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Home / Tech  / The Wrap: 5 February

The Wrap: 5 February

Surprise, it’s on YouTube

If the title of a YouTube video, other metadata or a low view count has ever put you off watching the clip, you’ve now got an option to bring back the element of surprise. Surprisely strips out all these things, showing only the video itself in full screen. No description, no idea who made it, nothing.

The creators, David Lewandowski and Max Lazarov, say it’s about content without content, so you’re not influenced by anything that could make you decide to watch a video, or not watch. Here’s how a recent Idealog issue promo video looks, laid bare

Case sensitive

Smartphone case maker Moshi has a new offering for people who are shy about what’s on their home screen or just don’t want to risk it getting hit by a flying object. SenseCover protects the front and rear of a phone (because flip phones are so five years ago), and you can answer or reject a call just by swiping over an embedded touch sensitive pad called SensArray, built by Moshi. 

Smartypants

We promise this is our last mention of wearable tech, for this week at least. Hard on the heels of smartwatches, jerseys and bracelets that measure everything from heart rate to mood comes Mbody, a pair of tight shorts with embedded smarts to measure the performance of your muscles in real time during different types of training.

For 890 euros, you get the shorts, the MCell performance measurement sensor, USB power cable, the MBody Live and Link apps and Suunto Movescount, which uses the data to create training programmes. Obsessive, wealthy athletes only need apply. 

Sexism, be gone

Last year Superbowl ads targeted at men sparked protests from women, who didn’t sit back and do nothing. They voiced their disappointment on Twitter, using the hashtag #NotBuyingIt to take it to brands who objectify women to sell their products and services. Now there’s the #NotBuyingIt app for iOS, which lets users create their own anti-sexism campaigns. Supporters can use the app to like and share posted campaigns near them that they want to get behind.

Amanda Sachtleben is an Auckland writer and social media type, who's also Idealog's former tech editor and business journalist.

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