Google teaches Americans how to vote, how technology is affecting your sex life, Microsoft rolls out the Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary Update, Microsoft trolls Apple, and crafting a phone case out of flubber.

Google Helps You Vote For President

Google really wants you to vote in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election. So, in order to increase the percentage of the population turning out on the big day, the company is giving potential voters all of the information they need to actually make their vote count.

Having already made it dead simple to register to vote, Google is now getting into the details. This means that anyone searching for "How to Vote" or something similar will be shown a state-specific guide to voting. This includes all of the various requirements and deadlines.

Before you panic, Google isn't telling anyone who to vote for, just informing them how to vote where they live. The ultimate aim being to make it "easier than ever for everyone to participate in the political process". Which is probably more crucial in this election than any other.

The choice of Republican and Democratic candidates (Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, respectively) and the contentious way the two main campaigns have been fought thus far, HAS had an effect on the country though. Google is reporting a spike in the number of people searching for information on voting at the next election.

All I can say is, roll on November 8th!

Technology Is Bad For Your Sex Life

Millenials are having less sex with less people and waiting longer before losing their virginity. And these trends are being blamed on technology. This is all according to recent research in the Archives of Sexual Behavior which saw researchers analyzing data on adult sexual habits from the General Social Survey.

The research suggests that Millenials (people born in the 1980s or 1990s) are having their first sexual encounter at an older age, and then having fewer sexual partners than the previous two generations (Baby Boomers and Generation X). Which would seem to go against the notion that youngsters are constantly engaging in horizontal dancing.

Most sexperts are blaming technology in one way or another. Some are claiming online dating is putting too much emphasis on looks, while others are claiming online pornography is replacing the need for physical relationships. Whatever the truth, Millenials are, as a group, having less sex than other generations did at their age. Which could lead to a fall in birthrates.

Microsoft Remembers Windows 10 Mobile

Microsoft has remembered that Windows 10 Mobile is a thing, and begun rolling out the Windows 10 Anniversary Update to Windows 10 Mobile devices. The Windows 10 Anniversary Update started rolling out to PC users two weeks ago, so it's about time Microsoft shows Mobile users some love.

You can either wait for the Anniversary Update to hit your phone, or you can manually check for the update yourself. This is achieved by clicking Start > All Apps > Settings > Update & Security > Phone Update > Check for Updates.

Unfortunately, there is no guarantee it will be available on your phone at this early stage, as Microsoft makes it clear that availability varies "by manufacturer, model, country or region, mobile operator or service provider, hardware limitations and other factors".

Microsoft Trolls Apple Over iPad Pro

A couple of weeks ago, Apple made the audacious claim that the iPad Pro is a computer, or at least a computer-like device capable of replacing your PC (or Mac). There may be some truth to this, with our own analysis suggesting the iPad Pro is a solid option. However, Microsoft disagrees, as this video shows.

This is Microsoft's response to Apple's claims, and it doesn't hold back from mocking Apple for the shortcomings of the iPad Pro. The ultimate message being that the addition of a keyboard isn't enough to turn a tablet into a computer capable of powering your whole life. Troll on, Microsoft, troll on.

How Flubber Can Protect Your iPhone

And finally, surely everybody has dropped their smartphone on the floor at least once by now. Or twice. Or down the toilet. With that in mind, most of you will understand the need to surround your smartphone with a solid, dependable case. But have you ever considered using flubber as the material of choice?

We hadn't. In fact, I didn't even know flubber was a real thing. It turns out flubber is a mix of water, glue, and borax. When combined, these ingredients create a strange rubbery substance which, it turns out, is capable of protecting your smartphone from shattering into a million pieces when dropped from a height. Today I Learned!

Your Views on Today’s Tech News

Do you need Google to teach you how to vote? Have you noticed technology affecting your sex life? What are your thoughts on the Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary Update? Should Microsoft be mocking Apple in such a flagrant manner? Did you know flubber was a real thing?

Let us know your thoughts on the Tech News of the day by posting to the comments section below. Because a healthy discussion is always welcome.

Tech News Digest is a daily column paring the technology news of the day down into bite-sized chunks that are easy to read and perfect for sharing.

Image Credit: David Mulder via Flickr