EU digital rules promise 5G, free WiFi and tougher copyright
The European Union isn’t done stepping up its digital initiatives. Officials have outlined proposed policies that are focused on dramatically increasing access to both the internet and the content you’ll find on it. Most of the proposals will be helpful, although not everyone is a fan — there are copyright changes that are rubbing Google the wrong way.
To start, the EU wants to “fully deploy” 5G mobile networks across its member countries by 2025. You’d theoretically get gigabit-class data across the continent. And you might not have to be picky about using it when traveling, either. While the EU has had to shelve its most recent free roaming plan, it still wants to “abolish” roaming charges. You should see a refined take on its plan next week.
However, you might not even have to depend on cellular data to get online. The proposal would also offer free wireless internet access (presumably, over WiFi) in the “main centers of public life” of every EU town by 2020. You wouldn’t get blanket coverage, but this would be particularly crucial in rural areas where cellular networks are spotty or non-existent, and local organizations don’t always have the means to offer free WiFi hotspots. If a €120 million ($135 million) grant receives approval, communities would have access to the funds before the end of 2017.
The EU is committed to its promises of erasing borders for media services, too. It wants to make content accessible across the Union, so you wouldn’t be limited to material offered in your home country. You could watch German Netflix shows while you’re visiting France, for example. You could also buy pay-TV movies and similar material from other countries, some of which might well be less expensive than it is at home. Broadcasters would still have control over whether or not their content is available in other countries.
It’s in the copyright space where things get tricky. The proposal would require better data sharing and transparency for creators, but it would also give press publishers rights that ensure they get a “fair share” of revenues for material they post online. Sound familiar? It should — it’s similar to laws in Germany and Spain that ask search engines like Google to pay up when they show an article snippet in their results. The EU contends that this is necessary to make sure writers are “paid fairly,” but Google unsurprisingly objects. It believes that the German and Spanish laws “failed,” and that these demands for payment ultimately hurt publishers by giving web users fewer reasons to click through to an article.
Moreover, the regulation might be bad news for YouTube. The proposal would require that services offering user-uploaded content take “appropriate and proportionate” steps to protect copyright. While this does include “content recognition technologies” (possibly a reference to YouTube’s Content ID), Google is worried that the measure would require screening content before it goes public, which would demand far more work. Google policy lead Caroline Atkinson claims that it would lead to an internet where every upload would have to be “cleared by lawyers.”
The proposal needs to clear both the European Parliament and individual governments to go forward. It may take a long time before the initiative takes effect, and that’s assuming there are no significant changes. If it does, though, Europe could have a very different digital landscape within the next decade. It would definitely be more connected, but there’s a concern that Google and others like it might scale back their European presence rather than make the effort to comply with new copyright laws.
Via: Ars Technica, Bloomberg, New York Times
Source: European Commission (1), (2)
Google Fiber TV finally gets an interface overhaul
While Alphabet ponders switching its high-speed Google Fiber service to wireless, those subscribers already on the bandwagon are getting the biggest update to their TV box since the network went live in 2012. As Google’s Fiber team notes today, the Fiber TV interface has been redesigned to add more helpful information, a reorganized DVR and new recommendation functions.
The new look and feel includes Rotten Tomatoes ratings in the program descriptions, better show and movie thumbnails to streamline casual browsing and a Smart Search feature that allows for searching by titles, actors, sports teams and other criteria. And, to finally bring Fiber TV up to the contemporary standards, the service can now recommend movies and TV shows based on the shows you currently watch. So if you’ve been binging on all that Walking Dead, don’t be surprised if George Romero flicks start popping up in your recommendations.
The update starts rolling out to Fiber TV subscribers today, although Google’s blog post does mention it could take a couple weeks to reach all current customers.
Source: Google Fiber Blog
NYC nixes kiosk browsers after homeless commandeer their use
NYC debuted its gigabit LinkNYC program in January of this year to great fanfare. These kiosks, 400 in total dot the city, offered free wi-fi for passing residents as well as dedicated tablets that anyone could use. Unfortunately, it hasn’t worked out quite as planned. On Wednesday, the LinkNYC program announced that it would be temporarily borking its tablets until officials can figure out how to ensure that they aren’t bogarted by the city’s homeless residents.
Turns out homeless residents were hijacking the kiosks and using the tablets as their personal computers/porn hubs — reportedly preventing others from using them and causing a nuisance for nearby businesses. In response, LinkNYC announced that it will remove the web browser and is considering implementing time limits. Other features like free phone calls, maps, device charging, 911, and the gigabit wi-fi will remain active.
‘League of Legends’ will keep adding new champs for ‘many’ years
League of Legends studio Riot Games is 10 years old, and like a fifth-grader riding his first two-wheeler, it’s just getting started. Riot announced this week that League of Legends boasts 103 million monthly active players, up from 67 million in 2015. Compare that with Dota 2, which had 13.5 million players in the past month, or Overwatch, which has a total player pool of about 15 million. League of Legends is a massive phenomenon, helping pave the way for eSports as it enters mainstream consciousness and partnering with universities to kick off the next generation of competitive gaming.
The game itself is also huge. There are 132 champions in League of Legends, each with individual abilities, personalities, backstories, voice acting and costume choices, and Riot is constantly adding more. Just today, the company teased a new champion, bringing the revised total to 133.
That number is going to keep growing for a long while, Lead Game Designer Greg Street tells Engadget.
“We don’t have to worry about the ‘too many champions’ problem for some time,” Street says. “If you asked me, ‘Is there a magic max number of champions that League can support?’ I’d admit that there probably is, but it’s probably a pretty large number, and we won’t reach it for many, many years. For the next few years, releasing a new champion is one of the most exciting moments for League players and I’d hate to lose that feeling.”
Over the past couple of years, Riot has slowed down its release cadence, Street says. However, this isn’t an attempt to limit the number of champions; instead, it’s a conscious effort to improve the quality of each new playable character.
“I can’t imagine us ever overhauling the game from scratch,” Street says. “We make updates all the time, and that includes updating old champions in need of new visuals, new sound, new backstories or those that just don’t deliver on the depth of gameplay of more modern champions.”
Street hesitates to complain about League of Legends’ massive popularity. After all, the goal of many game designers is to create something that millions, if not billions, of people around the world regularly play. But, with a huge player base comes unique difficulties.
League of Legends is a global game. There are people playing right now across Brazil, Vietnam, Turkey, the United States, South Korea, Denmark, South Africa and dozens of other countries, and each of these regions has its own quirks. Finding a balance among all of these spaces is one of the toughest aspects of Street’s job.
For example, the champion Jinx riffs on an archetype of the badass female anarchist, something that Western audiences understand. However, that archetype doesn’t really exist in other places of the world, Street says. These are the strange inconsistencies that he has to think about when implementing new champions or mechanics.
“Even within a single region, we have players of vastly different skill levels, going from a true beginner all the way to a professional eSports team member, but they all expect a relatively balanced game,” Street says. “League players tend to be pretty hardcore, so it may be weird to consider how diverse the community can be, but with 100 million players, the diversity is pretty mind-boggling.”
Riot has offices around the world and Street relies on these employees to offer insights about the local atmosphere. Plus, Riot regularly asks its players what they want to see fixed or added to the game. In the end, it’s all about balance.
“As a developer, it’s easy to become paralyzed by fear that your change might ruin the night of so many players,” Street says. “But on the other hand, those players have high expectations, so they aren’t going to accept you not addressing problems. You have to be mindful of the ramifications of the changes you make, but you do have to keep making them.”
Apple Pay now works with Squarespace sites
If you have a Squarespace site that you’re using to sell your wares, your online store can now accept Apple Pay via the iPhone and the upcoming macOS Sierra. Now visitors can buy stuff without digging out their credit card.
To make sure your site accepts Apple Pay, Squarespace notes that you should make sure your site accepts Stripe payments and enable the new online checkout experience in settings.
Shopify is also allowing its customers to add Apple Pay to their retail sites. The move by both companies not only reduces payment friction from Apple devices, it also adds an additional level of security since each transaction has its own unique token.
Source: Sqaurespace
Sex toy maker faces class action lawsuit over tracking
If you were creeped out by the thought of a sex toy creator collecting data about your usage habits, you’re not alone. An Illinois woman has filed a class action lawsuit against the We-Vibe 4 Plus’ creator, Standard Innovation, for allegedly violating laws covering everything from fraud through to eavesdropping and wiretaps. She’d used the connected, couple-oriented vibrator “several times” before she learned that it was transmitting data such as the intensity, mode and time of use. The company shows a “wholesale disregard” for privacy rights, the anonymous woman claims.
Standard Innovation previously said that it’s only collecting info for its own research, and that it was largely anonymous. Also, it has been taking steps to mend its ways: it’s clarifying its terms of service in the name of transparency, and letting you opt out. However, that doesn’t change the situation for the plaintiff. She received the vibrator in May, months before the Def Con presentation that revealed the We-Vibe 4’s privacy issues. And it’s not yet certain that Standard Innovations are enough. Shouldn’t tracking be opt-in, instead of something you might only discover when it’s too late?
There’s no guarantee that this woman will get class action status for her case. If she does, though, the outcome could have a tangible effect on privacy for the Internet of Things. Device makers may be more hesitant to scoop up your info in the first place, or more likely to ask permission before they collect anything potentially sensitive.
Via: Vocativ, Boing Boing
Source: Courthouse News Service
Apple Pay on the Web Starts Rolling Out Following iOS 10 Release
iOS 10 includes support for Apple Pay on the web, allowing users to make purchases from websites using Apple’s payment service and Touch ID fingerprint authentication. Now that iOS 10 is available to the public, websites have started rolling out support for the Apple Pay on the web feature.
Time Inc. today announced that its customers are now able to use Apple Pay to purchase subscriptions for its line of magazines, including Sports Illustrated, People, Entertainment Weekly, and Real Simple.
Last week, online retailer Wayfair announced support for Apple Pay on the web, giving shoppers an option to pay for furniture and home décor products through Apple Pay. Apple, of course, is accepting Apple Pay on its website too.
Backend payment services including Big Commerce, Shopify, and Stripe have all announced support for Apple Pay on the web, giving smaller merchants an easy way to accept Apple Pay payments for purchases.
In the coming weeks, we should see Apple Pay rolling out to many websites, giving customers an alternative to existing payment services like PayPal. With Apple Pay, purchases can be made with a single touch, and there’s no need to enter credit card or shipping details. Apple Pay is also secure, keeping card numbers and other personal information out of the hands of vendors.
When macOS Sierra is released to the public next Tuesday, Apple Pay on the web will also be available on the Mac. As with Apple Pay on the iPhone, purchases will be authenticated through a connection with an iPhone 6 or later or an authenticated Apple Watch.
According to Apple, macOS Sierra’s Apple Pay on the web feature will be available to all customers who have a Handoff-enabled Mac that is able to run the Sierra operating system.
On mobile devices, Apple Pay on the web is available on the iPhone 6 and later, the iPad Pro, the iPad Air 2, and the iPad mini 3 and later.
Related Roundups: Apple Pay, iOS 10
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How to Use Native 3D Touch Actions in iOS 10
With iOS 10, Apple has focused on expanding 3D Touch functionality to make it more relevant to users, in the hope that they eventually come to see it as second nature. If you have an iPhone 6s or later, there are a wide range of 3D Touch gestures that you can test out in iOS 10, particularly from the home screen.
Here we’ve compiled a list of native app icons that now support 3D Touch, as well as a handful of other useful functions. Some of them will be more relevant to you than others, depending on your usage habits. You can find additional 3D Touch shortcuts for the Control Center and Widgets Panel in iOS 10 in our respective how-to guides.
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Settings Icon
Some of the most handy 3D Touch functions can be found by hard-pressing the Settings app icon, which allows you to access the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi screens to quickly connect to a wireless device or hotspot.
News and Weather Icons
Deep-pressing Apple’s News app offers you a preview of the current headline, which you can tap to go to directly, as well as shortcuts to the personalized For You section and any other custom news sources you’ve selected.
The Weather app also has a new preview widget for accessing from the home screen, with options to launch the app straight into a specific location forecast.
Note how app icon 3D Touch previews have an ‘Add Widget’ option in the top-right that let you add them to your Widgets panel (if they’re not already there). The Widgets panel can be accessed by swiping right on the home screen and the lock screen.
Calendar and Reminders Apps
The Calendar and Reminders app icons have 3D Touch options to add events or to add reminders to specific lists.
In addition, if a calendar notification banner appears at the top of your screen, you can deep press it for more options. An event can then be snoozed, while an invitation can be accepted or declined without entering the full app.
Similarly, a reminder notification banner can be deep pressed, where you can mark the reminder as completed, or opt to be reminded about it later.
Photos and Camera Icons
The Photos app icon offers yearly photo collection shortcuts, along with options to see the most recent shot taken, your designated favorites, and a quick search option. Meanwhile, the Camera app gives you shortcuts to take a photo, record video, and take a selfie with the front-facing camera.
Mail and Messages Icons
Hard pressing on the Mail app icon gets you shortcuts to your inbox, favorites, the search field, and the composition screen, while pressing down on the Messages icon brings up shortcuts to compose a new message and any recent message threads.
And don’t forget, hard pressing on an incoming iMessage notification banner lets you reply to it without entering the app.
Phone, Contacts, and FaceTime
A harder press on the Phone app gets you a pop-up menu with options to call one of your designated favorites, create a new contact or search for an existing one, and view the most recent call.
The first two shortcuts are mirrored by a deep press on the Contacts app, which in addition offers to take you straight to your own info card. The FaceTime app icon also offers 3D Touch shortcuts to your Favorites.
Safari and Apple Maps Icons
Quick Safari shortcuts include opening a new (private) tab and going straight to your Reading List or Bookmarks, while the Maps app icon gives you a destination preview and the ability send and mark your location or search nearby.
Folders and Downloads
If you’ve got a few apps downloading or updating at the same time, a hard press on one of them gives you the option to prioritize its download over all others. Note the Share option shown here, too – this appears as a default option for any third-party app icon you hard press.
3D Touch works on folders too: hard pressing gives you the option to rename the folder, and if there are any apps contained therein sporting notification badges, you get a shortcut to these as well.
iCloud and Music
Hard pressing the iCloud icon brings up shortcuts to three recently accessed files and a handy search function. The same action applied to the Music icon displays a search option, a shortcut to Beats 1 radio, and a widget with your three most frequently played albums plus a shuffle option – tap any of them to start playing without entering the app.
Other Native App Shortcuts
In iOS 10, other apps that offer useful shortcuts via 3D Touch include the Compass, Stocks, Podcasts, Tips, Clock, Wallet, Apple Store, App Store, and iTunes Store. And be sure to check out which of your third-party app icons have integrated 3D Touch, too.
Other 3D Touch Tricks
Peek and Pop
Two other 3D Touch features worth playing around with are ‘Peek’ and ‘Pop’. Essentially they function as content preview functions – letting you, say, look (or peek) at the contents of an email without actually opening it, simply by hard pressing on the message in your inbox. A firmer press makes the same email open fully, while a swipe up reveals options for replying, forwarding, and the like.
Peek and Pop also let you view content from other apps without opening them. For example, instead of tapping on the address in the above email which would switch us to the Maps app, a hard press pops up a more convenient preview of the map. Immediately swiping up on the preview likewise reveals a series of further options, while tapping on the preview opens up the Maps app proper.
The same principle applies to web links and attachments in emails. In fact, this action can be found throughout iOS 10, so it’s worth experimenting whenever you come across linked content that would usually require you to switch apps.
App Switcher and Cursor Control
Next time you want to open a recent app you used, try hard pressing the left side of the screen. The App Switcher should be activated, and the harder you press, the more recently-opened apps you’ll see. This action works from the home screen, as well as a number of other native apps.
Lastly, next time you’re using the onscreen keyboard, hard press on a letter and you’ll gain control of the cursor, enabling you to easily track back and edit your text.
Keep on Pressing
More and more third-party apps are integrating 3D Touch in useful ways, so don’t be shy – press away when you think it might lead to an action. And remember, if you’re having trouble with the sensitivity of 3D Touch, you can adjust it in Settings -> General -> Accessibility -> 3D Touch.
Related Roundup: iOS 10
Tag: 3D Touch
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Messages App Store Updated With Categories for Better App Discovery
When the Messages App Store first launched just ahead of iOS 10, there was no categories section, making it difficult to discover apps beyond those that were featured by Apple.
As more and more Messages App Store apps have rolled out, Apple has updated the App Store to include a new Categories feature, improving discovery.
Located at the top of the Messages App Store between “Featured” and “Manage,” the new Category section breaks down apps into different groups, including Entertainment, Food & Drink, Games, Lifestyle, Photo & Video, Productivity, Shopping, Social Networking, Stickers, and Travel.
Each section includes a selection of apps chosen by Apple as “Our Favorites,” along with a “More to Explore” option. As the Messages App Store grows, these categories will likely fill out and gain new sections.
In the Stickers category, there’s a further breakdown to make it easier to sort through the myriad stickers in the Messages App Store. Sticker categories include Animals & Nature, Comics & Cartoons, Eating & Drinking, Emoji & Expressions, Fashion, Gaming, Kids & Family, and Places & Objects.
Though the Messages App Store has only been available for a day, it’s already flush with apps. We’ve rounded up some of the best sticker packs we’ve come across and some of the must-have time-saving apps that genuinely improve the Messages experience. For tips on installing apps and using stickers, make sure to check out our how to.
Related Roundup: iOS 10
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iPhone 7 Lines Start Growing Ahead of Friday’s Launch
With just two days to go until the official launch of the iPhone 7, customers who are hoping to get their hands on one of Apple’s devices have started lining up outside of Apple retail locations around the world.
At the 5th Avenue Apple Store in New York, one of Apple’s flagship locations, people have been waiting in line for days, saving spots with folding chairs and small one-person tents. Other stores in New York also have short lines at this time, based on photos sent in by MacRumors readers.
Instagram image via Olaenglund
At Apple’s new San Francisco location, Apple Union Square, a handful of people are already waiting outside for an iPhone 7. People started lining up over the weekend.
Instagram image via Minoyohan
At the Summerlin Apple Store in Las Vegas, MacStadium’s Brian Stucki set up a webcam to monitor the crowd situation. No one is waiting in line yet, but it should be a fun way to watch how activity progresses over the course of the rest of the week.
Shipping estimates on some of the most popular Black and Jet Black iPhone 7 and 7 Plus models range into several weeks and last until November in some cases, so waiting in line on launch day is the only way to get one of the highly coveted devices if you missed out on pre-orders.
The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus launch on Friday, September 16, and will debut first in Australia. It’s Thursday morning in the country, so there’s just a day to go until people start getting their hands on devices and sharing videos, pictures, and first impressions.
Related Roundup: iPhone 7
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