TiVo’s Summer 2014 update makes it even easier to find something to watch
Despite arriving nearly a year after the TiVo Roamio launched, this update looks to be one worth waiting for. To address the age old problem of choosing what to watch, TiVo has two new features that make that much easier. The first is a new third column added to the My Shows view that makes it possible to browse recorded shows by category (movies, kids, sports, etc). You can easily choose which categories are shown — who watches kids shows anyway? — and in what order, or revert to your old ways completely (check the demo video embedded after the break to get a feel for how it works). The other new feature is in the same vein, bringing on-demand and web app options to the traditional guide and giving us flashbacks of Windows Media Center’s similar option. TiVo Premiere owners will also be very happy with their version of the update since it adds the aforementioned new features but doesn’t stop there. As Zatz Not Funny points out, users are reporting much needed speed improvements with an “updated, modern design” that brings it closer to the Roamio experience.
What isn’t here yet is the long awaited update allowing Android devices to utilize the roaming feature of the Roamio, so for now iOS continues to be the only platform that can stream content from a TiVo. Owners should feel free to force an connection to TiVo right away, but be aware that like all TiVo updates, this is a phased roll out and not immediately available to everyone.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Via: Zatz Not Funny
Source: TiVo Service Update
UK details new laws to retain users’ internet and phone activity
Remember when the EU was told by the European Court of Justice that its policy of requiring telecom companies to record everyone’s web and phone activity was illegal? As expected, David Cameron has announced that he’ll pass emergency legislation that’ll restore this requirement, at least in the UK. The action has been taken since telecoms networks and ISPs were about to begin deleting the data, which the government believes will harm serious criminal investigations into sexual exploitation and counter-terrorism. The law, however, is designed to expire in 2016, offering a two-year window in which to properly debate and create a new policy in this area — part of which will involve the creation of an independent oversight panel to monitor privacy infringements.
Filed under: Internet
Source: GOV.uk
Apple Now Allowed to Trademark Apple Store Layout in Europe [Mac Blog]
Apple is now allowed to register the layout of its retail stores as a trademark in Europe following a ruling by the European Court of Justice, reports The Wall Street Journal.
The EU’s top court said Thursday that Apple’s flagship stores fulfilled the three criteria for a trade mark: they constitute a sign; they can be represented in a graphic; and they can distinguish the goods or services sold by one company from those of another
The company was originally awarded a trademark for its store design in the U.S. last year, and has been actively trying to extend it to the rest of the world ever since. Prior to the ruling, Germany’s patent office ruled that the particular layout of a shop cannot be qualified as a trademark, which Apple then challenged.
Currently, Apple has a total of 425 retail stores worldwide. 89 of those retail locations are spread out across Europe, and are found in countries including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, and the Netherlands.
Apple Sold 2 Million Apple TVs Last Year in US, Trailing Behind Chromecast and Roku
Google’s Chromecast and the Roku were the two highest-selling streaming media devices in the U.S. last year as the Apple TV fell to third place, according to new data from Parks Associates (via GigaOM).
Both Google and Roku sold an estimated 3.8 million streaming media devices last year, with Apple selling just over 2 million Apple TVs. To date, Apple has sold over 20 million Apple TVs worldwide since launching the streaming device in 2007, while Roku has sold 8 million devices since its first media box in 2008.
A Parks Associates report last year noted that 14% of U.S. broadband households were using streaming media devices. The study also stated that 37% of those surveyed households used a Roku device while 24% used an Apple TV, making the Roku the most used set-top box in the U.S.
Recent rumors have suggested that Apple is working on a next-generation Apple TV, which may feature a streaming TV service through a partnership with Comcast and other cable-box like capabilities. Some reports have also speculated that a new Apple TV may include enhanced gaming capabilities, utilizing iOS gaming controllers and an App Store ecosystem to provide a console-like experience.
NYT: Chinese hackers targeted top-secret US employee files
The New York Times is reporting that Chinese hackers penetrated a US government network, likely going after the files of thousands of workers who applied for top-secret security clearances. The hackers accessed the Office of Personnel Management databases in March before they were detected and blocked, though there’s no word on how deep the breech went. Officials did say, however, that they hadn’t “identified any loss of personally identifiable information.” Though the hacking originated in China, it’s not clear if the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) or other government spy agencies were responsible. The FBI recently took the unusual step of charging PLA officials (who aren’t likely to be tried) because of several brazen attacks. Still, the Chinese have their own beefs against US spies, who are clearly pretty good at hacking too.
Filed under: Internet
Source: NYT
EU asks rival companies to weigh in on the Facebook-WhatsApp deal
Facebook is prepared to drop a cool $19 billion in cash and stock to buy Whatsapp, but it won’t actually get to until both companies gone through a regulatory rigmarole. Part of that process involves getting the blessing of Europe’s antitrust crusaders and according to the Wall Street Journal, the European Commission wants to know just what sort of impact the merger will have on the companies’ competitors. Its plan to find out? Sending them, erm, questionnaires. The list of rivals that have been asked for input hasn’t been disclosed, but c’mon — does anyone expect them to say “Oh yeah, the merger’s cool, we’ll be totally fine”?
Obviously the big question is whether the Commission will give the mashup the go-ahead, but that verdict is a long ways off and there’s no telling what sort of responses will help guide that decision. We can hazard a few educated guesses, though. The Journal’s Law Blog posits that the constant give-and-take between mobile messaging services could be a big deal — Facebook counted some 289 million monthly mobile users in Europe in its last earnings report, and that doesn’t even account for the hordes of Whatsapp users peppering the continent. That could conceivably drown out the need for competitors like Viber (which Rakuten is buying for a hefty sum), Telegram and Threema, unless they raise their voices in protest. Privacy and data control will reportedly play some part in all this too, something Bloomberg pointed out earlier this year too. Between all of the personal data information you freely offer to Facebook and the contact details Whatsapp has access to, regulators could — and should — pay attention how they manage and use all of it.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Silent Circle expands its encrypted calling service to 79 countries
Silent Circle’s mobile apps have helped make calls, messages and storing contacts more secure, but to enjoy its encryption benefits other people would need to use the same service. That could no longer be a problem for some, after the company announced its expanding its Silent Phone service to let users make truly private calls to non-Silent Circle members worldwide. While some users have been able to use the iOS and Android apps to make calls to standard mobile and landlines, like you would with Skype or Viber, Silent Circle’s encrypted “Out-Circle” calling service was limited to users in a select number of countries. From today, subscribers enrolling in the service will be given a unique ten-digit Silent Phone number to make and receive calls in 79 countries without a roaming charge in sight. If you’ve ordered the Blackphone, you will, of course, be pre-subscribed to Silent Phone (although you’ll have to set up Out-Circle separately) and the company’s other anti-surveillance services. Starting at $12.95 for 100 minutes, Out-Circle isn’t the cheapest package out there, but you can’t put a price on privacy, right?
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless
Source: SIlent Circle: Out-Circle
Yahoo Screen’s Xbox 360 app will bring ‘Community’ back to your TV
Don’t worry, that green hue around Yahoo Screen’s gills isn’t seasickness, Marissa Mayer’s video service is just taking on the color of its newest platform, the Xbox 360. That’s right, as soon as the sixth season of Community debuts (or other original content, whichever comes first), you’ll be able to watch it via Microsoft’s last-gen gaming console. Until that happens, well, there’s always some 38 years of Saturday Night Live clips to peruse — assuming you haven’t burned through them all on your AppleTV or Roku already.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Yahoo Screen
Chromecast Mirroring is Here! Gmail Adds Google Drive Attachments! – App Updates
Google app update day has arrived, and we got some new goodies today my friends. Chromecast finally has mirroring for select devices, so now you can mirror your homescreen straight to your TV. Gmail also sees a nice little update, bringing in Google Drive attachment support. If you haven’t gotten any of the updates on your device yet, the links below will accommodate you.
Gmail updates to v4.9
Google Camera update
Chromecast adds mirroring
//<![CDATA[
ord = window.ord || Math.floor(Math.random()*1E16);
document.write('’);
//]]>
The post Chromecast Mirroring is Here! Gmail Adds Google Drive Attachments! – App Updates appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Spotify is coming to Canada, finally
Canada is used to being jilted by online media providers that avoid the country like the plague, but that era may be nearing an end — just weeks after Google Play Music got the all clear, Spotify has confirmed that it’s coming to the True North Strong and Free. While the internet music service isn’t officially ready yet, it’s taking sign-ups for pre-launch invitations; the company tells iMore that it’s gradually expanding access over the “coming months” to make sure that it doesn’t choke on the inevitable flood of new users. That will undoubtedly feel like an eternity if you want to join non-Canuck friends who’ve been listening for years. However, you don’t have to sit idle while you’re waiting to stream some Arcade Fire or Metric. Spotify has already posted both its Android and iOS apps, and they should start working as soon as you have an account — grab ‘em early if you want to be ready.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile
Via: MobileSyrup, iMore
Source: Spotify, App Store, Google Play
AIVAnet 