People are trolling college courses with horrifying results
It’s difficult for students to study at home in light of COVID-19. Not only are the normal joys of school-aged life postponed until further notice, but the senior classes of 2020 are also missing out on rites of passage like graduation.
Of course, we all know the pandemic events aren’t a permanent change for our society. As scary as things may seem, our current situation gives us each a chance do our part in flattening the curve of infection. Tap or click to see Kim’s note to readers about the coronavirus pandemic.
And just like the rest of us, students are adapting to these radical changes. Today’s tech is advanced enough to make online lessons a breeze, but internet trolls are finding new ways to make life even harder for students and teachers. Will these people ever catch a break?
Trolls: The internet’s native wildlife
Video conferencing has been an absolute lifesaver for millions of American students. While school appears to be canceled nationwide for the foreseeable future, programs like Zoom and Google Hangouts are making it possible for lessons to continue. Tap or click to see how Google is making hangouts free during COVID-19.
These programs are easy to use, and nearly anyone can join in on a video meeting if they have the direct link. But that openness is exactly why trolls are able to harass students and faculty with shocking imagery and hate speech.
The small Conejo Valley Unified School District in Southern California attempted to have a board meeting when hackers came out of the woodwork and started spamming the conference with slurs, racist symbols and hardcore pornography.
To make matters worse, this was an open meeting posted to the school district’s website that anyone could attend and sit-in on. Needless to say, parents who were present were not amused, and neither were staff members.
This is hardly an isolated incident, though. Just visit YouTube and look up the phrase “ZoomBombing,” which refers to crashing a Zoom meeting for the purpose of disruption or amusement.
Teens are creating viral Tik Tok videos showing their trolling handiwork, as well as tutorials so other kids can do it for themselves. Honestly, if the kids wanted the day off that easily, all they’d need to do is tell the teacher they feel sick!
Openness is dangerous
Update Zoom now to stop Facebook from snooping on your data
Updated 03/30/2020 – After Zoom’s practice of sending users’ data to Facebook without their knowledge was made public last week, the company has decided to stop doing it ASAP. But if you’re using Zoom with iOS, you need to update the app immediately so the change will take effect.
Feeling lonely? Here's how to host a virtual get-together with friends and family
Going stir-crazy yet? You’re not alone. Millions of Americans are now under some form of shelter-in-place, lockdown or work-from-home arrangement that keeps them from socializing with their friends and loved ones.
Despite our mutual frustrations, all this quarantine business is happening for a reason. It’s all part of the effort to flatten the curve of infection and slow down the number of new COVID-19 cases. Tap or click to see a map to track them.
Coronavirus: Tech to keep your business going and your kids learning from home
The coronavirus is making us consider different scenarios. What if I need to work from home? What’s the best way to make sure our products and services still reach our customers? How can I stop traveling to visit clients? What will the kids do to keep up their grades should a breakout happen at their school?
Even more companies offer free work at home tools for coronavirus
The coronavirus epidemic has businesses across the company rethinking their Q2 strategies. Not only is the new disease dangerous, it’s highly transmissible. This means any workplace can easily become a petri dish given enough time.
This iPhone app changes the way you record video
There’s no doubt smartphone cameras today are miles beyond what we got in the early days. In fact, the first iPhone models could only take photos and required third-party software to shoot video.
But now, smartphone cameras are so stellar that they integrate features like wide-angle lenses and zoom by default. You don’t even need to buy accessories to shoot in 4K or higher. Tap or click here to see how the newest iPhones’ cameras compare to each other.
If you use this video calling app, update it now
It’s hard to imagine working in the 21st century without video conferencing apps. They’re crucial for long-distance meetings and make it easier to conduct businesses in a globally connected world.
In fact, conference call apps are just one of many tools in a modern worker’s digital toolkit. Between calendar apps and document scanners, it’s never been easier to get work done on the go. Tap or click for more must-have apps for business travelers.
5 cool Google features that Apple and Samsung will copy
Google held its Pixel 3 event yesterday and the company announced a slew of new products — the new Pixel 3 phones, the Pixel Stand, the Google Home Hub, and the Pixel Slate. But it wasn’t all about the hardware. The event’s focus on the synergy between AI, hardware and software produced plenty of software surprises! Some of these features are so innovative and fresh that it will be inevitable that Apple and Samsung will follow suit. The tech industry is a copycat world, after all.
Google announced 5 new products, #4 is better than Apple
Earlier leaks may have revealed what the new Pixel 3 smartphones will look like but with this event’s focus on the synergy between AI, hardware and software, Google had many surprises on tap. Aside from the new smartphones, get ready for a new kitchen assistant, a premium tablet and one killer accessory! Here are the five Google products that were announced we’re most excited about.
Pro tips to capture the best pictures of your pets
Anyone with a pet knows how much fun they can be. Excited tail wagging when you get home, purring in your lap when you’re relaxing in front of the TV, and stealing bags of Cheetos out of the pantry when you’re not looking (OK, maybe that’s just my dog).
My 7 favorite iPhone tricks you'll use time after time
Have you ever looked at your iPhone or iPad user guide? I mean, read through all 100-plus pages of it? Chances are, like most people, you were so excited when you got your new Apple gear that you forgot all about the user guide. But guess what? Buried deep inside its pages are some really clever tricks.