So, turns out Telsa like spending money as fast as they do making it! A report by Bloomberg suggests that Tesla, if they keep going at the rate that they are, may run out of money by the end of the year! Elon Musk’s electronic car baby may run out of cash and the electronic car revolution finished!
The company fell short of it’s own production targets for the Model 3 Sedan once again. Futhermore another person died in a crash involving it’s assisted driving feature. So it’s not been a great week for Musk or Tesla. Musk himself has entered into a public dispute with safety regulators. Tesla had previously been a high marketed stocked company. This was boosted by a downgrade from credit analysts, yet it has dropped 26% from it’s highest in September. Ouch. Allegedly no one has raised cash and spent it the way that Elon Musk has. While no one has also made a bankruptcy joke on Twitter.
Risk
The company is so young and there is a genuine risk, without any additional funding or financing that the company will go bust. Which will be a shame for a 15 year old company that’s hailed as the company to usher in a new form of personal transportation. According to data compiled by Bloomberg the tech company goes through $7,430 each minute. Free cash flow (this is cash that a company generates after capital expenditures – has been negative for 6 quarters – consecutively. This, has sky rocketed to more than a billion dollars when Tesla reported it’s earnings on May 2nd.
There’s some rough times ahead and we hope that Tesla and Musk can pull through, it’s such a cool company and the future of tech needs Tesla!
This article was thanks to a Bloomberg report where you can see a much more detailed report of how much money Tesla are ploughing through! It even has a counter that predicts how much has been spent since you started reading!
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Turns out Fortnite has become a weapon in parent’s arsenal against their children!
Instead of taking away sweets or grounding their children, parent’s are turning to banning Fortnite if their children misbehave. (To no-one’s suprise)
Of the 40million players worldwide, British Children as young as 8 are allegedly playing Fortnite for more than 13hours every week.
According to a study of 858 parents worldwide, 54% of them are concerned about the negative effects of Fortnite. Allegedly the average family polled in the study stated that there were 11 arguments a month because their child wanted to spend longer playing.
Siobhan Freegard, founder of ChannelMum.com, whom commissioned the research, said to parents that theres nothing to panic about Fortnite. That it’s fun, sociable and can even help some childrens co-ordination skills. While warning that like most activities, it needs to be managed with limits imposed. Furthermore trying to wane fears as there’ll be something else coming in down the line that’ll take their attention away from Fortnite.
The study found:
63% of parents arguing about the attitude they recieve when asking their child to come off the computer
54% about time spent playing
39% about in game purchases
53% general bad attitude
20% of children got in trouble for playing when they shouldn’t
28% for ignoring requests to get off the computer
7% of parents found a huge bill from in-game purchases
4 in 10 parents believe school performance has been impaired due to the game
While apparently a fifth of parents think that their child thinks the game is more important than real life
6 in 10 parents believe the game is suitable for children under 16 – as it’s mild violence, colourful and has dances
Just under half like the game is sociable
43% of parents like that their child is excited about something
Of the 46% that believe the game has had a positive influence, 52% of them like that their child has made new friends online and 31% of them think they’ve become more confident since playing
61% of parents are convinced that their child has had an improvement in hand-eye co-ordination
37% believe that the game is important to keep their child familiar with new tech
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Avengers fever has taken over and has now spread into the world of video games. Not into the world of the Marvel Universe video games, oh no, it’s spread into the Fortnite world. You know, that hugely popular battle royale game? You can now become Thanos, thanks to a limited time game mode. As you’d expect, it’s a popular mode!
Limited Time Game Mode
In this game mode, which you can only play in as a solo player, you are tasked, like usual to be the last one standing out of 100 people. However, in this special mode, the start off area is smaller, which makes it hard enough. There’s also a chance to weild the Thanos gauntlet.
What’s so benefiital about the Thanos gauntlet?
Well once held, the user becomes Thanos and you’re able to use lasers, you’re much more powerful. Furthermore your health and your shield is increased to a much higher level than that of your opponents! Once you take a hold of the gauntlet, your chances of winning the game increases by alot!
Invincible?
Yet, you’re not completely invincible, you are able to lose still, as of course instead of fighting each other, everyone teams up to take you out. So if you become Thanos, we advise that you keep your witts about you and be even more sneaky than you were before! However, we don’t think it’s possible to be sneaky as Thanos as he’s a big dude. Plus your whereabouts are also located on the map for everyone to see.
Sorry about that.
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We have received some pretty cool stuff into the How To Kill An Hour offices and the Nanoleaf Light Panels are no different! They’re super interesting and really make the office stand out, they’re a lot more than just a set of lights too! They’re smart but, they’re also more than just smart!
Nanoleaf Light Panels are different to other smart lights, like the Philips Hue too. As they’re huge triangles of lights that are modular. Therefore allowing you to personalise them to whatever design you wish. You can wake up to the sunrise, improve your mood with an array of colours while automating your lighting throughout the day!
But there’s more….
Rhythm
There’s a small module attachment, called the Rhythm module. This little device can transform your music into light for the light panels. Simply turn on the device and watch it move with the music.
Nanoleaf Light Panels are:
Trianglular Panels of light that can piece together however you wish
Easily be mounted on to any flat surface using the mounting tape
Fully customizable with the use of the companion app: set schedules, download scenes
Activate with the use of Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant
If you don’t have a smart system, it can be toggled using a button on the controller
With the use of the Rhythm module, immerse yourself in a symphony of light!
To purchase your own Nanoleaf + Rhythm module please click here! They can also be purchased without the Rhythm kit, to do so, please click here!
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Listen to the guys chatting about this here! (Link LIVE from May 31st)
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We love our coffee here at the How To Kill An Hour offices and when we saw this coffee maker, we had to try it out! It’s elegant in design and minimalistic in tech. A little different than what us tech enthusiasts usually use. However, we are a place that’s more than just tech. We’re the place to come to find out the best ways to spend your free time. Drinking coffee is one of those past times that can be done whilst working or when away from the desk! Without teasing too much, we tested the Chemex 3 cup classic coffee maker and we loved it! But how do they achieve this?
Chemex: Taste
It claims to deliver the ‘purest flavour experience’ and it does just that! The coffee from the Chemex coffee maker is absolutely lovely! It certainly delivers a different taste than the coffee that we usually use out of an electronic coffee maker. The way that Chemex deliver such a great tasting coffee is due to one thing. Working in tandem with the Chemex Bonded filters the coffee that’s delivered is pure. Like filtered water. No sediments or any bitter elements like that, just pure gloriously tasting coffee.
Included with the Chemex Three Cup Classic is a polished wood collar and a leather tie, providing great grip. The coffee maker is glass, so it helps prevent a user burn their hands on the glass. All in all a great design that doesn’t look out of place in your kitchen. We were very impressed here at the office!
Purchase your own Chemex 3 Cup Classic Coffee Maker here!
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This is the Mikme Microphone, a supremely powerful microphone that boasts studio quality sound. From experience, we can tell you first hand that this microphone, really does produce some amazing sound quality! Consequently, in a tiny package too, we were seriously impressed when we reviewed this awesome little device! It’s touted as the world’s first wireless mircrophone and audio recorder in one. Simply press the button and voila, you’re recording. While you’ll need a smartphone to connect it to, to monitor what you’re recording, but other than that, you’re set! However, that’s no stress either! Simply connect your headphones to the Mikme to the reverse of the device to listen to the crispy clear audio!
Features
The internal 16GB memory stores recordings anywhere. The 1″phantom-powered, gold-plated condenser capsule delivers 24Bit/96kHz studio-grade audio.
Their App receives the audio wirelessly to give you total freedom to move. The patented Bluetooth protocol ensures all samples arrive safe and sound.
Also, their App syncs the audio from the device with the video from the iPhone in realtime. Create, edit and publish content in studio-quality on the go. (Credit)
The Mikme is perfect for everyone be that a creative, a musician or a journalist anyone can take use of this amazing little device. Since, no longer is there a need for people to carry around expensive gear. All you need is a smartphone and the Mikme device and you can create content that rivals that of which has been recorded with high end products! Great for on the go, on field recordings!
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Listen to the guys chatting about this here! (Link LIVE from May 31st)
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Well turns out we’re all screwed. We may not even know what free will is even more, mind control could be happening!
Ok enough movie quotes, let’s get on to the real reason as to why we may be seeing Jedi mind tricks in the real world at some point in the future. Hope you’re sitting down for this, scientists have suggested that we humans could tuen into mindless ‘cyborg’ type super consumers. The same technology has been used on rats – successfully. Well, it’s time to turn off all technology. It was nice knowing you!
Mind Control: Shopping
It relates to shopping. A team of researchers working at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology discovered that by stimulating a certain part of a mouses brain. The process triggered a craving, a craving for possessing unnecessary objects. Looking at you impulse buyers! The intended use of the discovery of this process is intended to treat people. The idea is to treat people with brain disorders such as kleptomania or hoarding. However, they also stated that it could be used to ‘control human behaviour’
You may think that craving objects is quite scary in and of itself. Prepare to be bamboozled. The team said that it can control the behaviour with a technique known as MPA-Induced aDrive Assisted Steering. This, when used, made the mice chase whatever is in front of them whenever the same region is stimulated.
Psychological
The joy that we as children got when we recieved a toy from our parents has followed us into adulthood. We experience the same sort of lust for objects – one example of this would be if you have a shopping addiction. Which of course, could be used to exploit us, coroporations couold make us shoppers just grab anything, mindlessly. Though, would mean shops would have access to our brains. Which isn’t going to happen.
Professor Kim noted that:
‘This study provides evidence to treat brain disorders such as compulsive hoarding and kleptomania. ‘It also contributes to the development of technology to control the behaviour of animals and humans using strong innate motivation, and thus could impact neuro-economics, defence and disaster relief.’
So there is some good to the mind control news. Of course, the treatment of brain diseases. But disaster relief could be good if it got more people to safety. But again it needs access to the brain!
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We are not doctors so do not take our advice! Then mess up your eyes and then sue us. Please take this and use the information about staring at screens damaging or not damaging your eyes at your own risk.
So allegedly according to a report by some scientists staring at a screen all day doesn’t damage your eyes. With the Verge reporting that, Nielsen reports that we spending up to 10 hours a day in front of a screen. So we can all sigh a collective sigh of relief that we all won’t go blind! Yay! However, there is a chance that you may feel uncomfortable after a period of time. That’s due to the backlight. There is also a chance that you will experience symptoms of eye strain and discomfort. Scientists call that Computer Vision Syndrome.
With Dr Rebecca Taylor stating in their video report that “The devices that we use, do not appear to cause any long term eye damage”
The reason we feel some discomfort is due to our eyes blinking less when we look at a screen. Dr Bozung reporting in their video report. That we can blink up to 67% less or slower than we would without looking at a screen.
Staring at a screen: Discomfort
If you are experiencing discomfort, the guys over at the Verge suggest that you can adjust the height of your monitor and/or desk setup to help ease the pain. Could even use moistening eye drops. The Vege also suggest a 20-20-20 rule. (Which we’ve never heard of before here at the How To Kill An Hour office!)
The rule is, for every 20 minutes you stare at a screen, you should stare at something 20ft away for a total of 20 seconds. The Verge also report about some special blue light filtering glasses that can help, but scientists don’t believe in those claims at all!
Our screen’s refresh rate can also affect our eyes, so for example a 60hz refresh rate monitor will cause your eyes to focus more often. Therefore causing you to tire quicker. The faster the refresh rate, the less often your eyes will need to refocus. The Verge are also reporting that positioning of your monitor also can affect your eyes discomfort. A 20degree angle at an arms length away is a good distance to eye health ratio. Brightness and contrast can also have an affect. Also fonts that you use can cause a problem! (Size most often) Lighting and the environment your in also has an affect. So staring at a screen isn’t so simple after all!
Apple have gone someway to combat discomfort in recent years with things such as Night Shift and Truetone, designed to lessen the blue hue in your phone’s screen!
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Alexa is great and is one of our favourite smart voice assisstants available today! However, would you like it if you could make Alexa, just that little bit more personal? Would you like to make your own Alexa commands? Even your own Alexa, voice controlled games? Now you can with a new feature and website from Amazon! Head over to bluerprints.amazon.com to get started on your very own Alexa commands. Furthermore you don’t even have to know how to code! Plus you can make as many different Alexa skills as you like!
Alexa Blueprints: How To
Alexa Skills are just like the apps you have on your smartphone, but are placed on your Amazon smart speaker instead. There’s already loads available on the Alexa Skills Store! You can download apps which help fit your lifestyle, order a pizza, order a cab even pull down the latest football scores!
Once you start using Blueprints you can use templates that are available to you to create your own personal Alexa skill within minutes! You can create anything that your heart desires. Be that custom games, to-do lists, learning! Furthermore you can get creative with them and make things such as a learning and knowledge skill but make it about your family. Such as a trivia game “Alexa, open My Family Trivia”
There are a whole host of skills that you can make, simply browse the blueprints that are available to you in the following categories:
Fun & Games
At Home
Storyteller
Learning & Knowledge
What skill are you going to make? Let us know by contacting us via our social media pages, we’re @howtokillanhour across all socials!
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So, it turns out that Robots are here to take over and there’s nothing we can do about it. They’re even going to be taking over our pets lives. Maybe even their jobs! (Can being our pet be classed as a job?) Well, it might as well be because they’re about to be booted from existence in our lives in favour of their metal counterparts!
Here are 5 Robots that may come take over the world:
Pet Robots
Zoomer Kitty. Yes that is it’s real name.
It’s a smart pet cat, a robot cat. It can feel your touch and purrs in response to it. Zoomer Kitty even does things that your own cat cannot. It can sing! Well hum. It hums three blind mice. (Poetic Irony? Or just trolling)
The Zoomer Kitty is described as a ‘tailed cushion that heals your heart’ So, at least the cat won’t poop in your house. Consequently, saving a lot of money on cleaning materials.
Wait? A tailed cushion!?! Since when did people use their cat as a cushion?!?!?! Most of all, WHO is using their cat as a cushion?
Babysitter Robots
The Cocotto from Panasonic is being described as a robot that can act as an ‘educational companion’ for your kid. Yes that’s called a Playstation 4.
It can talk to your children in a weird robotic sound that sounds something out of a horror movie.
But it can chat to our children and understand what is being said and even ask to go to the bathroom!?
However, the main aim for Cocotto is to build a child’s conversational skills through motion and communication.
Colon Robots?!
Robots are coming to the medical industry too!
Instead of having a finger up your bottom, or even a camera. Now you can put a robot up there to look for any problems instead!
All joking aside though. The robot can do really good and is designed to ease the passage of colonoscopies to prevent cancer.
Assistant Robots
CLOi from LG is their aim at being Alexa’s smarter sister. CLOi will recognise each family member and interact with them accordingly. Furthermore the smart robot will interact with all the different smart technology in your home. Also, there are Waiter, Porter and Shopper concept versions even exist too!
So, CLOi is kind of like a smart hub, that will interact with every other LG enabled smart tech in your home. Looking at the video above. LG are indeed looking to make their own Alexa. Not just a smart assistant but with a more talkative, human like experience, Smart hub.
Book Reading Robots
Firstly, you don’t even have to read your child a bed time story.
This is Luka. Luka is an intelligent robot that can help your child read any book. As well as this educational aspect, Luka can also teach them good habits. Also, Luka can play interactive games (which are educational too!) As one of them is called the ‘Tooth-Cleaning contest!
Human Robots
This is Simroid. Simroid has been designed to help practasing dental surgeons hone their skills before being let wild at your teeth. The robot is designed to act like a human. It sits in a dentist chair, following orders from budding surgeons. Also, it would even make facial expressions if they make mistakes and cause pain!
Simroid is not just for teeth either. Another version was created to simulate the effects of swine flue. The robot was coated in human like skin. Furthermore, it sweats, moans, cries, convulses – just as us humans would if we were infected with H1N1. Lovely. What’s even more crazy is that the robot can DIE! If the robot is not treated correctly symptoms worsen and then the robot dies.
Astronaut Robots
Furthermore, IMB have created Crew Interactive Mobile Companion. CIMON for short. It’s designed as a companion robot for all the lonely astronauts up there in space on the ISS.
However, CIMON will even help with simple tasks, display diagnostic data and it can even be a friendly psychotherapist due to its complex neural network.
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