Home News

TrackMeNot extension – a Confundus charm for Chrome and Firefox to obfuscate your online user profile

If you are uncomfortable about having your online searches tracked (e.g. in order to provide you with targeted ads based on your browsing habits, etc.), you might want to check out the TrackMeNot extension created by the TMN Team (creators: Daniel C. Howe, Helen Nissenbaum; developer: Vincent Toubiana) for Chrome and Firefox. It does NOT work by concealing or encrypting your searches. Instead, according to the TrackMeNot developers,

TrackMeNot runs as a low-priority background process that periodically issues randomized search-queries to popular search engines, e.g., AOL, Yahoo!, Google, and Bing. It hides users’ actual search trails in a cloud of ‘ghost’ queries, significantly increasing the difficulty of aggregating such data into accurate or identifying user profiles.

It also now “clicks through” the search results, meaning that it will select and navigate (only a percentage of the time) through some of the search results of the random queries to further emulate a real user. I have not given it a try yet, but the options allow you to select the search engines that TrackMeNot should use, the frequency that queries are sent, and it allows you to set up a blacklist of sites for TrackMeNot to avoid. If you are concerned about having your online activity tracked, perhaps this is worth a try. It has a four-star rating (75 reviews) on the Chrome Web Store. TrackMeNot is only available for Chrome and Firefox browsers. To find out more information about it, check out the TrackMeNot FAQ section.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged:

TrackMeNot extension – a Confundus charm for Chrome and Firefox to obfuscate your online user profile originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 25, 2017 at 9:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Your next vacation is only $15 with Google Cardboard

Google Cardboard may be Google’s cheapest luxury. For only $15, you can virtually enter any world or environment of your choice. Manufacturers in competition with Google are selling high technology virtual reality goggles for $70-$600! Not only are these glasses expensive, but they contain a strap with which you are supposed to attach the device to your head, which feels very heavy and uncomfortable. With Google Cardboard, you simply insert your smartphone to designated slot in the back, and hold the box up to your face! 

After you install the Google Cardboard app (or any other VR viewing app), you will be instantly gratified with a complete 360 view of your dream-land. No charging, no cords, no batteries! Yes, it’s that easy. If you have ever wished that you could encounter a dinosaur or stand on the edge of a mountain, now you can!

Google Cardboard is available on Amazon now.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: ,

Your next vacation is only $15 with Google Cardboard originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 25, 2017 at 8:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Nokia’s going old-school cool with its $60 3310 3G

Nokia 3310 3G

Here’s your chance to grab a rejuvenated slice of cell phone history. The iconic Nokia 3310 candy bar style cell phone is coming back in a 3G flavor on October 29th and sports a 320×240 display, a 2MP external camera and 16MB (that’s megabytes, remember those?) of internal memory. It’s compatible with GSM carriers, so AT&T and T-Mobile. It’s also compatible with GSM SIM Kits for Cricket Wireless, Tracfone, Net10, H2O, GoPhone and Simple Mobile. 

And get this, it even plays Snake.

Naturally, the battery life in this thing is legendary compared to most modern smartphones… 22 hour talk time. Remember not having to charge your phone for days on end? Me too. I’ll take my iPhone any day — it’s a fair trade to be able to text with a full keyboard and all those other wonderful modern conveniences.

But if you’re looking for a good emergency phone or something to use while traveling abroad… or you simply use a cell phone for what it was originally invented for, you know, talking, then this might be a great option for you.

The phone is now available for pre-order at Best Buy for $59.99 and launches on October 29, 2017, and comes in black, red, yellow or blue.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged:

Nokia’s going old-school cool with its $60 3310 3G originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 24, 2017 at 9:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

The VW Microbus is (officially) coming back!

After years of rumors and speculation, it’s now official: Volkswagen has announced that the Microbus is coming back! While the new edition clearly pays homage to the funky style of the original icon, it’s a completely new and award-winning design that emphasizes versatility and the latest in integrated technologies. It will also be an all-electric vehicle. 

Production is not scheduled to begin until 2019 with release to the public in 2022, so we don’t know a lot of detail about the final configuration and pricing… but the concept prototype looks amazing. I’m also digging the modular customization and innovative interior layout. We’ll see how much of this makes it into the final production version! What do you think?

Check out the press release at the Volkswagen web site for more details and a whole bunch of press photos.

 

Filed in categories: News

Tagged:

The VW Microbus is (officially) coming back! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 24, 2017 at 8:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Newsflash – Razer Electra V2 Gaming Headsets provide high-end features on a budget

On October 19th, Razer announced two new gaming headsets for value-conscious gamers: the Razer Electra V2 and the Razer Electra V2 USB. Razer has designed this headset to offer great sound, fit and features at a budget price. The sound is generated by custom-tuned 40mm Neodymium drivers. The comfortable fit of the Electra V2 is achieved using a lightweight, flexible aluminum frame with a suspended headrest and plush leatherette ear cushions. Features include a 3.5 mm unified audio and mic connector (on the V2 headset) and a removable boom microphone for enhanced communication during gameplay or in phone conversations. Read on for more info!

Removing the boom mic allows for streamlined use. The USB version allows users to activate Razer green back-lighting on the ear cups, and experience virtual 7.1 surround sound digital audio quality by Razer Synapse – Razer’s cloud-based configurator.

Specs:

Earphones
Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Impedance: 32 ± 15% Ω
Sensitivity: 105 ± 3dB  (115 ± 3 dB on USB model)
Max input power: 50 mW
Drivers: 40 mm with Neodymium magnets
Cable length: 1.3 m / 4.27 ft.
Approximate weight: 278 g / 0.61 lbs. (294 g / 0.65 lbs. on USB model)

Microphone (Removable boom mic)
Frequency response: 100 Hz – 10 kHz
Signal-to-noise ratio: ≥ 50 dB
Sensitivity (@1 kHz): -38 ± 3 dB
Pick-up pattern: Unidirectional

Controls on headset
Volume up / down, mic mute

The Razer Electra V2 (U.S. $59.99 / EU €59.99) and the Razer Electra V2 USB ($69.99 / EU €69.99) are available now from Razerzone.com and worldwide Q4 2017.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: ,

Newsflash – Razer Electra V2 Gaming Headsets provide high-end features on a budget originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 23, 2017 at 8:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.