The universe is massive, with trillions of stars and galaxies. But one thing is so powerful that it can destroy an entire galaxy in the blink of a cosmic eye. Quasars, short for quasi-stellar radio source. They take in surrounding matter and spit it out with such velocity that whole galaxies don’t stand a chance. So, how do they work?
Ask Kim: 'Can you help me choose an Echo device?'
I want to get an Amazon Echo Show, but can’t decide between the 8 or 10 or which version. Can you provide your recommendation?
Rodney in Nevada
Absolutely! First things first, here’s how I like to use mine:
- Video calls on the fly: Forget typing a text or making a regular call. The Echo Show lets you video chat with friends and family by asking Alexa. It’s face-to-face catch-ups made easy!
- Kitchen sous chef: Want to whip up something tasty but need a little guidance? The Echo Show can display step-by-step recipes or even play cooking videos. Now you’ve got a sous chef that won’t talk back.
- Smart home control center: Lightbulbs, thermostats, doorbells — you name it. If it’s a smart home device, you can likely control it through your Echo Show. Just swipe or ask Alexa, and you’re the master of your home tech universe. OK, that was a stretch, but it sounds good in theory.
Now, which one to get?
Both are totally solid, but I would go with the Echo Show 10. It’s bigger, faster and newer, and just about every spec is upgraded. The Echo Show 8 is certainly more affordable, but this is something you want to buy once and forget about for a few years. This model is already over two years old.
A nice in-between budget-wise is a certified refurbished version of the 10. You can return it if there are any issues, but it’s really in Amazon’s best interest to make sure anything refurbished is tested and ready to go. You can get the Echo Show 10 for around $145 this way.
No unexpected Drop Ins
Now that you have the perfect Echo Show let’s do a little cleanup when it comes to privacy.
Drop In connects you to another Echo speaker or display for an instant conversation. “Alexa, drop in on the kitchen Echo Show.” You can announce things through all your Echo devices at once, too. For example, to get the family to come for dinner, the command is “Alexa, drop in on all devices.”
But remember, the Echo speaker or display goes both ways. It lets someone immediately listen in or watch what’s happening in the room after 10 seconds. With the Echo Show, you don’t necessarily want someone with the ability to pop in and see what you’re up to all the time.
You can set permissions to enable or disable a specific device. Here’s how:
- Open the Alexa app, then tap Devices.
- Select Echo & Alexa, and then select your device.
- Tap the Settings gear in the upper right > Communications.
- Select Drop In, then select which permissions to enable or disable.
- Choose On to allow Drop In with permitted contacts only or My Household to Drop In only on devices on your account, or Off, which means nobody can Drop In.
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Search smarter, not harder [List]
Think of Google as a Swiss Army Knife. If you know how to use the hidden tools, you can get just about anything done. Here are a dozen not-so-conventional ways to use Google way beyond regular searches.
Hey, relax. Most of the great tips below work on whatever search site you use.
Weird science: A scientist claims our universe might be an advanced computer simulation, and the proof is in the Bible. The Gospel of John says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” He says “the Word” refers to the underlying computer code controlling the simulation. I know what you’re thinking: “Whoa, this is too much for my brain. I’m going to see if Prince Harry is divorcing Meghan Markle yet.”
Which of these is not a current NASA mission? Is it … A.) Chips that create 3D skin and organ tissue, B.) Fully automated plant growth on the ISS, C.) A shoebox-sized satellite studying the universe’s most powerful explosions or D.) Mars surface ocean exploration?
NASA's Hubble Telescope just spotted the farthest star ever seen
Since our first interaction with space, NASA has come a long way. It’s installed astronauts year-round in space and developed technologically advanced equipment like the Hubble telescope to give us a deeper insight into the universe.
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If you celebrate Christmas, your favorite part was likely the delicious dinner someone in your family made or the piles of presents underneath the tree. But you may not have realized NASA was making history on Christmas day.
What happens when matter travels faster than the speed of light?
Light speed is the fastest anything can travel in the universe, right? It turns out to be a little more complicated. There are places on Earth where manufactured objects go even faster than light. So, how is this possible and what does this look like in action?
What would happen if a supernova hit Earth?
Supernovas are the largest explosions in the universe. They happen when a dying star sheds its outer layer in a moment of extreme energy. If they’re so powerful, what would happen if one were to happen close to us? Would we be able to survive?
Why is the Vatican's giant telescope located in Arizona?
Here’s a fun fact for your next holiday get together: The Catholic church is a leading force in space exploration. How? The church funds a massive space telescope in the middle of the Arizona desert. Researchers have used it to make countless discoveries and better understand the universe. But why is it in Arizona?
What is the smallest thing in the universe?
The universe is massive, filled with hundreds of millions of galaxies and stars 100 times larger than the sun. But what if we looked down instead of looking up? There are entire worlds all around us that we can’t see. The smaller we get, the crazier these worlds are. How small can we get, and what does the world look like from that perspective?
You're missing out on what Google can really do
What does Google mean to you? Perhaps it’s just how you search the internet, or maybe Google Docs is your main word processing program. It is simply your email provider? That’s as far as many people go with Google, but the tech giant offers a lot more than that.
7 best podcast apps for Android and iPhone
Everyone has a podcast, right? It sometimes seems that way.
Well-known actors have podcasts. Comedians, fashion icons, sports anchors and reality TV stars have podcasts. Many of the major personalities you listen to on the radio have podcasts.