It couldn’t happen to a nicer, Apple and Samsung Settle 7-Year Patent Battle, Terms Not Known, but Samsung’s smartphone sales growth is slowing. This, from Reuters:

South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics Co Ltd estimated on Friday earnings grew at the slowest pace in more than a year in the second quarter, as analysts said weak smartphone sales likely offset record high chip earnings. Samsung shares fell 2 percent as the guidance gave investors insight into how badly the decline in smartphone profitability is hurting the company’s bottom line, after it warned in April of an earnings slowdown amid tougher competition.

In the northern hemisphere, at least. Yes, the Earth is farthest from the Sun, in its slightly elliptical orbit, in the northern hemisphere summer. And so it’s natural to ask why summer gets so warm. That’s a classic astronomy 101 question, and it’s nicely explained in this link at Gizmodo. (Image credit: NASA.) For more, see: «Aphelion Day 2018: Earth Is Farthest from the Sun Today.»

There’s a reason why you can’t stop reading Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat. The apps have interfaces designed to be addictive, according to Silicon Valley insiders talking with the BBC. Aza Raskin, a former Jawbone and Mozilla employee and the guy who invented infinite scroll found on social networks, was just one of the many developers who spoke with the BBC for a new documentary program. He said,

It’s as if they’re taking behavioural cocaine and just sprinkling it all over your interface and that’s the thing that keeps you like coming back and back and back. Behind every screen on your phone, there are generally like literally a thousand engineers that have worked on this thing to try to make it maximally addicting.

Social networks need your eyes and your attention to keep revenue coming in, so the idea they would find ways to make us want to stay seems plausible. Other insiders say leaving social networks behind is a lot like quitting cigarettes. It’s no wonder so many people live for Facebook’s «like» button.

It’s summer. We’re outdoors at night more than other seasons. Then, when people think about becoming more familiar with the night sky, the various stars and constellations, they often think that a telescope is required. And while it’s true that good views of planets, nebulae and galaxies do require a telescope, there’s a lot one can learn by an organized effort with the naked-eye. In fact, one can argue that a good familiarity with the constellations is an important starting point for all things astronomical. This linked article has great information on exactly how to become a good naked-eye stargazer