IT General

NASA wants Steph Curry to know that yes, the moon landing was real, and they're even inviting him to check out some space rocks to prove it.

During an interview on the podcast "Winging It," the Golden State Warriors star revealed that he doesn't believe the United States has been to the moon. 

About 46 minutes into the episode, he abruptly changed the conversation topic from what sounds dinosaurs made to space exploration.

SEE ALSO: Steph Curry responds to 9-year-old's letter about offering his shoes in sizes for girls

"We ever been to the moon?" Curry asked. 

The group, including Atlanta Hawks players Vince Carter and Kent Bazemore, and Curry's teammate Andre Iguodala, concluded with a unanimous "Nope."  Read more...

More about Nasa, Steph Curry, Conspiracy Theories, Science, and Web Culture

Movie audiences love women. 

According to a study by Creative Arts Agency and shift7, films with women in leading roles earn more than their male counterparts at the box office, a finding which should lead to a major paradigm shift in show business.

“The perception that it’s not good business to have female leads is not true,” CAA agent Christy Haubegger told The New York Times. “They’re a marketing asset.”

SEE ALSO: We have a lot to learn from Megan Fox's #MeToo comments

CAA and shift7 examined 350 top box office films from 2014 to 2017, defining "lead actor" as the first performer credited in official press materials (also of note: most of these films passed the Bechdel test). 105 of these were women. In every category broken down by budget, films with women in the lead outperformed those starring men.  Read more...

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Some people have a hard time staying in one place. For PC gamers, this has long been a challenge. Since desktop setups were the gold standard for so long, the more powerful rigs have often required that PC gamers stay in one spot — or else lug a heavy tower, monitor, and more with them.

The good news? The latest crop of gaming laptops make it possible to play wherever you are, as they easily rival desktops in both power and performance. If you're shopping for a gamer this holiday season, it's an important point to consider. Are they the kind to stay in one place and build out their setup? Or do they like to easily pick up and go? Read more...

More about Gaming, Acer, Laptops, Mashable Shopping, and Shopping Amazon

"Like its hero, it's the kind of film that surveys the strangeness in front of it, flashes a smile, and dives right in. And if it stays in the water a bit too long—well, I'd still come back for a sequel."

Critics like Mashable's Angie Han concede that Aquaman isn't without its barnacles, but contend the flick is at least worth the price of admission. Others are denouncing the DC Comics' tentpole as an irrefutable, outright flop. 

The Jason Momoa and Amber Heard-starring adventure tackles the origin story of the Justice League's trident-wielding hero, taking viewers into the seven kingdoms of Atlantis and entrenching them in ocean-dwelling politics. Read more...

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Atop the globe, there's probably no turning back.

Melting trends in the Arctic today are increasingly stark. The 2018 Arctic Report Card, produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), depicts a thawing world that is continuing to warm and melt at an unprecedented pace.

"I think that the report demonstrated everything we’ve been seeing for the last decade," Jeremy Mathis, a NOAA Arctic scientist who was not involved with this report, said in an interview. 

"The changes in the Arctic are happening faster than they’re happening anywhere else on the rest of the planet."

Loss of November #Arctic sea ice volume since 1979...

+ Data information: https://t.co/MJsb1hjtBx
+ Additional graphics: https://t.co/uzWknWmNnX pic.twitter.com/TKk1MIrba9

— Zack Labe (@ZLabe) December 8, 2018 Read more...

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Photos are some of the most important files people want to keep safe. Storing them in the cloud is nice, but you might also want the peace of mind of having your pictures stored locally. Luckily, it’s easy enough to copy your Mac’s Photos library to an external drive.

This guide assumes you’re using the actual “Photos” app on your Mac, the default if you’ve used iCloud Photo Stream or imported from your iPhone. If you just have your photos in a folder on your Mac, all you need to do is plug your external drive in and move them over. If you’re using another app that maintains a library, you’ll have to configure things within that app.

Moving Your Photos Library

To understand how this works, it’s important to know how the Photos app catalogs files. It’s actually simple; there’s a single file that contains your entire library. If you want to back this up, you plug in your external hard drive and drag the whole file over to that hard drive in the sidebar of Finder.

The harder part comes when you need to change which Photos library you want to use. You’ll have to change the location from which the Photos app is reading.

In the image below, I’ve got two Photos libraries, the default one, and a backup library.

While you can access the backup library just by double-clicking it—which will open it in the Photos app—it’s better to switch Photos to use this one by default. You can always switch back to the regular library when you need to.

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Microsoft hasn’t learned its lesson. If you click the “Check for Updates” button in the Settings app, Microsoft still considers you a “seeker” and will give you “preview” updates that haven’t gone through the normal testing process.

This problem came to everyone’s attention with the release of the October 2018 Update. It was pulled for deleting people’s files, but anyone who clicked “Check for Updates” in the first few days effectively signed up as a tester and got the buggy update. The “Check for Updates” button apparently means “Please install potentially updates that haven’t gone through a normal testing process.”

MIchael Fortin, corporate vice president for Windows at Microsoft, explained that this is still going on in a blog post about Windows 10’s monthly update process on December 10, 2018:

We also release optional updates in the third and fourth weeks of the month, respectively known as “C” and “D” releases. These are preview releases, primarily for commercial customers and advanced users “seeking” updates.  These updates have only non-security fixes. The intent of these releases is to provide visibility into, and enable testing of, the non-security fixes that will be included in the next Update Tuesday release. Advanced users can access the “C” and “D” releases by navigating to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and clicking the “Check for updates” box. The “D” release has proven popular for those “seeking” to validate the non-security content of the next “B” release.

There it is in Microsoft’s own words. Fortin says “advanced users” can get the preview releases by clicking “Check for updates.” These updates would normally not be automatically installed until they’ve been tested. But, after you click the button, you’ve become a “seeker” and not a normal Windows 10 user.

Once again, Microsoft is using everyone who clicks “Check for Updates” as a beta tester. Don’t click this button unless you want unstable updates. Your Windows 10 PC will automatically install updates as soon as they’re stable.

At the very least, Microsoft needs to provide a warning before Windows 10 users click the “Check for updates” button. Don’t warn people in blog posts that only advanced users will read.

As Woody Leonhard points out over at Computerworld, these extra monthly cumulative updates aren’t tested through the normal Windows Insider process. They’re just tested on your PC after you click the update. And Surface Book 2 owners have seen blue screen errors after installing these “optional” cumulative updates recently, so the stability of these updates is in real question.

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The Instant Pot Ultra is $60 off right now on Amazon and that's a pretty big deal. As part of Amazon's 12 Days of Deals, the sale on this trendy kitchen gadget is sure to go quick. Plus, it's the lowest price we've seen for this model of the Instant Pot — like, ever.

Pick up the Ultra on sale for $59.95, marked down from the original listed price of $119.95. With a price like that, it's a great excuse to snatch up a few to keep on hand for some last minute gifts.

Image: instant Pot

Amazon customer Ashley Davis can vouch for the quality of the Instant Pot Ultra:

Just make sure to act quick: this deal ends on Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 2 a.m. ET and we don't know when it will go this low again. Read more...

More about Kitchen, Mashable Shopping, Shopping Amazon, Shopping Solo, and Mashable Deals

Some people have crazy sex fantasies — no judgment. However, doing it, or portraying yourself doing it, on top of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world may be crossing the line. Danish photographer Andreas Hvid did exactly that, which instantly pissed off a lot of people and caused Egyptian officials to launch an investigation. He doesn't plan to travel to Egypt again anytime soon. Check out our video to see the controversial image. Read more...

More about Mashable Video, Egypt, Sex, Investigation, and Controversy

Sales on KitchenAid mixers are kind of a big deal around here. When an item's regular price is regularly $300 or even $400, seeing that hefty price drop makes it way easier to justify the purchase.

Here's one you probably haven't seen before: As part of Best Buy's 20 Day of Doorbusters promotion, they're basically giving away the KitchenAid Professional 500 Series mixer for $199.99. Black Friday didn't even offer the Pro series for that little — not even close.

Like any other cult-favorite kitchen appliance, KitchenAid has numerous models with different functions and sizes that all affect the price point. While the Artisan series, which isn't as heavy duty, has a 5-quart model that's often on sale, the reduced price is still over $200.  Read more...

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An Ode to... is a weekly column where we share the stuff we're really into in hopes that you'll be really into it, too.

Getting ghosted by skaters is a subculture in itself — there's a whole poetry account dedicated to it.

They'll make eye contact with you at a party without actually approaching you, and then DM you three seconds after you leave with "Hey, saw you around." They'll invite you over to "just hang" but you'll just end up watching their skate compilation videos before an underwhelming hook up. They'll offer you a hit of their Juul before you go home, and then only text you back after they see your Instagram Story days later. They'll probably brush off the casual ghosting with a "Sorry, I'm bad at texting," and then ghost you again once you strike up a conversation — only to hit you up several weeks later and ask if you want to come over after their friend's DIY show.  Read more...

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With just two weeks left to shop for Christmas presents, we're rounding up the best deals from
Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and Macy's. Some of the hottest sales today include AncestryDNA test kits, various models of the Instant Pot, smart home products like the Apple HomePod and Google Home, and plenty of Amazon devices (including the all new Kindle Paperwhite e-reader.) 

We've also found deals on Udemy adult learning online courses starting at just $10.99.

Here are a few of our favorites for Tuesday:

• Save $114 on Furbo Dog Camera on Amazon

• Save $108 on Ninja Hot & Cold Brewed System from Macy's

• Save $131 on KitchenAid Deluxe 4.5 Quart Stand Mixer at Walmart

• Save $40 on AncestryDNA: Genetic Testing Ethnicity on Amazon

• Save $50 on NutriBullet Pro 900 (9-Piece) at Walmart

• Save $60 on Instant Pot Ultra 3 Qt 10-in-1 Multi-Cooker on Amazon

• Save $60 on Instant Pot Smart WiFi 6 Quart Electric Pressure Cooker on Amazon

• Save $136 on Vitamix 5200 Blender on Amazon

• Save $90 on JBL - LINK 10 Smart Portable Bluetooth Speaker at Best Buy

• Save $100 on Sonos Connect: Amp on Amazon

• Save $70 on Apple HomePod at Best Buy Read more...

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For about the first half of its running time, Aquaman feels like a fake movie. (And yes, I know it was already a fake movie on Entourage.)

To be clear, I mean that as a compliment. There's a knowing silliness to Aquaman that helps gloss over its sometimes-shaky CG and over-complicated mythology, and a willingness to go for broke that keeps us guessing about what we'll witness next.

SEE ALSO: 'Aquaman' star Jason Momoa challenges Jimmy Fallon to some casual trident throwing

When a petulant Patrick Wilson, as King Orm, barks about becoming an "Ocean Master," you don't need to know what that means to laugh at the ridiculousness. When the camera soars over a glittering underwater realm and settles on an enormous octopus pounding away at the drums, you don't need any context at all to be amused by the spectacle.  Read more...

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If you’re just striking out on your own, or you’ve never had to make repairs for yourself before, finding the tools you need can be intimidating. Make it easier by grabbing one of these all-in-one kits.

The tool kits below are inexpensive, at least in relative terms—buying all of the tools inside them individually would cost many times the price of the kit. They’re not world-class tools like you’d find in a mechanic’s garage or on a handyman’s belt, but they’re more than capable of handling small home repairs or furniture assembly. Odds are that if the job you’re doing can be covered by a five-minute YouTube video, the tools below will suffice. If not, they’re great places to start fro a more complete collection of hardware without spending a fortune.

The Best Small Kit: Cartman 136-piece Tool Set ($21)

For those in small homes or just looking for an inexpensive kit to grab for quick jobs, this Cartman package will do nicely. It doesn’t include anything particularly high-end, but the compact, fold-out case covers all the basics for easy home and appliance repair.

In addition to a bit driver and a smaller set of screwdrivers for precision work, the kit includes a tape measure, adjustable wrench, and level, which aren’t necessarily a given in anything under thirty bucks. The package even includes a few torx bits and a some nails and screws, if you’re buying for something you need to take care of right away.

Buy on Amazon The Best Large Kit: Stanley 170-piece Mixed Tool Set ($85)

If you want something that’s a seriously good start to a more extensive collection of tools, check out this Stanley collection. 170 pieces cover just about everything you’ll need short of full power tools.

A huge selection of bits, ratchets, L-keys, and wrenches should allow you to assemble or disassemble almost anything, and large and small full screwdrivers in Philips and flathead drivers are great for quick jobs. The package includes a 16-inch tape measure and a utility knife, but is notably missing a hammer—add a solid one and you’re good to go for almost anything.

Buy on Amazon The Best All-In-One Tool Bag: WorkPro 156-piece Home Repair Tool Set ($60)

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If you’re a fan of Google Lens, you now have another avenue for accessing the feature in iOS, because it’s now included in the Google Search app on the iPhone. Here’s how to use it.

Google Lens is a neat little feature that can identify real-world objects, like signs, buildings, books, plants, and more using your phone’s camera. And it gives you more information about the object. It’s available in the Google Photos app, but if you don’t use Google Photos, you can now access Google Lens in the regular Google Search app. We’ll show you how to use Google Lens in both apps.

In the Google Search App

If you don’t already have the app, you can download it here. Once you’re up and running, just start by tapping on the Google Lens icon inside of the search bar.

If you don’t see the icon, try closing out of the app completely and the re-opening it.

On the next screen, tap “Turn on camera to use Lens” at the bottom.

Hit “OK” when the app asks for permission to use the camera.

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There have been some bad trojans found on Android, but this is possibly one of the worst. This new threat automates a PayPal transaction for $1000 and sends it using the official PayPal app—even on accounts with 2FA enabled.

The PayPal Hijack

It does this using a couple of different methods and leveraging Android’s Accessibility services. The malicious app is currently disguising itself as an Android optimization tool and has been making its way onto users’ phones through third-party app stores. So for starters, don’t use third-party app stores.

When installed, “Optimization Android” (seriously, why would you install something with a name like this in the first place?) also creates an Accessibility service called “Enable statistics.” It then requests access to this feature, which seems harmless enough—it will allow the app to monitor user actions and retrieve window content. If you think it’s all in the name of making your phone faster, it almost makes sense.

But that’s where things get worse because now the trojan can effectively emulate touches. It generates a notification that looks like it’s from PayPal urging the user to log in.

When tapped, this notification opens the official PayPal app (if installed)—so this isn’t a phishing attempt. The official app opens and asks the user to log in. Since this a legitimate login attempt within the official app, 2FA does nothing to secure the account—you’ll just log in as normal, entering your 2FA code when it comes in.

Once you’re logged in, the malicious app takes over, transferring $1000 from your PayPal account to the attacker. This automated process happens in fewer than five seconds. We Live Security made a video of the entire process, and it’s pretty crazy how fast it all happens:

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Read more...More about Gaming, Mashable Reels, Weird Games, Tech, and Gaming

Sony’s PlayStation Classic mini-console has only twenty games pre-loaded, and there’s no built-in mechanism for adding more. But the system also uses a popular open-source PlayStation emulator to run its ROMs, so an unofficial expansion was more or less inevitable.

Only a week after the gadget’s official release, modders have cracked the rather basic software wide open, enabling it to boot PS1 ROMs off of a USB drive plugged into one of the controller ports. In fact, “cracked” might not be the right word, since the PlayStation Classic is remarkably insecure and doesn’t seem to do any verification of software running on an external drive. A GitHub developer has already made a tool that allows users to load up PlayStation ROMs on a USB drive with the correct file structure, inserting them into the console’s own game browser.

The process is a little finicky, but it’s essentially just running a single PC application and checking to see that files are stored and labeled correctly. At the moment permanent modification of the console’s built-in storage isn’t quite so easy, but that might not be practical anyway. PlayStation ROMs are much larger than those of the NES and SNES, whose mini editions were also quickly hacked and expanded.

But for all those players saddened by the exclusion of that one PlayStation title they loved, there’s now a documented process for getting said game on the Classic. More extensive ROM support for other consoles might come later since the PlayStation Classic definitely has enough power to handle 8- and 16-bit emulators. Gamers hoping to build a dedicated emulation box might be better served by something like a Raspberry Pi or an NVIDIA SHIELD.

Source: GitHub via The Verge

The head of a tech giant is on the congressional hot seat again.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai appeared before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday morning. The hearing, titled Transparency & Accountability: Examining Google and its Data Collection, Use and Filtering Practices, focused on a range of issues, including: allegations of anti-conservative bias, data collection, and a censored search engine in China. 

SEE ALSO: Live updates from Mark Zuckerberg's Congressional testimony

Conservative representatives hammered on allegations of anti-conservative bias, which Pichai refuted. Other issues included the Google Plus data breach, Russian manipulation of the platform, and even how search fundamentally works. Read more...

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The OnePlus 6T is already one of the best phones you can buy for the money, but if you want just a little bit more from your phone, the McLaren Edition might be the one for you.

So, what’s different about it? Specs, baby. Where the standard 6T comes with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, the McLaren bumps the RAM to a massive 10 gigabytes and it comes stock with 256GB. Beyond that, it also bumps the charging speed (over the including wired charger, that is) with Warp Charge 30. That promises to give 50 percent battery in just 20 minutes on the charger.

Unfortunately, the McLaren Edition doesn’t fix the 6T’s main shortcomings, like the lack of waterproofing. It also doesn’t add some more high-end features, like wireless charging. Personally, I would’ve rather seen those additions over the extra RAM or faster wired charging. But I digress.

There are some aesthetic goings on here, too—the back is carbon fiber and features McLaren’s iconic Papaya Orange around the outside edge. On the software side, the McLaren Edition is also packed with new themes and animations to fit the gotta go fast motif found throughout the rest of the phone.

Of course, these changes also mean a bump in price. The McLaren Edition 6T will set you back $699, which is about $70 more than a regular 6T with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The extra money does get you faster charging and an extra 2GB of RAM, which may be worth it to some. And if you’re still having a hard time justifying the cost, just look at what other manufacturers offer for this price tag—we can almost guarantee it won’t be 10GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Still, it’s up to you whether it’s worth buying over the regular 6T, which is the bigger question in my mind.

If you’re in, you’ll be able to buy the OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition starting on December 13th.