Friday, 16 February 2018

The Morning After: The future in 'Black Panther'

Engadget Email Newsletter

It's Friday, February 16, 2018.

Hey, good morning!

Friday morning. Almost as good as Saturday. Today, we’re talking discounted PlayStation VR headsets (down to $200), our thoughts on Marvel’s Black Panther and a very convoluted way to upgrade your old B&O speakers for the modern age.

It's unlike any blockbuster film you've seen before.

Review: 'Black Panther' proves why Afrofuturism matters

Black Panther is groundbreaking on every level. It's a superhero film that's smarter and more meaningful than anything from Marvel yet. It's a blockbuster action movie written, directed by and starring black artists. And, Black Panther also happens to be the purest expression of Afrofuturism -- science fiction and fantasy that reflects the African diaspora -- to ever hit cinemas around the world. It's about time.

The process even made water from Sydney Harbor safe to drink.

Graphene film makes dirty water drinkable in a single step

Researchers have developed a process that can purify water, no matter how dirty it is, in a single step. Scientists from Australian research organization CSIRO have created a filtration technique using a graphene film with microscopic nano-channels that lets water pass through, but stops pollutants. The process, called Graphair, is so effective that water samples from Sydney Harbor were safe to drink after being treated. Here, you can take a sip first.

Even the Apple Watch is affected.

Mac and iOS bug crashes apps with a single character

One single Indian-language character is capable of crashing a number of messaging apps on iOS. The problem also extends to the Apple Watch and even Macs, all of which struggle to process the character specific to the Telugu language spoken in India.

The character, when received or even pasted into iMessage, will at least crash the app if not the entire iOS SpringBoard (the core software that runs the iOS home screen). Other communication apps react the same way, including WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook Messenger, Gmail and Outlook. Fortunately, this frustrating bug shouldn't survive much longer. It affects devices running iOS 11.2.5, but has already been addressed in the latest beta software for both iPhones and Macs.

It sounds great on paper, but the reality is far from perfect.

Samsung Notebook 9 Pen review: solid stylus, so many compromises

Samsung's Notebook 9 Pen is a tiny workhorse which is so light, it's barely there, and it's one of just a few Samsung PCs to feature the company's S Pen. That it's a quirky machine is without question, but its performance and build quality left us with a few concerns.

And you'll have to supply your own Raspberry Pi.

B&O’s upgrade for old speakers requires some heavy tinkering

In 2018, most new speakers come with WiFi and/or Bluetooth as standard. Let's face it: Almost everyone is using their phone to access music these days, so wireless connectivity is a must. However, if you invested in a set of non-connected speakers before the wireless craze hit, you may not want to shell out more money to replace them just yet. For older passive speaker setups, Bang & Olufsen has an option for getting that connectivity thanks to a collaboration with HiFiBerry. You'll have to get your hands dirty, though.

But not if it means giving up America's access to low Earth orbit.

Defunding the ISS might just help get us to Mars

There's good news for NASA in the Trump administration's proposed FY2019 budget and some bad. On the one hand, the space agency would receive a minor funding boost -- NASA itself would get $19.9 billion, a 1.3 percent increase over 2017, while its science directorate would receive $5.9 billion, a 2.3 percent increase. On the other hand, not only does the current administration want to cut funding for the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), which would hunt for exoplanets and dark matter, it also wants to defund the International Space Station after 2024, when the US's current commitment to the multinational project expires. Instead, Trump's team hopes that a consortium of private businesses will take over running the station come 2025.

He relaxed the agency's rules weeks before the deal was announced.

FCC watchdog is investigating Pai's moves before Sinclair merger

Last April, the Federal Communications Commission, led by its Trump-appointed chairman Ajit Pai, eliminated a restriction that had capped how many stations media companies could own. Weeks later, Sinclair Broadcast Group announced a long-suspected deal to acquire Tribune Media for $3.9 billion. Anyone finding that timing suspicious wouldn't be alone: For two months, the FCC's internal watchdog has been investigating whether Pai and his aides improperly pushed to change the rules and timed it to help Sinclair. The FCC’s spokesperson responded, saying: "Given that the FCC under Chairman Pai's leadership recently proposed a $13 million fine against Sinclair, the largest fine in history for a violation of the Commission's sponsorship identification rules, the accusation that he has shown favoritism toward the company is absurd.”

But wait, there's more...

1. Peter Thiel might be getting out of Silicon Valley

2. Google's Project Fi now covers 170 countries with international data

3. Sony drops PlayStation VR prices as low as $200

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Thursday, 15 February 2018

The Morning After: Google Chrome gets an ad filter and HomePod has a problem

Engadget Email Newsletter

It's Thursday, February 15, 2018.

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Notice anything new in your browser this morning? We’ll explain Chrome’s latest trick, plus the problem with video-game records and where you shouldn’t put your new HomePod.

This could get awkward.

Google explains Chrome’s new ad blocker

Starting today, Chrome will automatically filter ads from sites that don’t live up to the Better Ads Standards. Hopefully, that should cut down things we’ve seen like page-hijacking ads on mobile and many loud autoplaying videos, but the ads are still accessible if you really need to enter your Amazon account info on some random website. Ultimately, this blocker is supposed to nudge site managers into fixing the loopholes that bring annoying ads to browsers in the first place.

'Dragster,' 'Donkey Kong' and decades of frustration.

Video-game records are broken. Can anyone fix them?

Twin Galaxies, the arbiter for video-game recordkeeping (someone has to do it), recently found itself thrust into the spotlight. It had to deal with disputes over two long-standing achievements hosted on its forums: Todd Rogers' unbeatable Dragster time and Billy Mitchell's Donkey Kong high score. Both records have had their share of challenges over the decades, but before users on the TG forums raised their concerns the other week, nothing was done to officially dispute them. This is where things get more complicated.

Decision time.

YouTube TV gets new networks -- and a price bump

Today marks the biggest expansion of YouTube TV so far, as it adds TNT, TBS, Cartoon Network, CNN, Turner Classic Movie, NBA TV, MLB TV and a few others. The bad news is that starting March 13th, the monthly price for new subscribers will rise from $35 to $40, but you can sign up before then to lock in the current rate.

Monitor your home – anytime, from anywhere

Good to know.

There’s a major security bug in Skype for Windows

Yesterday Microsoft confirmed that Skype has fallen foul of a security flaw that can allow attackers to gain system-level privileges via its update installer. Unfortunately, fixing the issue is no simple task, and Microsoft has only said it will “proactively update impacted devices as soon as possible.”

White rings after only 20 minutes, according to one report.

Apple’s HomePod may leave marks on wood furniture

We found Apple's long-awaited HomePod belts out good sound for casual listeners so long as they already own an iPod / iPhone / iPad. One issue we didn’t see coming, however: The HomePod is damaging wooden furniture it sits on. Both Wirecutter and Pocket-Lint (as well as a handful of Twitter users) discovered this the hard way while using the HomePod. Apple confirmed it’s happening due to the rubberized base of its smart speaker, but that "the marks can improve over several days after the speaker is removed from the wood surface." It might not weigh much, but we’d caution putting it on any pricey statement European furniture you might have.

Ultimate form.

Windows 10 is adding an Ultimate Performance mode for pros

When you're creating 3D models or otherwise running intensive tasks on your PC, you want to wring every ounce of performance out of that hardware. It's a good thing, then, that Microsoft has released a Windows 10 preview build in the Fast ring that includes a new Ultimate Performance mode if you're running Pro for Workstations. This is a step up for people for whom even the High Performance mode isn't enough -- it throws power management out the window to both eliminate "micro-latencies" and boost raw speed.

With Cinema 4K and 5-axis stabilization, it’s going after Sony.

Fujfilm targets video shooters with the new flagship X-H1

Fujifilm has dropped a hefty gauntlet on rivals with the X-H1, its new flagship APS-C mirrorless that excels at both photography and video. It sports a 24.3-megapixel X-Trans CMOS III sensor housed in a body with features from both the ergonomically excellent X-T2 and medium-format GFX 50S. Fujifilm calls it "the highest performance camera in the X series lineup," thanks to features like true DCI 4K video (4,096 x 2,160), 14 fps max burst shooting and, for the first time in a Fujifilm camera, 5-axis in-body stabilization.

But wait, there's more...

1. Overwatch League's first female player is 'Geguri' of the Shanghai Dragons

2. Dyson's first electric vehicle might not showcase its next-gen battery tech

3. What's on TV: 'Justice League,' 'Secret of Mana' and 'Bayonetta'

4. US intelligence agencies warn buyers to avoid Huawei smartphones

5. SETI researchers: Cryptocurrency mining is hampering the search for alien life

6. Which true wireless earbuds are worth buying?

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Wednesday, 14 February 2018

Editor's Pick: Google Offers New Mobile Story Tech to Publishers

Google Offers New Mobile Story Tech to Publishers

John P. Mello Jr. Feb 14, 2018 5:00 AM PT
	Google has rolled out a developer preview of its new AMP story format, which is designed to give content publishers an easy way to deliver news and information on mobile devices with visually rich, tap-through stories. "On mobile devices, users browse lots of articles, but engage with few in-depth," noted Rudy Galfi, product manager for AMP at Google. [More...]

More Picks:

Microsoft to Use Blockchain to Create Decentralized ID System
Microsoft has announced a plan to use blockchain technology to develop decentralized identities, or DIDs. Microsoft formally joined the ID2020 Alliance last month as a founding member. The Alliance aims to develop a blockchain-based identity system for vulnerable populations -- one that can operate across various blockchains, cloud providers, government agencies and other organizations. [More...]

Account Scoring Tool Helps Companies Home In on Best Targets
DataFox has launched Account Scoring, a new product to help businesses and financial firms find and prioritize optimum target clients. DataFox offers clients data on more than two million companies to help them prioritize existing prospect accounts, as well as discover new companies to add to their CRM systems as potential high priorities, said CMO Mike Dorsey. [More...]

Can Amazon Scale Its Own B2B Shipping Service?
Amazon has been plotting its next big move to control its logistics chain, with a new service called "Shipping with Amazon" in the works and reportedly scheduled to launch within weeks. It initially will pick up goods from third-party sellers that already work with Amazon and deliver them to customers. The service eventually will expand to merchants that currently do not work with Amazon. [More...]

To Win in the New Delivery Economy, Go to the Cloud
As Amazon sets consumer expectations for rapid delivery to the home, companies in nearly every industry have been recognizing that they must move to the cloud to keep pace. This means revamping their transportation and logistics systems to meet their customers' escalating delivery expectations. These rising demands have been fueling the growth of a new generation of cloud-based, SaaS solutions. [More...]

Kudos to Namib Linux for Making Arch Approachable
Namib is an ideal Linux distro for anyone who wants to ease into the Arch approach to computing. Namib is a newcomer -- the third and current release arrived late last year. However, it makes up for its lack of age by its performance. Namib makes Arch simple. Surprisingly very user-friendly as well as compatible with older computers, Namib also is very stable. [More...]

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ECT News Network Weekly Newsletter

ECT News Network Weekly Newsletter: Wednesday -- February 14, 2018

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

Microsoft to Use Blockchain to Create Decentralized ID System
(Posted 14-Feb-18)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/85133.html

Can Amazon Scale Its Own B2B Shipping Service?
(Posted 13-Feb-18)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/85131.html

To Win in the New Delivery Economy, Go to the Cloud
(Posted 12-Feb-18)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/85129.html

Amazon Makes Free Whole Foods Deliveries a Prime Perk
(Posted 09-Feb-18)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/85125.html

The 3 Faces of Customer Care
(Posted 08-Feb-18)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/85121.html

This Week's Top News Headlines From TechNewsWorld

Google Offers New Mobile Story Tech to Publishers
(Posted 14-Feb-18)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/85132.html

Intel's Fake 5G Olympic Hail Mary
(Posted 12-Feb-18)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/85124.html

EHang Shows Off Passenger Drone's Flight Successes
(Posted 10-Feb-18)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/85127.html

Leak of Stale iOS Source Code Could Trigger Fresh Problems
(Posted 09-Feb-18)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/85126.html

New MIT Project to Probe Mysteries of Human Intelligence
(Posted 08-Feb-18)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/85123.html

With 4K HDR, Olympics May Be More Colorful Than Ever
(Posted 08-Feb-18)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/85122.html

This Week's Top News Headlines From CRM Buyer

Account Scoring Tool Helps Companies Home In on Best Targets
(Posted 13-Feb-18)
http://www.crmbuyer.com/story/85130.html

This Week's Top News Headlines From LinuxInsider

Kudos to Namib Linux for Making Arch Approachable
(Posted 13-Feb-18)
http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/85128.html

Open Up the Source Code to Lock Down Your Data
(Posted 08-Feb-18)
http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/85120.html

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