Former Uber drivers can appeal bans in New York City
If Uber kicks out a driver, that’s usually all she wrote. They have to look for new work, even if the final offense was something beyond their control. In New York City, however, it’s a different story. A newly instituted appeals process, the result of negotiations with the Independent Drivers Guild, will let ex-drivers challenge certain bans and potentially resume their ridesharing. They’ll face a panel of five other drivers (jointly picked by the Guild and Uber) who can reverse deactivations where there’s some room for dispute, such as excessive cancellations or passing on too many rides.
Drivers won’t have an appeal in less ambiguous situations. If their passenger rating is too low, or they’re booted for criminal allegations, the deactivation is final. There is the option of taking a training course if their “quality” is considered poor, however.
This won’t completely satisfy drivers wanting to be treated as full-fledged employees, especially in cities where appeals aren’t even an option. Even so, it could make a big difference in one of Uber’s largest markets. New York City drivers won’t feel quite so much like they’re walking along a knife’s edge — they won’t necessarily lose their livelihood just because they couldn’t take a passenger one night.
Source: BBC
‘The Walking Dead’ season three lands on December 20th
Telltale’s The Walking Dead is back. Season three, A New Frontier, is set to premiere worldwide on December 20th across PC, PlayStation 4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, iOS and Android. Keep in mind that this is the first of five total episodes, the rest of which are set to hit throughout 2017. For Xbox One and PS4, the complete game, including access to all episodes as they come out, will be available as a boxed product starting on February 7th.
A New Frontier begins four years after the zombie outbreak first struck and introduces Javier, a young man searching for his family in the ruins of society. He runs into series star Clementine, who’s now older, wiser and tougher than ever, and their fates are entwined from this moment on. Telltale promises it’s a story “where every choice you make could be your last.” As usual, of course.
We’ve seen a teaser for season three featuring Clementine, Javier and one zombie who’s unlucky enough to cross their path. The first full look at A New Frontier will be during The Game Awards on the evening of December 1st.
A New Frontier follows two full (and, frankly, fabulous) Walking Dead seasons, the 400 Days DLC and the Michonne miniseries. There’s a ton of emotional baggage heading into the third season, but at least there’s one glimmer of hope: Clementine is still alive. For now.
Fake news sites are using Amazon to hire their writers
It appears that right wing websites that traffic in “alt-right” fake news are using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk system to recruit writers to produce content for them. The Mechanical Turk platform is an “odd-job board” where companies can hire random folks from the internet to perform a variety of menial online tasks, like filling out surveys or transcribing audio. In this case, white supremacist outlet The Goldwater wants people to produce “news” articles for $5 a pop.
The advert, which has since been removed, requested that applicants write in the style of Rush Limbaugh, Alex Jones and other white nationalist media personalities. “At times, we may give you a conspiracy theory to write about. Roll with it,” the post continues. “You are a reporter now!” Of course, regurgitating baseless conspiracy theories on the web doesn’t make you a reporter any more than pouring water in a Cup-Noodle makes you a chef. These people aren’t covering actual news, they’re generating SEO fodder that pads the site’s Google page rankings and provides a platform for banner ad sales — which is why http://Google has recently taken steps to bar its adsense ads from running on such garbage sites.
This isn’t the first time that The Goldwater has crowdsourced its writers. A similar ad for a post titled “Predictable: First Lesbian Bishop of Stockholm Boots Out Christ and Welcomes Mohammed” has already been published on the Goldwater website. And it certainly won’t be the last.
“When objectionable HITs are posted, there is a link on the HIT for workers to report it to Amazon, but there is no follow up from Amazon with the worker on what action is taken, if any, Online labor “advocate Rochelle LaPlante told Motherboard. “I reported the HITs last night using that report button, but there’s no way for me to know if Amazon saw and removed it before it was completed by workers, or if Amazon has taken any action against the requester’s account.”
Via: Motherboard
Source: Rochelle LaPlante (Twitter)
Xbox One games stream to your Oculus Rift on December 12th
You can already stream Xbox One games to your PC. But what if you’d rather not make it patently obvious that you’re playing Gears of War? You’re in luck. Microsoft and Oculus are launching an app that, as promised, will let you send Xbox One games to an Oculus Rift headset attached to a Windows 10 PC. The software, which arrives December 12th, won’t magically turn your favorite titles into virtual reality experiences. Instead, you’re getting a Netflix-style virtual screen. This is more for private gameplay (say, to prevent your kids from seeing gore) or giving yourself a larger screen than you can fit in your den.
The app will be free, although this clearly isn’t the cheapest way to play Xbox One games away from your TV: on top of the Xbox One, you’ll need a fast PC and a Rift. Still, this might beat having to sit in front of your monitor the entire time… or having to awkwardly explain an ultra-violent game to your little ones.
Via: The Verge
Source: Xbox Wire
Maliciously crafted video can freeze your iOS device
If you thought last year’s iOS text crash bug was a headache, you’d better brace yourself. EverythingApplePro and other users have confirmed that at least one maliciously crafted video is guaranteed to trigger a memory leak and freeze iOS devices, even if they’re running something as ancient as iOS 5. All you have to do is play the linked video file in Safari — your iPhone, iPad or iPod will lock up within a few seconds, forcing you to hard reboot to regain control of your gear. It’s so far useful only for cruel pranks (you should be fine afterward), but these kinds of quirks can occasionally be used as part of security breaches.
The trick is limited to unaltered files, so you don’t have to worry about a YouTube link or other processed video bringing your device to a screeching halt. And of course, the immediate precaution is to avoid tapping direct video links (particularly from known hosts like vk.com and testtrial.site90.net) if you don’t know that you can trust them. The problem, as you might surmise, is that attackers may use link shorteners or otherwise try to hide the nature of the video.
We’ve reached out to Apple about its plans for a fix, and we’ll let you know if can outline plans. It won’t be surprising if there’s already a patch in the works. Don’t be surprised if it’s focused strictly on iOS 10 users, though. The latest version already had 60 percent adoption as of late October, and many of those running iOS 9 can upgrade. An iOS 10-only fix would (eventually) cover the vast majority of users.
Via: 9to5Mac, MacRumors
Source: EverythingApplePro (YouTube), Reddit
Twitter suspends Tila Tequila following pro-Nazi posts
Twitter’s quest to clamp down on hatemongers, trolls and similar provocateurs isn’t slowing down any time soon. The social network has suspended Tila Tequila’s account after the reality show star (shown at left) posted a string of pro-Nazi tweets, including one showing her giving a Nazi salute at a white nationalist conference in Washington. While she has previously sworn that she isn’t racist (she’s of Vietnamese heritage), she hasn’t exactly hidden her shift toward the extreme right. She once posted a photo of herself wearing a Nazi armband in front of Auschwitz, and in her Twitter bio described herself as an “alt-reich queen” and “literally Hitler.”
Twitter doesn’t normally discuss the circumstances surrounding a suspension, but we’ve reached out regardless and will let you know if it has something to say. However, this follows shortly after Twitter expanded its abuse reporting to let you flag hateful tweets targeting people based on race, ethnic groups and other demographics, whether or not they’re targeted at you. Tequila may not have been singling people out, but her posts weren’t exactly promoting cultural acceptance and compassion.
It won’t be surprising if bans like this continue. Twitter’s reluctance to combat trolls may have cost it an acquisition bid from Disney, among other suitors. The last thing it needs is a verified user whose very presence on the service makes Jewish and non-white people feel unwelcome. While the ban won’t allay questions about Twitter’s support for freedom of expression, it’s important to remember that this a private business. It has no obligation to host speech it doesn’t like, especially if that speech intimidates other users and ultimately hurts its bottom line.
Source: Huffington Post
Black Friday Deals on Apps and Software for iPhone, iPad, and Mac
With fewer than three days until Black Friday, a number of developers are beginning to offer deals on their apps and software. Below, we have rounded up some of the notable discounts available for popular iOS and Mac apps and software. More deals will inevitably be announced, so keep an eye on our Black Friday roundup.
Final Fantasy Tactics
Square Enix has discounted both the iPhone and iPad versions of Final Fantasy Tactics to $3.99 for a limited time, marking the game’s lowest price ever. The lowest previous sale was $6.99 for the iPhone version and $7.99 for the iPad version. Regular prices are $13.99 for iPhone and $15.99 for iPad.
TouchArcade gave the title a rather mediocre 3.5/5 stars rating back in 2011, but noted Square Enix has significantly updated the game since then. “The graphics got redrawn, iCloud support was added, making it a significantly better port than when it was first released,” said editor-in-chief Eli Hodapp.
A gameplay overview from the 2011 review:
You’ll be taking over a squad of characters and battling on grid-based maps in a turn-based system. As you play through, you’ll be able to level up your characters, equip weapons and effects and change jobs. Since the iOS port is based on the PSP version, you’ll also get an updated story, a better translation than the PS1 version and a few fancy cutscenes.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is available on the App Store for iPhone [Direct Link] and iPad [Direct Link].
Lumines Puzzle and Music
Mobcast’s falling-block puzzle game Lumines Puzzle and Music is on sale for just 99 cents for a limited time. The app has normally cost $2.99 since it first launched in September. Lumines universally supports both iPhone and iPad.
A mobile rebuild of the classic PSP title, LUMINES PUZZLE & MUSIC is an action packed puzzle game synchronized to a musical beat, featuring newly-produced tracks and classics such as “Shinin’” by Mondo Grosso. Players swipe and tap their screen in portrait mode to properly align their Lumines blocks to clear blocks of four matching colors in rhythm to the beat.
TouchArcade gave Lumines Puzzle and Music a favorable 4/5 stars rating, with editor Shaun Musgrave noting the game “nails the core gameplay” and has “exceptional aesthetics.” Here’s a bit more on gameplay:
In Lumines, 2 x 2 blocks composed of two different colors drop in the field and begin falling. You need to move them left or right, rotate them, and drop them at the bottom of the playfield. As opposed to making lines as in Tetris, here you are trying to make 4 x 4 squares of a single color. When you do that, they will be marked for clearing. As you play, a bar is constantly moving across the field in line with the tempo of the current song. That bar will removed any marked squares you’ve matched up, and the remaining blocks will settle into place.
Lumines Puzzle and Music is available on the App Store for iPhone and iPad [Direct Link].
Other Apps and Games
Name: Talisman
Developer: Nomad Games
Sale Price: $1.99
Previous Price: $3.99
Compatibility: iPhone and iPad (Universal)
TouchArcade Review: 4.5/5 stars
Links: AppShopper | iTunes | YouTube Trailer
Description:
Talisman: Digital Edition is a classic fantasy adventure board game, where you embark on a dangerous quest, fighting dragons, battling serpents, and avoiding the deadly curse of the Hag. These are some of the many obstacles you will face. So choose your character wisely, Warrior, Assassin, Thief or Wizard? There are 14 available, unique in their strengths, weaknesses and special powers. To win the game race your opponents through a perilous realm, journeying to the heart of the land to find the crown of Command.
Name: Heroes of Loot 2
Developer: OrangePixel
Sale Price: 99 cents
Previous Price: $3.99
Compatibility: iPhone and iPad (Universal)
TouchArcade Review: 4/5 stars
Links: AppShopper | iTunes | YouTube Trailer
Description:
After their job, of keeping the dungeons in balance, was done, our heroes needed a new job. Roaming the lands they found a call for heroes, a castle in need, possible even a damsel in distress?
Pick two heroes to take into the adventure, controlling both heroes and using their special skills to navigate the dangerous castle hallways, rooms and floors. Switching between the two characters to solve quests, puzzles, and of course clear the dungeons of all evil.
Name: Space Grunts
Developer: OrangePixel
Sale Price: 99 cents
Previous Price: $3.99
Compatibility: iPhone and iPad (Universal)
TouchArcade Review: 4/5 stars
Links: AppShopper | iTunes | YouTube Trailer
Description:
Space Grunts combines fast paced arcade action with turn-based gameplay.
The year 2476, Earth’s space-federation has been building moon-bases across the galaxy. One of those moon-bases has been sending a distress signal.
Space Grunts are a group of intergalactic “problem” solvers, sent to investigate..
You play one, out of a team, of Space Grunts, and your mission is simple: find your way into the moon-base, and figure out what has happened. You’ll have to fight your way through aliens, robots, security drones and base-systems. Find the lower levels of the moon-base, and get to the core of the problems.
Name: Screens for iOS
Developer: Edovia
Sale Price: $9.99 (Late Thursday to Early Tuesday)
Previous Price: $19.99
Compatibility: iPhone and iPad (Universal)
Links: AppShopper | iTunes
Description:
Leave your computer behind and travel light! Screens lets you connect back to your Mac, Windows or Linux PC and control it from the comfort of your living room, the corner coffee shop or anywhere in the world.
Name: Screens for Mac
Developer: Edovia
Sale Price: $14.99 (Late Thursday to Early Tuesday)
Previous Price: $29.99
Compatibility: OS X 10.10 or later
Links: AppShopper | iTunes
Description:
Access your computers from wherever you are! Screens is a beautiful, yet powerful Screen Sharing and VNC client that lets you connect back to your Mac, Windows or Linux PC from the comfort of your living room, the corner coffee shop or anywhere in the world.
Name: Scanner Pro
Developer: Readdle
Sale Price: $1.99 (Wednesday to Friday)
Previous Price: $3.99
Compatibility: iPhone and iPad (Universal)
Links: AppShopper | iTunes
Description:
Scanner Pro is the best app for quickly scanning and saving a digital version of a paper document. Scan any papers, ranging from a receipt to multi-page documents. Scanner Pro will automatically detect borders, correcting distortion and geometry. Share, email and upload your perfect scans. Use OCR to convert any scan into a text.
Name: PDF Expert
Developer: Readdle
Sale Price: $4.99 (Wednesday to Friday)
Previous Price: $9.99
Compatibility: iPhone and iPad (Universal)
Links: AppShopper | iTunes
Description:
PDF Expert 5 is a must-have app for anyone who reads, annotates or edits PDF documents on iPad or iPhone. It allows you to mark up documents with highlights and handwriting, insert text and stamps, sign and even merge PDFs. Moreover, PDF Expert 5 is the best choice for filling out PDF forms right on your iPad and iPhone.
Name: Printer Pro
Developer: Readdle
Sale Price: $3.99 (Wednesday to Friday)
Previous Price: $6.99
Compatibility: iPhone and iPad (Universal)
Links: AppShopper | iTunes
Description:
Printer Pro lets you wirelessly print from the iPhone or iPad. It can print directly to many Wi-Fi printers or any printer attached to your Mac or PC via helper application installed on your computer.
Name: Calendars 5
Developer: Readdle
Sale Price: $3.99 (Wednesday to Friday)
Previous Price: $6.99
Compatibility: iPhone and iPad (Universal)
Links: AppShopper | iTunes
Description:
Calendars 5 is complete re-imagining of what the best mobile calendar experience should be. Calendars 5 is smart, excels in both tasks and events and runs on any iOS device you might have. It’s the calendar app you have been looking for.
Name: PDF Converter
Developer: Readdle
Sale Price: $1.99 (Wednesday to Friday)
Previous Price: $3.99
Compatibility: iPhone and iPad (Universal)
Links: AppShopper | iTunes
Description:
Make PDFs from any file that you have on your iPad or iPhone. Save Word, Excel, Powerpoint or iWork documents, web pages, photos and even clipboard content as professional quality PDFs. Everything from a multi-million contract to a web page you want to read later can be saved as a PDF in just a few taps.
Name: Luminar
Developer: Macphun
Sale Price: $59
Previous Price: $209
Compatibility: OS X 10.10.5 or later
Links: Macphun
Description:
Meet the world’s first photo editor that adapts to your style & skill level. Luminar is the supercharged photo software that makes complex editing easy & enjoyable. And it is as responsive and beautiful as your Mac.
Name: 2017 Aurora HDR
Developer: Macphun
Sale Price: $79
Previous Price: $89
Compatibility: OS X 10.10.5 or later
Links: Macphun
Description:
The world’s most advanced HDR photo editor for Mac gains powerful new features and a new look which will amaze, inspire and help you to make incredible HDR photos.
Parallels
Parallels is offering a Black Friday bundle that includes seven free Mac apps with the purchase of Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac (available for $79). The bundle has been available since November 21.
Software includes:
• 1Password for families
• PDFpenPro 8
• Pocket Premium (1 year subscription)
• Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac (1 year subscription)
• TextExpander
• Hotspot Shield Elite (2 year subscription)
• Acronis Online Backup (500GB, 1 year subscription)
VMware
VMware will offer up to 55 percent off all of its software products, starting on November 23 and running through December 2. Deals are as follows:
Fusion Pro & Workstation Pro Discounts
• Nov 23 – 27: Save 40% on new licenses and upgrades
• Nov 28 – Dec 2: Save 35% on new licenses and upgrades
Fusion & Workstation Player Discounts
• Nov 23 – 27: Save 30% on new licenses and upgrades
• Nov 28 – Dec 2: Save 25% on new licenses and upgrades
Fusion Pro/Workstation Pro Bundle Discount
• Nov 23 – Dec 2: Save 50%
Fusion vs Parallels Discount
• Nov 23 – Dec 2: Save 55%
VMware Certification & Training Discount
• Nov 23 – Dec 2: Save 25%
Keep an eye on our Black Friday roundup for further software deals as they are announced. The roundup also tracks good deals on Apple products such as iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple TVs, accessories, and more from retailers such as Best Buy, Kohl’s, Target, and Walmart.
Related Roundup: Black Friday
Tag: App Store
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Apple Inks Apple Music Deal With Indian Ride-Hailing Company Ola
Apple has partnered with Indian ride-sharing company Ola to make Apple Music available to customers who order a ride, reports The Los Angeles Times. Apple Music, along with services from Sony, Fynd, and Audio Compass, will be incorporated into a platform called Ola Play, allowing customers to control music, watch videos, read ebooks, and adjust in-car temperature, all from a tablet inside the car.
Apple Music will be one of the audio choices, letting customers choose which music to listen to on the car’s audio system while on their journey. Ola, which holds 75 percent of the ride-sharing market in India, believes the platform will “completely transform” the ride experience.
Image via YourStory
According to a Brulte and Co. analyst that spoke to The Los Angeles Times, Apple’s Ola deal, combined with Apple’s stake in Chinese ride-hailing company Didi Chuxing, points towards deeper connected car ambitions.
“Apple invested $1 billion in [Chinese ride-hailing giant] Didi, so it has access to all their data. Now Apple will have access to Ola’s Apple Music data,” said Grayson Brulte, president of technology consulting firm Brulte and Co. “So you start to put the pieces together. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Apple try to gather all the data in the food chain.” […]
Brulte said it wouldn’t be surprising to see Apple shift from working on self-driving cars to working on the services and interfaces with which drivers and passengers interact. Think: The sleek and simple design of iOS, for cars.
With its own car development ambitions on hold, Apple is said to be working to develop autonomous driving software that could be incorporated into vehicles made by third-party companies. Such a system would undoubtedly be able to be deeply integrated with iOS devices, offering a heads-up display and other functionality.
Apple has been dabbling in the car market for several years with its CarPlay offering, which is built into many new 2016 and 2017 car models available today, and an autonomous driving system could be a natural evolution.
Speculation has suggested that Apple could use Didi Chuxing to test such software in the future, as it provides Apple with a huge fleet of cars to work with. Apple first invested $1 billion in Didi Chuxing in May of 2016 and now holds a seat on the company’s board.
Ola Play will be available in Bangalore, Mumbai, and Delhi for Ola Select customers starting next week. It will expand to all Prime rides in three months time.
Tags: Apple Music, India, Ola
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