Apple stops selling the Thunderbolt Display
We hope you weren’t dead set on getting an Apple monitor to go with your Apple computer. The company has discontinued the Thunderbolt Display after keeping it on the market for nearly 5 years. Apple didn’t say why it was dropping the 27-inch screen in a statement provided to us and our colleagues at TechCrunch. However, it does note that the Thunderbolt Display will only be available in stores “while supplies last,” and that there are a “number of great third-party options” available if you need a stand-alone monitor.
Apple spokesperson:
We’re discontinuing the Apple Thunderbolt Display. It will be available through Apple.com, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers while supplies last. There are a number of great third-party options available for Mac users.
It wasn’t too hard to see this coming. Simply put, the Thunderbolt Display’s technology is long in the tooth. These days, the $999 official price can get you a good ultra-wide Quad HD or 4K monitor, occasionally with Thunderbolt built-in (such as LG’s 34UM95-P). It’s certainly not the most tempting option in Apple’s roster when you can buy a similarly-sized iMac with a 5K display. Also, the screen’s use of first-generation Thunderbolt left it behind the times when Thunderbolt 3 is starting to show up in some PCs.
The big question is what happens next. Apple isn’t saying yet, but there are a couple of options. It could get out of the monitor game entirely, of course, and leave the market to companies with more aggressive pricing. Alternately, this could be preparation for a replacement, which might happen when Thunderbolt 3-equipped Macs (necessary for 5K external displays) hit the scene. One thing’s for sure: once the current inventory disappears, Apple won’t make everything you need to outfit a Mac mini or Mac Pro. At least for now, you’ll have to turn elsewhere to get that missing piece of the puzzle.
Source: TechCrunch
YouTube’s mobile app will soon support live video streams
Ever since Meerkat bust onto the scene at SXSW in 2015, streaming live video footage from your smartphone has been a huge deal. Twitter’s Periscope quickly blew Meerkat out of the water, and Facebook Live has been a huge initiative for the company. Now, YouTube is throwing its hat into the ring: the company just announced that its apps will soon let anyone stream live video to their YouTube channel whenever they want.
It’s a little surprising that it’s taken YouTube so long to get into this business, as the company has supported live broadcasts on the YouTube platform for a long time now. Facebook may have a big advantage, because that’s where all of your friends are, but the many creators who have built large and dedicated YouTube followings will surely benefit from this. And it’s not hard to imagine plenty of other, less popular users giving YouTube’s live video option a shot as well. The company is rolling out the feature today for a small group of its creators, but there’s no word yet on when we’ll all get a chance to stream live YouTube broadcasts.
Simplicity is the name of the game when going live with video like this, and YouTube’s app appears to have made things quite easy. There will be a new “capture” button in the app; after hitting that, you can shoot a photo to use as a thumbnail, add a quick description and start broadcasting. The app lets you decide whether or not you want a chat feature to be enabled, and you can also elect to notify your subscribers when you go live.
Source: YouTube
Facebook Live will be able to stream Masquerade face swaps
Facebook Live is rolling out a handful of nice update these coming weeks, starting with the ability to broadcast straight from MSQRD (Masquerade). Fidji Simo, the social network’s director of product, has announced at VidCon that you’ll be able to choose the audience you want to show your face-swapping shenanigans to within the app itself. For instance, you could only make a video visible to close friends rather than to everyone. You’ll also be able to choose your first mask before going live and to keep changing it throughout the show.
MSQRD, if you’re not familiar, is a Snapchat-like video app with live filters that the social network snapped up in March after face-swapping skyrocketed in popularity. Simo said iOS users around the globe will be able to take advantage of Facebook Live integration these next few weeks. Unfortunately, he didn’t say when the feature will come out for Android users.
Simo has also revealed that viewers will be able to join a broadcast that’s already airing, so you can go live with friends or fans to host talk shows, debates and discussions. Finally, when you schedule a video, viewers will be given the choice to be notified when it starts airing or to join a lobby where they can chat with other fans. The bad news is that only Verified Pages will get both these features in the near future, though Facebook plans to eventually make them widely available.
YouTube Red’s next originals are include a ‘Step Up’ spinoff
YouTube just announced its second round of original series at VidCon 2016, and the biggest new series is a bit of a surprise. That would be Step Up, which will bring a “heart-pounding, sexy, music-filled and dramatic look at dancers in a contemporary performing arts school.” Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan co-starred in the original movie (there have been five), and are among those listed as producers, and with the popularity of dance videos on YouTube it could be a good fit. Returning for second seasons are high profile originals Scare PewDiePie and Foursome, while the Smosh crew is bringing an as-yet untitled movie project.
YouTube still isn’t releasing any numbers to confirm how its Red subscriptions and series are doing, but says they have “viewership that rivals similar cable shows.” It’s also riding on the claim that YouTube Red content is leading subscribers to check out the main (free) pages for creators they hadn’t seen before, which could help attract more creators from the wider YouTuber group.
Other new shows on the way include Rhett & Link’s Buddy System; a tour documentary from comedians Dan Howell and Phil Lester; a Vlogumentary produced by Morgan Spurlock and Maker Studios that turns the lens on some of YouTube’s biggest creators; an animated series from 3BlackDot; and an educational series from Michael Stevens that seeks to explore the human mind.
Source: YouTube Blog
How to report a bug on your Chromebook
Let the Chrome team know about the bugs they need to look at — and do things the right way.
With Android app support slowly trickling into the Chrome Dev channel, there are plenty of folks who would normally use something more stable on their Chromebook running it. That means there are more of us to find bugs, and we all should report them. That’s how we can help make Chrome better!
Reporting a bug in Chrome is easy, but you need to make sure what you are seeing is really a bug and see if it has already been reported to best help the developer team. Here’s what you should do.
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Ask for help on the Chromebook Central Help Forum. This is an official support channel, and besides the helpful volunteers you’ll encounter, Google employees monitor the discussion. Checking in here first makes sure that others can see the same issues you’re having, and can help tell you if the bug has already been reported. There’s no use in reporting a bug the team already knows about if you can help it.
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Check the Bug Reporting Guidelines for Chrome page. This will tell you everything you need to know, and what you might want to attach to the report to make it better.
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Check the current bug listing to see if it has already been reported. If so, you can “star” it to let the team know you’re seeing it too. The list is long and confusing, but the search tools can help sort things.
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Finally, to report a bug you can click the “New issue” button at the top left of the bug tracker page. You’ll be asked to sign in and be given a few simple instructions to help everyone.
You can also report an issue right when it happens. If you hit a snag that needs reporting, open the settings (click the status area by your account picture) and choose “About ChromeOS” from the top of the page. In the new window that opens, click the “Report an issue” button and you’ll get a form to fill out that can include relevant information about what was happening for the Chrome team.
Also, remember the one thing you should never do — leave a bad review at Google Play when an Android app misbehaves. You are willingly using experimental software while you’re on the Dev channel, and giving an Android app that doesn’t work as expected a one-star review or writing complaints in the review text doesn’t help anyone. The app developer can’t fix anything until Chrome OS with Android support is a little more mature, and pushing down his Play Store rating isn’t cool. If you still see the same issues when things go stable, then feel free to talk to the developer. But still, a one-star review filled with profanity never helps.
You will find bugs on the Chrome Dev channel. You’re supposed to find bugs on the Chrome Dev channel. Now you know how to report things so you can make the Stable channel better!
MTS shareholders vote to approve $3.9 billion acquisition by Bell
BCE, parent company of Canada’s third-largest wireless carrier Bell Mobility, has now overcome at least one hurdle to acquiring Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS), with the majority of MTS shareholders approving the deal.
In fact, the resolution received near-unanimous approval from shareholders, says MTS:
The Arrangement Resolution was approved by 99.66% of the 43,098,172 votes cast by Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the special meeting of Shareholders held earlier today.
Bell originally announced intentions to purchase MTS in May with a $3.9 billion deal that has seen a fair bit of skepticism from critics. Though the deal has now received shareholder approval from MTS, it’s still subject to approval from various regulatory agencies.
Huawei is making an all-new mobile OS, and it’s revamping EMUI
Huawei has a back-up plan in case things go south with Google.
According to The Information, Huawei, which is the world’s third-largest smartphone manufacturer and best-known for the Huawei 6P it made with Google, is developing a new mobile operating system in order to “hedge its bets against Google’s control of Android.” Although Huawei’s phones now run an Android skin called EMUI, it has a team of ex-Nokia engineers working on a different mobile OS in Scandinavia.
The operating system isn’t that far along, though it’s clear that Huawei wants to have an alternative ready should it need to cut ties with Google. Keep in mind Samsung has a similar strategy with its Linux-based Tizen OS, though that’s only been applied to some Gear wearables, as well as Samsung Z smartphones, NX-branded cameras, SmartTVs, and other IoT devices. Samsung’s Galaxy phones still run Android with overlays.
The Information also said that Huawei is working to improve EMUI, which has been criticised heavily by reviewers for its clunky design, dull colour schemes, and iOS-like feel. Huawei hired Abigail Brody, a former Apple designer, to overhaul the Android skin, which will likely be unveiled this autumn. The redesigned software might include an app drawer, fresh icons, and a colour palette that includes blues and whites.
Brody’s reportedly been inspired by the colour of jellyfish. She also told The Information that she’s eager to help Huawei become “the world’s No. 1, the most advanced and favorite ‘lifestyle-centric’ ecosystem, and without having to copy Apple at all, ever!”
Wirecutter’s best deals: Save $300 on a Whirlpool refrigerator
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. Read their continuously updated list of deals at TheWirecutter.com.
You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends at The Wirecutter. Now, from time to time, we’ll also be publishing their recommended deals on some of their top picks. Read on, and strike while the iron is hot — some of these sales could expire mighty soon.
Whirlpool WRF535SMBM Refrigerator
Street price: $1,300 MSRP: $1,700 deal price: $1,000
This is the first time we’ve seen this fridge drop to $1,000 since we started tracking it, though it also dropped to this price range while our guide was being written. Home Depot appliance prices tend to have big drops of a few hundred dollars for a couple weeks, before returning to higher prices for a few months.
The Whirlpool WRF535SMBM is our pick for the best refrigerator. Liam McCabe wrote, “If we were buying a 36-inch wide refrigerator, it would be the Whirlpool WRF535SMBM. Mainly, that’s because it’s one of the most affordable French door fridges out there, yet there’s no obvious sacrifice in terms of reliability, useful features, noise, efficiency, or layout.”
In terms of features, “The features in the WRF535SMBM are basic but all useful. The icemaker in the freezer churns out cubes quickly (and seems to run pretty reliably). The glide-out, full-width shelf on the bottom of the fridge is a good spot either for meats and cheeses, or as a convenient eye-level spot for kids to get at pudding packs or Capri Sun or kale or whatever they eat these days. Other than those two, it’s just typical shelves and drawers, nothing fancy. It is a simple, sharp, and clean-looking design, too.”
Moto X Pure Edition 64GB + Moto 360 Sport Watch
Street price: $700; MSRP: $750; deal price: $400
This matches a similar deal we saw briefly at the start of June, but at the time, it sold out quickly. You add the Moto X Pure to your cart, select the 64GB option, then add the Moto 360 to your cart as well. At that point, the $400 price should show up. While that’s a significant savings, if you’re not interested in the watch, Best Buy has the 64GB phone on sale for $320.
The Moto X Pure Edition is our customizable phablet pick in our best Android phones guide. Ryan Whitwam said, “Motorola’s latest flagship phone offers a great Android 6.0 software experience with customization options that other phones simply can’t match. You can choose from different colors and materials for the back, pick a metallic accent color, and even customize the startup message. It’s more comfortable to hold than other phablets despite its big, 5.7-inch LCD, plus it has a slot for a microSD card. If you take a lot of selfies, we have still more good news: This phone has a front-facing flash paired with a wide-angle 5-megapixel camera.”
He also wrote, “The Moto X has a metal frame, but you can choose the back materials using the Moto Maker online tool. There you’ll find various soft-touch plastics, woods, and leathers, and you can also customize the color of the front panel and metal rim.”
Kryptonite KryptoLok Series 2 Bicycle U-Lock
Street price: $40; MSRP: $48; deal price: $30 with code BIKEMORE
Use the code BIKEMORE to get this price. This is $2 above the best price we’ve seen on this bike lock, but a decent discount below the usual price we see on Buydig and Amazon.
The KryptoLok Series 2 is the top pick in our guide on the best bike lock. Eric Hansen said, “This isn’t an exciting, novel pick for the best U-lock but it is savvy. Experts, users, and the bike thieves that we interviewed agree that the Series 2 U-lock is strong enough to foil all foilable thieves. It’s also light and comes with a stable, easy-to-mount carrying bracket that fits on virtually all bikes.”
He added, “Kryptonite’s accompanying ‘insurance’—costing $20 for three years—is the easiest to purchase, thanks to their rare online form. And it pays okay, too. In the event that some jerk destroys the U-lock and makes off with a bike, then Kryptonite pays the homeowners’ or renter’s insurance deductible or the replacement cost of the bike.”
Deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go to The Wirecutter.com.
Chicago allows Airbnb to operate under restrictions
Alternate housing fans touring the Windy City, rejoice. Chicago’s city council passed two measures yesterday to allow short-term rentals, permitting users to post their spaces on Airbnb so long as they play by new rules. Only so many living areas can be listed at one time in multi-unit residences, so get ready to ask your neighbors who’s scheduled to rent out their apartment on which days.
The restrictions are an attempt to give Chicago citizens a greater say in how residences are used by requiring short-term renters to register every listed unit with the city. The exact limits they have to abide by depend on the size of the building. Those with five units or less can only list one at a time, while larger complexes can only list six apartments or 35 percent of the total, whichever is less. Areas with single-family homes can petition to ban short-term rentals outright in their area or restrict it to the “primary residences” of the listed properties. Naturally, that petition can be petitioned.
Each company like Airbnb will have to pay fees to the city including a $10,000 annual license to operate, along with a $60 charge for each Chicago address listed on sites. The city will also take a 4 percent tax on every rental which goes to homeless services. The measure’s proponents, including Mayor Rahm Emanuel, maintain that the incoming funds will make up for the inconvenience, but that will all depend on how well they follow up with regulation.
Via: Consumerist
Source: Chicago Tribune
CBS and Paramount release ‘Star Trek’ fan film guidelines
While Paramount and CBS’s lawsuit against Axanar Productions is still ongoing, the two studios have finally produced a set of guidelines meant to govern fan-made Star Trek productions in the future. While the guidelines might be a good start, and a sign that studios could be warming up to community input, they are still extremely limiting.
“[W]e want to show out appreciation by bringing fan films back to their roots,” the two studios wrote in an announcement. “The heart of these fan films has always been about expressing one’s love and passion for Star Trek. They have been about fan creativity and sharing unique stories with other fans to show admiration for the TV shows and movies. These films are a labor of love for any fan with desire, imagination and a camera.”
However, according to the guidelines themselves, Paramount and CBS would like those fans to keep their creativity limited to “less than 15 minutes for a self-contained story” or no more 30 minutes for a truly epic two-parter. Also: no sequels or additional seasons are allowed, so aspiring Trek writers will have to be careful about reusing their own original characters. Also, the material “must be family friendly” and cannot include “profanity, nudity, obscenity, pornography, depictions of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, or any harmful or illegal activity,” or basically anything else that might hurt the brand. (Which makes one wonder how “The Naked Now” ever got the green light at CBS.)
Aside from those creative restrictions, the new guidelines also limit fundraising to $50,000 and require indie filmmakers to use only officially licensed merchandise “and not bootleg items or imitations” as props and set pieces. Any fan films that make it through those production hoops will also have to distance themselves from the official productions with an obligatory disclaimer.
The guidelines, which have already been called “onerous” and “super uncool”, would obviously kill a production like Axanar, which pulled in $1 million in funding from a kickstarter campaign. But the production team remains unfazed. Today, the group fired back with another teaser trailer that flies in the face of these restrictions:
AIVAnet 