Twitter-two-factor-authentication
twitter
Twitter Finally Has Two-Factor Authentication: Here’s How to Get It

It's about damn time. After an endless, occasionally entertaining — but mostly disconcerting — string of high-profile hacks, Twitter has finally introduced two-factor authentication to verify that yes, it is, in fact, you logging in. Read More >>

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xbox one
Your Xbox One Is Going to Control Your Entire Home Someday

Yesterday's Xbox One premier was a blazing hailstorm of announcements, each one more tantalising than the next. And while all the new bells and whistles were exciting in and of themselves, the real endgoal, as FastCo. Design uncovered, probably won't be hitting us for another few years: a totally connected, totally integrated home control portal. Read More >>

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google maps
You Can Use Google Maps to Find Faces Hidden in the Earth

It's nearly impossible to gaze up during the day without spotting sort of cloudy, billowing face staring back at us. But rarely do we get the opportunity to see the faces we so casually trample right beneath our feet. Now, a new program by Onformative is giving us a bird's eye's view of every facial landform on Earth. Read More >>

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xbox one
Good News! Xbox One (Kind of) Doesn’t Require Internet Connection (Maybe)

Much to the dismay of practically everyone, rumours that the Xbox One would require a constant internet connection—and a good one, at that—had been running rampant. You can officially put those fears to rest, for the most part. Even though there was no official statement today, by all accounts, the Xbox One has the potential to be totally as enjoyable even when you're offline—as long as the game developer is willing to play nice, that is. Read More >>

Water
science
Our Effect on Earth’s Water Cycle Is Both Fascinating and Terrifying

Initially, access to water defined where humanity could grow and develop. But now the opposite is true, and we're the ones directing the future of our global water system. Watching that transition unfold is as sobering as it is stunning. Read More >>

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microsoft
WHAT There’s Going to Be a Live-Action Halo TV Series Directed by Steven Spielberg

We thought we knew a lot about what was coming at today's Xbox One announcement. But there's at least one phenomenal surprise that the internet was able to keep it's mouth shut about: The Halo series is making its way to a living room near you—but in the form of a television series. And Spielberg's directing. They've said it's going to be a premium, Game of Thrones-style thing. Gulp. Read More >>

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outdoors
Bonk the Day Away With a Floating, 4-in-1 Fisherman’s Best Friend

For the fisherman with space constraints, cramming every little piece of gear you'll need into one little tackle box can be just as frustrating as it is disorganized. Fortunately—at least for the smaller bits—the Kombo Fish Tool will keep you from fumbling around by wrapping four serious fishing necessities into one handy package. Read More >>

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security
Croatian Bees Are Being Trained to Hunt Down Deadly Land Mines

Sending animals to do our dirty work—specifically of the drug-sniffing, bomb-hunting variety—isn't a novel concept by any means. But while an animal bomb-sniffing squad might conjure up the image of a noble K9 dog, Croatians are now depending on a very different, perhaps not quite as lovable bomb fiend: the common honeybee. Read More >>

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android apps of the week
Google Hangouts, Kicksend, and More

What with Google I/O being this week, there are naturally some wonderful additions to Android's app family from the mothership herself. But that doesn't mean third party developers have just been sitting around twiddling their thumbs—this week's set of apps has offerings from everyone. Read More >>

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ipad apps of the week
EyePaint, WWF Together, and More

It's been a long week, and you deserve a break. Fortunately, this week's set of apps for iPad are full of fun and relaxation, and there's even an app ready to do the work for you. Lucky you. Read More >>

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gifs
GIFs in Reverse Are Everything That’s Wonderful About the Internet

GIFs are great. Everyone loves GIFs. But even the crown jewel of the internet could use a little update now and again if we want to keep things exciting. Which is why we would like to introduce you, the uninitiated, to the aptly named Reverse Gif. Warning: abandon a working browser, all ye who enter here. Read More >>

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optical illusions
Why Your Brain Thinks These Dots Are a Dog

Look at the adorable GIF above. What you're seeing is nothing more than a blob of disconnected, alternating smaller blobs. So why do our brains tell us that we're looking at a trotting dalmation? It's all because of a little trick our brains are playing on us known as the Law of Closure. Read More >>

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security
An Imprisoned Hacker Invented an ATM Attachment That Stops Skimmers

Valentin Boanta has a lot of free time on his hands—five years worth, to be exact. That's because Boanta is currently serving a prison sentence for, according to Reuters, "supplying gadgets to an organised crime gang used to conceal ATM skimmers." So with all that time to think about what he's done, the apparently penitent prisoner spent six months developing an ATM add-on to prevent the exact crime that put him there in the first place. Read More >>

Google-Wallet
google wallet
Google Wallet Will Let You Attach Money in Gmail

We already knew Google's got big plans to become your default money manager, killing the other contenders in the process. But now we're starting to find out just how deep the rabbit hole goes. Over the next few months, Google will be rolling out a Gmail option to attach money just like you would with any ol' file. Read More >>