Category: Reviews

Amazon fraud Ftc Reviews weight loss

FTC fines company for fake Amazon reviews in first case of its kind

sudshr47 February 27, 2019

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The U.S. government is taking on fake Amazon reviews.

On Tuesday, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it had reached a settlement in the agency’s first ever case against fraudulent Amazon reviews. 

In the FTC’s complaint, it claimed that defendant Cure Encapsulations, Inc. and the company’s owner, Naftula Jacobowitz, paid a third-party website called “amazonverifiedreviews.com” to post fake reviews for its weight loss supplement on Amazon. Along with the falsified reviews purporting to be from actual customers, the FTC also alleged that the company made “false and unsubstantiated claims” for the pills known as Quality Encapsulations Garcinia Cambogia.  Read more…

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Anthem Bioware game review Gaming review Reviews TC

Bioware’s high-flying ‘Anthem’ falls flat

sudshr47 February 25, 2019

Anthem is the first attempt by Bioware (of Mass Effect and Dragon Age fame) to tap into the well of cash supposedly to be found in the “game as platform” trend that has grown over the last few years, with Destiny, Warframe and Fortnite as preeminent exemplars. After a botched demo weekend dampened fan expectations, the final game is here — and while it’s a lot better than the broken mess we saw a few weeks ago, it’s still very hard to recommend.

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Academy Awards Best Picture Critics Entertainment Reviews

The most savage things critics have said about 2019 Best Picture winner ‘Green Book’

sudshr47 February 25, 2019

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Newly-named Best Picture winner Green Book may have won over the Academy, but it sure didn’t win over all critics. 

Even as Green Book‘s Oscars campaign picked up steam, it’s earned some reviews ranging from unfavorable to flat-out brutal, with much of the criticism stemming from accusations that the film was tone-deaf to its subject matter. 

Here’s a rundown of what some critics had to say — and in some cases, are still saying — about the highly contentious Green Book.

Matt Goldberg, Collider:

Whiteness is violence and films like Green Book act like a band-aid on the deep, infected and festering wound that is whiteness and anti-Blackness. Nothing more.

— Lara Witt (@Femmefeministe) February 25, 2019 Read more…

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commuting Games review Reviews Trivia

Drivetime trivia app turns your daily commute into a gameshow

sudshr47 February 22, 2019

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Drivetime commuter trivia app
$Free download on App Store or Google Play
The Good

Interactive without being distracting • Designed knowing you are at the wheel • You might actually learn something • Available to play anytime

The Bad

Limited content with a focus on current events • For heavy drivers • only 30 minutes of trivia per day • Meant for solo • adult drivers • so doesn’t work well for carpooling • passengers • or young kids • Can be hard for app to pick up your answers in noisy car situations

The Bottom Line

For commuters looking for something to do while driving, this makes the time go by much faster. For hardcore trivia fans, this is another way to get your fix. It’s tailored to a driving experience, so it’s a slower pace with a bit more banter and background info than usual. Once you’ve opened the app and pressed play, you don’t have to look at or touch the screen again.

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Apps Culture Educational Apps Feminism Reviews

Women Who Changed the World is a tender app that teaches kids about feminism

sudshr47 February 22, 2019

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Women Who Changed the World
$2.99
The Good

The app is educational without being condescending • It’s engaging for both children and adults

The Bad

Navigating can be needlessly complicated • The interactive challenges aren’t always clear

The Bottom Line

The app is fun and educational for both young people and adults, but the user experience gets in the way of its promise.

👑 Mashable Score
3.25
✨Aesthetic
4.5
💅Easy to use
2.0
🎯Delivers on promise
3.0
💵 Bang for the Buck
4.0

It’s hard to talk to kids about feminism and not bore them to death. Imagine being in first grade and having to listen to your mother preach to you about suffragists, when all you want to do is eat the cold hot dog in your lunchbox. Read more…

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casper Lights Reviews Sleep Tech Sleeping

Casper Glow review: Even gestures can’t make this more than an expensive night light

sudshr47 February 14, 2019

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Casper Glow
$89 (single), $168 (double)
The Good

Super easy to use • Light gets really bright • Charges wirelessly

The Bad

No Alexa or Google Assistant integration • Can’t swap out LED if it dies • App is a little slow to refresh data • Pricey

The Bottom Line

Casper’s first gadget, the Glow, is a cute portable light controlled with gestures, but it doesn’t offer enough features for the price.

⚡ Mashable Score
3.5
😎 Cool Factor
4.0
📘Learning Curve
4.0
💪Performance
3.0
💵 Bang for the Buck
3.0

 

The internet has a new gadget obsession, and no it’s not an iPhone for once. Read more…

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Apple Iphone iPhone XS Mashable Choice Reviews

Apple’s Smart Battery Case is the best way to power your iPhone for days

sudshr47 February 4, 2019

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iPhone Smart Battery Case (iPhone XS, XS Max, XR)
$129
The Good

Easily slips on and off iPhone • Keeps iPhone charged up all day • Supports wireless charging • Better-looking than original

The Bad

No on/off switch to control charging • Slow charging without the proper power adapter • Silicone exterior picks up dirt very easily (especially the white version)

The Bottom Line

Apple’s official iPhone Smart Battery Cases for iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR are no-nonsense battery cases that double their battery life.

⚡ Mashable Score
3.75
😎 Cool Factor
3.0
📘Learning Curve
5.0
💪Performance
4.0
💵 Bang for the Buck
3.0

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Gaming Razer Razer Phone 2 Reviews Smartphones

Razer Phone 2 Review: Incredible sound, decent camera, still the #1 choice for hardcore gamers

sudshr47 February 1, 2019

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Razer Phone 2
$799
The Good

The best gaming smartphone on the market • Unmatched surround sound • Bright 120Hz display

The Bad

Unimpressive camera • Size takes some getting use to • Kind of pricy unless you’re a gamer needing the specs

The Bottom Line

The Razer Phone 2 improves on the majority of its predecessors issues and remains the #1 smartphone choice for mobile gamers…but, man, that camera still needs improving!

Mashable Score4.0
Cool Factor5.0
Learning Curve3.5
Performance4.5
Bang for the Buck3.0

Hardcore gamers, rejoice! The new Razer Phone 2 might just be the smartphone for you. Read more…

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Apps Culture Reviews Self Care Web Culture

Aloe Bud is a self-care app for self-care app skeptics

sudshr47 January 31, 2019

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“Self-care” is a difficult term these days. Divorced from its original activist meaning and co-opted by capitalism, it’s become a concept companies invoke to, uh, mostly sell expensive lifestyle products.

Unlike many of its contemporaries, the self-care app Aloe Bud — which debuted in April of last year — largely succeeds in avoiding these pitfalls. Its simple interface, pleasant design, and lack of gamification make it a good option for people who want reminders to practice helpful habits, but don’t want a guilt-trippy “wellness” program.

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Email Gmail Hackers Reviews Security

Review: The Helm personal email server puts you in control of your data

sudshr47 January 23, 2019

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Recent days have not been good to your private dataScandals follow data breaches, which are followed by yet additional scandals, as the big tech companies continue to worm their way even deeper into our lives. It has become increasingly clear that almost every action you take — be it online or off — is collected, categorized, and sold by entities that never had your best interests at heart. 

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Or, at least not to that same troubling degree. Services like Tor, Signal, and ProtonMail offer real alternatives to the data collection that has become the norm. And, now, we can add one more offering to the mix. Say hello the the Helm personal email server.  Read more…

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