The Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Is at Its Lowest Price Ever Right Now
via Lifehacker (author: Pradershika Sharma)
via Lifehacker (author: Pradershika Sharma)
Telegraph
The Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Is at Its Lowest Price Ever Right…
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you’ve been thinking about adding a security camera to your setup but want something a little more refined than the entry-level…
Blue Check Verification Is Coming to Bluesky
It's the old days of Twitter all over again: Bluesky is launching an official verification process for awarding the blue check mark to "notable" user accounts, adding to the platform's existing option to self-verify using an owned domain.
Since 2023, Bluesky has allowed individuals and organizations to "verify" their own accounts by setting their domain as their user name—NPR is @npr.org, for example, and NPR journalists are on the subdomain @name.npr.org—in a decentralized approach to signaling authenticity and building trust.
Because connecting a domain required users to own or have access to that domain, this was one way of proving identity. However, Bluesky still saw a rash of fake and impersonator accounts, as self-verification required users to know (or investigate) which domains were real and trustworthy. Bluesky will soon launch a more centralized verification process that requires accounts to be reviewed and approved by platform moderators.
Verification exists in various forms across other social platforms, ranging from pay-to-play on X (replacing the legacy verification process for notable and authentic accounts) to Instagram's applications for accounts representing a "well-known, highly searched-for person, brand or entity" that has been featured in multiple news sources.
How Bluesky verification works
According to a blog post announcing the change, Bluesky's moderation team will "proactively verify authentic and notable accounts," which will then have a blue check mark displayed next to their names.
In addition, select organizations will have the power to issue blue check marks directly through the Trusted Verifiers feature—for example, The New York Times will be able verify its individual journalists. Bluesky's moderators will still review each verification, and other users will be able to see which organization granted it by tapping on the blue check.
For now, individuals and organizations cannot apply to be verified, though Bluesky expects to open requests for verification and Trusted Verifier status at some point in the future "as this feature stabilizes." Users can still self-verify using domain names.
If you prefer, you can hide verification in the Bluesky app under Settings > Moderation > Verification Settings.
via Lifehacker (author: Emily Long)
It's the old days of Twitter all over again: Bluesky is launching an official verification process for awarding the blue check mark to "notable" user accounts, adding to the platform's existing option to self-verify using an owned domain.
Since 2023, Bluesky has allowed individuals and organizations to "verify" their own accounts by setting their domain as their user name—NPR is @npr.org, for example, and NPR journalists are on the subdomain @name.npr.org—in a decentralized approach to signaling authenticity and building trust.
Because connecting a domain required users to own or have access to that domain, this was one way of proving identity. However, Bluesky still saw a rash of fake and impersonator accounts, as self-verification required users to know (or investigate) which domains were real and trustworthy. Bluesky will soon launch a more centralized verification process that requires accounts to be reviewed and approved by platform moderators.
Verification exists in various forms across other social platforms, ranging from pay-to-play on X (replacing the legacy verification process for notable and authentic accounts) to Instagram's applications for accounts representing a "well-known, highly searched-for person, brand or entity" that has been featured in multiple news sources.
How Bluesky verification works
According to a blog post announcing the change, Bluesky's moderation team will "proactively verify authentic and notable accounts," which will then have a blue check mark displayed next to their names.
In addition, select organizations will have the power to issue blue check marks directly through the Trusted Verifiers feature—for example, The New York Times will be able verify its individual journalists. Bluesky's moderators will still review each verification, and other users will be able to see which organization granted it by tapping on the blue check.
For now, individuals and organizations cannot apply to be verified, though Bluesky expects to open requests for verification and Trusted Verifier status at some point in the future "as this feature stabilizes." Users can still self-verify using domain names.
If you prefer, you can hide verification in the Bluesky app under Settings > Moderation > Verification Settings.
via Lifehacker (author: Emily Long)
What People Are Getting Wrong This Week: Fake News About Karoline Leavitt
via Lifehacker (author: Stephen Johnson)
via Lifehacker (author: Stephen Johnson)
Telegraph
What People Are Getting Wrong This Week: Fake News About Kar…
There’s a new star in the firmament of fake new: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Known for her combative press conferences, Leavitt is at the center of a tornado of misinformation that is being spread on both sides of the political spectrum.…
You Can Get Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 on Sale for $30 Right Now
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
If you’re trying to avoid Microsoft 365’s monthly fees but still want the full suite of tools for work or school, this one-time purchase of Office Professional Plus 2019 might be worth a look. It’s currently on sale for $29.97 on StackSocial, which is a fraction of what you’d usually pay. Just to be clear—this isn’t a trial or a cloud-based subscription. It's a lifetime license for one Windows PC, and you get full offline access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access.
There are some limitations you’ll want to keep in mind. This deal is strictly for the 2019 version, not 2021, and doesn’t include Microsoft Teams. It also won’t tie to your Microsoft account, which might throw off those used to syncing documents between devices. But for a lot of people, that’s not a dealbreaker. It runs on Windows 10 or 11—so no luck if you’re still using an older machine—and you’ll need at least 1GB of RAM and 4GB of disk space. Installation is straightforward and instant. You get your license key and download link right after purchase, and that’s it. No hoops, no waiting.
In terms of actual features, you’re getting a robust productivity suite. Excel has improved data analysis tools, PowerPoint brings in new transitions and a zoom feature for dynamic slides, and Outlook makes email and calendar management a bit more efficient. Word is Word—it just works, and it works well. You can’t collaborate in real-time like in Office 365, but if you mostly work solo or on one device, this version gets the job done. All that said, $30 for a fully licensed, download-now Office suite isn’t a bad move—especially if you just need a stable toolkit that works.
via Lifehacker (author: Pradershika Sharma)
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
If you’re trying to avoid Microsoft 365’s monthly fees but still want the full suite of tools for work or school, this one-time purchase of Office Professional Plus 2019 might be worth a look. It’s currently on sale for $29.97 on StackSocial, which is a fraction of what you’d usually pay. Just to be clear—this isn’t a trial or a cloud-based subscription. It's a lifetime license for one Windows PC, and you get full offline access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access.
There are some limitations you’ll want to keep in mind. This deal is strictly for the 2019 version, not 2021, and doesn’t include Microsoft Teams. It also won’t tie to your Microsoft account, which might throw off those used to syncing documents between devices. But for a lot of people, that’s not a dealbreaker. It runs on Windows 10 or 11—so no luck if you’re still using an older machine—and you’ll need at least 1GB of RAM and 4GB of disk space. Installation is straightforward and instant. You get your license key and download link right after purchase, and that’s it. No hoops, no waiting.
In terms of actual features, you’re getting a robust productivity suite. Excel has improved data analysis tools, PowerPoint brings in new transitions and a zoom feature for dynamic slides, and Outlook makes email and calendar management a bit more efficient. Word is Word—it just works, and it works well. You can’t collaborate in real-time like in Office 365, but if you mostly work solo or on one device, this version gets the job done. All that said, $30 for a fully licensed, download-now Office suite isn’t a bad move—especially if you just need a stable toolkit that works.
via Lifehacker (author: Pradershika Sharma)
The Most Common Reasons for Homebuyer's Remorse (and How to Avoid Them)
via Lifehacker (author: Jeff Somers)
via Lifehacker (author: Jeff Somers)
Telegraph
The Most Common Reasons for Homebuyer's Remorse (and How to …
Whether it’s your starter home or just the latest move up the property ladder, buying a house is a huge investment—financially and emotionally. Despite the stakes, house hunting can be a rushed, stressful experience pushed along by tight timetables, precarious…
You Can Now Make Google Messages Blur NSFW Images
If you receive nude photos via Google Messages, your Android device will soon detect and blur them with a sensitive content warning before you can view them. The feature, which is being rolled out to all users, also allows you to block numbers that send NSFW images and alerts you before you can send or forward them.
When sensitive content warnings are turned on, users will be directed to a resource page (tap Learn why nude images can be harmful) and see an option to block the sender's number. You can choose to open the image you receive (tap Next > Yes, view or No, don't view) and unblur and re-blur by tapping the Preview icon.
How to enable Google's sensitive content warnings
Sensitive content warnings are opt-in for adults, so you'll need to enable the feature in your Google Messages settings under Protection & Safety > Manage sensitive content warnings. Flip the toggle next to Warnings in Google Messages.
For Android users under 18, sensitive content warnings are on by default. Those with supervised accounts cannot control or turn the feature off by themselves, though parents can do so in the Family Link app. Unsupervised teens ages 13–17 can disable the feature in their Google Account settings.
According to 9to5Google, this feature is currently available only on some Android devices running the Messages beta, so it may not appear in your settings yet. Sensitive content warnings do not currently work on videos.
All detection happens on-device powered by Android's SafetyCore, meaning no identifiable data or classified content is sent to Google servers.
via Lifehacker (author: Emily Long)
If you receive nude photos via Google Messages, your Android device will soon detect and blur them with a sensitive content warning before you can view them. The feature, which is being rolled out to all users, also allows you to block numbers that send NSFW images and alerts you before you can send or forward them.
When sensitive content warnings are turned on, users will be directed to a resource page (tap Learn why nude images can be harmful) and see an option to block the sender's number. You can choose to open the image you receive (tap Next > Yes, view or No, don't view) and unblur and re-blur by tapping the Preview icon.
How to enable Google's sensitive content warnings
Sensitive content warnings are opt-in for adults, so you'll need to enable the feature in your Google Messages settings under Protection & Safety > Manage sensitive content warnings. Flip the toggle next to Warnings in Google Messages.
For Android users under 18, sensitive content warnings are on by default. Those with supervised accounts cannot control or turn the feature off by themselves, though parents can do so in the Family Link app. Unsupervised teens ages 13–17 can disable the feature in their Google Account settings.
According to 9to5Google, this feature is currently available only on some Android devices running the Messages beta, so it may not appear in your settings yet. Sensitive content warnings do not currently work on videos.
All detection happens on-device powered by Android's SafetyCore, meaning no identifiable data or classified content is sent to Google servers.
via Lifehacker (author: Emily Long)