Category Archives: Internet

Internet

Google Has A Hidden Easter Egg For NASA’s Mars Helicopter: Here’s How To Find It

Now that you’ve got uncovered Google’s hidden Easter egg let’s delve into the fascinating world of NASA’s Mars Helicopter, Ingenuity. After a collection of checks and diagnostics, Ingenuity made its first powered flight above the Martian surface on April 19, 2021.

Since its deployment, Ingenuity has launched into a collection of take a look at flights, showcasing its capabilities within the skinny Martian ambiance. The copter’s major mission is to help the Perseverance Rover by scouting and offering invaluable knowledge on potential scientific factors of curiosity.

Originally deliberate for anyplace between one to 5 flights, Ingenuity has far exceeded its operational goals. As of January 2024, Ingenuity has carried out 69 flights, and extra flights are scheduled sooner or later. The plane was additionally just lately within the information after it set a brand new distance document on Mars by flying 2,315 toes (705 meters) throughout its 69th flight.

Ingenuity did give NASA a little bit of a scare in 2023 after NASA misplaced contact with the craft whereas performing its 52nd flight. The helicopter remained uncontactable for properly over two months (63 days, to be exact) earlier than NASA finally reconnected with the aircraft when the Perseverance Rover moved nearer to it.

Internet

Accidental Repost On TikTookay? Here’s How To Undo It

You can simply undo an unintended repost by accessing the video itself by the cell app. If you continue to have the TikTookay video taking part in onscreen, that is the simplest technique to make use of. If not, you may simply use the app’s search perform to lookup the video that you simply mistakenly reposted and do the next:

  1. Open the video you did not imply to repost.
  2. Tap the Share icon. It’s the right-pointing arrow in the proper navigation panel.
  3. Tap “Remove repost.”

The repost will mechanically be undone, with out the necessity to verify the motion once more. A short “Your repost has been removed” message ought to then seem on the highest of the TikTookay video.

Similarly, you can even entry all of your reposts and take away those you now not need by your individual TikTookay profile web page. Provided that you have up to date to the newest model of the TikTookay cell app, here is what you do:

  1. Launch TikTookay.
  2. From the underside navigation menu, faucet Profile.
  3. Navigate to your profile’s Repost tab. It’s the icon with the 2 arrows forming a circle.
  4. Select the TikTookay video you need to disassociate your account from.
  5. Tap the Share icon.
  6. Hit “Remove repost.”

Again, a fast notification ought to seem onscreen informing you that the repost has been eliminated. Different from a earlier model of the TikTookay app, a affirmation pop-up will now not seem afterward.

Internet

What “This Person Is Unavailable On Messenger” Might Mean

In the land of Facebook (and Messenger, by extension), nothing says unavailable greater than a profile that now not exists. It could possibly be because of quite a few causes. The most possible is that the particular person has deactivated or deleted their Facebook and/or Messenger account. Under extenuating circumstances, it is also because of Facebook banning their profile for violating both the platform’s Community Standards or Terms of Service.

If any of those are why you are seeing the “This person is unavailable on Messenger” discover on a chat thread, it may well simply be verified a number of methods. Any briefly deactivated, completely deleted, or suspended account will neither have a visual profile picture nor their first and final names on the high of their dialog web page. Instead, you’ll seemingly see an empty avatar subsequent to a generic “Facebook user” identify placeholder. When you attempt to faucet on the latter and hit the Profile button, it might result in a web page that claims, “This Content Isn’t Available.”

Another means you’ll be able to double-check is by asking a pal to lookup the particular person’s profile by way of their very own Messenger account. If they get the identical outcomes, then the particular person you are trying to contact on Messenger is almost definitely off the platform. If, nonetheless, they can find the account and the Message button on the profile is accessible, then one other clarification could also be true.

Internet

How To Play The Mozilla Firefox Hidden Pong Game

Pong on an old TV Grenar/Shutterstock

Web browsers seem to enjoy hiding fully playable games inside of themselves, from text-based adventures to one of human history’s earliest examples of a video game (i.e. Pong). And wouldn’t you know it, Mozilla Firefox just so happens to be hiding its own version of digital table tennis down in its proverbial guts.

This isn’t a new addition, either — the game has been tucked away in Firefox’s code for several years inside its Customize Toolbar options. Though the steps you have to take to access this little easter egg have changed a bit over the course of several version updates.

Before playing Pong, you will have to make some temporary changes to your Firefox toolbar settings. Forgetting to put things back the way they were once you’re done could cause confusion the next time you use the browser for actual browsing. However, you can always adjust settings in the Customize Toolbar menu to set things right if needed, so there’s no real risk outside of minor inconvenience.

Accessing Firefox’s Pong

playing Pong in Firefox Rob Rich/SlashGear

When you’re ready to try some secret web browser Pong, here’s what to do:

  1. With Firefox open, click on the Application Menu icon in the top-right corner of the window (the “hamburger,” or stack of three horizontal lines).
  2. Click on More tools (located towards the bottom of the pop-up menu), then select the Customize toolbar… option. This will open a new Firefox tab.
  3. Click and drag all of the toolbar items into the Overflow Menu one by one, but leave Flexible Space alone. When finished, only Flexible Space should be outside of the Overflow Menu.
  4. A small button with a unicorn on it will appear at the bottom of the screen to the right of Manage Themes. Click the unicorn button to start playing Pong.
  5. You play by using the Left and Right arrow keys on the keyboard to move your paddle (yours is the one at the top) left and right.
  6. When you’re done playing, manually drag all of the items (or just the ones you want) back out of the Overflow Menu. You can also click the Restore Defaults button at the bottom-right corner of the window, but that will reset all of your Firefox settings to default, not just the toolbar items and isn’t encouraged.

If you’d rather play some Pong with a bit less effort, you can also play it (and several other classics) in your browser with just a few clicks over at the Pong Game website.

Internet

Is Your Gmail Account At Risk Of Being Deleted? Google’s Plan Explained

You may have heard that Google is planning to delete old accounts, which might make you worried about losing your old college or work email as soon as December 1 arrives. However, it seems that this process will not happen all at once. Google’s announcement stated that the accounts will be deleted in phases. The process will begin with accounts that were created but never used, and then move on to those that were more actively used before becoming inactive.

Google has also stated that it will send multiple email notifications to users with inactive accounts in the months leading up to their deletion. These notifications will be sent to the associated account email and the recovery email. This will give you plenty of time to log back into your account if you want to prevent it from being deleted. You might not even need to reset the old, forgotten password because Google is now defaulting to using passkeys. Once you’re logged in, simply reading or sending an email will be enough to reactivate the account. Even basic activities like watching a YouTube video or performing a Google search while logged into your account will remove it from the deletion list.

Of course, if you no longer need a two-year-old Gmail account, you can delete it yourself or wait for Google to do so.

Internet

How To Convert A Raspberry Pi Into A Wi-Fi Extender

Wi-fi repeaters are low-cost and fairly simple devices. In this guide, we’ll show you how to create a Wi-Fi extender using a Raspberry Pi Zero W, which is the smallest traditional Pi with built-in wi-fi. The process is basically the same for any other Pi with wi-fi capabilities when using BalenaOS. For all setups, you’ll need a wi-fi dongle in addition to the built-in wi-fi – one will connect to your router’s SSID, and the other will broadcast the extender SSID. You’ll also require a power supply for the Pi (micro-USB for a Pi Zero) and either a USB drive or a MicroSD card. That’s all the hardware you need.

All of the software setup is connected to Balena. BalenaOS and Balena Cloud are a Docker-based system for deploying fleets of IoT devices, but you don’t need to worry about that. Balena allows free usage for your first 10 devices; you can consider other uses later on. The setup is generally straightforward, but not necessarily quick. Balena’s ecosystem will help you avoid dealing with 200 complex Linux command-line instructions, but it does require some setup of its own. Rest assured, they’ve made it as user-friendly as possible. First, get everything organized with Balena Cloud, then flash the USB drive or MicroSD card and set up your Raspberry Pi. Set up the project and push it to your Pi, and you’re finished.

Internet, Technology

YouTube Starts Global Crackdown on Ad Blockers

On October 13, the developers of AdBlock Plus were unable to provide a solution for YouTube’s new problem, according to a blog post on their website. As for uBlock Origin, users on Reddit have reported that the Firefox version of the extension still functions, but it is advised to regularly update the extension and its blocklist to ensure effectiveness. The Reddit post also mentions that YouTube updates their detection scripts twice a day, so users should be prepared for frequent filter updates.

Another post on Reddit suggests that uBlock Origin is also effective at blocking ads on the Brave browser, including the mobile version. The same post recommends using NewPipe for Android, a free and open-source app that provides an ad-free YouTube experience. However, it is important to download NewPipe from official sources such as their website or pages on GitHub or F-Droid, as versions on the Google Play Store may contain advertisements.

For desktop users, there is a workaround discovered by AI developer Shanaj Raj. By requesting the video’s embed code through the Share menu, users can access an ad-free version of the video on a per-video basis. It is important to note that these workarounds are unofficial and may cease to work at any moment. The most reliable way to enjoy an ad-free experience on YouTube is through a Premium subscription.

Internet

5 Reasons You Should Consider Quitting Facebook

Unfortunately, using Facebook can have more consequences than simply not having enough fun. Engaging in comparisons with others, arguing about political and social issues, dealing with social drama and bullying, receiving negative comments, not getting enough comments, and being exposed to stressful content can all negatively impact your mental health.

Numerous studies have been conducted on this topic, with findings showing that social media envy contributes to increased levels of anxiety and depression in both young people and adults. Facebook’s content often portrays a perfect life, highlighting the luxurious lifestyles of the wealthy, the curated lives of content creators, and the attempts of those you know to mimic them. This can leave you feeling inadequate, ashamed of your accomplishments, and dissatisfied with your appearance. These negative emotions aren’t easily dismissed and can hinder your ability to appreciate what you have and pursue personal growth.

For some individuals, the consequences can be even more severe. They may require medication to help manage their depression, and without adequate support, their quality of life can greatly decline. In extreme cases, the distress caused by Facebook can even lead to thoughts of suicide. If you suspect that Facebook is causing you significant stress and anxiety, it’s crucial to take a break from the platform for your well-being.

Internet, News, Technology

Twitter’s Latest Experiment Requires New Users to Pay for Full Access

In a recent trial, Twitter has introduced a new policy that will only affect new accounts created after October 17, 2023. Existing accounts will not be affected. This move is part of Twitter’s ongoing efforts to combat the presence of bots on their platform, a concern that even Elon Musk has raised in the past. The intention behind this program is to safeguard the user experience by preventing bots and spammers from manipulating the platform, as explained in a support document provided by the company.

Under this trial, new users in the Philippines and New Zealand will be required to verify their phone numbers when signing up, regardless of whether they intend to pay the associated fee. After this initial step, each new user will be presented with several options: pay an annual fee of $1 for access to basic features, subscribe to the $8 per month X Premium service for additional features, or qualify as a verified organization. It is important to note that any fees paid during the beta testing phase will not be refundable. As this is still a beta test, Twitter may ultimately choose to halt or expand the program into other markets in the future.

Internet, News

YouTube Introduces Several New Features, Including an Audio Stabilizer

YouTube is adding a feature inspired by one of Google Assistant’s lesser-known capabilities. Users will be able to sing or hum a song and YouTube will identify it for them. To use this feature, users need to hum for at least three seconds. Initially, this feature will be available on Android, with a rollout planned in the coming weeks. In the meantime, users can use Google Assistant for this purpose, as it usually directs users to YouTube’s music and video platforms for results.

Here’s an example of the feature in action:

Furthermore, YouTube is redesigning the “You” page, which can be accessed through the profile icon in the bottom right corner of the screen. Instead of text-based controls, the page will now display rows of video thumbnails labeled as history, playlist, etc. This new design makes it easier for users to find their liked, saved, playlisted, or watched videos from the past (assuming they have enabled watch history).

In addition, YouTube is introducing a dedicated tab for creators to showcase their social links, as well as improving the TV interface with separate windows for action buttons, video descriptions, chapters, and comments. These changes will eventually be implemented on mobile and web platforms.