Verizon can’t share web activity with advertisers unless you opt in

Last spring, Verizon began offering its customers a way to opt out of the “supercookies” that track activity for advertisers to leverage. Following a settlement with the FCC, the wireless company must give customers the choice to opt in to the program rather than employing the tracking system by default. Verizon has to notify customers about its use of the unique undeletable identifiers, or UIDH, for targeted advertising. Only after users give consent is the company able to share any web browsing data with either third parties or within its corporate family.

“Consumers care about privacy and should have a say in how their personal information is used,
especially when it comes to who knows what they’re doing online,” said Travis LeBlanc, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau Chief. “Privacy and innovation are not incompatible. This agreement shows that companies can offer meaningful transparency and consumer choice while at the same time continuing to innovate.”

In addition to the new opt-in policy, Verizon also has to pay a $1.35 million fine and implement a three-year compliance plan to settle the FCC probe. The Commission found that though Verizon had been using the supercookies to track user activity as early as late 2012, the company failed to disclose the practice until October 2014. What’s more, the wireless carrier didn’t update its privacy policy to include the use of UIDH or provide customers a way to opt out until late March 2015. The FCC noted the failure to do so was a violation of the 2010 Open Internet Transparency Rule. If you’ll recall, the Commission fined AT&T $100 million for violating the same rule in regards to throttling unlimited data plans last year.

Here’s what Verizon had to say on the matter:

“Verizon gives customers choices about how we use their data, and we work hard to provide customers with clear, complete information to help them make decisions about our services. Over the past year, we have made several changes to our advertising programs that have provided consumers with even more options. Today’s settlement with the FCC recognizes that. We will continue to give customers the information they need to decide what programs and services are right for them.”

Source: FCC (PDF)

Google’s Project Fi no longer requires an invitation to join

After nearly a year, Google is ready to drop the velvet ropes that have kept Project Fi off-limits for most Americans. As of today, anyone in the US can sign up for the simpler, data-centric wireless service without requiring an invitation — if you’re tired of your existing carrier charging for more data than you use, you can jump ship at any time. You’ll still need a Project Fi-friendly smartphone (the Nexus 5X, 6 or 6P) or tablet (the Nexus 9, newer iPads or the Galaxy Tab S) for this to work. However, Google is sweetening the pot by discounting the Nexus 5X to as little as $199 if you buy it at the same time as you activate service. That’s a good deal if you’re already in the market for a mid-range Android phone.

Via: Droid-Life

Source: Android Official Blog

Kanye West vows ‘no more CDs’

Kanye West’s recent trend toward tech-related diatribes isn’t over yet. In one of his signature tweetstorms, the star has declared that there will be “no more CDs” coming from him — if you want his music going forward, you’ll likely have to download or stream it. The Yeezus album cover was an “open casket” at the CD’s funeral, he says. The concept of a musician going online-only isn’t that groundbreaking (just ask indies that can’t justify producing CDs), but it’s still rare to see a major artist swear off disc-based album sales.

Whether or not Kanye holds to that pledge is another matter. Although it’s true that downloads and streams make up the majority of music revenue in some countries (including the US), that’s still a lot of money to leave on the table. He’s gambling that internet-based music sales will grow quickly enough in the near future that lost CD sales won’t really matter. It seems like a reasonably smart bet, but then this is also the man who made his latest album an exclusive on a music service (Tidal) overshadowed by Apple Music and Spotify. It may be tempting for Kanye to change his mind if CD sales are decent in the near future.

uuuuuuum, so there it is… No more CDs from me

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) March 7, 2016

the Yeezus album packaging was an open casket to CDs r.i.p

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) March 7, 2016

Source: Kanye West (Twitter 1), (2)

Blizzard’s ‘Overwatch’ hits consoles and PC on May 24

The wait is almost over for Overwatch, Blizzard’s first original game in some time. The shooter will hit PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 on May 24, the company announced today. Additionally, you’ll be able to get your feet wet during an open beta from May 5 through May 9. Those who preorder the game will also be able to get an early start on the beta on May 3.

Multiplayer shooters are fairly common these days, but it’ll be interesting to see how Blizzard, a company best known for MMORPGs and strategy games, approaches the genre. Based on what we’ve seen so far, Overwatch’s gameplay is frenetic, giving you control of 21 different heroes with different skills. This isn’t some stroll through Destiny’s Crucible.

Blizzard also revealed two new editions of the game today. PC players can snag the base version for $40 — which doesn’t include some of the skins and other “digital goodies” buyers of the $60 “Origins Edition” will get — and the “Collector’s Edition” for all platforms will retail for around $130. The latter will come with a Soldier: 76 statue, art book and soundtrack.

Source: Blizzard

TuneIn strikes deal with NBA to stream live audio from games

As part of the ongoing efforts to expand its premium radio services, TuneIn has announced a partnership with the National Basketball Association. This new multi-year deal will let TuneIn stream live audio from NBA games to subscribers, including those from the preseason, regular season, playoffs, the finals and All-Star weekend. Last October, TuneIn also struck similar agreements with MLB, NHL and the NFL, so the addition of the NBA only makes the paid app more appealing to sports fans.

While full access won’t be available in the US until the beginning of the NBA’s next season, TuneIn Premium users outside of the US, Canada and China can listen to the remaining 2015-2016 games starting today. For those of you who aren’t subscribed yet, the membership costs $8 per month, which gives you additional access to music and audiobooks.

Source: TuneIn

Funimation launches its all-in-one anime destination site

Funimation Entertainment announced today that its FunimationNow platform is now live. The site, which we first saw back at CES, will make the studio’s expansive archive of shows — including DBZ, Attack on Titan and Assassination Classroom — available to subscribers without ads or viewing restrictions. The new service will initially be available on iOS, Android, Kindle and Windows 10 devices while support for PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Roku devices is expected by May.

Pricing for the service will be tiered. Free accounts will have to deal with ads and have access to a limited portion of the archives. For $5 a month, viewers will get full access to the entire HD library of shows but they’ll all be subtitled (which is how they’re best viewed anyway). The $8/month tier gives you everything from the lower tiers plus access to dubbed versions of shows and bonus content.

NCAA March Madness Live streams games to even more devices

Oh, March Madness. The time of year when productivity takes a nose dive as sports fans follow along to see who will win the office pool. NCAA March Madness Live is the home for all your streaming needs when it comes to the tournament, and this year the live basketball action is available on more devices than ever before. In addition to the web portal and mobile apps, March Madness Live also streams to Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku gadgets. What’s more, the mobile apps also feature Google Cast and AirPlay, should you need to beam the footage to a nearby TV or in-game audio to a wireless speaker.

Apple TV owners will get a handy extra, too: split-screen viewing. Rather than having to use two displays or a laptop and tablet to follow a pair of matchups, you can watch them side-by-side with Cupertino’s set-top box. That’s a pretty handy addition. As you might expect, the GameCenter hub and on-demand video content have also been updated for this year’s tournament, putting all the hardwood content you’d ever want at your fingertips. And yes, you can even get score updates and alerts sent to your Apple Watch. You know, in case you get pulled into a meeting during the first two rounds.

The First Four games tip off March 15th with the First Round (or the first day of insanity) following on the 17th. When the time comes, you’ll be able to stream live games on 12 different platforms total, so there’s no excuse for missing a single buzzer beater or bracket-busting upset.

Source: NCAA

Apple Campus 2 ‘Theatre’ Features Largest Freestanding Carbon-Fiber Roof Ever Made

Apple’s progress on its second campus has been tracked by drone videos and ongoing construction updates, but the company recently gave Mashable details on the new location, sharing impressive photos and inside information on the main ring-shaped structure and surrounding buildings like the auditorium.

As we know, Apple’s new campus features massive curved glass windows to give the building an open feel. Outfitting the campus in curved glass requires 3,000 panels, each of which is 46 feet long and 10.5 feet wide, and getting those panels into place required Apple to build custom machines it calls “Manipulators.”

Apple Campus 2 Theatre
Mashable got a first look at the “Theatre,” the 120,000 square-foot underground auditorium where Apple will host future events. Designed to seat 1,000 people, the Theatre lobby is made of glass that offers 360-degree views of the campus with stairs down to the event area. According to Apple, the roof is the most impressive part of the auditorium. It weighs 80 tons and was assembled in Dubai before being shipped in pieces to California.

Apple Campus 2 Theatre roof

But perhaps the most stunning addition is its roof, which Apple believes is the largest freestanding carbon-fiber roof ever made. Created by Dubai-based Premier Composite Technologies, it’s a massive statement piece, in addition to a design feat. But please, Apple doesn’t want you to call it a UFO. The roof was added to the Theatre last month.

The circular roof is made up of 44 identical radial panels averaging 70 feet long and 11 feet wide, and each connects to a small central hub positioned in the middle.

There are many unique elements included in Apple’s second campus, and a 60,000 square-foot restaurant inside the ring-shaped building is no exception. Designed to house 2,800 employees inside and 1,200 on an outside patio, the restaurant will feature two glass doors that are four stories high.

Apple expects construction on its campus to be finished at the end of 2016, which is right on schedule. Tim Cook said in a past interview that employees will begin moving into the building in January of 2017.

The full set of photos from Apple Campus 2 are available over at Mashable and are worth checking out for those interested in a close-up look at the new campus.

Tag: Apple Campus 2
Discuss this article in our forums

Transmission Malware Transmitted Through Server Hack, Downloaded 6,500 Times

Over the weekend, the first instance of Mac ransomware was found in a malicious update to the Transmission BitTorrent client. Version 2.90 of Transmission downloaded from the Transmission website was infected with “KeRanger” ransomware.

“Ransomware” is a class of malware that encrypts a user’s hard drive and files, demanding money to decrypt it. In this case, KeRanger would have required Mac users to shell out a bitcoin for decryption, equivalent to approximately $400.

The developers behind Transmission have shared some additional details on the attack with Reuters, giving us some insight into how it occurred. The server that delivers the Transmission software to customers was breached in a cyber attack, allowing the KeRanger malware to be added to the disk-image of its software.

Transmission representative John Clay told Reuters via email that the ransomware was added to disk-image of its software after the project’s server was compromised in a cyber attack.

“We’re not commenting on the avenue of attack, other than to say that it was our main server that was compromised,” he said. “The normal disk image (was) replaced by the compromised one.”

During the time that the malware-infected version of Transmission was available, it was downloaded approximately 6,500 times before the vulnerability was discovered. Security on the server has since been increased, ensuring a similar attack can’t occur a second time.

On Sunday, Transmission’s developers released software updates to block the malicious software and to remove it from the Macs of users who had unwittingly installed the malicious version. Apple also updated its software protections to keep the malware from affecting Mac users and to prevent the bad version from being installed on additional machines.

Customers who have downloaded the Transmission BitTorrent client should make sure they have updated the software to version 2.92, which will remove the malware from infected computers. Additional details on how to determine if you have the malware installed are available through Palo Alto Networks.

Tag: Transmission
Discuss this article in our forums

Fly Worm Fly – Like Flappy Bird? You’ll love this [Review]

Overview Like the legendary original that came before it, Fly Worm Fly is simple, yet difficult, tap-to-live flying game, available on the Play Store. The game combines good graphics, decent sound,