Chanoatx

This Specialized ad raised cries of “Photoshop!” from every corner of the internet. A video just released should silence the doubters.

Xbox's recent decision to drop the Xbox Live Gold requirement for access to entertainment apps may be cause for celebration for many — except those who have already purchased the $60-a-year subscription.

Luckily, Microsoft said Gold members can apply for a refund for the remainder of their subscription, after the update goes live in June.

Here's what the company said about the change:

Once the Xbox One and Xbox 360 system updates become available in June, Xbox Live Gold members who purchased a paid membership before that day can cancel and receive a pro-rata refund of any unused remaining days between the date of cancellation and the date their paid Gold membership ends. Cancellation and pro-rata refund requests must be made by August 31, 2014 and require six to eight weeks for processing. Free or trial Gold memberships are not eligible for a refund. Read more...

More about Microsoft, Entertainment, Gaming, Xbox Live, and Xbox

Mario Kart occupies a happy, nostalgic place in the hearts of gamers. Playing against a group of friends in the same room, no matter what Nintendo console iteration it happened on, was always a perfect way to spend an evening.

The newest iteration — Mario Kart 8 — has wrung as many of those good feelings as possible from our memories to build the most beautiful Mario Kart experience yet. It's a more complete experience than we've seen in a few generations, that delivers a rush of speed on every turn of the track.

SEE ALSO: 'Mario Kart 8' Trailer Teases New Characters and Courses Read more...

Mario Kart finally enters HD

More about Review, Entertainment, Gaming, Nintendo, and Wii U

Being Batman is serious business.

When it comes to Dark Knight canon, anything goes. After 75 years of fighting crime, ol' Bruce Wayne has been through pretty much everything a human being can possibly go through, sadness-wise. But don't think every part of his character has been explored. These hilarious webcomic artists are here to show you that there's more to Batman than meets the eye.

"It’s probably not that obvious when you look at my work," Christian Henry, creator of Anyone for Rhubarb tells Mashable. "But I would say superheroes like Batman have made up the foundation for how I perceive, understand and go about making comics." Read more...

More about Comics, Features, Batman, Humor, and Webcomics

Experts believe the Internet of Things — the concept that all devices, objects and systems could be web connected and share information in the future — will have a widespread effect on the way we live our everyday lives by 2025.

According to a new report conducted by the Pew Research Center, about 83% of the 1,600 industry experts surveyed believe the category will dominate the mainstream in about 11 years, but there will be slow progress to reach this level, despite today's trends and hype about it being the next big thing.

"Many experts say the rise of embedded and wearable computing will bring the next revolution in digital technology," wrote Janna Anderson, director of Elon Univeristy's Imagining the Internet Center and author of the report. "They say the upsides are enhanced health, convenience, productivity, safety and vastly more useful information for people and organizations. The downsides: challenges to personal privacy, over-hyped expectations and tech complexity that boggles us." Read more...

More about Mobile, Internet Of Things, Wearables, Tech, and Apps Software

Rumors of Google working on a Nexus 8 and Nexus 6 have gained some traction this afternoon. While it’s not much to go on, references to the two devices have recently appeared in Chromium’s source code, as dug up by Florian Kiersch on Google+. Right now it’s still unclear how reliable these commits are (their age is raising some eyebrows) but of course the news has quickly begun spreading ’round the usual Android circles. For now, we’ll keep these filed under “rumor.”

Other than the names, this new “leak” doesn’t reveal much. Occasionally, Chromium code can show us other specs like display resolution, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case here. It’s possible we’ll see these two Nexus devices making another appearance in the near future. Before we leave — do you think we can have a discussion regarding the Nexus 6 and its number typically denoting screen size? My hands can only handle so much phone, Google.

[Chromium Code Reviews]

Tin foil hats to the left, to the left

Conspiracy (or conspironcé, in this case) theorists have something Beyoncé-related to talk about again. On Monday, TMZ released footage of an elevator scuffle (or kerfuffle — where's the audio?!) between Bey's husband Jay Z and her sister Solange after the Met Gala on May 6.

Beyoncé's cool demeanor throughout the brawl raised eyebrows, leaving conspiracists drunk in love off the most popular Queen B-related theories

1. If I were an Illuminati

Theory: Beyoncé is an influential member of the Illuminati Read more...

More about Lists, Celebrities, Beyonce, Music, and Watercooler

Android has several options available for preventing others from accessing your device. One of the most popular options is the lock pattern, which is exclusive to Android. Instead of typing in a four digit number or password you can simply draw a pattern. It’s an extremely handy way to put a layer of security on your device. However, unlike a pin code or password it can be easy to forget. What do you do then?

First of all, before you set up any type of security you should make sure your device is set up to be recovered easily. This way if someone steals your device, or you have to wipe it because you forgot your password, it will be easy to get everything back. To do this go to Settings > Backup & reset and make sure everything is enabled. This is especially handy for devices like the HTC One M8 which will reset your phone after 10 failed unlock attempts.

What to do

Okay, now that we have that out-of-the-way it’s time to help you get back into your device. The good news is Android has a built-in feature to bypass the pattern lock if you can’t remember it. To make things even better, this method won’t work for a thief that has stolen you device. Here’s what to do:

1. After 5 failed attempts you will be locked out for 30 seconds.
2. A button will appear underneath the pattern grid that says Forgot Pattern. Tap it.
3. You will be asked to sign into your Google account.
4. That’s it!

The only way to get back into the phone if you don’t know your Google account credentials is to perform a factory reset. This will erase all of your data and settings, which is why you want to perform a back-up before setting up any security. We should also mention that this will work with the pin code and password lockscreen security.

To help remember your pattern you could draw it on a piece of paper and put it somewhere safe. As long as you know your Google account credentials it’s not really a big deal if your forget. The important part is a thief won’t be able to get in. Do you use a pattern lock on your Android device? Have you ever forgotten it?

 

As increasingly more people give up their cars in favor of biking to work, it only makes sense that necessity would drive our bikes to get smarter — more capable...

Visit Uncrate for the full post.

Have an SUV, a van, or some other vehicle with roof-mounted Thule or Yakima bars and a hearty weight limit? Then you should check out the Poler LeTent Rooftop Tent....

Visit Uncrate for the full post.

It was earlier this year we told you guys about My Paid Apps, an app that displayed all the paid apps you’ve managed to accumulate on your Android devices through the years. We’ve always found it odd the regular Google Play Store app never had a dedicated section for past purchases, but I digress.

Today, My Paid Apps is receiving an update on Google Play that not only introduces a new, easier to use UI, but also adds a few new filter options as well. Previously you could only sort by name, date, and price. Now it’s possible to view all purchases, only apps, apps installed, in-app purchases, movies and TV, music, or devices.

Pretty handy for keeping tabs on your growing app habit — just don’t show the wife. You can grab the update via the Play Store link below.

Download on Google Play: My Paid Apps

Is this how Apple hopes to get its groove back?

Apple is close to buying Beats Electronics for $3.2 billion, according to a report late Thursday in the Financial Times. Bloomberg, The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal have since confirmed the report with their own sources.

The deal would mark Apple's largest acquisition to date by far and comes at a time when other tech giants like Google and Facebook are spending billions on acquisitions like Nest and WhatsApp, respectively.

Beats was founded by rapper Dr. Dre and famed producer Jimmy Iovine. The company sells a near-ubiquitous line of headphones and earlier this year launched a music streaming service similar to Spotify, though the latter has reportedly gotten off to a bit of a rocky start Read more...

More about Apple, Beats, Business, and Music

Group chats can get confusing, especially if you've got a bunch of big talkers in the thread. If you need to get someone's attention in Hangouts, there's a handy little trick for doing it. Just long-press on the user's avatar and you get an @name reply.

This will work with the profile image next to any message that person has sent in the thread previously. It won't specifically alert that person any differently than a regular message, but the name should make it clear you're talking to them in particular, and not the entire room.

• CyanogenMod Introduces Quick Message Pop-Ups, Notification Shade 'Quick Reply' Action On The Way
• Google Hangouts Updated To v2.1 With Merged SMS/Hangout Conversations, Status In Chats, Widget, New Sound, And More [APK Download]
• [APK Download] Hangouts 2.0 With SMS Support Finally Hits The Play Store, Newer Version Should Fix Broken Video Chat
• [Review] Texty Brings Texting To Your Computer Because You're Not Texting Enough Already

Tip: Long-Press On Profile Pics In A Hangouts Group Message Thread For A Quick @Name Reply was written by the awesome team at Android Police.

There are plenty of apps for beaming music to a Chromecast these days, but one of the most popular music services is still lagging behind. Yes, Spotify. Well, you don't have to wait for the official app to get with the times now that Spoticast is available and ready to stream.

Using Spoticast is a little less straightforward than other Chromecast apps. You have to connect Spoticast to your Chromecast, then wait for Spotify to launch.

• BubbleUPnP Update Allows Root Users To Stream Audio From Most Apps To Any UPnP Or DLNA Device
• [New App] Cast Store Helps You Find Apps And Games That Support Chromecasting
• Rhapsody Announces Chromecast Support In Rhapsody And Napster Streaming Apps
• Spotify Connect Comes To Android, Latest App Update Lets Premium Subscribers Stream Music Over Wi-Fi To Supported Speakers

[New App] Spoticast Adds Unofficial Chromecast Support To Spotify was written by the awesome team at Android Police.

Following reports last week that he starred in a second crack cocaine video , Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is, according to Rob Ford, now in rehab. And he's having a blast. "Rehab is amazing," he told the Toronto Sun. "It reminds me of football camp. Kind of like the Washington Redskins camp I went to as a kid."

Read more...

Playing against the Heat sounds like no fun at all.

Read more...

Captain America: The Winter Solider hit theaters last month to warm reviews (we loved it). While we wont spoil any plot lines, eagle-eyed Android fans may have caught some subtle product placement in the film by way of the original HTC One making a cameo as Nick Fury’s smartphone of choice (Hydra was partial to the HTC One X+).

Taking that Marvel endorsement deal and running with it, HTC is now throwing a giveaway on both Twitter and Facebook which sees a 14 lucky winners receiving a special limited edition S.H.I.E.L.D. HTC One M8. To enter, all you gotta do is a take a selfie in your best Captain America-inspired getup and post it to Twitter along with the hashtag #superselfie. Those of you with a Facebook account can also get in on the fun, posting your pictures to their promotion post here.

The S.H.I.E.L.D. edition HTC One M8 is pretty much the standard gunmetal grey model, only with a numbered S.H.I.E.L.D. logo on the back. Subtle, but cool enough that Marvel fans can appreciate the reference. The promotion officially ends on Thursday, May 15h and you can enter once per-day — just don’t go recycling the same selfie over and over. For official rules, head here. After entrants have been selected, the full list of winners will be publicly posted here. Good luck!

[HTC]

Google Maps is seeing a GINORMOUS update in the Google Play Store today. Announced on the official Google Lat Long blog, Google Maps 8.0 introduces a host of new features that are sure to lend a helping hand whether you’re planning a family vacation, or just cruising around your city. Here’s what’s new:

Lane Guidance

Now, instead of guessing or being guided purely by voice, Google Maps will show you which lane you need to be in while navigating. A handy feature for sure, but one limited to only the US, parts of Canada, and Japan. Hopefully we’ll see this roll out to more locations in the future.

Offline Maps management

Saving maps for offline use may not be anything particularly new, but it’s now better and easier to use than ever. When searching for a city or area an option to save the map for offline use will be present in its info (you can even name it whatever you like). What’s more is offline maps will be saved to your profile, easily accessible with little effort.

Filter options

A new UI to filter search results is also making its way into the update. Following closely some of the filter options we recently saw in the Google Search update a few days ago. This should help make finding new businesses and/or restaurants easy as pie.

Uber

For frequent Uber riders, you’ll now be able to compare local transit or walking directions with Uber times. Clicking on the Uber option will then open up the Uber app for an easy transition.

Train times

Now when searching for directions in Maps, clicking the train icon will allow you to pick the time of day you’d like to leave, along with the absolute last time the train leaves (so you aren’t left high and dry). This should help make planning all day outings easier than ever.

Google also mentions “starring” places of interest to help take them between your desktop and mobile devices, as well as exploring vacation destinations using Street View. The new update is hitting the Play Store today (as well as the Apple App Store) , so be sure to head on over and update. Link provided below.

Update on Google Play: Google Maps

Take a trip back in time — or at least pretend to, with photographs of gadgets and gizmos from our collective history.

Photographer Jim Golden was inspired when he walked into a thrift store in rural Oregon, stumbling upon an old brick telephone, a la Zack Morris' oh-so-cutting-edge mobile in Saved By The Bell.

"Since finding it, similar bits and pieces of old technology and media kept grabbing my attention. The fascination was equal parts nostalgia for the forms, and curiosity as to what had become of them," Golden wrote to Mashable. Read more...

More about Pics, Photos, Technology, Photography, and 80s

You could say marketing runs in the Johnnie Walker brand's veins.

In 1860, around the same time Alexander Walker, John Walker’s son, decided to take his father’s blended scotch global, the scion made a series of shrewd marketing decision that affect the brand to this very day.

He chose square bottles and labels angled to an uber-precisje 24 degrees, which Walker reasoned would give his product a larger shelf presence.

Not only would square bottles stand out on a shelf, you could fit more of them there. Why the slanted label? At 24 degrees, Walker felt the label would hold more text. Read more...

More about Marketing, Business, Advertising, Supported, and Johnnie Walker

Mike Giglio is back where he started

BuzzFeed’s mideast correspondent, who is reporting from embattled cities across eastern Ukraine, is talking to Mashable on Friday afternoon from his hotel in Donetsk — not in Sloviansk where he intended to be.

The Ukrainian military was set to begin an assault on a pro-Russian stronghold in Sloviansk, but panicking militants stationed at a checkpoint outside of town had other plans.

Giglio left his hotel in Donetsk early on Friday after receiving a text from a source saying there was action in Sloviansk. Shortly after departing with driver and translator in tow, Giglio confronted a Ukrainian army checkpoint and was waved through. They then encountered a pro-Russia militant checkpoint, whose militia members asked a few questions before letting them pass. Up next was a third checkpoint, this one a bit closer to the city. That's when they were told to pull over to the side of the road Read more...

More about Journalist, Media, Us World, Us, and World

Today in Deadspin Deals, winter is finally over, and we've got deals on everything you need for a great camping trip: Swiss Army gear, SmartWool socks, camping equipment, and beer. If you'd rather stay home, don't miss the huge selection of Criterion classics on sale.

Read more...