Jumat, 30 November 2018
Instagram Now Lets You Choose Your Close Friends
While the idea of having a best friend you do everything with is more associated with childhood, there’s no denying friends come in many forms. You may have close friends, friends you just occasionally hang out, work friends, and even friends with benefits.
Plenty of social networks have tried to help us organize our friends into lists over the years. Facebook had its “Lists,” and Google+ wanted you to sort everyone you knew into “Circles”. And now Instagram is trying something similar with what it calls Close Friends.
Create an Inner Circle of Instagram Friends
Instagram’s new Close Friends feature allows you to create an inner circle of friends. You’ll get to choose exactly who makes the cut, and can add and remove people at will. And once you have your Close Friends picked out, you can share Stories just with them.
On the Instagram Blog, the company suggests that “sometimes what you want to share isn’t for everyone”. Therefore, Close Friends gives you “the flexibility to share more personal moments with a smaller group that you choose”.
How to Manage Your Close Friends on Instagram
Managing your Close Friends is pretty straightforward. To begin, open the Stories camera and take a photo or video. You’ll then notice a green circle with a white star in it. Click this, and you’ll be taken to your Close Friends List to populate it with people.
Share with Your Close Friends on Instagram Stories
Starting today, you can make a close friends list and share stories with just the people you've added. Learn more about this update here: https://ift.tt/2PcXJPP
Posted by Instagram on Thursday, November 29, 2018
After this you’ll be able to manage your Close Friends by going to your profile and clicking “Close Friends”. No one can request to be added, and only you can see your list. You’ll be able to see if you’re on someone else’s list by the appearance of a green badge.
Close Friends only works within Stories. So, when you share to Stories, you’ll have the option to only share with the people on your Close Friends list. This should prevent you feeling the need not to share something for fear of offending one person.
The Potential for Brands and Celebrities
While Close Friends is intended for regular Instagram users, it also has potential for brands, celebrities, and influencers. These lists could act like fan clubs, and be treated like a Patreon-style reward for the most loyal members of the clique.
Image Credit: ZenJazzyGeek/Flickr
Read the full article: Instagram Now Lets You Choose Your Close Friends
Apple Watch Series 4 return period extended to 45 days due to ECG feature
An internal document addressed to all Apple Store employees and Apple authorized resellers has been obtained by MacRumors. The document outlines a new 45-day return period for the Apple Watch Series 4 due to the ECG (electrocardiogram) sensor embedded into the Watch's body. Likely due to the medical nature of the ECG, Apple had to add the extra month's time to the regular 14-day return policy for most of Apple's products. Should you request a refund past the first fourteen days, you'll need to contact Apple directly by telephone, email, or online chat. If you do take your Watch Series 4...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesApple Watch Series 4 return period extended to 45 days due to ECG feature
An internal document addressed to all Apple Store employees and Apple authorized resellers has been obtained by MacRumors. The document outlines a new 45-day return period for the Apple Watch Series 4 due to the ECG (electrocardiogram) sensor embedded into the Watch's body. Likely due to the medical nature of the ECG, Apple had to add the extra month's time to the regular 14-day return policy for most of Apple's products. Should you request a refund past the first fourteen days, you'll need to contact Apple directly by telephone, email, or online chat. If you do take your Watch Series 4...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesApple Watch Series 4 return period extended to 45 days due to ECG feature
An internal document addressed to all Apple Store employees and Apple authorized resellers has been obtained by MacRumors. The document outlines a new 45-day return period for the Apple Watch Series 4 due to the ECG (electrocardiogram) sensor embedded into the Watch's body. Likely due to the medical nature of the ECG, Apple had to add the extra month's time to the regular 14-day return policy for most of Apple's products. Should you request a refund past the first fourteen days, you'll need to contact Apple directly by telephone, email, or online chat. If you do take your Watch Series 4...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesYouTube Music updated with EQ adjustments
The latest feature to come to YouTube Music is the ability to tune the equalizer settings right from within the app. The change was first noticed in 9to5Google's teardown of the app from a few weeks ago and now appears to be rolling out to all users. Version 2.59 of YouTube Music has the new menu in the app's Settings right below the Streaming Quality option. The interface looks quite similar to the equalizer found in the Google Play Music app. Source: 9to5Google There are 12 presets to choose from, or you can customize five range sliders and fine tune a bass boost or...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesYouTube Music updated with EQ adjustments
The latest feature to come to YouTube Music is the ability to tune the equalizer settings right from within the app. The change was first noticed in 9to5Google's teardown of the app from a few weeks ago and now appears to be rolling out to all users. Version 2.59 of YouTube Music has the new menu in the app's Settings right below the Streaming Quality option. The interface looks quite similar to the equalizer found in the Google Play Music app. Source: 9to5Google There are 12 presets to choose from, or you can customize five range sliders and fine tune a bass boost or...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesYouTube Music updated with EQ adjustments
The latest feature to come to YouTube Music is the ability to tune the equalizer settings right from within the app. The change was first noticed in 9to5Google's teardown of the app from a few weeks ago and now appears to be rolling out to all users. Version 2.59 of YouTube Music has the new menu in the app's Settings right below the Streaming Quality option. The interface looks quite similar to the equalizer found in the Google Play Music app. Source: 9to5Google There are 12 presets to choose from, or you can customize five range sliders and fine tune a bass boost or...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesIndia's Do Not Disturb App is finally approved for iOS' App Store
With spam callers increasingly becoming an issue all over the world, India set out to tackle the problem by implementing a "Do Not Disturb" app that could let users report spam numbers and register to a ‘do not call' registry so that Indian subscribers can see relief from constant telemarketing calls. Apple was slow to adopt India's "TRAI DND" (as the app is called) and the TRAI - Indian telecom regulator threatened to ban iPhones from Indian networks if Apple didn't approve the app before January 2019. This was back in July. TRAI DND on App Store The DND app was launched for...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesIndia's Do Not Disturb App is finally approved for iOS' App Store
With spam callers increasingly becoming an issue all over the world, India set out to tackle the problem by implementing a "Do Not Disturb" app that could let users report spam numbers and register to a ‘do not call' registry so that Indian subscribers can see relief from constant telemarketing calls. Apple was slow to adopt India's "TRAI DND" (as the app is called) and the TRAI - Indian telecom regulator threatened to ban iPhones from Indian networks if Apple didn't approve the app before January 2019. This was back in July. TRAI DND on App Store The DND app was launched for...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesIndia's Do Not Disturb App is finally approved for iOS' App Store
With spam callers increasingly becoming an issue all over the world, India set out to tackle the problem by implementing a "Do Not Disturb" app that could let users report spam numbers and register to a ‘do not call' registry so that Indian subscribers can see relief from constant telemarketing calls. Apple was slow to adopt India's "TRAI DND" (as the app is called) and the TRAI - Indian telecom regulator threatened to ban iPhones from Indian networks if Apple didn't approve the app before January 2019. This was back in July. TRAI DND on App Store The DND app was launched for...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesGoogle Hangouts to be shutdown in 2020
According to a report from 9to5Google, a source familiar with Hangouts' future claims that the messaging service is getting unplugged in 2020, for consumers at least. Hangouts Chat and Hangouts Meet would still be a part of Google's G Suite. The platform has seen several major changes since its inception but Google has put its development on the backburner, instead focusing on its more recent services: Google Allo and Duo. Google launched Hangouts back in 2013 as a successor to Google Talk. It was the default Android app for instant messaging, group chats, and was the default chat...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesGoogle Hangouts to be shutdown in 2020
According to a report from 9to5Google, a source familiar with Hangouts' future claims that the messaging service is getting unplugged in 2020, for consumers at least. Hangouts Chat and Hangouts Meet would still be a part of Google's G Suite. The platform has seen several major changes since its inception but Google has put its development on the backburner, instead focusing on its more recent services: Google Allo and Duo. Google launched Hangouts back in 2013 as a successor to Google Talk. It was the default Android app for instant messaging, group chats, and was the default chat...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesGoogle Hangouts to be shutdown in 2020
According to a report from 9to5Google, a source familiar with Hangouts' future claims that the messaging service is getting unplugged in 2020, for consumers at least. Hangouts Chat and Hangouts Meet would still be a part of Google's G Suite. The platform has seen several major changes since its inception but Google has put its development on the backburner, instead focusing on its more recent services: Google Allo and Duo. Google launched Hangouts back in 2013 as a successor to Google Talk. It was the default Android app for instant messaging, group chats, and was the default chat...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesOur Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite video review is up
Xiaomi's lineup now consists of many dozens of devices, and the Mi 8 family even has a few too. This might all get confusing, but don't worry - we got your back. Today we're taking a detailed look, in video form, at one of the newest members of this series - the Mi 8 Lite. Despite sharing the Mi 8 name with the Mi 8 Pro, as the "Lite" suffix implies this is a mere mid-ranger. But does that mean it's not worthy of bearing the Mi 8 moniker? Find out if you watch our video review, embedded below. In under eight minutes you'll get acquainted with this interesting device, and you'll be...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesOur Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite video review is up
Xiaomi's lineup now consists of many dozens of devices, and the Mi 8 family even has a few too. This might all get confusing, but don't worry - we got your back. Today we're taking a detailed look, in video form, at one of the newest members of this series - the Mi 8 Lite. Despite sharing the Mi 8 name with the Mi 8 Pro, as the "Lite" suffix implies this is a mere mid-ranger. But does that mean it's not worthy of bearing the Mi 8 moniker? Find out if you watch our video review, embedded below. In under eight minutes you'll get acquainted with this interesting device, and you'll be...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesOur Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite video review is up
Xiaomi's lineup now consists of many dozens of devices, and the Mi 8 family even has a few too. This might all get confusing, but don't worry - we got your back. Today we're taking a detailed look, in video form, at one of the newest members of this series - the Mi 8 Lite. Despite sharing the Mi 8 name with the Mi 8 Pro, as the "Lite" suffix implies this is a mere mid-ranger. But does that mean it's not worthy of bearing the Mi 8 moniker? Find out if you watch our video review, embedded below. In under eight minutes you'll get acquainted with this interesting device, and you'll be...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesYou Can Now Stream Tidal Music Directly From Plex
Plex and Tidal have partnered up to bring the streaming music service to the media center app. Tidal subscribers will find the entire Tidal catalog, including videos and podcasts, integrated into the Plex app and sitting alongside their existing music library.
For the uninitiated, Tidal is the music streaming service we suggested was doomed to fail when it launched in 2015. And yet it’s still going strong. In 2017, Tidal tried appealing to audiophiles. And partnering with Plex is its latest attempt to win new fans.
Plex Partners With Tidal
This partnership means Tidal is the first music streaming streaming service to be integrated into Plex without any need for a plugin. If you’re a Tidal subscriber, 60 million songs—plus 250,000 music videos—will show up alongside your own media files.
The tight integration means Tidal users will now see artist recommendations, new album recommendations, and albums missing from your collection. Plex’s Artist Radio and playlists will also have Tidal tracks thrown into the mix.
TIDAL on Plex! Get access to TIDAL’s 59 million+ tracks plus over 250,000 music videos. Augment your music library with TIDAL for the most awesome, personalized music streaming experience out there! Make mixed playlists, discover new jams and a lot more! https://t.co/8bjInL9Lnv pic.twitter.com/aPwzfceAGa
— Plex (@plex) November 29, 2018
You can try Tidal for free for 30 days. And, as explained on the Plex Blog, if you like what you see (and hear) you can buy a Plex and Tidal bundle. Plex and Tidal Premium will cost you $9.99/month. While Plex Pass and Tidal HiFi will set you back $19.99/month.
Forget About Kanye West
For Tidal subscribers who already use Plex this is a no-brainer. And there’s bound to be Tidal users who check out Plex as a result of this partnership, and vice versa. The rest of us will need to move past that cringeworthy Tidal launch with Kanye West et al first.
If you’re new to Plex you should check out our guide to Plex. And if you’re not a fan of Plex, there’s always Emby. For those sticking with it, Plex recently added free on-demand web shows, as well as podcasts and additional customization options.
Read the full article: You Can Now Stream Tidal Music Directly From Plex
7 Tips for Using the Tor Browser Safely
The Onion Router (Tor) is a free piece of software that facilitates anonymous communications and browsing. It’s a secure option for browsing the internet, and comes with its own browser.
Here’s how to get online securely with the Tor browser, and keep your activity private.
Privacy and Security When Using Tor
If you want to remain anonymous when using the internet, Tor is at least as good as the best VPN you can name. Remember, though, Tor is not a VPN; it is a proxy that only protects traffic that is routed through it. Our full guide to using Tor explains this in detail.
Alone, Tor cannot guarantee your security and privacy; you need to understand the best practices and usage tips to ensure maximum security and benefits.
These are:
- Don’t use your personal information
- Do keep your system updated
- Don’t use Tor for Google searches
- Do disable Java, JavaScript, and Flash
- Don’t torrent or use P2P networking
- Do regularly delete cookies and other data
- Don’t use HTTP websites
We are not saying that Tor is the be-all-end-all when it comes to privacy online, but if you use it properly it is a powerful tool.
Do’s and Don’ts of Using Tor
Tor is an amazing tool when used right. Many people associate its use with the dark web and illicit activities. This, however, only represents a small portion of the Tor userbase. Other uses for Tor include:
- Business activities
- Cross-border communications
- Publishing anonymous posts, data, or information
- Whistleblowing (think WikiLeaks)
If you do decide to begin using Tor, make sure you follow these best practices.
1. Avoid Using Your Personal Information
One way many people fall down is by mixing their personal information in with Tor-related activities. This includes but is not limited to: using or accessing your personal email address, using the same usernames, using debit or credit cards, and not using an anonymous persona.
If you are using Tor properly, create a persona and stick to it. Use Tor-based or temporary email services, and transact in anonymous cryptocurrencies. Temporary email services should only be used where you don’t need routine access. After a while, a temporary email address will be deleted.
2. Keep Your System Updated
Tor is only as safe as the system running it. After all, it’s a software solution. If your OS is outdated, then third-parties could exploit loopholes in it to get past your Tor shield and compromise your data.
If a potential attacker is able to figure out what OS you are using then Tor can’t protect you. On the subject of operating systems, using Windows is not a good idea. This is due to the inherent security bugs and vulnerabilities that come with it.
If Windows cannot be avoided, make sure you update it regularly—automatic updates are the way to go.
3. Don’t Use Tor for Google Searches
Google collects and stores information such as search queries. Google also stores cookies on your computer to track your browsing habits. For the most privacy-conscious of people, Google’s use on Tor should be avoided for this reason.
Other search engines like DuckDuckGo and StartPage are best for use on Tor. They don’t track, log, store, or save anything to their own services or your device.
4. Disable Java, JavaScript, and Flash
Using active content on Tor is a huge risk. Adobe Flash, QuickTime, ActiveX, Java, and JavaScript, among other things, can only run because of your user account privileges. Because of this, these can access and share your private data.
JavaScript is the most dangerous. It is a widely-used browser language that may ignore proxy settings and enable tracking by websites. Additionally, these tools may store cookies and other data from the Tor browser that can be difficult to find and delete. By disabling them outright, you achieve a greater level of privacy and security.
5. Don’t Torrent or Use P2P
Tor as a browser is not made for P2P file sharing such as torrenting. The Tor network’s architecture is set up to block file-sharing traffic outright and, in addition to being risky, P2P over Tor is a risk to your privacy and anonymity.
Clients such as BitTorrent are not inherently secure. When used over Tor, they still send your IP address to other peers and there is no way to stop this.
6. Regularly Delete Cookies and Other Data
Whilst Tor routes your traffic through many nodes to prevent traffic analysis, cookies and other scripts can be used to track your activity online. With enough cookies or key bits of data, it can be pieced together to expose your identity.
When using Tor, regularly prune cookies and local site data, or use an add-on that does this automatically.
7. Avoid HTTP Websites
Data that is transferred to and from HTTP sites is unencrypted. Tor only encrypts traffic within its network, and using HTTP sites leaves you vulnerable to prying eyes when your traffic passes through exit nodes.
Visiting HTTPS sites that use end-to-end encryption such as TLS and SSL is perfectly safe, though. With HTTPS sites, all your data is safe even outside of the Tor ecosystem.
Tor Is Only as Safe as You Make It
Tor is one of the best tools available to protect from third-party snooping.
Although it is not perfect and there are inherent vulnerabilities and weaknesses, these can often be avoided by adhering strictly to the best practices and usage tips outlined above.
No matter what you are using Tor for, remaining anonymous should be your primary concern. Online anonymity is not easy, especially when we live in a world powered by data.
Image Credit: sharafmaksumov/Depositphotos
Read the full article: 7 Tips for Using the Tor Browser Safely
Arlo Unveils Wire-Free 4K HDR Security Camera System
Arlo is looking to change the game when it comes to security cameras. The company has just announced a brand new camera called Arlo Ultra that manages to function without wires, which is quite rare for security cameras.
As impressive as the lack of wires is, it’s been done before. What makes the Arlo Ultra stand out is the fact that it captures in 4K resolution with HDR, which is extremely impressive for a security camera.
Make sure you have a 4K display to look at your captured footage on, though!
What’s the Arlo Ultra?
As mentioned from the outset, this is a wire-free security camera that can capture in gorgeous 4K HDR, which is quite rare in the world of security cameras. Previously, the company offered the Arlo Pro 2, which featured the wire-free element of the Ultra, but it was only able to capture footage in 1080p.
The Arlo Ultra also features color night vision and advanced image processing, which should make you forget that you’re even looking at footage captured through a security camera.
For audio, the Ultra features dual-microphones, which means it will be able to record clear, crisp two-way audio with advanced noise cancelation.
Because of the wire-free design, the camera does need to be recharged between uses. However, if you’re planning to mount it somewhere semi-permanently, you can simply plug it in and leave it.
According to Pat Collins, senior vice president of Arlo products, ““Our new flagship wire-free camera represents major advancements in video, audio, software, AI, and computer vision capabilities.”
Here are some other notable features of the Arlo Ultra:
- 180-degree field of view
- LED spotlight built-in
- Built-in siren that can be triggered by motion, audio detection, or manually activated
- Magnetic mount lets users install camera on ceilings, walls, eaves, or place it on tables or counter surfaces.
- Comes with Arlo Smart Premier subscription for one year ($119.88 value)
When Can You Get an Arlo Ultra?
Arlo announced that its latest camera will be available in the first quarter of 2019, so you won’t have to wait too long to get your hands on one.
As of this writing, the company hasn’t revealed pricing information for a single camera. However, Best Buy has a two-camera setup available for $599 for pre-order.
If you can’t wait, check out our list of the best wireless security cameras that you can get right now.
Read the full article: Arlo Unveils Wire-Free 4K HDR Security Camera System
When Moore’s Law Ends: 3 Alternatives to Silicon Chips
Modern computers are truly amazing, continuing to improve as the years go by. One of the many reasons why this has happened is due to better processing power. Every 18 months or so, the number of transistors that can be placed onto the silicon chips within integrated circuits doubles.
This is known as Moore’s Law and was a trend noticed by Intel co-founder Gordon Moore back in 1965. It is because of this reason that technology has been spurred on at such a rapid pace.
What Exactly Is Moore’s Law?
Moore’s Law is the observation that as computer chips get faster and more energy efficient, whilst becoming cheaper to produce. It is one of the leading progression laws within electronic engineering and has been for decades.
One day, however, Moore’s Law is going to come to an ‘end’. Whilst we have been told about the impending end for several years, it is almost certainly approaching its final stages in the current technological climate.
It is true that processors are constantly getting faster, cheaper, and having more transistors packed onto them. With each new iteration of a computer chip, however, the performance boosts are smaller than they once were.
Whilst newer Central Processing Units (CPUs) come with better architecture and technical specs, the improvements for everyday computer-related activities are shrinking and occurring at a slower rate.
Why Does Moore’s Law Matter?
When Moore’s Law finally does “end,” silicon chips will not accommodate additional transistors. This means that in order to further advances in technology and bring around the next generation of innovations, there will need to be a replacement to silicon-based computing.
The risk is Moore’s Law comes to its certain demise without there being a replacement. If this happens, technological progress as we know it could be stopped dead in its tracks.
Potential Replacements of Silicon Computer Chips
As technological progress shapes our world, silicon-based computing is quickly approaching its limit. Modern life depends on silicon-based semiconductor chips that power our tech—from computers to smartphones and even medical equipment—and can be switched on and off.
It is important to know that silicon-based chips are not yet ‘dead’ as such. Rather, they are far past their peak in terms of performance. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be thinking about what can replace them.
Computers and future tech will need to be more agile and extremely powerful. To deliver this, we will need something far superior to current silicon-based computer chips. These are three potential replacements:
1. Quantum Computing
Google, IBM, Intel and a whole host of smaller start-up companies are in a race to deliver the very first quantum computers. These computers will, with the power of quantum physics, deliver unimaginable processing power delivered by ‘qubits’. These qubits are far more powerful than silicon transistors.
Before the potential of quantum computing can be unleashed, however, physicists have many hurdles to overcome. One of these hurdles is to demonstrate that the quantum machine is supreme by being better at completing a specific task than a regular computer chip.
2. Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes
Discovered in 2004, graphene is a truly revolutionary material that won the team behind it the Nobel Prize.
It is extremely strong, it can conduct electricity and heat, it is one atom in thickness with a hexagonal lattice structure, and it is available in abundance. It may be years before graphene is available for commercial production, however.
One of the biggest problems facing graphene is the fact that it can’t be used as a switch. Unlike silicon semiconductors that can be turned on or off by an electrical current—this generates binary code, the zeroes and ones that make computers work—graphene cannot.
This would mean that graphene-based computers, for example, could never be switched off.
Graphene and carbon nanotubes are still very new. Whilst silicon-based computer chips have been developed for decades, graphene’s discovery is only 14 years old. If graphene is to replace silicon in the future, there remains much that needs to be achieved.
Despite this, it is undoubtedly, in theory, the most ideal replacement for silicon-based chips. Think of foldable laptops, super-fast transistors, phones that can’t be broken. All this and more is theoretically possible with graphene.
3. Nanomagnetic Logic
Graphene and quantum computing look promising, but so do nanomagnets. Nanomagnets use nanomagnetic logic to transmit and compute data. They do this by using bistable magnetization states that are lithographically affixed to a circuit’s cellular architecture.
Nanomagnetic logic works in the same way as silicon-based transistors but instead of the switching on and off of the transistors to create binary code, it is the switching of magnetization states that do this. Using dipole-dipole interactions—the interaction between the north and south pole of each magnet—this binary information can be processed.
Because nanomagnetic logic does not rely on an electrical current, there is a very low power consumption. This makes them the ideal replacement when you take into account environmental factors.
Which Silicon Chip Replacement Is Most Likely?
Quantum computing, graphene, and nanomagnetic logic are all promising developments, each with its own merits and drawbacks.
In terms of which one is currently leading the way, though, it is nanomagnets. With quantum computing still being nothing but a theory and practical problems facing graphene, nanomagnetic computing looks like it is the most promising successor to silicon-based circuits.
There is still a long way to go, though. Moore’s Law and silicon-based computer chips are still relevant and it might be decades before we need a replacement. By then, who knows what will be available. It may be the case that the technology that will replace current computer chips is yet to be discovered.
Read the full article: When Moore’s Law Ends: 3 Alternatives to Silicon Chips
The 8 Best Foreign Horror Films to Watch on Netflix
Whatever time of year it is, there’s something about that delicious thrill of fear you feel when you watch a well-crafted horror film. But what if you’ve already watched the best Stephen King movies and are looking for something a little more… exotic?
While Hollywood has always produced a robust catalog of horror films, it is far from the only film industry to dabble in the genre. So here are the best horror films from around the world that you can watch right now on Netflix.
1. Diary of an Exorcist – Zero (2016, Portuguese)
Written and directed by Renato Siqueira, Diary of an Exorcist – Zero claims to be based on true life events. It tells the story of Father Lucas Vidal as he recounts his experiences early in his career that led him to become one of the most celebrated exorcists in Latin America.
Diary of an Exorcist is a different take on the demon-possession genre. The chilling tale of a young Vidal and his various encounters with the unholy are skillfully revealed by the director. It’s a world where the devil is not only real but an ever-present threat. Vidal must hold on to his faith even as the forces of darkness take possession of the people closest to him.
2. A Dark Song (2016, English)
This film is the directorial debut of Irish/Welsh director Liam Gavin. A woman grieving the untimely death of her child turns to an occultist to contact her guardian angel through an elaborate ritual. If performed correctly, the woman will be able to right her past wrongs. But a single mistake would unleash the forces of the underworld.
The movie builds up the suspense as the mother and the occultist perform all manners of horrific acts in the name of the ritual. Most of the action takes place inside the woman’s home. The gory, disturbing tale finally winds up in the last twenty minutes with a surprisingly graceful ending.
3. Raw (2016, French)
Raw tells the tale of a young woman’s descent into cannibalism. But don’t expect a regular dumb horror movie take on the gory subject. The script for Raw is one of the smartest I’ve seen in recent times. Justine is a first-year veterinary student from a family of vegetarians. After being forced to eat a raw rabbit kidney, she finds herself developing a taste for meat, both animal and human.
The story unfolds as a metaphor for a girl coming of age. It trades over-the-top gore for a stylish and sexy direction style. You won’t get a lot of jump scares, but there’s definitely a lot of meat here for horror-movie aficionados to bite into.
4. Under the Shadow (2016, Persian)
If you like your horror with a dose of social commentary, look no further than Babak Anvari’s Under the Shadow. A young mother is living alone in an apartment with her daughter in Iran in the 1980s. A bombing attack near her house causes cracks to appear in the ceiling. And then a hoard of evil spirits are unleashed on the house.
The movie is a slow-burner that carefully builds up the psychological horror faced by an isolated mother-daughter duo. You get to see how it’s not just the spirits, but the entire religiously oppressive fundamentalist society that is tormenting the characters of the movie.
5. The Wailing (2016, Korean, Japanese)
The life of an easy-going policeman, Jong-goo, in rural Korea is turned upside when residents of the village apparently begin to experience demonic possession. With more deaths occurring every day, Jong-goo runs haplessly from one horrific disaster to another trying to locate the source of the evil.
Directed in Na Hong-jin’s celebrated madcap style, The Wailing has you laughing one minute and shuddering in horror the next. There’s also a nice little mystery to keep you engrossed. The film stretches on a little too long towards the end, but the journey up to that point is entertaining.
6. Veronica (2017, Spanish)
Veronica made the news for audiences walking out of it halfway through out of sheer fright. Directed by Paco Plaza, the film is the story of a young girl trying to contact her father from beyond. Naturally, things go wrong, and soon enough horrific demons start making their presence felt.
The excellent direction and acting of the cast make this one of the scariest films on Netflix. The atmosphere of horror skillfully builds to a crescendo with each new demon sighting. And just in case you go to sleep telling yourself the movie was just fiction, remember the “Based on real events” banner that shows up in the film. Happy nightmares…
7. Train to Busan (2016, Korean)
Probably the most well-known film on this list. Yeon Sang-ho’s Train to Busan caused quite a sensation when it was released in 2016. The passengers of a train on its way to Busan find themselves confronted with a zombie apocalypse. The movie follows the desperate attempts of the passengers to survive the apocalypse while keeping their loved ones safe.
The film features plenty of fast-paced action and also has a strong emotional core. If you’re still not convinced, Edgar Wright, who directed Shaun of the Dead, called Train to Busan the best zombie movie he has ever seen.
8. The Ravenous (2017, French)
Competing with Train to Busan for the title of “Best Zombie Horror Film of the Last Decade” is Robin Aubert’s The Ravenous. It tells the story of a small town in rural Quebec that has to deal with, you guessed it, a zombie outbreak.
Replete with excellent performances, cutting social commentary, and a boldly cinematic direction style, the movie won a slew of awards upon release. The Ravenous manages to be funny, scary, and philosophical in equal measure. This one is a must watch not just for horror fans, but for fans of good cinema in general.
Other Netflix Genres to Explore
While these are the best foreign horror films available right now, when it comes to Netflix you don’t need to stop with the horror genre. You can even explore secret Netflix genres without breaking a sweat.
Unfortunately, many of the shows and movies on Netflix are only accessible to viewers in certain regions of the world. To get around this problem, you can use a VPN to watch Netflix anywhere.
And if you’re really new to the streaming service check out our ultimate guide to Netflix.
Read the full article: The 8 Best Foreign Horror Films to Watch on Netflix
10 Dead-Simple Mac Apps Everyone Needs to Use
One of the best parts of macOS is its superior collection of apps. From polished writing apps to complex design tools, the platform has everything. But there’s one area of macOS apps that not everyone knows about: utilities.
macOS has a variety of dead-simple, single-purpose apps. These apps do just one or a few tasks, but handle them well. Anyone who gets work done on a Mac can benefit immensely by using these utilities.
1. Magnet
Magnet is the simplest workspace window manager for macOS. The little app sits in the menu bar and offers a dropdown menu to quickly dock an app to the left or the right of the screen. Magnet lets you organize up to four windows quickly (six windows on an ultra-wide monitor).
The best way to use Magnet is to drag a window and push it to the edge of the screen (where you want to dock it). For example, when you push an app to the middle of the left edge and release the cursor, it sticks to the left edge like a magnet, taking up exactly 50 percent of the screen. The app also supports keyboard shortcuts for quickly splitting windows into quarters, sides, and halves.
macOS supports simple window management using Split View mode but it’s limited, confusing, and creates a whole new desktop for just two windows. On the other hand, Magnet adopts to how you already use desktops.
Download: Magnet ($1)
2. The Unarchiver
macOS has a built-in archive tool; compressing and extracting zip files just takes a click. But The Unarchiver is a better, more customizable archive utility that supports a plethora of archive formats including RAR, 7z, ZipX, Tar, Gzip, and more.
Using the preferences pane, you can customize which formats you want the app to open by default. The app also lets you set a specific folder for all extracted archives. As the name suggests, The Unarchiver only works in one direction. You can’t use the app to compress files or folders. For that, you’ll have to stick with macOS’s built-in tool.
The Unarchiver is completely free (while some of the competing apps cost $50), reliable, and a must-have utility for any Mac power user.
Download: The Unarchiver (Free)
3. Amphetamine
Amphetamine is a simple menu bar utility that keeps your Mac awake, no matter what. Usually, a Mac puts itself to sleep after 15 minutes. But at times when you’re doing something in the background (like downloading a huge file or performing a big backup) and you want to prevent your Mac from sleeping. Amphetamine also keeps your external displays and attached drives awake.
There are a lot of one-click utilities that do this. But what sets Amphetamine apart is the Triggers feature. You can set the app to enable automatically when you’re on a specific Wi-Fi network, when you’ve connected a drive or external display, or when your Mac is above a certain battery level. Choose to set it for a couple of minutes or enable a schedule.
Download: Amphetamine (Free)
4. Itsycal
Itsycal is the little menu bar calendar app that everyone needs. With one click of a button, Itsycal shows you the monthly calendar along with upcoming appointments. My favorite aspect is its customizable menu bar icon. You can set it to show the day of the week, date, and month in one single icon.
Download: Itsycal (Free)
5. Alfred
Alfred is a keyboard launcher for Mac that’s essentially a supercharged version of Spotlight. It’s a must-have for every Mac user from novice to professional. You can use Alfred to open apps, search for files, search the web, and more.
When it comes to interacting with files and folders on your Mac, Alfred is much faster than Spotlight. Just type in a couple of letters and you’ll find what you’re looking for, instantly.
The free version of Alfred is enough for beginners. But if you’re a power user, you’ll want to get the Alfred Powerpack. It gives you access to a clipboard manager and text expansion, plus the most important: workflows.
A huge community of Alfred users has created hundreds of workflows for doing everything from resizing images to interacting with Todoist. And of course, you can use Alfred to create your own workflows.
Download: Alfred (Free) | Alfred Powerpack ($24)
6. HandBrake
HandBrake is the best video conversion tool for Mac. The app is open source, free to use, and amazingly extensive. You can convert nearly any format with it; it’s easy to get lost in the sea of options Handbrake offers.
But what’s great about Handbrake is that this potential option overload is quite easy to ignore. Loading up a file and picking something from the Preset menu works great. HandBrake will let you customize the video encoding by file size, resolution, and frame rate as well.
Download: HandBrake (Free)
7. aText
aText is a simple text expansion utility for Mac. If you find yourself typing the same phrases all the time, use aText to create a text expansion snippet. Next time you type a shortcut, it will automatically expand to your predefined phrase.
Text expansion functionality is built into macOS, but aText goes far beyond the basics. aText works with images, GIFs, emojis, and even supports macros. This means you can dynamically insert today’s date or time by simply typing a short snippet.
Download: aText ($5, free trial available)
8. Rocket
If you’re used to the emoji autocomplete feature in Slack, Telegram, and other apps, you’re sure to miss it everywhere else. What if you could just type :laughing to insert a laughter emoji?
With Rocket, you can do exactly that. It brings the emoji shortcut feature to every app on your Mac. If you love emoji, check out other ways to type emoji on Mac.
Download: Rocket (Free)
9. Franz
Franz helps you manage the overload of modern-day workplace communication. If you work remotely, you probably have several websites or apps open. Common culprits are Slack, WhatsApp, Google Hangouts, Skype, Trello, Gmail, and Zendesk.
Franz brings all these web services into one neat window. Services show up as tabs in the left pane and you can quickly switch between them using keyboard shortcuts. The app lets you set custom icons for each service, plus customize audio and notifications for each individually.
Download: Franz (Free)
10. AppCleaner
There’s no uninstaller on macOS. To delete an app, you simply drag it to Trash. But not all apps will uninstall this way. And this doesn’t take into account app-related files that are in the Library folder.
When you’re done trying a new app and it’s time to say goodbye, use AppCleaner. It will find all files related to the app from obscure corners of macOS (folders you should never touch) and will securely remove them for you.
Download: AppCleaner (Free)
Try Some Open Source Mac Apps Too
These apps are great, but you don’t have to stop with them. As macOS is based on Unix, it has a rich history of open source apps. That community is still active and thriving.
You’ll find free alternatives to popular image editors, PDF readers, password managers, and more in our list of open source Mac apps.
Read the full article: 10 Dead-Simple Mac Apps Everyone Needs to Use
Nokia 8.1 (aka X7) launches in India on December 10, invites are in
HMD Global's event on December 6 in India will actually be taking place on December 10 instead. The confusion was finally cleared today when the company started sending out press invites for the gathering. The Nokia 8.1 is expected to be the star of the event, and this, according to the most recent rumors, will be a rebranded Nokia X7 for markets outside of China. The Nokia 7.1 was just launched in India today, and on December 5 as many as three new Nokia phones will be presented in Dubai, so HMD is definitely busy in this period. The Nokia 8.1 has a 6.18-inch 1080x2280 touchscreen...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesNokia 8.1 (aka X7) launches in India on December 10, invites are in
HMD Global's event on December 6 in India will actually be taking place on December 10 instead. The confusion was finally cleared today when the company started sending out press invites for the gathering. The Nokia 8.1 is expected to be the star of the event, and this, according to the most recent rumors, will be a rebranded Nokia X7 for markets outside of China. The Nokia 7.1 was just launched in India today, and on December 5 as many as three new Nokia phones will be presented in Dubai, so HMD is definitely busy in this period. The Nokia 8.1 has a 6.18-inch 1080x2280 touchscreen...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesNokia 8.1 (aka X7) launches in India on December 10, invites are in
HMD Global's event on December 6 in India will actually be taking place on December 10 instead. The confusion was finally cleared today when the company started sending out press invites for the gathering. The Nokia 8.1 is expected to be the star of the event, and this, according to the most recent rumors, will be a rebranded Nokia X7 for markets outside of China. The Nokia 7.1 was just launched in India today, and on December 5 as many as three new Nokia phones will be presented in Dubai, so HMD is definitely busy in this period. The Nokia 8.1 has a 6.18-inch 1080x2280 touchscreen...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesAsus Zenfone Max M2 and Pro M2 specs and images leak
The Asus Zenfone Max M2 and the Pro M2 have showed up on a few occasions in the last few weeks in leaks and teasers but the new report is a bit more revealing than you'd expect. It has almost all the specs and renders that you'd need. Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 WinFuture brings us detailed renders showing the design of both phones. The first thing we notice is that the non-Pro variant has slightly thicker chin and a narrower notch but otherwise the two follow the same design language. In addition, the Max M2 has a metal back while the Pro M2 takes the glass sandwich...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesAsus Zenfone Max M2 and Pro M2 specs and images leak
The Asus Zenfone Max M2 and the Pro M2 have showed up on a few occasions in the last few weeks in leaks and teasers but the new report is a bit more revealing than you'd expect. It has almost all the specs and renders that you'd need. Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 WinFuture brings us detailed renders showing the design of both phones. The first thing we notice is that the non-Pro variant has slightly thicker chin and a narrower notch but otherwise the two follow the same design language. In addition, the Max M2 has a metal back while the Pro M2 takes the glass sandwich...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesAsus Zenfone Max M2 and Pro M2 specs and images leak
The Asus Zenfone Max M2 and the Pro M2 have showed up on a few occasions in the last few weeks in leaks and teasers but the new report is a bit more revealing than you'd expect. It has almost all the specs and renders that you'd need. Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 WinFuture brings us detailed renders showing the design of both phones. The first thing we notice is that the non-Pro variant has slightly thicker chin and a narrower notch but otherwise the two follow the same design language. In addition, the Max M2 has a metal back while the Pro M2 takes the glass sandwich...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesApple Music coming to Amazon Echo devices
Amazon announced today that Apple Music service is coming to the company's Echo series of devices. Echo customers will be able to use Apple Music starting the week of December 17. Apple Music on Echo will work similarly to other music services, which currently include Spotify, Pandora, Amazon's own Prime Music and other local services depending upon user location. To set up Apple Music, you will have to login through the Amazon Alexa app on your phone and once the process is complete, you can just ask Alexa to play songs on Apple Music. The move is surprising but welcome...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesApple Music coming to Amazon Echo devices
Amazon announced today that Apple Music service is coming to the company's Echo series of devices. Echo customers will be able to use Apple Music starting the week of December 17. Apple Music on Echo will work similarly to other music services, which currently include Spotify, Pandora, Amazon's own Prime Music and other local services depending upon user location. To set up Apple Music, you will have to login through the Amazon Alexa app on your phone and once the process is complete, you can just ask Alexa to play songs on Apple Music. The move is surprising but welcome...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesApple Music coming to Amazon Echo devices
Amazon announced today that Apple Music service is coming to the company's Echo series of devices. Echo customers will be able to use Apple Music starting the week of December 17. Apple Music on Echo will work similarly to other music services, which currently include Spotify, Pandora, Amazon's own Prime Music and other local services depending upon user location. To set up Apple Music, you will have to login through the Amazon Alexa app on your phone and once the process is complete, you can just ask Alexa to play songs on Apple Music. The move is surprising but welcome...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesCheck out ZTE nubia X's second screen in action
ZTE's sub-brand nubia announced its flagship bezel-less smartphone, the nubia X, a month ago but it's still a an exotic piece of electronics as only a few flash sales have been carried out. The newly surfaced video shows the smartphone's back OLED screen in action and it looks gorgeous. The Nubia X's back color and screen color blend together, which is a laudable technology, and its visual effect is amazing. pic.twitter.com/1I08xvBDUW— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) November 25, 2018 It's impressive how ZTE managed to install the OLED flush with the back panel. You can't really tell...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesCheck out ZTE nubia X's second screen in action
ZTE's sub-brand nubia announced its flagship bezel-less smartphone, the nubia X, a month ago but it's still a an exotic piece of electronics as only a few flash sales have been carried out. The newly surfaced video shows the smartphone's back OLED screen in action and it looks gorgeous. The Nubia X's back color and screen color blend together, which is a laudable technology, and its visual effect is amazing. pic.twitter.com/1I08xvBDUW— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) November 25, 2018 It's impressive how ZTE managed to install the OLED flush with the back panel. You can't really tell...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesCheck out ZTE nubia X's second screen in action
ZTE's sub-brand nubia announced its flagship bezel-less smartphone, the nubia X, a month ago but it's still a an exotic piece of electronics as only a few flash sales have been carried out. The newly surfaced video shows the smartphone's back OLED screen in action and it looks gorgeous. The Nubia X's back color and screen color blend together, which is a laudable technology, and its visual effect is amazing. pic.twitter.com/1I08xvBDUW— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) November 25, 2018 It's impressive how ZTE managed to install the OLED flush with the back panel. You can't really tell...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesSamsung Galaxy A8s is certified by FCC, screenshot reveals the camera position
Samsung Galaxy A8s is expected to be the first phone by the Korean manufacturer with an Infinity-O display that has a cutout in the upper left corner for the selfie camera. After plenty of speculations, leaks and fan renders, the device was certified officially by the FCC under the name SM-G8870. The listing included a screenshot that revealed the upper left corner is empty from notifications - they moved slightly to the centre. Samsung Galaxy A8s screenshot The Samsung Galaxy A8s is also expected to have a taller screen than the Infinity Display, used in plenty of...
GSMArena.com - Latest articlesSamsung Galaxy A8s is certified by FCC, screenshot reveals the camera position
Samsung Galaxy A8s is expected to be the first phone by the Korean manufacturer with an Infinity-O display that has a cutout in the upper left corner for the selfie camera. After plenty of speculations, leaks and fan renders, the device was certified officially by the FCC under the name SM-G8870. The listing included a screenshot that revealed the upper left corner is empty from notifications - they moved slightly to the centre. Samsung Galaxy A8s screenshot The Samsung Galaxy A8s is also expected to have a taller screen than the Infinity Display, used in plenty of...
GSMArena.com - Latest articles