Here's another look at the Tentsile Tent, which is basically a hammock and tent hybrid that lets you relax high up in the trees surrounded by nature on camping trips. Setting it up is as easy as stringing its three anchor points from trees, and you'll be up above the ground, away from crawly insects, snakes, and other animals. Continue reading for a video and more information.
Let's face it, work can be quite boring to say the least, but ever so often, you'll come across a prankster at work who decides to get creative with notes and signs posted around the office. For example, this person decided to bring some Diet Coke for whoever stumbles across it in the fridge, complete with a strange sign. Continue reading for more.
On November 23, 1953, a US Air Force F-89C jet fighter interceptor was dispatched from Kinross Air Force Base near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to identify an intruder that had appeared on radar. For approximately 30-minutes, the jet flew out over Lake Superior under guidance from radar operators at a remote station on the Keweenaw Peninsula. Suddenly, the return from the jet merged with that of the bogie it was chasing. The IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) signal from the jet was lost. The radar blip from the F-89 never reappeared. An extensive search of the lake and shoreline over the next five days yielded no trace of the F-89 jet or its crew, pilot Lt. Felix Eugene Moncla Jr. and radar operator Lt. Robert L. Wilson. Continue reading for more.
Searchers scouring the waters of the Indian Ocean off Australia’s west coast have not yet succeeded in locating the missing Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777-200, but they have focused global attention on just how many pieces of manmade detritus is floating in our oceans.
Search personnel have referred to the trash, which ranges in size as small as a plastic water bottle to as large as a 70-foot long shipping container, with different descriptors, from garbage to the more unfamiliar and nautical term “flotsam.”
Although the search area is not located in the famous Great Pacific Ocean “garbage patch,” it is located at the edge of one of five “gyres” where ocean currents and the atmospheric circulation draws in waste like a magnet. Read more...
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The Malaysian police in charge of finding out what happened to Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 admitted on Wednesday something the world is beginning to fear: we may never really know what happened to the doomed jetliner and the 239 people on board.
Speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur, Inspector General Khalid Abu Bakar said, "Investigations may go on and on and on. We have to clear every little thing. At the end of the investigations, we may not even know the real cause. We may not even know the reason for this incident."
Malaysia's police have concluded their investigation into the 227 passengers on board the plane and have cleared them all of suspicion. The plane's crew, including senior pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah, 53 and his co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid, 27, continue to be under investigation, with Shah's flight simulator being pored over by the FBI. The probe is now focused on possibilities that include a hijacking, sabotage or psychological problems among those employed by Malaysia Airlines, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. They're even looking into the plane's food to somehow ensure that it wasn't poisoned. Read more...
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Two women rescued from the devastating March 22 Washington Mudslide left everything behind — except for one painting
The Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team released footage on its YouTube page that shows the rescue made after the mudslide wiped out much of the community of Oso, Wash.
After a woman is pulled up into the helicopter, a search and rescue technician is brought up in his harness carrying a painting, which he then hands inside the chopper. "I just had to bring it with," the rescue technician reportedly said. "It was clear that it was important to her and I didn't want her to lose the last thing she had to hold on to." Read more...
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Microsoft has reportedly been secretly developing another Halo live-action digital feature project — separate from the series Steven Spielberg has been producing for Xbox One — that’s expected to debut sometime this year.
A trio of production companies — Xbox Entertainment Studios, Ridley’ Scott’s Scott Free Productions and 343 Industries – have tapped veteran TV director Sergio Mimica-Gezzan to direct the feature, TheWrap first reported Wednesday. The digital trade reports that the story does not follow Master Chief, but another super soldier from the 26th century.
SEE ALSO: PlayStation Enters Original-Content Arena With Superhero Show 'Powers' Read more...
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Google has added panoramic imagery of Cambodia's famous Angkor Wat temples to its Google Street View service
Angkor Wat, literally meaning "Temple City" in Khmer, is a network of more than 100 temples spanning across an area of 400 square kilometers. It is considered to be the largest temple complex in the world
You can start your exploring here; highlights include the Bayon Temple and Ramayana’s Battle of Lanka bas relief carvings.
All in all, 90,000 new panoramic images of Angkor Wat were taken. To capture the imagery, Google used Street View cars, Trekkers and tripods, says Group Product Manager at Google Maps Manik Gupta Read more...
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Need the best Android tablet to go with your best Android phone? We’re here to help. While not much has changed in the tablet world since last month, a new contender has entered our top 5 on the heels of news that Samsung has yet another line of slates waiting in the wings. We’ll see how those stack up next month, but for now, here are the best Android tablets for the month of April.
The LG G Pad 8.3 lands in the Goldilocks zone where good tablet and good price intersect. Selling for just a hair over $300 (and seeing a Verizon edition launched last month), the slate features an HD display, Snapdragon 600 quad-core processing, and dual cameras for snapping photos or getting your video chat on. It’s 8-inch size hits a sweet spot for many tablet users that provides maximum portability and productivity. An available Google Play edition adds to the appeal of the G Pad, marrying the solid hardware build with stock Android, insuring quick platform updates. For all of this, though, the G Pad 8.3 is barely hanging on to a spot in our top 5 as newer tablets are introduced.
Like the LG G Pad 8.3, the Kindle Fire HDX from Amazon makes the most out of its smaller form factor, giving users a bang-up tablet in a portable size — the Kindle Fire HDX is available in both 7-inch and 8.9-inch variants. Unlike the LG G Pad 8.3, don’t expect anything close to a Google Play Edition. Amazon utilizes a “forked” version of Android far different from the KitKat build of other devices. This also means content is locked into Amazon’s ecosystem of apps, games, and other media. The Kindle Fire HDX makes up for this with a powerful hardware compliment that includes an HD display and quad-core processor. Oh, and it starts at only $229.
The year is now 2014, so it makes sense that the 2013 edition of Google’s popular Nexus 7 line of tablets is starting to slip down our list. When it comes to the pure Android experience, however, nothing comes close to besting the N7’s combination of solid hardware and affordable pricing. While it features the older Snapdragon S4 chipset, it still boasts quad-core processing. It’s HD display still looks mighty appealing, as well, as does its $230 price tag. Google should be unveiling an updated edition of their Nexus 7 in the coming months, however, so interested buyers may want to wait it out a bit longer if possible.
Making its debut in our top 5, the Xperia Z2 Tablet is a real contender for the top spot. Not only is it super slim with sleek design and powerful hardware, but you can literally dunk it under water without fear of destroying your precious Android hardware. We don’t recommend doing so, however, as there are better things to do with the slate and its 10.1-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon 801 processor, and 8.1MP camera. Did we mention that it measures only 6.4mm thick? The Xperia Z2 Tablet is currently available in several regions around the globe and should be landing in the US this month.
Having the best doesn’t come cheap, and the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro is a testament to this fact. The 12.2-inch tablet is the biggest on our list and features a 2560 x 1600 display, 3GB RAM, an 8MP camera, and a beefy battery. It gets a hand up (or finger?) with the inclusion of the S Pen, a dedicated stylus tailored to the many multitasking enhancements introduced as part of Samsung’s TouchWiz interface. It’s size won’t be for everyone, nor will that price, which happens to start around $700.
Sure, those our the best (in our humble opinion), but they aren’t the only tablets out there. We almost called this section “Other Tablets by Samsung” but they aren’t the only manufacturer churning out solid slates. Here are five more tablets to mull over.
Not ready to make a tablet purchase but getting in your research? You would be wise to pay attention to a couple more slates on the horizon. Samsung makes another appearance as well as a nifty new design by Lenovo.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 4
Just announced, the next generation of Galaxy Tabs will arrive in Q2 of this year in 7, 8, and 10.1-inch varieties. Picking up where the Galaxy Tab 3 left off, the new slates will target the middle ground between price and performance with 720p HD display (as opposed to 1080p), 1.2GHz quad-core processing, and a 3MP camera, components shared across the various sizes. The tablets will be thinner and lighter than ever while rocking plenty of internal storage thanks to expandable MicroSD memory. Specific pricing has not been announced.
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 10 HD+
This Android slate forom Lenovo has some promise. While it isn’t on the bleeding edge in terms of specs (it will carry a Snapdragon 400 processing suite) it does carry a nice 1080p display and 8MP front-facing camera. The standout feature, however, is the kickstand incorporated into its design. Much like Lenovo’s notebook line of the same name, this baby can yoga its way into several positions for maximum usability. The Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ is presumably still on track for a launch later this month.
Planning on buying a tablet in the near future and not swayed by our rankings? Did we get it right or did we get it wrong? Maybe we missed the Android slate you think everyone needs to know about. Sound off in the comments below and give us your two cents!
A lot of apps are released in the span of one month. It can be near impossible to keep track of them all. In order to help you find only the best apps that have been released in the last month we have assembled this list. Below you will find the best apps (and biggest updates) from the month of March. Check it out and see what apps you missed! (Click app headings for download link)
The Chromecast is starting to get support from a lot of Android apps. Unfortunately, the Chromecast section in the Play Store leaves a lot to be desired. New app “Cast Store” curates all of these Chromecast apps into an easy to use app store. Now you can find every app to take advantage of Chromecast’s full potential.
Coursera connects students, professionals, and lifelong learners everywhere with free online courses from over 100 top-tier global universities and institutions. This app is full of valuable resources to further your education, and it’s all for free. With over 600 courses you are bound to find something interesting. Knowledge is power, which makes this app extremely powerful.
What can you get for $5 anymore? With Fiverr you can get a lot. This popular service has been around for a while on other platforms. It allows people to earn some easy money while performing services that other people need. Need someone to do a voice-over for a video? Want someone to do a remix of your favorite songs? It can all be found on Fiverr.
Previously only available as a part of Sense, HTC BlinkFeed is now available in the Google Play store. This means that HTC will be able to update it much more easily, and other Android devices may soon be able to use it too. BlinkFeed is great if you want a simple way to keep up with social networks, calendars, and browse news.
Jawbone’s popular fitness tracking bands have had apps on iOS and Android for a while, but this month the Android app got a lot better The UP app now works with the Jawbone UP and UP24 fitness bands. The UP24 used to only sync with USB, but now it works with Bluetooth as well. With the app you can see real-time information about your physical stats and activities.
Link Bubble is a completely new way to browse the web on your Android device. When you click on a link the webpage begins to load in the background, allowing you to continue using the app you are in. Once the page is loaded it pops up on top of the current app. You never have to leave the app you are using or wait for pages to load. This is one of the coolest new apps we’ve seen.
Notifications+ solves a problem that many people have: getting Android notifications in the browser. This app makes it very easy to see all of your notifications in Chrome. There are many options and settings that allow you to customize exactly what notifications you will get. It’s very flexible and extremely handy for people who use a computer for most of the day.
The Pebble app is not new to Android, but this month it got a giant update. Version 2.0 of the companion app for the popular smartwatch added a very important feature. It is now possible to browse the watchapp directory and install the latest apps and watch faces right from your Android phone. A Watchapp locker for your favorite apps and a new UI round out the new features.
Photowall is a simple and fun app that works with Chromecast. With this app you can collaborate with friends and share pictures on the big screen. Anyone with the app can connect to the Chromecast and start sharing. No more showing photos on a small screen.
QuickClick allows you to start any action with a sequence of Volume Buttons clicks. You can do things like take a photo or a video, toggle flashlight on and off, make a call, start a message, or start any app. Setting it up is simple. Just choose an action you want to launch, configure that action, choose the button sequence, and you’re done!
One of the most important questions you can ask before going outside for the day is “will it rain?” Having an umbrella with you can be the difference between a good day and a bad day. This app will notify you when you leave the house if you should bring an umbrella. Not only is it very handy, but it is beautifully designed as well.
This new app is a fun way to travel back in time through your social media. Ever wonder what you were tweeting about a year ago? Or what you were doing on Facebook when you first started? With this app you can take a trip down memory lane though almost all of your social networks. It has a beautiful design and is very easy to set up and use.
A URL shortener may sound like a boring app, but this one is very handy. In addition to allowing you to shorten URLs this app also tracks those URLs with dynamic and visual charts. You can see who is clicking on the links you share. Any link can be shared and shortened with the built-in “Share” option in Android.
If you’re looking for a simple and beautiful app to track your expenses look no further than Xpensy. This app may not have the features that power users require, but for the casual user it’s perfect. You can track daily, weekly, and monthly expenses with colorful charts and graphs that show what areas you are spending the most on. Keep an eye on your spending.
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What was your favorite app from March? Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know below!
Hakuna matata!
It means no worries, and the cast of "The Lion King" in Australia were feeling the same vibes on their flight to Sydney after the season launch in Brisbane.
Excited after a great day, they did what you would expect from any professional musical theater cast, and broke into song, serenading the flight crew and passengers as they boarded the plane with "The Circle of Life."
Their rendition received a round of applause from the plane and probably an extra package of peanuts
More about Viral Videos, Disney, Broadway, Plane, and Lion King
A nice new accessory is now available for those of you who have been looking for a microSD card reader for your Android phone for one reason or another. It’s the Leef Access, a $10 dongle that inserts itself into your device’s microUSB port. In trying digital times like these where lots of manufacturers are ditching microSD card slots, Leef Access can be a lifesaver.
Not only will it allow you to easily transfer files to and from your phone, it has a secondary integrated microSD card slot for expansion usage. Need more space to store your music? Add it to your microSD card using Leef Access, and hook it up whenever you want to listen to your tunes.
Something like this isn’t totally practical for everyday use, of course — the fact that it protrudes from the device is an off-putting factor for those who keep their phones in their pockets, for instance. But if you absolutely need physical, external storage and your phone doesn’t provide it, there aren’t many better options out there.
Leef has this thing up on Amazon for sale right now if you’re interested, though you’ll have to put up with an inexpensive $4.50 shipping expense as it is not offered under Amazon Prime. Be sure to check it out if you’re interested.
Being a student is expensive. Unless Mom and Dad have this one covered, you have to foot the cost of classes, books, and food with just scholarships and loans to help. The positive side? You can now get a Spotify Premium account for 50% off. That's right - all you can eat music for $4.99. It's like a meal plan you can actually afford to have.
Before you rock out, there's small print to consider here.
Spotify Launches A $4.99 Student Subscription That Takes 50% Off The Cost Of A Premium Account For A Year was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
    
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The other day, a Chicago Transit Authority operator apparently fell asleep, and the Blue Line train she was running consequently jumped the tracks at O'Hare and ran up a god damn escalator, injuring 32 people, causing an estimated $6 million in damage and screwing up commutes all over the city. Here is raw security camera footage of the accident. It's pretty intense.
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The New York Times has a photo essay by Cooper Neill on UFC's Johny Hendricks, during his training regimen and subsequent fight against Robbie Lawler on Mar. 15. As usual, UFC training is crazy. Oh, no big deal, just carrying some barbells around a football field. Check out the whole set at the Times.
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The Pacers' 84-83 victory over the Heat wasn't the most entertaining game in the world—at times it felt more like a demolition derby between LeBron James and Roy Hibbert than a basketball game—but Paul George yamming one on 'Bron is a highlight worth revisiting. Even more so because George was mic'd up for the game.
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Every year it’s the same thing. Google I/O registration opens, and in a mad frenzy to apply, the server crashes and for many, they find out they’ve missed their opportunity to attend one of the single biggest events of the year. Lots of tears and bloodshed, but this year Google is doing things different.
Today, the Google Developers Blog officially announced when Google I/O 2014 registrations will open: April 8th – 10th. Now that you’ve got that marked in your calendar, you’re no doubt ready to call in a “sick day” to make sure you don’t miss your shot. Don’t bother. As mentioned previously, Google is handling registration a whole lot different this year.
Instead of first come first serve — the selection promise will be completely random. This means you can apply anytime between April 7th through 9th, and you’ll have the same chances of getting in as the guy who applies right when it opens (5AM PT to be exact). Neat huh?
Google has also officially launched their new Google I/0 2014 site, but at the moment seems to be experiencing technical difficulties. For those enrolled in college, tickets will run $300, while “normals” get a ticket for $900. Google I/O 2014 kicks off June 25th – 26th, in beautiful San Francisco. Hit up the link below for more info.
If you’ve been eyeballing the HTC One M8 since it became official early this morning, you’re not alone. So were we. For those that perhaps weren’t too crazy about the idea of HTC Sense 6.0 running the show — good news. The listing for the HTC M8 Google Play edition is now live in the Play Store. While that doesn’t mean the phone is actually available right now, we’re expecting it orders to begin sometime in late April (whenever the phone becomes widely available for other carriers).
Those curious about pricing will find the phone carrying the heft price tag of $700. No surprise there. That’s the kinda price you have to pay for quality. The good news? The HTC M8 Google Play edition is running a stock Android experience and receives updates nearly as quick as Nexus devices. Also, with HTC’s new apps hitting the Play Store, expect features like the IR blaster to remain intact for the Google Play edition, as well as others. Don’t you just love this new trend?
As for carrier compatibility, keep in mind the HTC M8 Google Play edition is only compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks (just like last year’s model). For all those interested, Google Play link provided below.
UPDATE: It looks like it’s finally available, with shipping times scheduled to leave the warehouse in 2-3 weeks.
Purchase on Google Play: HTC One M8 Google Play edition
Even morning people need that first cup of coffee to kick start the day
Coffee addicts will kick down a Starbucks door at 4 a.m., if needed. So the idea of someone blocking the path to sweet java heaven might send a joe-lover into a panic. Enter Jena Kingsley to ruin your day
The comedian pranked unsuspecting New Yorkers — including some Starbucks employees — by impersonating a snooty coffee house bouncer. Her efforts were not well-received, with many potential customers arguing and storming off to get their morning coffee elsewhere. Read more...
More about Viral Videos, Videos, Starbucks, Humor, and Funny
This teacher is worse than Joffrey Baratheon.
A math teacher is replacing detention with something a little more dire — writing Game of Thrones spoilers on the board. On the French site DansTonChat, a student shared that his teacher, who already read George R.R. Martin's books, threatened to spoil deaths that haven't yet played out on the HBO show if the class failed to quiet down
Unsurprisingly, the teacher saw immediate results. When the skeptical pupils tested his nerve, he promptly wrote out all the names of the characters who perished in Season 3. Any students who hadn't seen the Red Wedding yet were undoubtedly traumatized. Read more...
More about News, Funny, Tv, World, and Gifs
The Malaysia Star, one of the country's major news publications, ran a front page cover in tribute to the 239 people on board Malaysia Airlines flight 370, just one day after authorities declared that the jetliner plunged into the ocean.
The front page of the Malaysia Star newspaper on March 25, 2014.
Image: Malaysia Star
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Rajak said in a press conference on Monday that flight 370 "ended" in the Indian Ocean, effectively squashing speculation that survivors could still be alive. Shortly after, the families of the victims received a now-infamous text message saying their loved ones were dead. In return, the families of some of the victims issued a scathing statement, calling Malaysian authorities "executioners" and accusing them of murder. Read more...
More about China, Newspaper, Us World, World, and Malaysia
An Oklahoma girl has broken the all-time national record for Girl Scout cookie sales with 18,107, which shatters the record of 18,000 from the '80s.
In the interview below, Katie Francis, 12, told The Oklahoman's Brandy McDonnell that her goal for the season was 18,100. "There's three ingredients to selling cookies. There's lots of time, lots of commitment and I have to ask everybody I see." Francis says that in previous years she sold 2,004 boxes of cookies, then 7,482 and 12,428 last year. "I'm good at what I do," Francis continued. "Cookie selling is just so much fun to me. I just love doing it. I love meeting all kinds of people and setting a goal and achieving it." Read more...
More about Girl Scouts, Business, and Girl Scout Cookies
I know this is Chromecast country, but Roku was here first. The humble little WiFi streaming devices are competent and powerful, and they work with at least some online media sources that Chromecast doesn't. (Lookin' at you, Amazon.) If you're a happy Roku customer like me, then the Android remote app is probably a big part of your entertainment center. The new and improved version overhauls the user interface and adds one much-needed change.
Roku App Version 3.0 Adds A Huge Visual Overhaul And On-Device Search was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
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If you're a regular commuter, Google may have greatly expanded the utility of its Google Now app with a new feature that lets you know if you're heading near a traffic accident.
As the company explained in a Google Plus update:
More about Traffic, Waze, Tech, Apps Software, and Google NowYou know the feeling. You’re just miles from home when all of a sudden you see brake lights ahead—a sure sign of an incident on the road. Starting today, you’ll have a better chance of making it around the traffic. With the latest update to the #GoogleSearch app for Android, Google Now will send you a notification if you’re likely to hit a traffic incident along your drive—without you even having to ask. That way, you can get off at that earlier exit and cruise through the back roads. Read more...
