Netflix Becomes Top Grossing iOS App in the U.S. for the First Time
Netflix yesterday briefly became the number one top-grossing iOS app in the U.S. for the first time, holding at bay the likes of Spotify and Candy Crush Saga for most of Monday.
The app also occupied the coveted top spot on iPhone in India, Mexico, and Colombia yesterday, as noted by app tracking company SensorTower, which offered a timeline leading up to the achievement in a blog post.
Image via SensorTower.
The accomplishment comes approximately one year after Netflix introduced the ability for users to pay the monthly subscription fee as an in-app purchase. Over that time, its weekly net revenue has grown from less than $50,000 to nearly $2.9 million. In November, it was the No. 7 grossing iOS app overall in the U.S.
Apple takes a 30 percent cut of all in-app fees, but last month announced it was lowering the amount to 15 percent for subscription-based streaming video apps like Netflix and Hulu. Apple will soon extend the 15 percent rate to all subscription video services that are integrated with the company’s upcoming TV app.
Last week, Netflix added the ability to download select programs via its mobile apps for offline viewing.
Tags: App Store, Netflix
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What’s Apple’s Take on Cryptocurrencies?
“Apple MacBook” (CC BY 2.0) by pestoverde
Apple’s App Store is something of a walled garden. Developing for the platform requires expertise in leaping through hoops as well as skills like coding and UI/UX design.
Developers targeting the iPhone or iPad need a Mac of some description, as Apple’s Xcode development environment doesn’t run on anything else. Then, there’s the thorny issue of the company’s review criteria, which touches on everything from an app’s appearance to the presence (or not) or privacy policies.
It’s perhaps no surprise then that cryptocurrencies, a legitimate but embryonic type of money, have only just managed to turn Apple’s head. As of 2016, there are just six (of 641 total) cryptocurrencies allowed on the App Store, available for use in any app that supports them. These are Bitcoin, The DAO, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and Ripple.
Considering that Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple and a major shareholder to this day, worked for a blockchain-based tech firm in 2015, Apple’s omission of even popular cryptocurrencies like Monero and Dash seems a little odd. The current six (above) aren’t even the top six by overall market value (Dogecoin is 11th, for example).
Immediate Transactions
It’s an unfortunate state of affairs for fans of cryptocurrency as the vast majority of them have comparable benefits to Bitcoin, the progenitor of the entire movement. Transactions made in the likes of Litecoin and Dogecoin are immediate and offer consumers the extra privacy and security that a currency based on Bitcoin technology has by default.
As a consequence of the above, Bitcoin in particular has an entire part of the internet dedicated to its use. Some websites in the iGaming niche, a type of company that offers online and mobile casino, have abandoned fiat currencies altogether in favor of a Bitcoin-only environment. Vegas Casino, for example, even provides its welcome bonuses (1000 mBTC) in Bitcoin.
Vegas Casino has built a Bitcoin ‘faucet’ into its site, which allows visitors to receive small amounts of cryptocurrency – known as a ‘satoshi’ in the case of Bitcoin – for the completion of easy tasks like filling in Captcha forms (click here to visit the site). It’s a great way to get started with Bitcoin.
The App Store” (CC BY 2.0) by PhotoAtelier
Digital Wallets
Returning to Apple, the Cupertino firm’s cautious stance on cryptocurrencies (and everything else) hasn’t really stopped the likes of Bitcoin finding an audience on iOS devices, and there are several digital wallet apps on the App Store. It’s worth noting that the presence of said apps is only a recent development (2014).
Breadwallet, for example, is arguably the most popular option available, largely because it omits middlemen and connects directly to the Bitcoin network. There’s also Airbitz and Mycelium, “the best, not the fanciest”, to quote the latter’s homepage. Wallets, like cryptocurrencies, ultimately have their own nuances and features that determine their audience.
As a final point, the rationale behind Apple’s slow uptake of cryptocurrencies is difficult to pin down. A couple of years ago, the company might have considered digital wallets in particular as competitors for its Apple Pay platform (before its launch). There’s also the fact that cryptocurrencies are unregulated, which means that they don’t play nice with Apple’s overly strict approach to third-party involvement with the App Store.
However, it may simply be that Apple was waiting for another company to take the plunge; after all, Microsoft, the firm’s biggest competitor, didn’t begin accepting Bitcoin until 2014, the same year Apple began to warm to the currency.
Nougat update rolling out to unlocked HTC One M9, coming to carrier variants early next year
Unlocked HTC One M9 is now receiving the Nougat update.
HTC has announced that it is rolling out the Nougat update to the unlocked HTC One M9 starting today. The company also stated that carrier variants of the phone will pick up the update early next year.
Android Nougat will begin rolling out to the unlocked #HTCOneM9 starting late this evening. Carrier variants to follow early next year. pic.twitter.com/O5YP1l2Mdp
— HTC USA (@HTCUSA) December 5, 2016
HTC already commenced the Nougat rollout for this year’s HTC 10, starting with the unlocked model. European variants of the HTC 10 are slated to pick up the update shortly, and carrier variants are also likely to get updated in the coming weeks. No word as of now regarding the HTC One A9, but we should hear more soon.
Samsung Galaxy S8 could be first Samsung phone with dual speakers
Samsung only acquired audio technology expert Harman for $8 billion last month, but fingers are already pointing to Harman branded speakers for the Galaxy S8. Fone Arena has cited sources as saying the next Galaxy will have double the number of speakers as the Galaxy S7, which will put it on a level playing field with the Apple iPhone 7, which has also just received dual stereo speakers for the first time.
- Samsung acquires Harman for $8 billion
It seems it could be another case of where Apple goes, Samsung follows. It would be a wise move from Samsung, since Harman owns several companies including JBL, AKG, Harman Kardon, proving it knows what it’s talking about when it comes to audio.
It’s not clear if the Galaxy S8 will sport front-facing stereo speakers like HTC smartphones and their BoomSound technology, or dual speakers on the bottom of the device.
We’ve been impressed by HTC’s audio prowess in the past, so we will of course be intrigued to see what Samsung can come up with.
While this rumour should be taken with a pinch of salt, especially since Samsung it bought Harman for its in-car technology expertise, it wouldn’t be surprising to see some of its audio technology find its way into Samsung’s flagship device.
It’s also likely that Samsung will want to make the best phone possible following the failure that was the Galaxy Note 7.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 is expected to be launched at or around Mobile World Congress in February 2017 and should come in two variant, one with a 5.7-inch display and one with a 6.2-inch bezel-less OLED display. Rumours are also pointing to either a Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 processor or Samsung’s own Exynos 8895. However, Qualcomm has recently introduced the Snapdragon 835 processor, so there’s a chance Samsung will want to install the very latest chip to the S8.
- Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Edge: What’s the story so far
- The Samsung Galaxy S8 could give you super sharp selfies
- Amazing leak claims Samsung Galaxy S8 models will both have edge display, with larger screen sizes
With all the rumours flying around right now, the Galaxy S8 is shaping up to be one hell of a device, our only hope is that the majority of them are true. The good news is there is just over 2 months to wait.
Best Christmas films and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Amazon and Now TV in the UK
Christmas is just a few sleeps away… yes, really. But while for many it signals a time of eating too much, visiting the in-laws and more wrapping paper than you know what to do with, it’s also one of the best times of the year to watch some great films and TV shows.
The broadcasters in the UK will have their own Christmas content, but streaming services are getting in on the action just as much. Netflix, Amazon and Now TV all have an extensive range of films and TV shows, all revolving around Christmas.
There are soppy family movies, comedies and even the odd action film or two – plenty for everyone no matter your tastes. And what’s more, because you can stream them, you don’t have to thumb through the Radio Times with a red marker to ensure you don’t miss a thing.
Choosing a streaming service can be tricky admittedly, as each of the three has a different subscription model, but if you haven’t signed up to one, you may want to check out our handy guide to tell you about each one’s pros and cons.
Now click here to see the best Christmas films and TV shows on streaming services in the UK
Twitter in 2016 was a pretty depressing place to be
Let’s not be mealymouthed: 2016 sucked. As a stark reminder, Twitter has released its “Top 10 Global Conversations” for the year, a change from last year’s #YearOnTwitter format. This time, it lumped events into categories like #RIP, #Brexit, #Trump and #Oscars, perhaps as a way to give equal time to the rare good news stories. Otherwise, the list would be pretty much death, politics and Trump.
First, the grim — at least one person you love or admire died in 2016. The unfortunate #RIP list includes Muhummad Ali, David Bowie, Prince, Leonard Cohen, Alan Rickman, Garry Shandling, Garry Marshall, Gene Wilder, Kenny Baker, Anton Yelchin, Arnold Palmer, Gwen Ifill, Florence Henderson and Fidel Castro. Let’s hope 2017 isn’t so cruel.
As for #Election2016, #Trump and #Brexit, I think we’ve all had enough of those for four years, let alone one — but feel free to revisit them if you really want to. #BlackLivesMatter carried over from last year, 2014 and 2013 because, unfortunately, violence and systemic racism is still a problem for black people. Large protests happened in NYC, Chicago and Washington DC.
When the Pokemon Go servers are down pic.twitter.com/JQS9X5UzSp
— Pokémon Go! (@ThePokeGoNews) July 16, 2016
On a more positive note, we have #GameOfThrones season 6, which drew record viewers thanks to, well, death and politics (plus dragons, a resurrection and a few epic battles). #PokemonGo was, if nothing else, a great distraction from other events on this list. It gave us all some much-needed exercise and outside time, then sort of died — hopefully, the latest tweaks will give us new reasons to play.
#Oscars is another welcome category, because we can finally stop talking about Leonardo DiCaprio’s lack of one. The ceremony also notably featured Chris Rock’s biting satire on the lack of diversity in Hollywood, along with Joe Biden’s speech and Lady Gaga’s emotional performance for survivors of sexual assault. (Brie Larson hugging every survivor was also a great moment.)
#Euro2016 was also inspiring, especially for winner Portugal and underdogs Iceland and Wales, but not so much for also-ran France (le sigh). Oh, and the finals were a great night to be a moth. Twitter optimistically placed #Rio in first place, which is nice, as it featured moments like Usain Bolt’s cheeky 100 meter victory, Mo Farah’s historic UK win, anything to do with Simone Biles and Phelps winning his 23rd gold medal with his game face on.
Source: Twitter
Netflix updated its video encoding to make downloads look better
From time to time, Netflix updates the technology it’s using to convert and compress each of the digital copies of movies it streams to customers. Because people watch from so many different platforms, in so many different situations, it has to be ready for any number of possibilities. Late last year, it revealed the use of a smarter way to apply compression, recognizing that different types of content (animation like Bojack Horseman vs. dark action scenes in Daredevil) need different levels of bitrate or resolution to look their best. Now it’s focused on enhancing the efficiency of compression, starting with the video it delivers to mobile devices.
Netflix:
- AVCMain: Our existing H.264/AVC Main profile encodes, using per-title optimization, serve as anchor for the comparison.
- AVCHi-Mobile: H.264/AVC High profile encodes using more optimal encoder settings and per-chunk encoding.
- VP9-Mobile: VP9 encodes using more optimal encoder settings and per-chunk encoding.
It’s using Google’s VP9 on some platforms (most Android phones), while H.264/AVC High profile works for others (anything iOS). The “per-chunk” encoding mentioned above mean that beyond just optimizing for the type of show or movie, it’s actually applying optimal settings across different parts of each video. Variety notes these pieces can range between 1- 3 minutes in length, and Netflix says that using this with Google’s VP9 tech can result in a video that has the same quality, but uses 36 percent lower bitrate.
That means it can look better on your phone, while also using less data, and taking up less space as a download. That last part is key, because the new encodes are currently rolling out in the new downloads feature, although they will be available for streaming on mobile devices in the “near future.”
Source: Netflix Tech Blog
TiVo appears to be testing cloud DVR recording
While a few companies have tried on network/cloud DVR features, TiVo has always been associated with storage that’s sitting right in your living room. Previous leaks pointed to a new TiVo box, codenamed Mantis, that might do network recording of OTA channels, but now Dave Zatz posted this picture, showing that there may be similar features in the works for the existing Bolt DVR.
In the time since the Mantis popped up in FCC filings, another leak (and still-live TiVo webpage) shows it could arrive branded as the “Mavrik.” Additionally, there’s an app listing that confirms it as the “OTA Streaming, Diskless Cloud DVR TiVo Device Mantis.” While that seems like the best bet to actually ship sometime soon, we’re a bit more interested in the prospect of cloud recording of cable channels — if TiVo actually update old boxes to do it.
Source: Zatz Not Funny, TV Predictions
Facebook is asking users’ help to ID misleading news
The latest addition to Facebook’s never-ending parade of experimental features looks like it’s all about fake news. Chris Krewson, an editor for Philadelphia publication Billy Penn, has spotted a survey module right underneath a post by the Philadelphia Inquirer about a white nationalist (and well-known pistachio vendor) losing her job. The survey asked: “To what extent do you think that this link’s title uses misleading language?” There were five choices to choose from (“Not at all,” “Slightly,” “Somewhat,” “Very much” and “Completely”), but the module could clearly be dismissed with by clicking on an “X” button.
In late November, Mark Zuckerberg explained what Facebook is doing to get rid of fake news, including improving its algorithm’s ability to detect and making it easy to report them. He didn’t mention that the company will start asking for people’s input — as TechCrunch said, it’s a bit odd, since it’s the users who are flooding the social network with fake news to begin with. Facebook confirmed to TC that it’s indeed testing the feature, but it didn’t elaborate on its plans beyond that.
Facebook is asking whether this @PhillyInquirer headline is fake? pic.twitter.com/cCUpwtvQlS
— Chris Krewson (@ckrewson) December 5, 2016
Source: TechCrunch, Chris Krewson (Twitter)
Internet-connected toys accused of spying on kids
Smart toys can certainly inject some life into playtime, but they raise big privacy concerns when an internet connection is involved… and if you believe some critics, at least a few toys have crossed the line. Over 18 privacy groups are filing complaints with both the US’ Federal Trade Commission and the European Union alleging that Genesis Toys and its tech partner Nuance are violating deceptive practices and privacy laws (including COPPA) through the way certain toys record kids’ voices. Reportedly, i-Que and My Friend Cayla not only capture kids’ voices without adequate notice or permission, but send it to Nuance with few safeguards over how that information is handled. It could be used in databases that Nuance sells to police and intelligence agencies, the groups say.
The organizations also accuse Genesis of failing to prevent unauthorized Bluetooth devices from connecting to the toys. Someone could eavesdrop on conversations, according to the complaint, raising the threat of “predatory stalking and physical danger.” Bluetooth normally requires that you be relatively close (within 33 feet), but that would still allow someone at a playground or outside the home to snoop on unaware kids.
It’s uncertain whether or not the FTC and EU will address the complaints. We’ve also asked Genesis and Nuance for their responses. However, it won’t be surprising if this prompts some companies to rethink how they make smart toys, including those that use cameras and otherwise capture what kids are doing. Simply speaking, a toy isn’t the same as a smart speaker or other typical voice-activated devices — it’s explicitly aimed at kids, and there are different privacy expectations as a result.
Source: Norwegian Consumer Council
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