Ads That FOLLOW and TRACK You are REAL - The (Free) Chrome Extension That Blocks Them...

 Consider the advertisements that are tailored to your interests that you see online. You do a search for a new pair of shoes, and almost immediately afterward, you start to see advertisements for them wherever you go online.

What can be done to put an end to this creepy behavior? To begin, you have to determine who is looking and what they are able to see. 

It is not easy to opt out of receiving interest-based advertisements from Google and all of the other companies that work with the technology giant. We were fortunate enough to find a browser extension that makes the process quite simple.

What you need is this addon for the Chrome browser that disables these ads.

IBA stands for 'internet based advertising", the above Chrome extension, which Google has given the somewhat unassuming name IBA Opt-out, does precisely what its name suggests it will accomplish. While you are surfing the web, you can use it to opt out of receiving targeted advertisements from Google. According to Google, the extension allows users to opt out of the use of the DoubleClick advertising cookie, which is used by Google and its advertising partners to show you interest-based advertisements.

When it comes to the download and the installation, there isn't really any of either: You only need to add the extension to your browser, and then everything will work properly. After doing so, you will no longer be subject to interest-based advertisements from Google.

The following is a list of features that come with this extension:

• A number of websites that work with Google will no longer display advertisements tailored to users' interests.
  
  
• Install once, and you're done.
  
  
• Even if you delete all of the cookies from your browser, your decision to opt out will still be honored.

You want even more browser extensions to keep you safe while you're browsing the internet, right? You don't need to worry about a thing. You may increase the safety of your browsing experience by installing one of these three browser extensions.

Things to take into consideration regarding the IBA Opt-Out

It is essential to keep in mind a few factors that the people who reviewed the extension might have neglected to mention. Even if you opt out of having interest-based advertisements displayed on websites you visit, you will still view general advertisements.

You should still expect to receive advertisements from Google and its other advertising partners. What you won't see, though, are ads that have been specifically targeted to you using Google's marketing data.

There are some individuals who like interest-based advertisements to generic ones. They believe that it is preferable to view advertisements for things that are relevant to them rather than material that is completely unrelated to them. This add-on for your browser gives you control over the kinds of advertisements that appear on your screen. Happy surfing!

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Author: Garrett Kaine
Silicon Valley Newsroom
Tech News CITY

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NASA's Recently Aborted Artemis I Launch Could Face Major DELAY - Next Attempt May Be 2 MONTHS Away...

NASA aborted its second attempt to launch the Artemis I mission into lunar orbit on Saturday morning. This time, a liquid hydrogen leak appeared as the crew was loading the core stage of the rocket. During a news conference later in the day, Jim Free, an associate administrator at NASA Headquarters, stated that we should not anticipate a third launch attempt before Tuesday.

According to the space agency, the leak occurred "while loading propellant into the core stage of the Space Launch System rocket," and "multiple troubleshooting attempts to address the area of the leak by reseating a seal in the quick disconnect where liquid hydrogen is fed to the rocket did not resolve the issue."

The Artemis I mission has now been postponed for the second time. The first launch attempt was set for Monday, but launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson had to abort that effort as well due to a persistent difficulty with an engine bleed test. (This procedure is designed to allow the engines to reach the proper temperature by releasing a little quantity of gasoline.)

Tuesday during a press briefing, Artemis mission manager Mike Serafin stated, "We were unable to get the engines to the required thermal conditions for launch." "Additionally, we encountered an issue with a bent valve on the core stage, and at that time the team decided to cancel the launch attempt for the day."

On Monday or early Tuesday, we will have further information regarding the next launch window for Artemis I...

However, Serafin added that it may occur as late as the end of October and claimed it is not impossible to move the SLS off the pad and back into the Vehicle Assembly Building.

"As part of this maiden test flight, we are becoming acquainted with the vehicle. We are learning how to control the vehicle, as well as all the necessary skills for flight "Sarafin remarked. "We are currently learning as we go in order to safely launch this spacecraft, so our focus is on comprehending the problem and developing schedule- and risk-sensitive solutions."

Now we wait and see.

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Author: Preston Summers
Tech News CITY // Austin Newsroom

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Browser Startups Say They Can't Fairly Compete With Chrome and Safari, and they may get Regulators to take Action...

Rivals in the web-browser market are raising concerns about the dominance of Apple’s Safari and Google’s Chrome, and global regulators are taking notice as they focus more on the power of big tech companies.

How Safari and Chrome became so big and what moves regulators are considering...

 Video Courtesy Of WSJ

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OHMConnect Energy Texas Review and EXCLUSIVE BONUS as CA Power Company That PAYS Customers Expands to the Lone Star State…

 

"Switch to a company that will help you keep your lights on while putting cash in your pocket" says California energy company OHM Connect, as they begin Texas service...

OhmConnect Energy has arrived in Texas with technology that empowers you to save energy for cash rewards and help prevent power outages, all while lowering your bill. Today we’ll review OHMConnect’s main reasons for their success thus far  

How Does A Power Company PAY Me?

A common question the company gets is 'Where does the money come from?'

Well, during the periods of high energy demand, their customers will receive a text message asking if you can turn anything off to save power (just for a 1 hour period) this reduces stress on the grid.

They then sell the power their customers saved back to the grid - and share the profits with you.

"Texans are seeing a series of highly disruptive extreme weather events as of late" said Don Whaley, President of OhmConnect Energy. "Whether it's freeze-outs or heat waves, OCE offers Texas consumers the chance to be a part of the solution needed to stabilize the grid: we'll pay you to help us keep the lights on. This is how we're bringing innovation to an industry untouched by change for the last 20 years."

How much can this REALLY benefit someone?

One customer has earned more than $3000 last year, bringing her total since she signed up to $11,000, just for powering down during energy savings hours. Keep in mind you'll only be asked to lower usage for one hour, and not more than once per week.

“This program has always been a blessing to our family” said McDermott. “When we started participating we were living paycheck to paycheck. OhmConnect helped us through some hard times, and by referring others to it, I’ve been able to pass the blessing on to so many other families too.”  

Beating The System - OHMConnect Hacks...

I found someone posting on social media how they're getting the maximum amount of money possible, and it's so simple - keep your devices charged! 

The post says "When I get the text saying to lower energy usage for the next hour - i'll just switch off my desktop computer and whatever else I can, then turn on the laptop which is running off of it's battery. So I'm no longer using power from the grid, I'm earning every minute while I watch an hour of Netflix."

Is OhmConnect worth it? If it's this easy I have to say yes.

Get First Payment IMMEDIATELY - Everyone who signs up this month gets an instant 'welcome' cash bonus... 

All you need to do is spent the 3 minutes it takes to make your free account, but you must go to https://bit.ly/OHMbonus to claim the signup bonus!

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Author: Don Kennedy
Austin Newsdesk 

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The "Nothing" Phone HANDS ON - Does It Meet The Hype?

'Technology should fade into the background and feel like Nothing' claims the new company 'Nothing' who is releasing their debut product.

When the company first shared images of their design, they started getting lots of attention. Finally - the phone is ready for a hands-on look to see if it meets the hype!

Video Courtesy of CNET

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Does AI think and feel? Why Two Google Engineers are Saying "Yes" - Because They've Seen it For Themselves...

Is it feasible for artificial intelligence to think and have feelings? In spite of the fact that the answer is "no," two Google engineers are of the opinion that this is not actually the situation. Now that we've reached this point, it would appear that the Turing test has been successfully passed.

Video Courtesy of Cold Fusion TV

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Be CAREFUL Out There Today - More Smartphones are Lost/Stolen/Broken on 4th Of July than Any Other Day....

Insurance data reveals that more smartphones are lost, stolen, or just stop working on the Fourth of July than on any other day of the year.

Given that boats, pools, and beaches are busier in the summer than at any other time of year, this may not be a huge surprise. It ought to serve as a reminder.

Marvin Maldonado, a device expert with the tech care company Asurion, reports a 37 percent rise in the number of mishaps involving electronic gadgets on July 4 of last year.

Asurion's annual report is based on the number of claims company receives for damaged cellphones and other devices...

 Asurion owns the national chain of device repair centers UBreakIFix. Over the past few years, more insurance claims have been filed on July 4 than on any of the other 364 days. Maldonado reports that the number of visitors increased despite the closure of pools and beaches due to the coronavirus.

"Everyone has been at home, so we anticipate a significant increase in people going on vacation and wanting to leave," he said. "We anticipate an enormous growth, even greater than last year's."

On the Fourth of July, claims and repairs for water damage and damaged screens are the most prevalent. Lost and stolen electronics also rank highly. Some misplaced phones are somewhere at the bottom of a lake, having fallen from a deck or their owners' hands.

"We know that cellphones are water-resistant, but a waterproof case, specifically a floating waterproof case, will prevent this from occurring," Maldonado explains. A floating phone case will keep a smartphone or other gadget afloat until it can be recovered.

While the majority of modern smartphones can survive a brief immersion in water, chlorine and salt can destroy any smartphone if they enter through a port or speaker opening. Instead of using rice, Maldonado proposes placing silica gel packs in a Ziploc bag overnight.

You should not place a damp phone in direct sunlight to dry it because the heat can damage the device. Another cause of smartphone failure is heat.

If your smartphone's screen or back is already broken, you should consider twice before exposing it to extreme heat. The humidity alone can cause irreparable damage to the phone by allowing moisture to leak through the crevices.

Maldonado's top piece of advice is to back up your phone before traveling.

"Ensure that all of your data is secure so that, in the event of an accident, you can always restore your data," he advised.

Enjoy the holiday, but watch out for that pricey phone you're holding.


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Author: Preston Summers
Tech News CITY // Austin Newsroom

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Students who Subscribe To Apple Music: Check Your Bill, Apple Quietly Just Raised Your Monthly Fee...

Apple Music has increased the cost of its student plan in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Apple has not yet publicized the adjustments, but the new price can be viewed on the Apple Music website.

The price will increase from $4.99 to $5.99 per month in the United States and Canada, and from £4.99 to £5.99 per month in the United Kingdom.

Apple presumably implemented these adjustments between June 21 and June 23, according to 9to5Mac, as an archived Apple Music webpage displays the previous £4.99 student price on June 21.

The Apple Music student plan, which is designated for college and university students, was formerly the most cheap full-featured plan available.

Apple Music's pricing rises extend outside the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Apple secretly increased the membership price for students in Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Israel, and Kenya last month. It is unknown whether Apple plans to increase student fees in additional nations.

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Author: Alex Benningram
Tech News CITY // New York Newsroom

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Cool or CREEPY?! Amazon Alexa will Soon Be Able To 'Imitate the Voice of Dead Loved Ones'...

Soon, you'll be able to ask Alexa to imitate the voice of a friend or family member, and it will do so. This will bring back fond memories. The company believes that the new feature of Alexa will 'bring back fond memories' and 'enable enduring personal interactions'.

Video Courtesy of CBS Mornings

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Chips Made To Accelerate Artificial Intelligence Processing - A Vital Step Towards an AI Powered World...

Semiconductors are used in almost every industry and have become a very valuable asset. Developing and making these chips is a hard job. AI chip builders often neglect advanced deep learning needs and features because they think that software stacks between their silicon and algorithms may be enough abstract layers. But the performance gets better as more native hardware support is enabled.

Rebellions Inc, an AI-semiconductor startup, is working to solve this problem by making AI accelerators that close the gap between deep learning algorithms and the underlying silicon architectures. They are pushing the limits of algorithms to make better use of silicon budgets, and they are re-architecting AI processors to add complex deep learning capabilities using DL kernels that are built specifically for silicon.

The first chip made by Rebellions, called ION, came out in November 2021. The company says that it cuts down on delays and speeds up trading.

In terms of getting things done, it is thought to be twice as fast as the Intel Habana Labs AI Chip Goya...

Its main customers are investment banks around the world. The ION chips will be made by the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) by the end of next year.

The company wants to make an AI processor for a specialized industry as well as the ideal software for it. With this strategy and a unique decentralized programming model, users will be able to equip themselves with the most powerful AI hardware that uses the least amount of energy and will also be able to integrate software without any problems.

In a Series A funding round, the South Korean startup got $50 million (62 billion KRW)...

 The round was backed by Temasek's Pavilion Capital. Korean Development Bank, SV Investment, Mirae Asset Capital, Mirae Asset Ventures, IMM Investment, KB Investment, KT Investment, and existing investors Kakao Ventures, GU Equity Partners, and Seoul Techno Holdings all took part in the round. With this round, Rebellions has raised a total of about $80 million (100 billion KRW), which is worth an estimated $283 million (325 billion KRW).

With these funds, the company plans to hire twice as many people and open an office in the U.S. They will also focus on making a lot of their second AI chip prototype, ATOM, which will be aimed at cloud companies and data centers.

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Author: Preston Summers
Tech News CITY // Austin Newsroom

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The Next Version of The Internet - "Web3" Explained, and a Few Things EVERYONE Should Be Aware Of ASAP...

Web 3 is being referred to as the next phase of the internet, but what exactly is it?

Essentially, web 3 is an internet that proponents claim is owned by users.

What does that mean? Right now, the internet is dominated by a few companies such as meta, Amazon, and Google, and chances are that many of the online platforms you use are dominated by one of these giants.

Web 3 would cut out the middleman and spread ownership among users using blockchain technology.

People are not appropriately paid for their participation in web 2 platforms, according to proponents of web 3.  Google may pay you x per million views on YouTube, but you're surely entitled to more, but the whole goal of crypto in general is to remove the intermediary for web3 platforms. 

The entire aim of those technologies is to cut out the platform intermediaries...

Google,  Amazon, and Facebook's Web3 would allow you to conduct online payments without going via a financial institution such as a bank; instead, platforms would include cryptocurrencies and nfts. A non-fungible token, or nft, is a type of blockchain receipt that confirms ownership of internet goods such as art, music, gifs, and even tweets. 

The data is decentralized, which means that no single entity controls all of your data; instead, your data is spread around the network and safeguarded, ensuring that it is properly stored and that no single person is in charge of the entire show. 

Instead of an IPO, a hypothetical web 3 version of Facebook would create a cryptocurrency token and airdrop it to early adopters. Users would be rewarded for going viral and could earn tokens based on engagement. Tokens could also be used to vote on policies like content moderation. The value of those tokens would be determined by the platform's success, which means each person with a token would have a stake in the platform's success.

That's why blockchain project consultant Amy Lee is saying the change wouldn't just be social, but financial as well if web3 takes off.

But when it comes to people posting illicit stuff that we all agree shouldn’t be allowed - can it actually be removed? There are technical restrictions to this that most people are unaware of. For example, web3 would accommodate concepts like the metaverse, which are virtual worlds where individuals can socialize, work, and play as avatars.

The metaverse has also gotten a lot of attention recently, notably with Facebook changing itself to meta in 2021 to emphasize its concentration on this new sector.

So what are web 1 and web 2 if that's web 3? 

From the 1990s to the early 2000s, web 1 was defined by static web pages that allowed users to do little more than download material. During this time, the internet was essentially attempting to imitate traditional media such as periodicals, newspapers, and newsletters. Web 2 began in 2004 and allowed people to download and upload information. Think of web 2 as the social media era, when the internet transitioned from being a computerized version of existing media to becoming its own distinct entity.

Another important aspect of web one is that it ran on open source protocols, so html, http, and so on. Some critics worry that the hyped-up web 3 will need to be centralized in order to be realized, which goes against its entire court principle. The problem is that Ethereum, the blockchain on which most of this is based, is known to be inefficient, with transactions being expensive and requiring a lot of energy. 

Some argue that having widespread blockchain activity is technically unattainable because there's no viable way to scale those networks.  Even though the goal of web3 is to transfer power from big companies to users, big venture capital firms have already made huge investments in web3 technology in 2021, VCs invested around 18 billion dollars in this space some critics think of web3 as more of a power shift than decentralization I've been skeptical of this concept of decentralization.

The core parts of web3 are now worth hundreds of billions of dollars...

So you could say we're already in web 3 beta. Metaverse games with crypto and nft enabled economies would be included in the future iteration of web 3. Those games are already in development and are expected to be released in the next two to three years. "Once the public catches on, and sees the vast improvements over traditional social media, I believe it will take off fast" said one crypto consultant on twitter.

Definitions and ideas about the feasibility of web 3 vary, but one thing is certain: digital platforms and the ways we use them will continue to evolve. 

here that will go and to what extent it will go is difficult to predict, but I'm confident that the next ten years will be very exciting.

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Author: Michael Bison
TechNewsCity Silicon Valley Newsroom

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UpSide App Review and Promo Code To Earn MORE Cash Back on Gas...

Do you drive to the same gas station every time you need to fill up your tank even though it's the most expensive option available in your area? You can find gas stations and other participating companies that provide cash back by using Upside. These businesses can be found near you (formerly GetUpside).

How the Upside App works:

You may earn cash back on everyday purchases through Upside's partnering with local businesses. The vast majority of them are gas stations, however in some locations, with additional to restaurants and grocery stores, there are also convenience stores and grocery stores.

Launched in 2016, and it is currently working to widen its partnership offers to include additional cash back choices. Throughout the years since I've used Upside, new local offerings have been added regularly.

Unbelievable Success - Take a Look at These Numbers...

It has over 30 million registered users, making it one of the most popular applications available for both the iPhone and Android.

GetUpside's founding team was happy to release a statement saying that in 2022 that the company had surpassed the milestone of paying out more than $1 MILLION to their users EVERY WEEK!

Since their founding, they have paid over 200 million dollars in total, and they have committed one percent of their total sales to various sustainability initiatives.

The number of locations to earn cash back with UpSide keeps growing...

Because Upside has collaborated with more than 50,000 gas stations, grocery stores, convenience stores, and restaurants across the country, you are able to earn rewards at all these locations.

Throughout its service to businesses in drawing people to their locations, Upside has contributed $550 million to the development of local economies.

Use it places you actually go to...

This isn't for obscure places that you've never heard of, located on the outskirts of town - Upside works at some of the most popular places.

Various gas stations, including Shell, 76, Circle K, BP, and Valero amongst others.

Fast food restaurants such as Wendy's, Popeyes, Papa John's, Burger King, and Dunkin' Donuts, amongst others.

How your earnings in the Upside App will stack up quickly...

The trick to earning MAXIMUM Money...

The rewards you earn from any of your existing credit cards can be combined with the benefits you receive from Upside. In other words, you are free to use BOTH of them together.

UpSide does not interfere with store coupons, cash-back credit cards, or any other cash-back applications (like Dosh or Ibotta), so there is nothing stopping you from adding another layer of discounts or cash-back on top of it!

Our conclusion, and a special BONUS...

There is really no way for us to advise someone not to download an app that is going to make them a lot of money; so, you should just go ahead and download it.

When you join, enter the invite code "3XUD6" and you'll not only get an instant "welcome" payment of $7.77 (at the time this was written), but you'll also earn a higher percentage of cash back!

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Author: Don Kennedy
New York Newsroom | UpSide App Review

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