaming. It has a live stream or IGTV option. Here on Facebook, you will get the fans of the UFC 264 show, who might upload the recording to the concert. Do little research and find them for free.

Twitter

Twitter is not only a popular one. Its used by most of the people in the world. For a president to top a movie star, everyone uses Twitter these days. So, it wont be taught to find out the fan club of the UFC 264 show or fans streaming the UFC 264 show live stream.

Youtube

Well know why youtube is famous. Youtube serves as the best streaming service. Now though the uploading of recorded matches is restricted, you might get it on youtube. Jer, so you need to find out the right account. But remember, you wont get it forever. The youtube community removes the videos as soon as they find them against the community. So, you can download it as soon as you get this.

How to watch UFC 264 McGregorvs. Poirier 3 live stream on your devices

The ESPN app has everything you need to watch all of UFC 264 online on your TV. If you need help, we can guide you through how to login and watch ESPN+ on your TV. The ESPN app is available on the major streaming platforms and game consoles including iOS and Android devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Final Word About UFC 264

Vegas Is Back! Dont Miss A Single Second Of This Epic Trilogy At UFC 264 on July 10, 2021 at T-Mobile Arena In Las Vegas.The match will be watched as a PPV, and you can watch UFC 264 Live Stream from almost everywhere in the world.

Here is the original post:

[ July 10, 2021 ] Watch 'UFC 264' Free Live Streaming on Reddit Brevard News - SpaceCoastDaily.com

Kenneth Kumar MohantyJul 07, 2021 09:24:10 IST

For Bitcoin enthusiasts, first, the good news. It is reported that mining difficulty for the world's largest, and most valuable, cryptocurrency just dropped by more than a fourth. Which means, it is now easier and more profitable to mine Bitcoins.

However, if one scratched beneath the surface, it would become evident that the easing of in mining difficulty is a move that is linked ultimately to the high environmental cost that the activity was seen as extracting. Authorities in China, which accounted for as much as 65 percent of the global production of Bitcoins last year, have cracked down on mining after it became evident that miners were using up massive amounts of energy.

But what makes Bitcoin mining a concern for ecologists? Here's what you need to know.

What is cryptocurrency mining?

What makes Bitcoin unique is that it is nothing like existing currencies in either the way it is built or how it functions. For starters, while it is called Bitcoin, it is neither a coin nor any kind of paper money but just lines of computer code. While conventional coins and notes are either struck or printed at a mint, Bitcoins are created through a function integral to how the network itself operates.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are what are known as decentralised money. That is, they are not controlled by a central bank like, say, the Reserve Bank of India, which decides the monetary policy for the country. The RBI gives directions to banks on everything from liquidity to interest rates and the banks in turn execute the directives and also keep a track of the money you keep with them. When you withdraw cash or spend money via cards or digitally, the bank makes a note of it and accordingly adjusts your balance. The people you transact with don't get to know how much money you have in bank as long as the transaction is smoothly done.

Transactions via the Bitcoin are undergirded by the blockchain technology and are tracked via the distributed ledger system. That is, all transactions on the Bitcoin network are visible to every computer that is a part of the network and there is no central authority or bank that tracks the movement of the cryptocurrency. How these transactions are verified and recorded lies at the heart of the blockchain and how Bitcoin is mined.

Why does mining require so much energy?

The Bitcoin network adds transactions to the distributed ledger in the form of blocks. These blocks get added to preceding blocks, thus creating the blockchain. But adding these blocks is not a simple matter of typing in some information and uploading it to the network, because that would mean that anybody could enter any amount in the ledger and compromise its integrity.

To verify transactions and add new blocks to the blockchain the Bitcoin network requires that the transactions are first verified. This is where miners come in. You see, verification of Bitcoin transactions is a very complicated process requiring the cracking of a code, which gives these currencies the prefix of crypto, which comes from cryptography, the art of writing or solving codes.

The code that has to be solved before a transaction is included in a block and the block is added to the blockchain though is not a simple one and that is why miners require awesome computing power to crack it. And, as an incentive for devoting the computer power needed to verify transactions, the miners are rewarded in Bitcoin. Mining, in short, is the process by which the Bitcoin ledger is maintained and new Bitcoins are created.

How much energy do miners use?

The only way in which Bitcoin miners can crack the code is through trial and error and reports say that "the odds of solving the problem are about one in 5.9 trillion". Cracking this problem allows the miners to provide what in Bitcoin jargon is known as 'proof of work' for which they can seek the reward. Which is why the computers or processors that are vying to solve the Bitcoin puzzle need to practically run continuously. And, because processors tend to heat up, they require large amounts of cooling.

The Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index run by the Cambridge Centre For Alternative Finance (CACF), says that if Bitcoin were a country, it would have only 41 countries ahead of it in terms of total annual power consumption. At 65.95 terawatt hours (TWh), Bitcoin uses more energy every year than the likes of Venezuela (65.65 TWh) or Israel (56.4 TWh).

How did it become easier to mine Bitcoin?

It actually had become so difficult to mine Bitcoins that miners started using even more computing power and energy for the purpose. Because Bitcoin has kept growing in value - despite some big fluctuations - more and more people are signing up on the network and even greater numbers of people are now involved in mining the cryptocurrency.

But as China cracked down on mining rigs, which is what the collection of processors are called, the Bitcoin network has now made changes to its algorithm that makes it easier to mine the currency. In fact, computing power on the network, known as the hashrate, has dropped by more than 54 percent since May.

With mining in China likely off the network, there are fewer miners, which in turn means fewer transactions are verified. Reports said that while it used to take about 10 minutes to complete a block, reduction in mining activity has meant that it now takes between 14 to 19 minutes to add a block. Which is why Bitcoin can adjust the difficulty level for mining blocks after every 2016 blocks are added. But no people or body decides what algorithm to set, it is reportedly handled by the network itself, given Bitcoin's decentralisation mantra.

But everybody from Tesla CEO Elon Musk to governments and think tanks and activists have flagged how Bitcoin is so high on energy use. But an improvement upon Bitcoin's mining principle has already been proposed with newer cryptocurrencies now adopting what is known as 'proof of stake' protocols, which require that people must have a stake in the blockchain to be able to verify transactions. By doing away with mining, proof of stake is expected to save much of the energy that now goes into creating cryptocurrency tokens.

See the original post:

Bitcoin mining gets easier with drop in hash rate: Why it is important to mind the environmental cost - Firstpost

Theres more to SD cards and microSD cards than simply storing photos and videos. Buying the right card will also help make your devices operate at optimum speeds and keep your digital files safe for as long as you need.

SD cards are most commonly associated with digital cameras, whether it be a point-and-shoot or an expensive DSLR used by professionals. Using a low-quality SD card or one without the appropriate specifications for your device can cause occasional compatibility issues or errors while taking photos or recording video. It can also prevent your camera from shooting in data-intensive formats like fast-action burst photos or 4K videos.

On the other hand, microSD cards which can also be used with cameras, if you use an adapter are best suited for smartphones, tablets, drones, GoPros and even gaming consoles, like the Nintendo Switch. These cards allow you to store more photos, videos, apps, music and games without using up your devices internal storage.

Prices for SD and microSD cards start as low as $10 but can run to upwards of $300. Generally speaking, higher prices correlate with cards that worker faster and have more storage capacity.

How much should you pay? Well, if you simply want to add extra storage to save photos from your smartphone, a 128GB microSD (which can cost as little as $15) will do. However, if youre a photography enthusiast, youll need both plenty of storage for high-resolution images and a minimum write speed that is, how quickly the card can record the image of 30MB/s (megabytes per second), which can help you capture even the fastest moving action shots. These can cost from $20 to over $100 depending on their storage capacity.

As mentioned, theres more to buying an SD or microSD card than just price and storage capacity. The numbers and letters written on a cards label like U3 or V30, for example show you what a card is suitable for, whether its best for some extra storage for your smartphone or to shoot high-quality photos and videos with a top-of-the-line DSLR or mirrorless camera.

Heres a rundown of the most important factors to keep in mind when shopping for SD cards and microSD cards, and what all of that confusing jargon on their labels means:

SDHC vs. SDXC. There are two main types of SD and microSD cards: SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) and SDXC (Secure Digital Extended Capacity). The only difference between the two is their storage capacity. While SDHC cards have a capacity of up to 32 gigabytes (GB), SDXC range from 64GB to up to 2 terabytes (TB).

Read vs. write speed. In addition to GB capacity, SD cards include another number on their label: the cards read speed, indicated by MB/s.

Read speed, sometimes also called transfer speed, determines how fast files will uploaded from the card to a computer. For example, uploading images to a computer would take longer with a 95MB/s read speed than it would with a 150MB/s.

The number that photographers should look for, however, is the write speed. This is also expressed as MB/s and reflects how fast the memory card can record data when you snap a photo. The higher the write speed, the faster a camera will perform. This is especially important when taking photos in burst mode (great for action photos with minimal blur) or recording 4K videos.

The write speed isnt included on an SD cards label, but can be usually found in the product description. MicroSD cards generally dont feature the read or write speed on their labels, but these speeds are usually mentioned in the card description.

Speed classes. There are three types of speed classes for SD and microSD cards: speed class, UHS speed class and video class.

The first one, simply known as the speed class, is shown as a C with a number inside the curves of the letter. The most common (and fastest) speed class is C10, which means the card has a minimum write speed of 10MB/s. This is adequate for extra storage, or for anyone who isnt shooting action photography or 4K videos.

Other, slower speed classes include C2 (2MB/s), C4 (4MB/s) and C6 (6MB/s). These, however, are not common anymore and would be quite slow for the performance requirements of most devices nowadays.

The Ultra High Speed (UHS) speed class is represented by a U with the number 1 or 3 inside the letter. A U1 card offers a minimum write speed of 10MB/s, (same as a C10 card) while a U3 card offers a minimum of 30MB/s. Since U3 cards are faster than C10 and U1 cards, these are more suitable for serious photography enthusiasts and are a must when recording 4K videos.

Cards with a U1 or U3 rating are further classified as UHS-I or UHS-II, which are known as the cards bus speed. While the U1 and U3 denote a cards minimum write speed, UHS-I and UHS-II indicate the theoretical maximum read and write speeds.

UHS-I cards are marked by a Roman numeral I on the label and are capable of a maximum speed of up to 104 MB/s. UHS-II cards have a Roman numeral II and can reach maximum speeds of up to 312 MB/s.

Even though UHS-II cards are blazing fast, not all cameras are compatible with them. These cards, however, are backward compatible. What this means is that if you use a UHS-II card with a UHS-I camera, the card will operate at UHS-I speeds up to 104 MB/s.

Lastly, theres the video speed class, usually shown on the label as a V followed by a 6, 10, 30, 60 or 90. Not all cards feature the video speed class designation, but those that do are able to record ultra-high resolution video.

Like the other speed classes, the number represents the minimum write speeds in MB/s. A V60 card would have a minimum write speed of 60MB/s, for example. Cards with a V30 are suitable for 4K recording, while V90 cards support formats up to 8K.

When it comes to storage capacity, a 64GB card should be sufficient to store photos and videos for quite some time. However, the amount of storage you need depends on the resolution and format (JPEG or RAW) of your images and videos, as well as how many you want to save.

If youre planning on always shooting at the highest resolution possible or recording 4K videos, a card with more capacity could be beneficial especially if you dont empty your card frequently. For cards that are going to be used with a gaming console, for example, a storage capacity of 128GB or more is a better option since these will be used for long-term storage (as opposed to photos or videos that most people eventually upload to a computer).

In terms of speed, consider how youre planning to use the card. For users who just want some extra space to store photos, videos and music on their smartphone, a microSD card with a UHS-1 U1 rating is sufficient. Hobbyist photographers who shoot high-resolution photos but never record in 4K can probably get by with a UHS-I U1 SD card as well. But professional photographers who want optimum performance, and anyone who regularly shoots 4K videos, are better off with a U3 card that has a video speed class of V30 or more.

A super cheap SD card may be tempting, even if its from a generic brand youve never heard of. But the safest bet is to buy cards from well-known names like SanDisk, Lexar, Samsung or PNY. In general, this reduces the chances of compatibility issues and data-recording errors.

Still, even brand-name cards can be risky if bought from unknown sellers online. Customers have complained about receiving counterfeit cards that, on first glance, look identical to the original models but tend to offer less memory capacity or lower read and write speeds than the real deal.

We recommend you buy your card from a reputable vendor or from the manufacturer directly. If youre shopping on Amazon, its wise to make sure the product says its shipped and sold by Amazon, the manufacturer or another reputable seller. Once it arrives, carefully check the print on the package and the logos on the card for anything that looks misaligned or poorly printed or other red flags.

Price range: $14 $300 | Capacity: Up to 1TB | Speed class: UHS-I, U3, V30, C10 | Read speed: Up to 170MB/s | Write speed: Up to 90MB/s | Durability: Temperature-proof, waterproof, shock-proof, X-ray-proof

The SanDisk Extreme PRO is one of the most powerful SD cards around, suitable for hobbyists and pros alike. With write speeds of up to 90MB/s, this card can handle even the most demanding tasks without slowing down your cameras performance.

You can use it to shoot high-quality content like RAW (uncompressed and unprocessed images) in burst mode as well as 4K videos smoothly. Also, its 170M/s read speeds guarantee fast uploads from your camera to computer.

Price range: $9 $47 | Capacity: Up to 256GB | Speed class: UHS-I, U3, V30, C10 | Read speed: Up to 150MB/s | Write speed: Up to 70MB/s | Durability: Temperature-proof, waterproof, shock-proof, X-ray-proof

If you dont really need the fastest speed and dont record in 4K frequently, the SanDisk Extreme may be a better option than the Extreme PRO. It comes a close second in terms of performance with read and write speeds that are only about 20MB/s slower. For example, the 64GB Extreme card has a maximum read speed of 150MB/s while the 64GB Extreme Pro can reach 170 MB/s.

Although the Extreme line is slightly slower then the Extreme Pro, it also has a U3 and V30 rating, which means it can handle occasional series of burst photos and ultra high-definition videos. Its also more affordable the 128GB version is available for around $25 while the 128GB Extreme Pro costs over $35.

Price range: $11 $80 | Capacity: Up to 512GB | Speed class: UHS-I, U3, C10 | Read speed: Up to 95MB/s | Write speed: Undisclosed | Durability: Magnet-proof, shockproof, temperature-proof, waterproof

PNYs Elite Performance line is great for beginners and light users who want cheap prices and reliability and arent necessarily worried about maximum performance.

PNY doesnt disclose write speed but, since its read speed is rated at up to 95MB/s, itll probably be slower when compared to our Editors Pick, the SanDisk Extreme. (An SD cards write speed is always slower than its read speed.) Still, PNY Elite Performance cards have a U3 speed rating that offers a minimum write speed of 30MB/s, which is suitable for high-definition photos and occasional 4K recording.

The Elite Performance line is quite affordable. The 128GB card sells for around $17, about $5 cheaper than some cards with faster read and write speeds.

Price range: $50 $190 | Capacity: Up to 128GB | Speed class: UHS-II, V90, U3, C10 | Read speed: Up to 95MB/s | Write speed: N/A | Durability: Magnet-proof, shockproof, temperature-proof, waterproof

The SanDisk Extreme Pro, our Best Overall pick, offers the speed necessary to handle even the most demanding photography and videography. The Lexar Professional 2000x series is, however, almost twice as fast as the Extreme Pro.

Lexar Professional 2000x SD cards are capable of read and write speeds of up to 300MB/s and 260MB/s, respectively. Such high speeds and the V90 video speed class make these cards perfect even for 8K recording. Youll also spend less time waiting for photos and videos to transfer to your computer.

These impressive speeds are only possible when used with a camera that supports UHS-II SD cards. But a 2000x card can be used with UHS-I cameras and still provide exceptional performance, so its perfect for action photography (like sports or wildlife) that require quick processing.

The Lexar Professional 2000xs outstanding performance comes at a steep cost around $190 for the 128GB card. This is expected for an SD card thats aimed at action photographers with professional UHS-II cameras. However, theres a more affordable player in the market with similar specifications: the ProGrade UHS-II V90.

The ProGrade has a maximum write speed of up to 250MB/s, only 10MB/s less than the Lexar. Both are capable of up to 300MB/s read speeds and have a V90 video speed class rating, which makes them suitable for 8K videos. And best of all, the 128GB ProGrade card retails for $140, around $50 less than the Lexar model.

Price range: $10 $200 | Capacity: Up to 1TB | Speed class: UHS-I, U3, V30, C10 | Read speed: Up to 160MB/s | Write speed: 90MB/s | Durability: Temperature-proof, waterproof, shock-proof, X-ray-proof

SanDisk Extreme microSD cards offer the best all-around performance for smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, drones and more. These cards are fast enough to shoot high-resolution photos and record 4K videos with devices like the Samsung Galaxy S20 or the GoPro Hero 9.

The SanDisk Extreme is available up to a whopping 1TB, and its A2-rated, which means you can store (and use) some of your phones mobile apps directly from it. Not all apps can be saved in microSD cards, but storing the ones that support this feature frees up your phones internal memory and keeps it running fast.

Price range: $10 $200 | Capacity: Up to 1TB | Speed class: UHS-I, U3 (128GB, 256GB, 512GB), U1 (32GB and 64GB) | Read speed: Up to 100MB/s | Write speed: 90MB/s (128GB, 256GB and 512GB models) 20MB/s (32GB and 64GB models) | Durability: Temperature-proof, waterproof, shock-proof, X-ray-proof

The Samsung EVO Select line offers great performance for the price. It might not be as fast as the SanDisk Extreme, but its suitable for anyone who simply wants extra storage for their smartphone or even a Nintendo Switch. Its 128GB, 256GB and 512GB models are also great for taking high-resolution photos and videos up to 4K.

Price: $27 | Capacity: Up to 1TB | Speed class: UHS-I, U3 | Read speed: Up to 95MB/s | Write speed: 60MB/s | Durability: Temperature-proof, waterproof, shock-proof, X-ray-proof

This Pioneer card is even cheaper than Samsung EVO Select microSDs and offers similar performance. The 256GB model retails for $27, while the EVO Select with the same capacity has been going for over $30, even when on sale.

Price: $160 | Capacity: Up to 1TB | Speed class: UHS-I, U1, V10 | Read speed: Up to 150MB/s | Write speed: N/A | Durability: Temperature-proof

The Lexar PLAY is ideal for those looking for maximum storage capacity at a great price. The 1TB card can be found on sale for around $160 (most comparable cards sell for about $200).

Thats enough to store more than 200,000 photos and around 500 hours of high-definition video, ensuring your smartphone, tablet or gaming console wont run out of space for quite some time.

Price range: $13 $98 | Capacity: Up to 512GB | Speed class: UHS-I, U3, V30, | Read speed: Up to 160MB/s | Write speed: 120MB/s | Durability: Temperature-proof, waterproof, shock-proof, X-ray-proof, vibration-proof

Lexar Professional 1066x cards are a smidge speedier than our Best Overall pick, the SanDisk Extreme. With a write speed of up to 120MB/s 30MB/s faster than the SanDisk Extreme microSDXC Professional 1066x cards are fast enough for 4K-quality videos with a drone, GoPro or smartphone, without any errors or drop in performance.

Price: $24 | Capacity: 128GB | Speed class: UHS-I, U3 | Read speed: Up to 100MB/s | Write speed: 90MB/s | Durability: N/A

The Nintendo Switch should work with any microSD card without trouble. But if youre worried about possible compatibility issues or memory errors that could cause you to lose your gaming progress, the Switchs official memory card from SanDisk could be the one for you.

This SanDisk card bears Nintendos official stamp of approval and offers 128G, enough to store downloaded games, screenshots and video captures without using up the consoles built-in memory. Not only does it offer great performance for the Switch, its also designed with Nintendo fans in mind sporting Super Marios Super Mushroom front and center.

Nintendo also offers other microSD cards featuring the logos of some of their most popular games, such as Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing and Apex Legends.

The Best iPads for Your Money

The Best Gaming Chairs for Your Money

The Best Bluetooth Speakers for Your Money

Follow this link:

The Best SD Cards and microSD Cards for Your Money - Money

The Herald

Talent BopeArts ReporterUpcoming gospel artiste Prince Tawonga has collaborated with Greatman Gwaze in an amazing video song titled Ndauya Ndega, with a combination of audio-visual and sign language.

In an interview, Tawonga said collaborating with Greatman was of utmost importance to him in terms of boosting his fans since he was still at infancy stages in the musical industry.

Tawonga said Greatman had a lot of fans owing to his reputation of big collaborations with veteran musicians, adding he would gain more experience apart from booming his fame.

We realised that Greatman has got fans since he is not an amateur in the music industry, he said.

He collaborated with a lot of renowned musicians by so doing he has a lot of fans. This prompted us to approach him for a collaboration with the idea that his fans and our few fans would also begin to support us, thereby generating a lot of fans.

The reason why I chose Greatman is because he is very determined, unlike other people who are living with disability, he is a man who reflects that disability is not inability..

He is someone who can encourage other people living with disability to do other projects that can help them to be self-sufficient.

We want also to urge those who are in the same situation like Greatman not to look down upon themselves, they should discover their strength and earn a living from that angle.

Tawonga said he was planning a collaboration with Freddy Manjalima, affectionately known as Kapfupi.

We are looking forward to a lot of collaborations, and plans are at an advanced stage to have another video that will feature Freddy Manjalima aka Kapfupi, he said.

We have also chosen Kapfupi because he is someone who is multi-talented and has attracted a lot of youths through comedies and music. His experience can help us to become stronger in the music industry.

The video, which is expected to hit on all online platforms soon, is a confession to God by someone who has been involved in various abominable practices.

They would have made up their mind to confess all the sins to God and become a born again Christian.

Currently, we are uploading our music on Prince Tawonga Facebook page and very soon the video be on all online platforms, said Tawonga.

As upcoming artistes, we have a lot of challenges which includes financial challenges since it is a burden for us as new beginners in the music industry to secure finances for video shoot and all the expenses, its a serious burden.

The video was shot and edited by Takudzwa Hove Mapembures Naxo Films in Budiriro, who is a veteran in the industry and has done a lot of hit songs for musicians like Jah Prayzah, Tocky Vibes, among others.

Greatman said he appreciates working with upcoming artistes.

I understand that there are people with talents which need exposure, but for them to be known might take a lot of time, he said.

This is the reason why I welcomed them as upcoming artistes, they can bring in new ideas and skills in the system.

Read the original post:

Greatman features in Tawongas new video - The Herald

PUBG Mobile has been one of the most influential mobile game titles to have ever hit the Google Play Store and the iOS market.

While those who werent all that involved with the game might feel like it's just another battle royale title, to the rest, it is an emotion that runs quite deep.

For Blind Esports Kezia Blind Ziia Mathew, PUBG Mobile has been one of the biggest aids through some of the most difficult phases of her life. And in a special interaction with Abhishek Mallick of Sportskeeda Esports, Kezia opens up about her early life, how she got into gaming, the toxicity that she faces from the community, and how she tackles them.

Here is an excerpt of the conversation.

Q. Kezia, I dont think your fans know much about you, outside your YouTube persona of Blind Ziia. So can we start our conversation today by having you tell us a bit about yourself, your childhood, and your journey as a streamer and content creator?

Kezia: Hello! My name is Kezia Mathew, but I am known primarily as Ziia by the video games community. And though my roots are in Kerala, I was born and bought up in Qatar, where I also completed my schooling along with my Masters.

I have always been into public speaking from my formative years, and stage fright was something very alien to me, as I would never get nervous while talking to people. That was one of the reasons why I was provided with the opportunity of being an RJ here in Qatar, as soon as I finished my schooling. Interacting with people and trying to cheer them up was something that was always in me.

I had been into video games ever since I was a kid, and I remember how addictive some of the games like Mario, Supersonic, and Road Rash got for me. So somewhere between all the hustles of life, video games were one constant that I was never able to let go of.

So when I started my YouTube channel, I did not have a long-term plan in mind, as I was only looking to upload one video, since some of my clan-mates wanted me to be the first female video game streamer from Kerela.

I was excited and nervous at the same time. I had just started PUBG Mobile, and I wasnt exactly sure of the audience base. Nevertheless, I marched on, and on October 12, 2019, I did my first stream on the title, on which I got an overwhelming response. My first bit of content went really well, and what surprised me was the fact that the community was able to accept me more than I had initially imagined.

However, after uploading two videos, I took an 8-month long break from streaming, as I wanted to focus on the more competitive side of PUBG Mobile. But I soon came back to streaming, where I would capture gameplay on my old iPhone 6 which was quite outdated and was nearing the end of its lifespan.

The ping was also a very big issue for me as I stream for the middle-east, and a constant 200 ms lag is something I had to work around on a daily. This always got frustrating for me as I wasnt able to properly play the game like others on both the classic and competitive game modes.

But I continued streaming, as I saw myself loving this out of passion and wanted to continue no matter what. Then, my channel eventually started to grow, and then I joined Blind Esports as their streamer and content creator. I soon hit 100k subscribers, and I am proud to state that I am the first female streamer from South India to hit that landmark on PUBG Mobile.

Q. How difficult does it get to maintain the various aspects of your life? How do you strike a balance between the streamer you and the professional you?

Kezia: I work at Qatars Government offices for Public Works, and its very much a regular 8-hour desk job,

In the beginning, I did not expect that I will have to juggle a lot between my work and then stream, but eventually, it became quite difficult to handle, the stress from work, taking care of my family, and then streaming.

As the pressure piled on, I had to keep reminding myself that streaming is my passion, and that its not a task that I need to complete on a daily basis. Its definitely not something that can negatively affect my mental wellbeing.

If I did not want to stream on a particular day, I never really forced myself to do it. If I stream it will only be because of my passion for it and because I love interacting with people. So, yes, it does get tough from time to time, but the perfect work-personal life balance is something attainable and I do see myself achieving it from time to time.

Q3. The esports community, no matter the region, can get rather toxic from time to time. As a woman in the industry, how often were you on the receiving end of sexist and toxic comments while streaming?

Kezia: When people say things are easy for girls or pass comments like Shes a girl, 100k is easy, to them I would say; trust me it WAS NOT easy.

I think I can speak on behalf of all the girls in the video games industry when I say that the gaming community can get incredibly toxic. Toxic to the point that it can affect you mentally, and you will feel like quitting and thinking that its not your platform.

I am often harassed on a daily when I start my stream, and there have been many times when I was on the receiving end of lewd, sexist, and degrading remarks. And I am not even exaggerating when I say that this has been going on on a daily basis.

During the initial days of my channel, even small comments used to hurt me, and there have been multiple occasions when I have actually cried on stream. I know it might sound silly to many, but when you are at the receiving end of all the abusive comments, sometimes its a lot to handle.

People who just sit behind their mobiles, with fake IDs, coming and posting a lot of nasty comments, do not realize the amount of damage that they do to the one on the receiving end. Words are powerful, and not once do these people stop to reflect on their actions.

I even had cases filed against such people, as I feel that people should be aware of cyber-bullying laws that prevail in many countries. I always like to tell my female streamers to be vocal, to be powerful, and to react when they want to react, as there is no harm in being angry and letting it out, rather than taking all the abuse in.

My audiences often say deedi please ignore; so, yes, at times I do ignore it, but I do not believe in ignoring everything. Sometimes such toxic behavior needs to be punished, and you need to teach them a lesson.

I have also had people targeting my stream even with dislike spams, but my likes have always been higher than the dislikes, so it never bothered me. Even though there can be negativity on my stream, there are 1000s of others who are my well-wishers and give me their complete support.

I can happily state that being a streamer has made me more confident and strong-minded. Hence, at the end of the day, these trollers are just bullies, and whatever they say shouldnt affect us.

Reaching this mindset can be easier said than done, but I believe anyone can achieve it, as I live by a quote of CR7 which reads, Your love makes me strong. Your hate makes me unstoppable.

Q. PUBG Mobile is the title that you have created your YouTube channel around. What about the game attracts you so much that you have invested so much time, hard work, and content around it?

Kezia: I used to play a lot of PC and PlayStation titles before picking up mobile titles. But I soon had to leave everything for my studies, and I never really had the time to play much afterward.

I entered the world of PUBG Mobile when I was going through a very tough stage of my life, and Kraftons title helped me escape my immediate reality and even allowed me to make some really close friends along the way.

I eventually shifted from a classic player and started focusing more on the competitive aspect of PUBG Mobile. I had a line-up of my own, with some of the best underdogs from the Kerelan mobile esports community.

This game has changed the face of the Indian esports community, by giving the mobile esports scene a significant boom in terms of community participation.

So ever since I started with the game, I have been hustling each day from being a competitive player and streamer, and to realize my passion in bringing more underdogs into the community.

PUBG Mobile has always been an emotion for me.

Q. After PUBG Mobile got banned in India, did you see a noticeable shift in the matchmaking lobby and the skill difference in the ranked ladder?

Kezia: I dont think I faced many issues with match-making when PUBG Mobile got banned in India, primarily because I am playing on a completely different server.

But from what I have noticed, it is the impact the ban had on many of the stakeholders. Organizations and people who spent money on PUBG Mobile along with a considerable amount of their time were completely devastated and heartbroken

Q. With PUBG: New State on the horizon, what are some of your expectations from the title once it officially launches?

Kezia: As far as I have researched about it, its still in its alpha state and only a handful of users in the US have access to it. I even checked out content from other YouTubers, and I must say that PUBG: New State looks pretty exciting. The concept of the new state is completely futuristic, and it takes us to 2050.

Filled with sci-fi gear and supercars, New State looked much more polished with a realistic, dynamic environment when compared to PUBG Global.

Q. How has your time been in Blind Esports? What are some of the expectations that the org has from you as one of its content creators?

Kezia: Being in Blind has been a bittersweet experience for me. When the tag BLIND associates with your name, it brings in a lot of pressure because the expectations from you will always be very high.

However, being one of their content creators has really opened up opportunities for me to show my creative side to a wider audience. The org grants us full freedom of our content, and though like most orgs Blind might expect us to deliver more and keep entertaining our audience, they get us better brand deals and opportunities so that we can flourish and our hard work finally pays off.

Blind treats us more like their family rather than just content creators and expects us to be with them in all phases of their growth.

Q. With Blind Esports going into a partnership with leading stock and crypto trading platform IQ Option, what are some of your opinions on the merger, and the opportunities that it brings to the table for both parties?

Kezia: These types of partnerships give both the org and the content creators under them to get more exposure in fields outside esports.

With more brands coming in, the value of the org and creators rises and I guess the inclusion of brands in esports will create a big boost for gaming.

Q. Whats the future like for Blind Ziia? What can fan expert from the channel in the coming months?

Kezia: The future is full of new opportunities for me. I am currently working on building my game room and a PC so that I can start creating content for other games as well.

Original post:

PUBG Mobile is an emotion for me as it helped me through really difficult periods of my life: Kezia Blind Ziia Mathew, content creator for Blind...

After you create a video, you'll want to share it with the world, and there's no better way than uploading it to YouTube. If you use the best video editing software for your needs and the right video hosting platform, you will be able to share your video content in a fast, efficient manner. And whats more, many popular video hosting platforms, including YouTube, are completely free to use.

In this guide, we outline everything you need to know to upload to YouTube, which is arguably the worlds most popular video-sharing platform. The process is actually surprisingly simple, even if you have no video creation experience, and there are various tools at your disposal to make it even easier.

Before you can upload to YouTube, there are a few things you need to do. For starters, make sure that you have an active YouTube account. Create a new channel if required, and make sure its name and appearance are relevant to the content youre planning to share.

Additionally, you need to make sure that the visual side of your video is edited and compiled as you want it. If you require voice-overs or other sound effects, you can add them as well, but keep in mind that YouTube has a large, free audio library that allows you to add music and other sound effects after uploading.

You also need to make sure that your video file type is supported by YouTube. In saying that, most common video formats are fine. You can find a full list of YouTube-supported file types here.

When you log in to your YouTube account, you will see a small video camera icon with a plus in the center located in the top right corner of the screen. Click on this, and two options will appear: Upload video and go live. Click the upload video option, and you will be taken to the YouTube Studio.

Here, you will be shown a screen that allows you to upload your raw video file from your computer or other device. Click the Select Files button or drag and drop your video file to begin the upload process.

Once youve selected your video file, you will be taken to a screen that allows you to specify information for your audience. Create an attractive file name thats relevant to your content. Remember, its a good idea to use keywords and phrases that people are likely to search for.

Similarly, make sure you put together a clear description that tells viewers exactly what they can expect to find in your video. Ensure its clear and well written. Select a suggested thumbnail from your video file or upload a custom one. This will be shown in search results and suggested video menus, so make sure its neat and attractive.

You can also add your video to a playlist here and specify whether or not its appropriate for children.

At the bottom of the initial detail page, you will find a More Options button. We highly recommend clicking this and filling in as much information as possible, as it will help you gain visibility and grow your audience.

You can add relevant tags, select and upload subtitles if required, and add a video recording date and location. Specifying a video category will help people find your content, and you can also choose how comments are shownif you want them to be shown at all.

Hitting the next button will take you to a video elements section. Here, you can choose to add an end screen or in-video cards to promote relevant content or products. If you have a website, its a good idea to add a link here to help drive extra traffic. Or, if youre working alongside a business to promote a product or service, you might like to add information about them. In many cases, a disclaimer is a good idea as well.

If youve made it this far, all the hard work is done. Now, you just need to select whether you want your video to be private, unlisted, or available to the public. You can also schedule it to be uploaded at a later date if required.

Before you hit the publish button, we recommend heading back to the beginning and checking your information. Proofread your title, description, and other written content to make sure there arent any spelling or grammar errors. Ensure the correct thumbnail and call-to-action elements are selected, and make sure youve complied with YouTubes Community Guidelines.

Once youre sure everything is correct, hit the publish button and send your video live.

While it's not as robust as the best free video editing software, YouTube has a few tools to enhance your movie. Once your video has been uploaded, you can edit it by navigating to the YouTube Editor tab. Here, you can perform a number of actions, including adding audio, blurring faces or other sensitive parts of your video, and adding or customizing your end screen.

You can also split your video into sections, which is a great way to add different audio tracks in different places. There are numerous music and sound files available, but unfortunately, you cant upload your own audio files here. If you want to add custom audio, make sure you do it before uploading your video.

Once youve uploaded and customized your video, its time to get people watching it. Make sure you share a link to your social media channels and encourage people to click through and view your content. If you have a website, consider embedding it in a blog post or on one of your main pages.

Who knows, if you do things right, you may even gain enough interest to be able to monetize your content!

At the end of the day, uploading and publishing a video on YouTube is actually a very straightforward process. It requires little technical expertise and really shouldnt take you more than half an hour or sounless, of course, your video is large and requires more time to upload.

If youd like to find out more about putting a custom video together, check out our guides to the best free video editing software and the best video editing software. Or, if youre working from a mobile device, consider reading about the best video editing apps for phones and tablets.

Today's best Adobe Premiere Elements 2021 deals

Read more:

How to upload and publish a video on YouTube - Tom's Guide

If the global pandemic has impacted your photography business, you might be pondering other ways of creating an income while still producing images. Check out this list of seven ways to make money from your photographs.

Experienced photographer Zdenka Daulra runs you through her ideas for creating some passive income, especially for those who are relatively new to photography. Be warned: none of these are quick and easy schemes for making money and they all assume that you have some time on your hands and are prepared to work hard. You may also need to take on work that youd normally never consider.

If you decide to start uploading to stock libraries, keep in mind that this will take far longer than you anticipate, especially when youre starting out. Tagging all of your images is a mind-numbing process, particularly if youve not done it before. I strongly recommend sorting out all of your keywords in Lightroom before you upload your images as the image management systems used by stock library websites, though often decent, are nowhere near as quick and easy to use.

What would you add to the list? Let us know in the comments below.

Go here to read the rest:

7 Ways To Make Money as a Photographer in 2021 - Fstoppers

THIS outdoor snap of pals enjoying a whisky contains not three but four people - but can you see them all?

The mind-boggling optical illusion emerged on Twitter at the weekend.

3

At first it looks like one man in a kilt and hat clinking miniature whisky bottles with two friends, whose arms are outstretched.

But there are four drinks - suggesting there is a fourth person in the picture. So can you see them?

We'll give you a clue - the bag behind Mr Kilt is not a person.

Uploading the Reddit snap to Twitter, a social media user said: "My brain refuses to believe there are 4 people in this photo."

3

And internet users were left stumped trying to find the fourth person.

One pleaded: "I'm confused... why are there only "3" arms, yet "4" bottles?"

Another wrote: "Me looking at this photo asking myself if im blind or if theres something more going on here."

Meanwhile, a third simply gave up and said: "Nope, canny see it."

It's only on a much closer inspection that you can spot the camouflaged sleeve attached to a blue gloved hand at the left-hand side of the picture.

3

And, trust me, once you spot it you will never be able to unsee it.

After a close examination, one Twitter user said: "I zoomed in, stared at those blue fingers for a good 30 seconds trying to figure it out.

"Multiple solutions went through my head. Maybe it's a child underneath the cluster of hands.

"Maybe somebody is standing behind the guy in orange. Then I saw it."

Another joked: "This is literally the first time I've seen camouflage work."

MYSTIC MEGFebruary 20: Take on a new role in a relationship or a friendship group

Live Blog

HEIR US OUTHarry & Meg's cruel jibe at Queen who tried to protect royal the family'

MYSTIC ME?Do you have psychic powers like Princess Diana's clairvoyant Sally Morgan?

MAKING SEX-CUSESStudent tells parents she got pregnant by sitting on her boyfriends lap

SEEING DOUBLEFrom The Rock to Tom Hardy can you guess which stars these body doubles play?

OH BABYWhat does Meghan & Harry losing their titles mean for their unborn baby & Archie?

Meanwhile we recently shared an optical illusion which does something freaky when you stare at the black dot for 10 seconds.

Plus thisbrainteaser challenges YOU to spot the 13 dangerous items in the home scene and the time to beat is 45 seconds.

And this iswhat your sleep position says about your personality from rude Toy Soldier to clingy Stretch Armstrong.

Continue reading here:

Can you spot the fourth person drinking whisky in this mind boggling optical illusion? - The Sun

This whole last year was a shit show...

Credit to Mike Shinoda, he knows how to make an entrance. Linkin Parks frontman returns to the fray with new single Happy Endings, an upbeat, wry reflection on shaking off the new year blues and taking 2021 by the horns.

Paired with Phoenix, Arizona pop star Upsahl and Puerto Rican-born, Texas-based rapper Iann Dior, Shinodas new single hangs around the optimistic chorus lyric, Still, at least in my mind, Im feeling like Im the hero that saves me, and offers hope that maybe the year ahead might just be one worth celebrating, a welcome shot of positivity we could all appreciate right now.

Shinodas PR team have proudly informed us that, this week, the LA-based rapper became the first major label artist to launch a single via NFT auction. This, apparently, has something to do with cryptocurrency authorities, but we'll level with you here, they might as well have told us that Shinoda composed the song by synthesising unicorn urine and uploading the stem files into ProTools. Whatever, thefinaltop 10 bidders will each receive an original print of the single artwork signed byShinodaand contemporary artistCain Caser, with proceeds from the auction benefitting the ArtCenter College of Design, which sounds like a good thing. So, well done everyone.

Read more:

Hear Linkin Parks Mike Shinoda marry alt.pop, hip-hop and the hope of a 2021 to remember on Happy Endings - Louder

We were shocked to learn that Dezeen has been ranked last in a survey of websites' carbon emissions. We are determined to improve, says founder and editor-in-chief Marcus Fairs.

We have a guilty secret.While Dezeen has long championed sustainable architecture and design, we've recently become aware that our own carbon footprint is pretty bad.

The internet is far from green: loading pages, watching videos, participating in Zoom calls and sending emails all require plenty of energy. In addition, the devices we use to access the web create pollution.

But with all the recent focus on environmental villains including flying and concrete, the internet has got off lightly, even though communications technology is on course to be a bigger carbon producer than any country apart from India, China and the USA by 2025.

At Dezeen, we have gradually become aware of the carbon cost of running a popular website.

For example, a single regular email produces four grammes of CO2e carbon dioxide equivalent, which is the standard way of measuring carbon footprints.

We have gradually become aware of the carbon cost of running a popular website

If the email contains images that need to be loaded, the figure will be much higher. If, as we do, you send newsletters to tens of thousands of readers every day, that quickly adds up to a frightening amount.

We've been trying to reduce our carbon footprint by switching to renewable energy at our office, sourcing office supplies from sustainable suppliers and, for ourDezeen Day conference in 2019, striving to reduce our environmental impact by encouraging people to walk to the venue, banning single-use plastic and minimising the number of speakers we flew in from overseas.

Formafantasma redesigns website to reduce "pollution connected to the internet"

At the conference, we worked with environmental consultant Sophie Thomas to calculate the event's carbon footprint. We subsequently offset the estimated eight tonnes of CO2 generated by the conference.

This figure included an estimate of the impact of email newsletters we sent about the conference but it didn't take into account the impact of uploading content including videos and images to Dezeen.

This was a blind spot.

Since then, global internet use has increased, particularly since the pandemic has forced people to become more reliant on digital communication, and its carbon footprint is growing.

Only a quarter of the internet is thought to be powered by renewable energy

Estimates vary, but Sustainable Web Design claims that "the internet currently produces approximately 3.8 per cent of global carbon emissions." That puts it way ahead of aviation, which accounts for around two per cent.

Meanwhile, only a quarter of the internet is thought to be powered by renewable energy.

This week, Formafantasma highlighted the issue by redesigning its own website to reduce emissions. The new site uses smaller images and standard fonts to reduce the power needed to load the site, which is now hosted on a platform powered by renewable energy.

Environmental audit reveals the carbon footprint of Dezeen Day conference

Despite knowing all this, we were still shocked to read a report on Dezeen's carbon impact on EcoPing, a service that helps websites reduce their power consumption.

Dezeen "produces 19.32 grams of CO2 per page view; that's 10 times the average emissions produced," EcoPing claims. "That adds up to 2.1 billion grams of CO2 per year."

"You would need a forest with 96,600 mature trees to sequester this much CO2," it says.

"The same as flying one person 3,130 times from New York to Amsterdam. The same CO2 as making 29,932,394.37 cups of tea with milk."

Dezeen's biggest problem is its images. We have almost 750,000 of them in our archive

EcoPing ranked us last in a table of 25 high-traffic blogs, saying: "It boggles the mind really how bad this website is for the world and it's only the 3,500th most popular website!"

Ouch.

Even allowing for scaremongering (after all, EcoPing is trying to drum up business), this is not good.

We got in touch with EcoPing co-founder Dryden Williams to find out more. It turns out he's a huge fan of Dezeen, which is one reason why he included Dezeen in his blog ranking.

Another reason is that we openly publish our traffic stats each year. This information helped Williams compile his report.

Dezeen's biggest problem is its images. We have almost 750,000 of them in our archive, many of them large, high-resolution files.

Five ways we've tried to ensure Dezeen Day has a low environmental impact

This amazing visual resource is a big part of the reason why Dezeen is so popular. But each time a visitor loads an image, there is an energy impact both on Dezeen's servers (which are located all around the world) and on the device used to access the site.

"Images massively affect your [carbon] ranking," Williams told us. "Or perhaps it's more correct to say poorly optimised images do. It is very possible to have lots of images that don't have as much impact."

Williams pointed out improvements we could make including "thinking more sustainably about web design, cleaning up the code you write, to optimising your images correctly."

"Some small tweaks can make huge positive changes to improve your website carbon emissions," he said. "Shaving off a single kilobyte in a file that is loaded two million times reduces CO2 emissions by an estimated 2950kg per month."

We have a lot of work to do

This is the same amount of CO2 saved each month as five flights from Amsterdam to New York, Williams estimates.

It's not all bad. Williams notes approvingly that Dezeen uses StackPath to manage its global server network, ensuring that content is always stored as close to the user as possible ("less distance = less energy used to transfer it over the network," as he puts it).

But we have a lot of work to do. We've been in touch with our developers at Den Creative, who are working on a plan to reduce our impact (to be fair, they have been nagging us to work on our load speed for a while, not for environmental reasons but because it will improve the user experience).

The top priority is image optimisation (using new WebP formats) followed by an audit of third-party scripts on the site that slow things down and increase power consumption.

We are committed to being better. The carbon footprint of our website will no longer be pushed to the back of our minds. We will keep you posted on our progress.

See original here:

"The carbon footprint of our website will no longer be pushed to the back of our minds" - Dezeen

The fashion system is driven by the consumer, Tom Ford told Vanessa Friedman of the New York Times on Instagram Live, five days ahead of his NYFW show. He doubts that anything will come of murmurs that designers could forego precollections and do only two collections a year. We have trained the consumer to think there is something new every couple of months.

But responsible fashion is on his mind, both as designer and as president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Ford, who became vegan a few years ago, gave kudos to Stella McCartney, his former Gucci stablemate, for her early and enduring commitment to sustainability. He sees timelessness and quality as important facets of sustainability. My clothes and what I design are not meant to be thrown away, he said. When I left Gucci and YSL, I had to leave my archives behind. He has since been buying the pieces back at considerable cost.

Standing in his empty LA atelier surrounded by sewing machines, his attention focused on his upcoming digital show, he acknowledged there is no replacement for the physical fashion show. Fashion is all about the Instagrammable moment, and for that to happen you need a convergence of people, celebrities. Live shows on a schedule are very effective. He also thinks trends are made during the chats between attendees as they flock from one show and the next. I hope that real life fashion shows will return, he said, adding that September looks promising. He misses the electricity that cannot be captured on film. Its like the live experience of a play.

Ford who has been designing for thirty-five years confessed he still loves it. However, with the current fashion week model amounting to uploading shows or lookbooks, Ford, like the rest of us, has had to become proficient at new methods of communication. Although this was his first ever Instagram Live. He can review a shoe held up to the camera in his Italian factory via Zoom, inspect the corrections via pdf, but struggles with the bigger challenge of putting looks together for a presentation. He has always allowed himself to play around with the collection right up until the day of the show. If you think of a good idea two days before the show, you have to include it. You cant wait until next season. You wont want it next season.

But despite his passion, his creativity has suffered during the pandemic, and he falls into binges of watching CNN or MSNBC. Everyone has felt a certain depression, he admits. Its been hard to feel creative with all this turmoil.

Despite the difficult year, a few positives have emerged that will remain, says Ford. Fashion professionals dont need to travel nearly as much as they thought they did. Its a cost-saving and planet-protecting measure. In his role at the CFDA, which this month released The State of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Fashion Report, Ford sees firsthand how the Black Lives Matter movement has dramatically impacted the industry, and he doesnt see a return to old ways there. He took steps to rebalance the board with attention to representing both racial and gender diversity, and the CFDA now acts as a sort of talent agency for brands looking for previously underrepresented talent. We have to stay on it, he said. Fashion has taken so much from Black culture. We owe a lot to the Black community in many ways.

Photo from CFDA.com

Fashion editor Jackie Mallon is also an educator and author of Silk for the Feed Dogs, a novel set in the international fashion industry

Image: via CFDA website

See the original post:

Tom Ford says old fashion system was effective, and will return - FashionUnited UK

THE Madras High Court Tuesday rejected a batch of bail applications filed by its former judge CS Karnan, seeking his release in ten criminal cases against him.

The court said the sequence of the videos and the content, prima facie, showed that the petitioner had acted deliberately, knowing fully well that what he was doing was wrong and contrary to law.

A perusal of the transcribed text of all those video contents would clearly show that the petitioner made such abusive utterances consciously and with a predetermined mind. Whenever the objectionable act of the petitioner was condemned by well reasoned persons, he used to react quickly and start abusing them in vulgar language, the court said.

It added that documents seized from Karnans house indicated that he had himself prepared all the abusive statements for recording the videos in question, clearly showing that he had made thorough preparations before recording the abusive content.

As many as ten crimes have been registered against Karnan relating to the uploading of 33 abusive videos on YouTube and Facebook. Karnan, in the videos, allegedly abused the former chief justices of the Supreme Court of India, former judges and sitting judges of the Supreme Court of India and sitting chief justices of two high courts, former and sitting judges of the Madras High Court as well as their family members with vulgar, scandalous, vituperative and obscene words.

The earliest complaint was filed by a practicing advocate of the Madras High Court, Devika, on 26.10.2020.

Karnan also filed an affidavit early today stating that he had committed the crime of uploading the offensive videos because of tension and a change in his temperament.

The acts complained of were not done willfully or wantonly but due to ill health reasons, he said in the sworn affidavit, while promising not to repeat the offence.

The court, however, refused to grant him bail.

Read more from the original source:

Madras HC rejects Karnan's bail applications; refuses to accept his explanation for the abusive video posts - The Leaflet

Nathan Lyons never thought he would be TikTok famous.

But when he began to upload short videos of himself sharing some of his favourite home recipes, that's exactly what happened.

The 35-year-old father-of-six from Penrith in Western Sydney looks like any regular dad, and works long hours as a transport worker.

"Never in my wildest dreams when I made my bully beef did I think that I would have nearly 100,000 people following, not even six months later," he said.

But his "Kooking with a Koori" videos of cheap and easy meal ideas have resonated with tens-of-thousands of people.

Nathan believes the appeal of his videos is their relatability each comes with its own creativity, injection of humour and unrefined style.

"I use plastic plates, I use the pots from Kmart my meals don't look like the professional chefs," he said.

"I think that's why it's blown up, because I use the stuff that they use at home."

Nathan began uploading the videos while whipping up meals for his wife and children, using the social media platform to show others how to feed their families on a tight budget.

He says it's easy to buy "battered sav and chips for the kids" from the local takeaway, but says for the same price "you can go down to Coles or Woolies, have the produce, have the meal for that night then have leftovers for the next day".

"I want to inspire our mob to get back into the kitchen with COVID-19, our families are doing it tough," he said.

"I've been feeding this mob with dinner for $8, it's just making that dollar stretch."

It's a skill the Wiradjuri man learnt growing up in a single-parent, housing commission home with his siblings in inner-Sydney.

"We had to learn to make money stretch Black and Gold products, that sort of stuff," he said.

His cooking is a mix of traditional curries and pastas, which he says are interchangeable to suit the most stubborn of eaters, like his "devon snack pack" a combination of devon, hot chips and sauce.

"If you don't like the curry, leave the curry out, if you want more curry add more curry, if you don't like carrots leave the carrots out, it's flexible, that's the most important thing about family cooking."

Devon and Keen's Curry Powder are regulars in his recipes, ingredients he says you'll find in the kitchens of most Aboriginal homes.

They're recipes that hark back to a childhood filled with food and music.

"A bit of Charley Pride, a bit of Alan Jackson, that's what I listen to, so on a weekend at my Aunty's house having Weet-Bix with powdered milk and listening to Charley Pride that brings back those memories," he said.

He hopes to capture these memories in his latest venture, a new cookbook which he says will be filled with "Indigenous soul food".

But the thought of a published book is something that's still sinking in.

"I barely passed English in high school and yet here we are. It's just mind-blowing.

"I'm just a dad making devon."

As Nathan and his family still come to terms with his new-found fame, his message is clear.

"I want to spread happiness to my community, and I want to inspire them to get back into the kitchen and make their own mad feeds."

See the article here:

Thousands of people have fallen in love with Sydney dad's devon creations after becoming a TikTok hit - ABC News