Thursday, 26 January 2017

The Morning After: A new Oculus VR boss and more curved screens

It's Thursday, January 26, 2017.

Hey, good morning!

Welcome to the Morning After. Oculus (and Facebook’s own) VR efforts have a new leader: Hugo Barra, the former Googler who just announced that he was leaving China’s Xiaomi. There are also brightly-colored astronaut suits of the future, and a cheaper way of making flexible screens for your next curved phone.

Welcome back to Silicon Valley

Hugo Barra takes the reins at Oculus

Three and a half years after departing Google’s Android division for Xiaomi, Hugo Barra recently announced plans to return to the US. Now, Mark Zuckerberg reveals he’ll be taking over the leadership spot at Oculus VR, and as Facebook’s VP of VR. His mission, of course, is to make the tech mainstream, and Zuck announced the hiring with a quick snap of the two hanging out in virtual reality since Barra is still in China.

Bright Boeing blue.

Boeing's spacesuit is light, cool and flexible

Boeing has unveiled its own spacesuit for people aboard its Starliner CST-100 vessels, and it promises to be far more livable than the clunky spacewear of the past. It's roughly 40 percent lighter than previous suits, with layers that should keep astronauts cooler than usual. Wearers also won't feel quite so trapped or claustrophobic -- zippers help them transition from sitting to standing. There's also a built-in communications headset, and the gloves are touchscreen-friendly.

That’s not a problem, is it?

Donald Trump's most senior staff use a private email server

In a revelation that can’t possibly turn into a political issue, a report indicates senior White House staff are using a private RNC email server. That’s not illegal. However, its use requires emails are copied and forwarded to the government within 20 days, something that didn’t happen during the Bush admin when the same server lost about 22 million emails to the ether. Also, contrary to earlier reports, the President is apparently continuing to use his (unsecured) Android phone on a regular basis -- and it may be an old Galaxy S3.

Here's how you can learn to be an ethical hacker for $49.

Alternative facts

Scientists plan a march against Donald Trump

There’s apparently a Scientists March on Washington in the works, spurred by fears the current administration is overriding science for political reasons. If you’re concerned about climate change data, or reports of gag orders preventing researchers from releasing information, this could be a way to speak up. Meanwhile, the USDA rescinded an order that researchers not release public-facing documents just a day after it was issued.

Beam lives.

Xbox One Snap Mode is dead

As Microsoft rolls out its Creator’s Update features to testers in waves, exec Mike Ybarra revealed that the Xbox One’s multitasking Snap Mode feature is on its way out. Instead, those resources will be opened up for games to use, while bits like game streaming and background music will simply work without it. As of today, Insider program members should expect an update adding Beam game streaming to the PC and Xbox, while Windows 10 testers can check out the new Game Mode.

Everyone loves their cable box

GOP pushes new FCC chief to kill set-top box rental proposal

Last year, Tom Wheeler tried to push through a ruling that would require cable operators to make their services work with third party hardware like an Apple TV or Roku. It never passed, and now that Trump appointee Ajit Pai is running things, House Republicans have requested that he close the matter (which he voted against) entirely. According to them, the prospect of change is preventing investment in content and technological advances.

4K HTPC

Pioneer is about to release the first Ultra HD Blu-ray drive for PCs

Still dealing with discs? Soon you’ll be able to watch movies in the highest quality from your PC, now that Pioneer has announced a couple of Ultra HD Blu-ray drives launching next month. Of course, those interested will probably need an all-over upgrade, powered by one of Intel’s new Kaby Lake CPUs and with an HDMI 2.0a connection to a 4K display.

More Chromebooks for education.

Dell unveils 2-in-1 Latitude and Chromebook laptops for schools

This year marks a first for Dell's education-focused computer family: 2-in-1 laptops. Like the company's other computers destined for schools, the Dell Latitude and Chromebook 11 Convertibles are built to withstand classrooms and student abuse. They both sport the same basic design -- rubberized shock protection for falls, sealed keyboards to handle spills and lots of rounded corners -- but one runs Windows 10 and the other is powered by Chrome OS. (We'll let you guess which is which).

The screens can bend thanks to plastic instead of glass on the back.

Japan Display battles Samsung's OLED with curved LCD screens

One of Apple's main screen suppliers, Japan Display Inc. (JDI), has revealed a 5.5-inch LCD smartphone screen that can be bent like OLED displays from Samsung and LG. While not quite as flexible and thin as OLED, LCD is a lot cheaper to make than its rival, so you could see a lot more curved phone designs when JDI starts manufacturing the panels in 2018.

But wait, there's more...

1. HP recalls 101,000 laptop batteries sold between March 2013 and October 2016

2. Review: Roli Block

3. Now Android users can try their luck in The League's exclusive dating pool

4. Apple hits Qualcomm with two more antitrust lawsuits

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Wednesday, 25 January 2017

ECT News Network Weekly Newsletter

ECT News Network Weekly Newsletter: Wednesday -- January 25, 2017

ECT News Network -- Where Business Meets Technology
http://www.ectnews.com
E-Commerce Times | TechNewsWorld
CRM Buyer | LinuxInsider

This Week's Top News Headlines From the E-Commerce Times

New FCC Chair Ajit Pai Vows to Kill Net Neutrality Rules
(Posted 24-Jan-17)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/84253.html

Barra Leaves Post as Xiaomi's International Point Man
(Posted 24-Jan-17)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/84252.html

The Old Man and the Tsunami: A Security Story
(Posted 23-Jan-17)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/84250.html

Samsung's Note7 Post Mortem Turns Up 2 Problems
(Posted 21-Jan-17)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/84248.html

Netflix Surprises Itself With Gangbusters Membership Growth
(Posted 20-Jan-17)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/84245.html

Why Companies Botch Customer Care
(Posted 19-Jan-17)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/84240.html

This Week's Top News Headlines From TechNewsWorld

China Aims to Wash VPNs Out of Its Hair
(Posted 25-Jan-17)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/84255.html

Samsung Explains Note7 Failure, Promises to Do Better
(Posted 23-Jan-17)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/84249.html

The US Press Corps vs. Trump: A Teachable Moment
(Posted 23-Jan-17)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/84247.html

Yahoo and the Year of Living Dangerously
(Posted 20-Jan-17)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/84246.html

New LinkedIn Site Design Encourages Engagement
(Posted 19-Jan-17)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/84242.html

Luckey Dons Virtual Flak Jacket for Zenimax Testimony
(Posted 19-Jan-17)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/84244.html

This Week's Top News Headlines From CRM Buyer

Top CRM Blogs of 2016: Countdown, Part 2
(Posted 24-Jan-17)
http://www.crmbuyer.com/story/84254.html

Oracle's Important Little Acquisition
(Posted 23-Jan-17)
http://www.crmbuyer.com/story/84251.html

Pipedrive Attracts Funds for Global Expansion
(Posted 20-Jan-17)
http://www.crmbuyer.com/story/84241.html

This Week's Top News Headlines From LinuxInsider

FastComputer: Fussy but Fixable
(Posted 20-Jan-17)
http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/84243.html

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The Morning After: Sprint buys a chunk of music service Tidal

It's Wednesday, January 25, 2017.

Hey, good morning!

You’re here, in the middle of the week. Over the last 24 hours, you may have missed that Sprint is buying a huge chunk of Tidal, how Samsung’s Note 7 debacle came and went, and the mixed future of games for both the Xbox One's Kinect and Nintendo’s 3DS.

Choppy waters in the world of streaming music.

Why is Sprint throwing money at Tidal?

After reports last week that Tidal hasn't been honest about its subscriber numbers, Sprint announced that it's buying a third of the streaming service. It's no secret that Tidal has struggled to gain ground on Apple Music and Spotify, even with a portfolio of artist exclusives. The company reportedly has financial issues to contend with as well, so a big influx of cash likely made the decision easy for Jay Z et al. But why did Sprint open its wallet?

CyanogenMod is back.

The first builds of LineageOS are out

With the close of 2016, Cyanogen Inc. decided to get out of the operating system business, and the open source CyanogenMod project has rebranded. Now it has delivered the first builds of LineageOS, which continue its run of community-driven, Android-based software, just with a new name and logo. There's only support for a few devices so far, but we’re expecting the list will grow quickly.

Burned.

With its Note 7 apology, Samsung finally gets something right

After most of the furor over its flaming phones had died down, Samsung moved to end the Note 7 fiasco once and for all. Last Sunday, Samsung mobile chief DJ Koh — followed by a cadre of technical experts — laid out exactly what caused the company's incredibly well-received phone to fail so spectacularly. In doing so, he sought to move Samsung past the mess that had consumed it for the past five months. Its humble, apologetic approach won't last forever, though -- once the Galaxy S8 (and possibly the Note 8) are unveiled in the coming months, the message will pivot back toward the company's drive for “innovation.” How many flashy phones and glitzy ads need to be released before most forget (or forgive) those failures? That's the question we'll watch Samsung try to answer in the months to come.

Find out how you can win the DJI drone of your choice.

Unless you’re looking for another ‘Just Dance’ update...

Don't bank on Kinect games in 2017

Mattia Traverso, the creator of Kinect-exclusive game Fru, has a unique perspective on the ever-shrinking Kinect marketplace because he's one of the last video-game developers to build a title specifically for Microsoft's motion-sensing peripheral. The Kinect may not be officially dead, but it is clearly not a priority for Microsoft. In 2016, the Xbox One's Kinect 2 received just two notable games from third-party studios, Fru and Just Dance 2017. Microsoft hasn't released a motion-sensing game itself since 2014, the same year the company announced it would start selling the Xbox One without the Kinect bundled in the box. Support for the peripheral has disappeared over the past three years, and with it, so has public attention.

Pause.

Trump administration freezes grants and contracts at the EPA

In a move that could disrupt projects such as toxic cleanups and water quality testing, the new administration has put things at the EPA in a “holding pattern.” That also includes the imposition of an apparent gag order, preventing employees from releasing public-facing documents or speaking to the media. Despite that rule, some EPA personnel are speaking out anyway, including a few who told reports that the climate change section of its website could go away today.

Capture the Rooster.

‘Overwatch’ Chinese New Year celebration includes a new CTF mode

The first 2017 even for Overwatch is here, but the most interesting addition is its Capture the Flag mode. According to the developers, they’ve been trying to add the feature for a long time but had trouble properly balancing it. Now the dual-flag mode is available for a trial run in the Arcade section, so grab your favorite hero and see how things work.

Yes, it can run Photoshop.

Adobe’s apps are coming to ChromeOS

Everyone has that one thing they absolutely need their computer to do, and if yours is support for the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, then Chromebooks are finally an option. That’s because it is launching a beta test for its Android apps on the platform, so that users can run Photoshop Mix, Lightroom mobile, Illustrator Draw, Photoshop Sketch, Comp CC and Creative Cloud Mobile.

Don’t get too personal.

Amazon Echo has a new wake word: Computer

Until now, Echo owners had a choice of Echo or Alexa as the magic word that activated their device’s voice-controller capabilities. Now, the company has added one more option, with a Star Trek twist. Just say “Computer,” and you can tap into the power of Alexa as though you were on the bridge of a Starship, despite actually being in a drab living room. Don’t you think it’s time to hang up a painting or something?

You still can’t afford one.

Vertu's latest luxury Android phone is built for jetsetters

Say hello to the Constellation, Vertu’s latest high-priced Android handset. Built around Android Marshmallow, this one targets world travelers with its dual SIM card slots and access to the iPass WiFi network. As usual, it’s not rocking the latest technology, but these devices are more about the included 24-hour Concierge service than regular software updates, and with prices that start in the thousands, you probably won’t need to worry about that anyway.

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