Sony developing movie based on internet meme ‘Slender Man’
Sony’s said to be working on a horror film about “Slender Man,” the paranormal character who rose to internet fame in recent years. According to The New York Times, Screen Gems, a studio that’s part of Sony Pictures, is currently in talks to develop a movie based on the chilling meme. The report claims this future adaption doesn’t have a complete script yet, but there’s a chance production could start before the end of 2016.
It’ll be interesting to see how the story turns out, especially since Slender Man played a major role during a crime investigation in 2014. Back then, two 12-year-old girls were accused of stabbing a friend as part of a dark admiration for the fictional figure — an outrageous and gruesome act, to say the least. Further details on the purported movie are scant right now, but we will likely find out more over the coming months.
Via: Variety
Source: The New York Times
Uber and Lyft to shut down in Austin after failed vote
When Uber and Lyft threatened to leave Austin if a vote over ridesharing rules didn’t work in their favor, they weren’t joking around. Both companies say they’ll shut down their Austin operations on the morning of May 9th after 56 percent of voters rejected Proposition 1, which would have prevented the city from demanding fingerprint-based background checks as well as banning pickups in traffic lanes. The outfits contend that these measures are too much of a burden on both drivers (who’d have a harder time getting started) and passengers (who’d have to be picky about where they hail rides).
Mayor Steve Adler maintains that the ridesharing firms are “welcome to stay,” and has offered to keep negotiating. However, it’s doubtful that either of the companies will be so quick to come back. Both tend to play hardball when new laws make life difficult, often by threatening to end service — they give up their main bargaining chip if they don’t follow through on that threat. Sure enough, Lyft says this is taking a “stand for a long-term path forward,” while Uber feels nothing but “disappointment.”
No matter what, the outcome will be mixed. Opponents to Proposition 1 are happy that companies which do operate should have a stricter vetting process that reduces the chances of drivers committing crimes. It also pleases emergency crews worried that they’ll have to dodge around mid-street pickups. However, the withdrawal is bound to be a hassle for both customers and drivers. Austin is a very car-focused city, and going without ridesharing means either paying much more for a cab or else using a mass transit system that’s far from ideal. And of course, drivers who made significant cash through these services now have to scramble to find other work. Things aren’t set in stone yet (this is just a proposition), but Austinites could still be in for a shock.
Source: KXAN
The Public Access Weekly: Island in the sun
Hey there fantastic Public Access Weekly readers! This week we celebrated May the 4th Be With You, one of everyone’s favorite geek holidays, as well as the holiday that falls on the day after — Revenge of the 5th. We are also just days away from the very first anniversary of Public Access’ launch which we are really excited about. In order to celebrate that holiday, we’ll be planning some exclusive assignments, some highlight stories and…maybe some prizes or account upgrades. Anything could happen, and you can stay up-to-date by reading the Public Access Weekly posts every Friday.
Over on the Public Access page, members are just killing it by posting some really exceptional stories. Here is the breakdown on Public Access stats from April:
- 74 total articles went live in April (that’s up from 57 in March, and almost double February’s total of 39!)
- 39 different Public Access members published posts — including 20 first-timers! (March’s numbers were 27 and 12, respectively)
- The Public Access member with the most posts published in April was a tie between Kevin Nouse and Maheshwor Bhattarai who each had 5 posts.
And the top 10 most read Public Access posts for April (not counting the Public Access Weekly posts) were:
Double Play: How sports games reach deeper into gamers’ pockets by Richard Starr
We’re shutting down our comments… See you next week by Amber Bouman
DJI Phantom 4 Markets to Novice Users: Is this safe? by Eric Lancheres
The Top 5 Favorites List: Movies Based On Video Games by Lovisa Alvin
IKEA is my favorite live action game by Kris Naudus
Q&A with Ashley Dickinson from Kinda Kind by Amber Bouman
Top 7 Search Engines That Can Help When Google Cannot by Amit Sen
Cross platform gaming: Are we getting there? by Neal Cotton
5 Things I Wish To See in FIFA 17 by Naman Nepal
Capturing the Imagination by Cultivating Trust by Ale Resnik
Here’s to you Public Access members! Keep up the good work!
Looking for something to read? Check out:
While seeing my Twitter feed fill up with offers to buy some cosmetic product from What’s-Her-Name Jenner never fails to make me roll my eyes, other folks are seeing the opportunity and cashing in big by using Instagram to resell a variety of highly in-demand items which is an interesting turn of events for the social sharing service.
Flattr Plus is a new service from the ever-popular Adblock Plus that aims to help publications monetize their content by allowing readers to donate to the sites they spend the most time reading. It’s a little bit like Spotify, but for news sites.
The dek to this story about government officials and tech knowledge says it all: At this point, it’s unacceptable to not understand how technology works… Especially if you’re creating legislation about technology.
Looking for something to write on? Mull over:
FreshTeam is a messaging app that will tell your boss where your location is (via GPS), what you’re doing and even how much battery life your phone has left (because, hey, nothing fosters trust like having someone track your every movement?). As tracking technology advances, what should workplace policies be for mobile or remote employees? Write an employees bill of technology rights to address the roll of personal technology in a workplace. Or, alternatively, write a dystopian fan fiction style story on invasive technology used to police employees.
Over in the Vatican, the ‘cool’ Pope told a crowd of young people that happiness has no price: “It cannot be bought and sold: It is not an application you download on a mobile phone.” To which many of our intrepid commenters countered with “Uh…Porn?” Other responses included ‘RAM’ and “That Daft Punk album that I downloaded made me pretty happy…” It would seem that our technology — or at least our downloads — do bring us happiness. Tell us about a tech item that you downloaded or bought that brought you sincere joy and happiness, and why.
In a Medium post that appeared last week, Uber declared that users of its ride-sharing service were not required to tip drivers: “Nothing has changed. As we’ve said for many years, being Uber means you don’t need to tip.” Readers had a lot of opinions about this — on both sides — in the comments section with some pointing out that Uber riders often don’t carry cash and others mentioning that taxi drivers are traditionally tipped. Because the question of tipping is often a hotly debated topic, weigh in and tell us what the standards should be for tipping for sharing services: Should Uber drivers receive tips? Would you tip an Airbnb host? A TaskRabbit employee? Why or why not?
Best wallet cases for the Galaxy S7
Protection, style, and sensibility. Galaxy S7 wallet cases have it all!
Wallet cases offer a blend of protection and functionality. They feature full coverage of your phone’s screen and have room to store basic wallet items — like credit cards and cash — so that you have the option to ditch your wallet completely!
We’ve rounded up some of the best wallet cases for the Galaxy S7 that you can find. Take a look at the cream of the crop and pick one that suits your fancy!
- rooCASE Prestige Wallet Case
- Otterbox Strada Series
- VRSDesign slim fit leather wallet case
- Spigen Wallet S
- Snugg leather wallet case
rooCase Prestige Wallet Case
They call this case the Prestige, and with good reason — three card slots, a cash pocket, and a magnetic clasp that attaches to the front to keep it all together.
This case’s two-piece design makes it stand out from the others on this list. The phone sits in a polycarbonate shell that attaches to the synthetic leather case via magnets. Taking photos with a wallet case can sometimes be difficult because the flip cover can get in the way of the rear camera, but not with the Prestige. Just pull it out of that stylish leather casing, take all the beautiful photos you want, and just plop it back in the case when you are done. It also features a kickstand ability for watching videos.
Because leather stretches over time, most leather cases take a while to break in. The rooCase is no different, so don’t be too discouraged when it takes you a while to get your cards in and out of those slots for the first while.
See at Amazon
OtterBox Strada Series
OtterBox is well known for being the Fort Knox of phone cases and the Strada series is no different. OtterBox puts all their cases through rigorous testing, which includes dropping them on the ground and putting them through durability tests in various situations. So if you are looking for a strong wallet case, this could be the one for you.
The Strada series is a one-piece case. The phone snaps into a polycarbonate shell covered by genuine leather, with a cover that flips over the screen to offer full protection. The case fits snuggly and gives you the feeling of true security when it’s in your hand.
The one downside of the OtterBox case is that it only has one card slot. You can fit more than just one in there, but it does lack the ability to be as organized with your cash and cards as some other wallet cases.
See at Amazon
VRSDesign slim fit leather wallet case
The first thing you will notice about this case is its size. It’s made from genuine leather which gives it a great feel. The thickness the leather adds does make the phone feel a lot more secure.
Designed with three card slots and a spot for cash, the VRSDesign case is great for staying organized. The clasp around front is magnetic so it’s easy to close the case and keep everything together. The cutouts around all the buttons and ports keep the functionality of the Galaxy S7 accessible at all times.
One thing you should know is this case seems to have trouble accommodating wireless charging. The thickness of the leather seems to impede the ability for most wireless chargers to function properly. If wireless charging is an important feature for you, this may not be the right case for you.
See at Amazon
Spigen Wallet S
The Spigen Wallet S is a solid entry into our round up because it seems to have a little bit of everything. Three cards slots, a slim design that doesn’t add bulk to the phone, and a snug fitting polycarbonate shell that the S7 snaps into effortlessly.
The Spigen Wallet S can be used as a kickstand, so you can prop it up to watch videos or play games without having to hold the phone yourself.
The one bad thing about this case is the clasp at the front doesn’t have a place to go when the case is open, so it is a little bit in your way when you are trying to use your phone.
See at Amazon
Snugg leather wallet case
The Snugg leather wallet case is the thinnest wallet case featured in our round up. The case doesn’t seem to add any extra weight or bulkiness to the phone at all, which is highly uncommon for a wallet case.
With three card slots and a cash slot, the Snugg case has more than enough room to fit your most important wallet items, and it also has a kickstand feature.
The best feature of the Snugg case is the magnetic clasp attaches to the back of the case when the cover is open, allowing you to always have full view of the screen without the clasp getting in your way.
See at Amazon
Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge
- Galaxy S7 review
- Galaxy S7 edge review
- Here are all four Galaxy S7 colors
- Should you upgrade to the Galaxy S7?
- Learn about the Galaxy S7’s SD card slot
- Join our Galaxy S7 forums
AT&T
Sprint
T-Mobile
Verizon
Apple holds talks on the future of podcasts
Podcasts may not make Apple any direct revenue, but they’re still important in an era when Serial and other big shows are drawing in lots of listeners. And apparently, the company knows it. New York Times sources say that Apple recently held talks with seven “leading podcast professionals” at its headquarters. While the crew at 1 Infinite Loop didn’t vow to make any changes, they reportedly discussed “several pressing issues” in podcasting. The company’s internet software and services lead, Eddy Cue, came in afterwards to talk privately with staff.
While the exact nature of the talks is hush-hush, there are a few common issues that likely came up. First is simply the matter of discovering shows. Apple’s current iTunes Store podcasts page (and the handful of people who run it) can only do so much to promote thousands of shows, and sharing them on social networks isn’t all that easy. Podcasters also want better subscriber data, such as the number of people actively listening and how far they get into a given show. There’s the not-so-small matter of revenue, too — some podcasters would like ways to charge for access. You can listen to some music podcasts in Apple Music (such those from Above & Beyond or Armin van Buuren), but that doesn’t really work for talk-oriented programming.
There’s certainly pressure for Apple to do something. Spotify added podcast support last year, and Google finally brought podcasts to Android’s official music app last month. In other words, you no longer have to turn to the web or an indie developer’s app to listen when you can’t (or simply won’t) use Apple’s software. The tech giant may have to rethink its strategy if it wants to remain synonymous with a media format that it (and specifically, the iPod) popularized over a decade ago.
Source: New York Times
iOS 10 reportedly includes a dedicated smart home app
There’s no shortage of devices that support Apple’s HomeKit platform. However, managing those devices is something of a mess — you typically end up visiting separate apps to control your lighting, security and appliances. You might not have to worry about that when iOS 10 rolls around, though. MacRumors says it spotted an Amazon review from an Apple employee (verified after the fact) who claims that the next iOS release will have a “standalone” HomeKit app when it arrives in the fall. The staffer doesn’t say how it’d work, but the implication is that it’d serve as a hub for all your HomeKit-compatible smart home gadgets.
There’s no certainty that this HomeKit app will show up as promised, since there’s always the chance that Apple will either delay it or scrap it entirely. There is evidence that this isn’t just speculation, mind you. Apple used a shell company to file a trademark for a HomeKit icon late last year, so it’s at least thinking about what a dedicated app would look like. As it is, Google isn’t standing still between its OnHub networking and its internet of things platform, Brillo. A full-fledged HomeKit app might give Apple a competitive edge by taking some of the hassle out of automating your household.
Source: MacRumors
Verizon starts rolling out its Marshmallow update for the Droid Maxx 2
Verizon is now rolling out its Marshmallow update for the Droid Maxx 2. The update comes in two parts, with the bumping the Maxx 2 to software version 24.64.4.
As for what to expect from the update, of course you’ll get all of Marshmallow’s improvements, including Doze, Now on Tap, and granular app permissions. Verizon also says that the update brings along the “latest security patches.”
The update is only just started rolling out, so it may take some time to appear for you. However, you can always try checking for an update manually by going to Settings, About phone, and checking for the update. After you’ve downloaded the update, be sure to hit up our forums to discuss the changes.
Best minimalist cases for the Galaxy S7 edge
Give your phone basic protection but natural style with a minimalist case on your S7 edge!
The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge is a real looker. If you’ve got one, you want to be able to show off those curves so everyone can admire your shapely new device. If you’re willing to compromise safety for style, then a minimalist case is the best way to show off your phone while protecting it from minor scratches and bumps.
- Caseology Skyfall
- Spigen Thin Fit
- Pleson Protective Bumper Case
- Ringke Slim
- Samsung Protective Cover
Caseology Skyfall
Like the James Bond film of the same name, these cases are highly regarded for their style, class, and skill with a PP7 (…or maybe just the first two). The really good thing about these minimalist cases is you can choose a color that matches your phone really well. One of the keys to a minimalist case is the way it blends in with your phone’s natural shade, and if you don’t want to have a completely clear case, there are a few good option in the Skyfall lineup.
This case has a scratch-resistant back cover which should protect it from keys and coins in your pocket or purse. The lip of this case raises up just a hair to curl around the the top and bottom corners of the screen to give a little extra protection in a prone area without adding a lot of bulk.
See at Amazon
Spigen Thin Fit
Spigen’s Thin Fit case snuggly hugs the shape of your S7 edge to add only a few millimeters to the overall size of your phone. The Thin Fit model gives a little extra protection compared to other minimalist phones since the top and bottom of your S7 edge will be fully enclosed, except for openings for your charger, headphone, speakers and microphone.
The lip around the edge of your screen is 0.8 mm and the case design is raised to 1.22 mm around your camera lens so you’ll never have to Instagram a meal with a cracked camera. The back of the case is a hard, polycarbonate material designed to provide you with a good grip, and at just 0.6 oz, this case doesn’t add a lot of weight to your S7 edge.
See at Amazon
Pleson Protective Bumper Case
Pleson makes a case for your S7 edge that is barely there, which is exactly what most people look for from a minimalist case. The thermoplastic polyurethane (more commonly called TPU) that makes up your case is a perfect compromise between protection and style, as it envelops your S7 edge only in the most crucial spots, leaving most of your phone highly visible.
This case has been built-up with bumpers that are very strategically placed. Put your phone facedown on a table, and these bumpers are just high enough to keep your screen from making contact. Place your phone on its back, and the bumpers are the perfect height to lift your camera lens up so it doesn’t get scratched. This case does cover your side buttons rather than leaving cut-outs, but overall this case embraces the full minimalist spirit.
See at Amazon
Ringke Slim
Even though it’s thin, the Ringke Slim is pretty strong for a minimalist case. This durability comes from its full, four-side, coverage. Even though all four sides of the phone are protected, this case still wants to show off your phone. With gaps exposing your phone’s side buttons, you’ll actually be able to feel the buttons when you turn the volume up or down or power your S7 edge on and off, instead of pushing through the side of a case.
The Ringke Slim case was designed with a minimal lip on the top and bottom of your phone so if you place it screen-down on a table there will be 0.7 mm of clearance to protect your phone from scratches or debris on the surface. Available in five colors (including two variations of clear) this case can blend so well with your phone you’ll forget it’s even there.
See at Amazon
Samsung Clear Cover
If you like to stick with first-party accessories, then you’re in luck! Samsung has designed a clear case for the S7 edge. Manufactured to fit your phone with absolute precision, Samsung’s case was designed to offer basic protection without hiding the gorgeous curve of the S7 edge’s screen.
The ultra-slim form of this case hugs barely adds any extra width to your phone except around the corners. These are bulked up to protect your phone from corner drops and to prevent the camera or the screen from getting scratched if you lay the phone flat. Cutouts around the side buttons and bottom jacks of your S7 edge allow you to see and feel as much of the phone as possible, even while it’s in your case.
See at Amazon
Personal Picks
Do you have a minimal case you absolutely love? If it’s not on our list, leave a comment, and let us know what case you use and why you love it!
Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge
- Galaxy S7 review
- Galaxy S7 edge review
- Here are all four Galaxy S7 colors
- Should you upgrade to the Galaxy S7?
- Learn about the Galaxy S7’s SD card slot
- Join our Galaxy S7 forums
AT&T
Sprint
T-Mobile
Verizon
Uber faces lawsuit over aggressive Austin voting ads
Uber is known for being aggressive when it wants changes to the law — just ask anyone who has received email after email asking for support. However, its latest effort might have crossed the line. The app-hailed transportation service is facing a class-action lawsuit over a text messaging campaign that called on Austin residents to vote for Proposition 1, which would let ridesharing companies operate without running fingerprint background checks. The lawsuit claims that Uber not only spammed Austinites with “vote for Prop 1” messages without their consent, but made it difficult to avoid those promos. Text replies went unanswered, and calling the source number would only give you an automated error message. In other words, it sounds like the sort of robodialer that would violate the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
For its part, Uber maintains that it isn’t doing anything wrong. It took “great precaution” to stay on the right side of the law, according to a statement. It even suggests that the lawsuit has a sinister motive, since news of it broke at an anti-Prop 1 event. Whether or not there’s a hidden agenda is likely beside the point, though. It’s hard to deny that Uber messaged a lot of people without permission, and in many cases did it multiple times.
Whatever happens, the vote (which happens today, May 7th) could be crucial to deciding the fate of ridesharing in Austin. Both Uber and its rival Lyft have threatened to quit Austin if Prop 1 doesn’t pass. That could be a big blow to a city that not only thrives on music and tech conferences, but is highly dependent on cars — its mass transit system isn’t exactly world-famous. At the same time, it’s hard to imagine concerned locals backing down when a handful of drivers have committed sexual assault and other crimes that might have been prevented through stricter background checks.
Source: Daily Dot, Texas Tribune
Check out some of Studio Ghibli’s ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ in VR
If you ever wanted to explore Howl’s Moving Castle, now’s your chance. That’s assuming you own a virtual reality headset, that is. A scene from it, dubbed “The Meadow,” is available for folks using Oculus Rift and HTC Vive right now. It comes from developer Nick Pittom, who’s previously released interactive scenes based on Ghibli’s other lauded work including My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away. “The Meadow” is bundled with other, older interactive scenes from Hayao Miyazaki’s landmark films, and RoadtoVR writes that “the level of detail that each scene captures is really nothing short of astounding.”
If anything, these demos should help while the time away before a sequel to the studio’s 2013 co-venture Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch arrives on PlayStation 4 — whenever that actually releases, of course.
Via: Road to VR
Source: Wear VR
AIVAnet 