FTC finalizes charges against Snapchat for not protecting user data

Remember when we realized that all those Snapchat “snaps” that were supposed to disappear could be accessed by just looking at the app’s directory on your phone via a third-party app? If you were upset, you weren’t alone. Turns out FTC was a bit miffed as well. Today the FTC finalized charges against Snapchat for deceiving customers about the disappearing nature of messages sent through the service. If the messages are still retrievable, they aren’t really disappearing now are they? The FTC goes on to say, “Snapchat also deceived consumers over the amount of personal data it collected and the…



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Top drone deals of 2014

Ready for some aerial acrobatics? Grab a drone, any drone here at TNW Deals at a special price, and perform smooth flight patterns and cool stunts in your personal airspace! Also, don’t miss our top gadget deals and top digital deals of 2014. The Limited Edition Code Black Drone + HD Camera Whether you’re looking to gift or buy your own first drone, there’s never been a better looking choice than the sleek Code Black Drone. Finished in stunning matte black, the Code Black Drone features beginner and expert flight modes so you can execute simple flight patterns and tricks…



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Twitter isn’t about news, tweets or even you anymore

I originally published this post on Medium. I love Twitter. I always have. It’s a great way to meet people, get news and to talk about things you’re interested in. I’ve spent an unfathomable amount of time on the service, with 59,000 tweets over six years and countless friendships forged exclusively over the network. But over the last two years, the company hasn’t delivered any meaningful product improvements. The Mac app has received exactly two updates. The web interface hasn’t seen any major love since 2011. DM’s were completelybroken for over a year. Twitter tried to change its blocking policies,…



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Tech things I’m excited about in 2015 because 2014 was so boring

Goodbye 2014. You were okay, but ultimately sort of meh when it comes to tech. Sure all our phones got a little better. Smartwatches powered by Android appeared and were immediately added to the catch-all drawer with our Fitbits, Nike FuelBands and Jawbone ups. Computers are still about as exciting as new socks, and TV is still just cable and Netflix with a little Amazon streaming sprinkled on top. Then we got hacked. Oh everyone got so hacked in 2014. Target shoppers, celebrities, gamers, Sony, your private photos, hell you’re probably getting hacked right now. But other than being royally…



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The top digital deals of 2014

Yesterday we brought you some of our top TNW Deals on gadgets this year. Today it’s time to look at digital deals. Grab them while you can! The Complete iOS 8 + Swift Developers Course iOS 8 is now on over half of all iPhones around the world, which means now is the right time to begin learning Swift, the new programming language for developing apps for iOS. When you enrol for this course, you’ll learn to build 14 apps with Swift, along with key design patterns and best practices. With lifetime access to over 36 hours of video tutorial…



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The top gadget deals of 2014

We’ve had a bunch of awesome gadgets for work and play on sale this year at TNW Deals — and now we’ve rounded up the best of them all in one place. Get your hands on these deals before the new year rolls in! Limefuel LP200x 20,000 mAh Dual USB Battery Pack Never run out of charge on your mobile devices again, with the all-powerful Limefuel LP200X USB Battery Pack. With 20,000mAh of juice and two ports in a pocket-sized lightweight body, you can charge your phone and tablet simultaneously wherever you go. Stash the LP200X in your purse, jacket,…



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China’s Christmas present to Google? Blocking Gmail

Gmail has been completely blocked in China, following six months of disruption by government censors. Google’s Transparency Report reveals Gmail traffic in China dropping like a stone on December 25th. The Chinese government has not claimed responsibility for the sudden drop in Gmail traffic from the country but a Google spokesperson told Reuters: “We’ve checked and there’s nothing wrong on our end.” Anti-censorship group GreatFire.org says large numbers of Gmail addresses were cut off in China on Friday. Unsurprisingly, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told Reuters that she did not know anything about Gmail being blocked. During the summer,…



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Kim Dotcom will soon launch an encrypted video call service

Kim Dotcom has announced that his company Mega will launch a secure, fully encrypted video call service soon, reports VentureBeat. The maverick and entrepeneur tweeted the news only hours ago, taking a dig at Microsoft-owned video chat service Skype: Mega will soon release a fully encrypted and browser based video call & chat service including high-speed file transfers. Bye bye Skype :-) — Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) December 29, 2014 The inclusion of high-speed file transfers comes as no surprise. Dotcom rose to fame through file-sharing – first with the controversial MegaUpload, which was shut down, and now with Mega. Currently…



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Pinterest gears up to launch ads on New Year’s Day

Pinterest will soon open for business by allowing brands to advertise on its curation network beginning first thing next year, reports The New York Times. Come New Year’s Day, Pinterest will allow marketers to pay for and place ads across its site in the form of ‘Promoted Pins’ – posts that look identical to those created by users who collect images of products, destinations, DIY projects and more. Pinners will be able to save and share these ads that will appear in search results, just like they do with standard pins. So what kinds of pins will you soon see…



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The Interview is now available on iTunes

Apple may be a few days late to the party, but it’s finally joining YouTube, Google Play and Xbox Video in offering Sony’s controversial film The Interview for streaming on iTunes, reports Recode. The Interview is available to iTunes customers in the US and Canada at $6 to rent and $15 to own, the standard price as other outlets, including the film’s own standalone site. The James Franco and Seth Rogen starrer has already raked in $15 million through two million downloads and online rentals, and with its arrival on Apple’s popular media store, that figure is likely to soar…



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How to build a social ecosystem from scratch

Olga Steidl is the Growth manager at Inbot. How many meaningful connections have you built this week? How many old connections did you nurture? When was the last time someone excitedly called you to tell you about a project they launched with someone you introduced them to? When you live and breath the mantra “never eat alone” you know how important it is to attract and spend time with people you like: the right type of people that help you naturally move forward mentally, emotionally and, of course, professionally. You need to start building connections and these connections can be…



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The burden of the budget on an entrepreneur

Alex Sion is President of Moven, an app and debit card that provides real-time behavioral feedback and instant receipts. While there is much talk of how to manage the financial stressors of running a startup, the time rarely is taken to address the toll it specifically takes on one’s personal finances. Even the most experienced entrepreneurs are at risk of dedicating so much of their time and resources to the immediate needs of their business, that individual expenses become out of control. Once they do finally take a step back from the demands of their employees, stakeholders or customers, the…



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Kodak is coming out with an Android smartphone at CES, a tablet and camera to follow

After Kodak nearly went bankrupt in 2012, the company went looking for ways to stay afloat. Today, the brand announced it it’s partnering with the Bullitt Group to unveil a new range of mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets, at January’s CES event. According to the announcement, the phones are designed for “consumers who want a high-end experience but aren’t always as comfortable using increasingly complicated mobile devices.” The devices will be with image capture, management and sharing features. Interestingly, the devices will feature some of remote mangement software to allow friends and family to somehow interact with your phone.…



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Why persona-based marketing will never be obsolete

This article originally appeared on the Evergage blog. Persona-based marketing is a practice that has been trusted by businesses for decades. Traditional research firms have relied on buyer personas to plan target markets, craft advertising plans, and drive the development of new products. Personas are the reason why today’s biggest companies have evolved to become what they are today — if you’re in the B2B world, you’re probably working with several companies that rely on this customer analysis technique. The challenge with persona-based marketing, however, is that it doesn’t solve the same business problems that it has in the past…



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Grab this WordPress starter kit and name-your-own-price WordPress Theme Bundle

If you’re working with WordPress, you definitely can’t miss our latest offer. Here at TNW Deals, we’ve got a great selection of premium themes and elite training to help you build beautiful sites with total control and flexibility. And you won’t believe the prices! Here’s what’s in store: 93% off the 0-100 WordPress Starter Kit Want to design and code quality themes and plugins for the world’s most popular CMS? The 0-100 WordPress Starter Kit includes lifetime access to 6 great tutorials from Udemy, with over 30 hours of content, to teach you everything you need to build a WordPress…



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Facebook hit with class action lawsuit over private message scanning

It’s not as jolly a holiday this year for Facebook, as the social network is facing a class action lawsuit in the US for having scanned users’ private messages without their consent, reports Engadget. Judge Phyllis Hamilton ruled in an Oakland, California court on Tuesday that Facebook must face a class action lawsuit for violating its users’ privacy by scanning private messages so that it could gather data for targeted advertising. While Facebook argued that their actions are covered by an exception under the federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act for interceptions by service providers occurring in the ordinary course of…



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PlayStation Network and Xbox Live down since Christmas

Online console gaming networks Xbox Live and Playstation Network have been down for several hours following an alleged attack by hackers on Christmas Day. The service interruption is similar to one that occurred just over two weeks ago, when hacker group Lizard Squad claimed responsibility for taking down PSN. Users on both networks are experiencing issues signing in, and it’s likely that DDoS attacks were used to take them down. We are aware that there have been issues reported with PSN. Thanks for your patience as we investigate. — Ask PlayStation (@AskPlayStation) December 24, 2014 We're aware users are having…



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Sony reportedly plans to stream The Interview tomorrow on YouTube, Play and its own site

The saga of The Interview continues. Sony Pictures announced yesterday that select theaters across the US will show the film tomorrow. Now, according to Recode’s well-respected media reporter, Peter Kafka, the studio plans to offer rentals through its own site, YouTube and the Google Play store. Kafka reports that Sony may be building a new site to offer The Interview for rental or push it via an existing site, such as its Crackle streaming service. CNN reported earlier that Sony had made a tentative deal to stream the movie via YouTube. With such a short time to nail down the…



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Protect yourself from Sony-style hacks with these cyber security resources

After the recent spate of online intrusions, it’s become more important than ever to safeguard yourself on the Web. Whether you want to protect your personal browsing activity and identity from hackers, or build a bulletproof site or app, be sure to check out our best deals for cyber security training and VPN services here at TNW Deals. 88% off the Cyber Security Developer Bundle This premium security training bundle for developers covers everything you need to know to protect systems, networks and websites, and prepare for certification to further your career. The Cyber Security Developer Bundle includes six courses…



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Uber is sorry about raising fares during the Sydney Siege

Uber Australia has issued an apology for raising its fares in Sydney during a hostage situation in the city’s central business district, reports Mashable. When Man Haron Monis took 17 people hostage at a Lindt cafe in Martin Place last week, Uber’s cab fares surged to four times their usual, making it difficult for citizens to leave the area safely. The company first said that this was done to encourage more drivers to pick up passengers from the CBD, and after a major outcry from Twitter users, offered rides out of the area for free. On Wednesday, Uber sent out…



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How to share to social media when you don’t have time

This post originally appeared on the Buffer blog. There are days when I spend loads of enjoyable time writing new blog posts, creating images to share, and checking analytics, and then when I’m just nearly ready to close the laptop and sign off, I remember: I need to schedule social media posts for the next day. Or, I need to follow-up with mentions. Or, I need to curate some content. Or, I need to do one of the myriad tasks of a social media manager, and wouldn’t you know it I’m just about out of time. Saving time on social…



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2014 was a BIGGG year for IFTTT

We launched 85 Channels in 2014 and 37 of them were for internet enabled devices. Take a look! 2014 was a BIGGG year 37 new Channels for internet connected devices 75,000 Recipes were published this year. Here are a few of our favorites: Expect even bigger things in 2015. Do stay tuned! :) —The IFTTT Team P.S. For those who celebrate Christmas, you'll get a kick out of this. Share on Facebook  |   Share on Twitter  |   Share on Pinterest This newsletter was automatically sent to bloggggg1111.aaaa@blogger.com because you signed up for IFTTT with that address. To disable this communication, you can manage your email settings or unsubscribe from the IFTTT Newsletter.   IFTTT · 923 Market Street #400 · San Francisco, CA 94103

Sony decides to screen The Interview on Christmas Day in select theaters after all

Well this a surprise. Or maybe it’s not. It’s hard to keep up with what Sony is thinking lately. It looks like Sony will be sending out prints of The Interview to theaters for a Christmas Day showing. The Plaza theater in Atlanta tweeted that it will be showing the movie until January Breaking Plaza News: The Interview will open Exclusive on 12/25 . The Plaza will be one of the few theaters in the nation to open the film . — Plaza Atlanta (@PlazaAtlanta) December 23, 2014 Alamo Drafthouse theater founder Tim League also tweeted that the theater will…



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20 creative ways to test your design

Jerry Cao is a content strategist at UXPin — a wireframing and prototyping app with built-in usability testing — where he develops in-app and online content for the wireframing and prototyping platform. To learn how to conduct 20 different types of usability tests, check out The Guide to Usability Testing. Tests that incorporate elements from one or more of the previous categories (scripted, decontextualized, natural tests) fall under the label of hybrid tests. These tests tend to lean towards capturing attitudinal and conceptual feedback, but nonetheless reveal insights that have very specific impact on the usability of the final design.…



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Giveaway: Choose your own Android smartwatch

A smartwatch is the perfect accessory for any gadget aficionado. The latest crop of Android Wear-based devices for your wrist can deliver notifications from your favorite apps, alert you about weather, traffic and your next flight, guide you to your next destination and even send texts and set reminders with voice control. And they’re good-looking to boot. Because we’re bursting with holiday spirit, we’re giving away a premium smartwatch! Enter now to win and pick your prize: the Moto 360, the Samsung Gear 2 or the LG G Watch R. Just visit the Giveaway page and submit your email address…



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FlashChat: Easy, fast, anonymous chat with the people around you

This article is brought to you by FlashChat: chat freely with anyone on the same Wi-Fi network

Anonymous chat apps are all well and good, but without some way to make sure you have something in common, chatting with strangers quickly loses its appeal. That’s where FlashChat comes in. It lets you communicate with people on the same Wi-Fi network as you, anonymously. Whether you’re in an office, university campus, stadium, shop, airport, or anywhere else, you can have fun talking to new people who are close by. Getting set up is a breeze – you just open the app, choose a username and chat right away to other people on the same network. FlashChat is all…



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Why success in African e-commerce is all about scale and biding your time

It is widely agreed that the African e-commerce market presents a huge opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors alike. Frost & Sullivan estimates the market will be worth $50 billion by 2018, compared to $8 billion in 2013. E-commerce businesses of various persuasions and sizes are springing up across the continent, and investment money is flowing into the sector. Yet the truth is more nuanced. Though e-commerce is undoubtedly a long-term opportunity, and investors have not been slow to spot this, at the moment the market faces severe limitations. The primary issue is that the market is just too small. Only…



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Samsung’s Look At Me app for Android helps kids with autism make eye contact

Those who live with autism often have trouble making eye contact with others and perceiving emotions in others. A new app from Samsung might help children develop these skills — and make it fun too. Dubbed ‘Look At Me‘, the new app for Android uses smartphones’ cameras to help kids learn to read people’s moods, remember faces and express themselves with facial expressions and poses. It also gamifies these activities with interactive missions and a point system, and can be completed over a week with 15-20 minutes of play daily. The app is geared towards helping children with autism to…



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Twitter adds mobile analytics to its official app

Announced, fittingly enough, via a tweet, Twitter has unveiled that it’s adding mobile analytics to its mobile apps. Developing…



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The rise of disability tech

Something we don’t hear enough about is how technology is helping the lives of those with disabilities. From robots that can help you remember things, to cars that can drive on their own, disability tech is on the rise. Read on to find out more about this fascinating, developing field. Speech synthesis software and gadgets Speech synthesis can be used in a number of ways to support those in need. Primarily, it’s to help people communicate with others. The most famous example of this has to be Stephen Hawking, who uses the technology to turn words into audio. However, it’s…



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The limited edition Code Black Drone + HD Camera is back. 55% off on pre-order (available worldwide)

After selling out extremely quickly on its first two runs, the HD Code Black Drone is back in the TNW Deals store! Finished in stunning matte black, the Code Black Drone features beginner and expert flight modes so you can execute simple flight patterns and tricks right out of the box, and more complex maneuvers once you’ve got in some practice. The Code Black Drone includes an easy-to-learn remote control to guide your drone from up to 100 feet away, and also features a built-in camera to record HD-quality footage of every thrilling second of your flights. Here’s what you…



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How to sell on social networks like the best e-commerce brands in the world

Joey Kotkins is the CMO & Co-Founder of Inside Social. Social media has proven itself to be a legitimate marketing channel, however, most brands, including e-commerce brands, are still in the mindset that social is just a top-of-the-funnel marketing channel. But as the social networks have matured and consumers’ social media behaviors have evolved, social has become a powerful opportunity for e-commerce brands to drive sales. In fact, the Internet Retailer’s 2014 Social Media 500 sold an estimated $2.69 billion last year from shoppers clicking directly from social networks, up 62.5 percent from 2012. As social has increasingly become pay-to-play,…



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Multitasking on Google Lollipop: A closer look at how Material Design improves productivity

Despite the common refrain that multi-tasking means not doing anything well, it’s a critical function of mobile app performance. Users expect to be able to jump quickly between tasks, and can get frustrated if they have to wait for content to re-load when moving from one application to another. With Lollipop, Google has completely reconfigured how multitasking looks and performs. Instead of just dropping the user back into the app, it allows developers to break apart separate tasks, which then appear as a cascade of distinct windows. It gives developers and users more power, as it’s quicker to get back…



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Facebook’s highlights of 2014 generates a beautiful post of your memories

Last year, Facebook did a “year in review” video for each user which was a quick overview of your year in photos and status’ on the social network. This year, the company is doing something a little different. A new mobile-first year in review shows off your best moments from each month of 2014, with photos and statuses intertwined and allows customization of what images and updates are shown. Once you’re happy with your highlights, you can share it to your Facebook wall so others can check it out or create their own. Users are able to view it on…



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3 non-traditional color palettes for the holiday season

Odes Roberts is an in-house designer for Shutterstock. This post was originally published on the Shutterstock blog and has been reprinted with permission. With the start of every holiday season, we see the arrival of traditional color combinations that have become so familiar they can border on boring. After all, there’s only so much red, white and green a designer can deal with before feeling the urge to turn to other options. Like, what about tie-dye? There’s nothing quite like bright, saturated primary colors for your holiday hangover. This array of colors takes you to that exact moment where all…



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3 ways to tell whether your metrics are tricking you

This post originally appeared on the Evergage blog. B2B marketing can often feel like a big black box. While companies have access to a wealth of customer behavior analytics, these same data points can be extremely deceptive. Take a metric as simple as ‘time on page,’ for instance. If we notice audiences spending a good chunk of time on specific website sections, we might conclude that they’re engaged with our content. In reality, however, audiences might be spending time on these webpages because they’re confused and struggling to find the information that they need. It’s easy for marketers to take…



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Directors’ cuts: a stock footage tribute to Tarantino, Wes Anderson, Malick and more

Niko Brown is a New York-based video editor and filmmaker focused on creating entertaining and profound stories, accented by beautiful images. You can see his work at vimeo.com/nikobrown. This post was originally published on the Shutterstock blog and has been reprinted with permission. There are few things more important to film directors than visual style. While story and performance are always given the utmost attention, the look and feel of a film can be just as influential. Visual style gives directors a unique voice that can make their work recognizable without a word being uttered. And with recognition comes reputation:…



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