Amazon Prime Video App Reportedly Coming to Apple TV Sometime This Summer

After nearly two years of being absent from the fourth generation Apple TV’s app lineup, Amazon Prime Video is reportedly on its way to Apple’s set-top box and could arrive for Prime subscribers to download and watch videos as soon as this summer. The news comes from Recode, citing sources familiar with the plans of each company who said that Apple and Amazon are “close to an agreement” in regards to Amazon Prime Video finally being available on Apple TV.

Specifically, Amazon employees are expecting the app to appear on the Apple TV App Store sometime in the third quarter of 2017. The sources at the heart of the story didn’t divulge what compromises or agreements might have happened behind the scenes for Amazon to come to Apple TV, but those watching and hearing about the backroom meetings believe that such a deal was made “at a high level,” meaning company CEOs Tim Cook and Jeff Bezos themselves came to mutual terms to make the deal happen.

Amazon and Apple may have reached a truce. The tech giants, who are increasingly competing for customers’ time, eyeballs and money, are close to an agreement to bring an Amazon video app to Apple’s Apple TV set-top box, according to people familiar with the two companies.

One year ago, Bezos briefly discussed Amazon and Apple TV at Recode’s Code Conference, stating that Amazon always seeks out “acceptable business terms” before it brings its video app to streaming devices. On Apple’s side of things, Eddy Cue mentioned in February that Amazon is always welcome to join Apple TV “any time they like,” and said that he hoped they will do so “sometime soon.”

In late 2015, Amazon stopped selling Apple TV devices on Amazon.com, further solidifying the idea that Amazon Prime Video might never arrive on Apple TV. Now, it appears that Apple and Amazon have reached some kind of mutual agreement, the details of which remain unclear.

Late last year, Amazon did launch an app for the Apple TV, but it wasn’t for streaming movies and television from Amazon Prime, and only allowed users to search for and browse items on Amazon.com.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 10
Tags: Amazon, Amazon Prime Video
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Don’t Buy)
Discuss this article in our forums

Square is inviting users to sign up for its debit card

That Square debit card that company chief Jack Dorsey teased back in April? It’s real, and Square has even begun inviting some users to sign up. After a customer tweeted out that he received an invitation to order a debit card, a Square spokesperson confirmed to Recode that it has indeed started sending out invites. Unlike other debit cards, Square’s won’t be linked to your bank account in any way — it uses the balance in your Square Cash app instead.

Considering you can withdraw your balance anytime and use your regular debit or credit card, Square’s doesn’t sound as enticing unless you want to spend the funds in your app ASAP. Besides, if you use Apple Pay, you can already add Square Cash balance as a source for when you want to tap-to-pay for anything.

If you still want a Square card despite not actually needing one, you’ll have to wait for an invite until the company stages a wider rollout. Take note that you’ll have to provide a signature of sorts to print on the front of the card when you sign up. Square will screen any word, name or drawing applicants provide, though, to make sure everything’s clean and G-rated.

Source: Recode

Fender’s new guitar amps can be fine-tuned from your phone

Fender first revealed its mobile software plans back in August of last year when the guitar maker’s digital arm debuted a tuner app for iOS. In November, we learned the company had guitar amplifiers in the works that would wirelessly sync settings with its library of apps. Today, we finally meet the pieces of Fender connected guitar gear: the Mustang GT amps.

In line with previous reports, the Mustang GT series features both WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity to get presets from Fender engineers, notable artists and a community of fellow pickers via a companion app. Of course, you can also edit effects, create and share presets, setup a set list for your live gigs and download updates. The company says you can also simply play music through the new amps via the Bluetooth connection should the need arise.

All of those sounds are available inside Fender’s second mobile app: Fender Tone. Here, you can expect the unique sounds from guitarists like Gary Clark Jr., the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Josh Adam Klinghoffer and Anthrax’s Scott Ian. The company promises any changes you make inside the app are beamed to the Mustang GT line of amps in real time. Like the Fender Tune app that debuted last year, there’s also an educational component: Beginners can read up on amp models, learn about effects loops and more.

Guitar amps with built-in effects aren’t really a novel concept. Companies like Line 6 and others have been putting a range of effects options and modeling sounds inside amplifiers for years. Fender is banking on the fact that we’re glued to our phones nowadays and that guitar players in 2017 would rather reach for their trusty handset to change up their sound rather than walking over to an amp. And yes, you can use on-board controls to make your changes if you’d rather. Mobile software that allows to tweak your guitar tone have been around for a while too, including AmpliTube that offers the sounds of Fender, Mesa Boogie, Orange and other popular amps on your phone or tablet.

Fender says the Mustang line of compact amps has been some of its best sellers, so it makes sense for the company to carry the name through this new gear. In addition to Bluetooth and WiFi, the Mustang GT amplifiers have USB output for recording and access to the sounds of 60 different Fender amps. The new trio starts at $299 with the 40-watt Mustang GT 40 (2 6.5-inch speakers) followed by the 100-watt 1×12 Mustang GT 100 ($399) and 200-watt Mustang GT 200 with 2 12-inch speakers ($599). All three models pack in Celestion speakers, if that’s a deal breaker.

If you’re looking for something to use on stage, the company says you’ll want to consider the pricier two models while the $399 option is more for practice and recording at home. All three are available to purchase now and the Fender Tone companion app is ready for download on both Android and iOS.

Source: Fender

ExxonMobil Launches Apple Watch Support in ‘Speedpass+’ iOS App

ExxonMobil this week announced an update to its Speedpass+ iOS app, which gives users the ability to pay for fuel and car washes using their Apple Watch and Apple Pay at over 10,000 participating Exxon and Mobil refueling stations across the United States.

For the Apple Watch payments process, users will have to navigate to the Speedpass+ watch app, select the pump they are at, authorize it for payment, and double-tap the side button to bring up Apple Pay. Once the payment is processed, users can begin fueling up their vehicle.

“With these updates to the Speedpass+ app, consumers now have even more options to pay for fuel while sitting in the comfort of their car – either using Ford SYNC 3 or the Apple Watch,” said Matt Bergeron, vice president of marketing for ExxonMobil Fuels, Lubricants & Specialties Marketing Company.

“This is more than a cashless payment app; it is a platform that earns and redeems Plenti loyalty points and manages receipts. With ExxonMobil’s heritage and commitment to innovation, the Speedpass+ app continues to bring new benefits to its users.”

The update also comes with a new “Ford SYNC 3” feature that lets Speedpass+ app users easily authorize fuel payments using voice commands or an in-car touch screen, as well as check how much fuel is in the tank when away from their car using the app.

The new Speedpass+ update follows the app’s introduction of Apple Pay in March of 2016, which introduced the ability to pay for fuel using an iPhone and Apple’s mobile wallet. Exxon’s Apple Pay solution doesn’t use NFC reader technology, instead focusing on software within the app to use GPS and QR codes in order to authorize fuel payments.

Fuel companies have slowly begun to adopt Apple Pay over the years, with Chevron opening up a pilot program for Apple Pay fuel payments at a few of its stations in San Francisco in 2015. A few vehicle manufacturers have also rolled out Apple Pay support directly within their infotainment systems, with Jaguar and Shell partnering up to allow drivers in the United Kingdom to pay for fuel with Apple Pay insider their car.

ExxonMobil Speedpass+ is available to download for free on the iOS App Store. [Direct Link]

Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3
Tag: ExxonMobil
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
Discuss this article in our forums

Pro freeskier uses a hacked GoPro device to shoot some cool aerial footage

Why it matters to you

While a drone is a surefire way to score yourself some awesome aerial footage, skier Nicolas Vuignier shows there are other ways to get equally dramatic shots from the sky.

Pro freeskier Nicolas Vuignier wanted a cheap way of nailing some cool aerial footage of his snow-based stunts but didn’t want to fork out on a drone.

He settled on the AER, a GoPro accessory we first heard about in September 2016 when nearly 2,000 Kickstarter backers helped to make it a reality.

The AER is basically a large Nerf football that can hold a GoPro action camera. To get your aerial footage, you simply throw the wing-equipped AER into the air. And there’s no worries about your GoPro smashing to bits when it hits the ground because it’s protected by the projectile’s foam base.

It seems that Vuignier managed to get his snow mitts on an early version of the $54 AER as it isn’t expected to begin shipping for another few weeks. To get the precise footage he wanted, the skier first had to modify the device so he could get rear-facing shots, as the regular AER design only allows for forward-facing footage.

In a video (above) posted online this week, the freeskier shows off a slew of clips captured with his flying GoPro, edited into a slick and snappy package that’s getting plenty of attention on YouTube. It’s an entertaining couple of minutes, but demonstrates that although the method is a lot cheaper than shooting selfies with a drone, for a video like this you’ll still need someone with you to throw the AER into the sky at the optimum moment.

This isn’t the first time that the Swiss freeskier has impressed us with his innovative filmmaking ideas. Last year he attached his iPhone to a piece of string and swung it around his head as he performed ski stunts on the slopes. Vuignier said the Matrix-style effect took “two years of tinkering and tweaking” to finally achieve, but we’re sure you’ll agree, his so-called “selfie string” definitely delivered.

McLaren and Logitech step on the gas with the World’s Fastest Gamer contest

Why it matters to you

If you’re a racing fan who’s always dreamed of being a part of the McLaren Formula 1 team, the World’s Fastest Gamer contest could put you in the driver’s seat.

McLaren is teaming up with Logitech to help the British Formula 1 team find a new simulator driver via the World’s Fastest Gamer contest. The would-be racer that comes out on top will be offered a one-year contract with McLaren, a dream come true for any F1 fan with aspirations of taking to the driver’s seat.

F1 teams make full use of simulators as they prepare their cars for competition on a race weekend. Data from real-world practice sessions is fed into the simulation, so dedicated simulator drivers play an important role in ironing out any kinks before the race itself.

“You’ve effectively got a third car, it’s just that car’s in the virtual world being driven by a driver that’s not known to the general public,” said Darren Cox, the man behind World’s Fastest Gamer, discussing the project with The Verge. “Traditionally [McLaren has] found people from the racing world who are also good at engineering. We’re just trying to turn that on its head and find them in the virtual world.”

Cox is no stranger to this kind of contest. In 2008, he helped spearhead GT Academy, a collaboration between Nissan and Sony that has offered various standout Gran Turismo players the chance to become professional racing drivers.

World’s Fastest Gamer entrants will need more than just good car control to succeed. Their knowledge of engineering, their ability to work as part of a team, and their mental and physical toughness will all be taken into account.

The contest is scheduled to take place this fall at McLaren’s Technology Center in Surrey, England. Ten hopefuls will take part in several races across different platforms, with four entrants qualifying as online racing events that will take place over the summer, and the remaining six being selected by a team of experts.

Build your own Google Home with the latest issue of The MagPi

Why it matters to you

Tinkering around with the Raspberry Pi can be a lot of fun, and the MagPi is a great source of new projects.

Looking to use Google Assistant but don’t want to pay for a Google Home? In the latest issue of The MagPi, the Raspberry Pi foundation has included a free hardware kit from Google. By following the included instructions, subscribers can add voice interaction to their home.

Inside issue 57 of The MagPi, people will find a Google Voice Hardware Attached on Top (HAT) accessory board, a stereo microphone Voice HAT board, a large arcade button, and a selection of wires. Also included is a simple cardboard case to house all the components in.

Not included with the magazine is a Raspberry Pie 3, but these are relatively inexpensive. Once one has been acquired, all it needs is a software setup before it gains access to the Google Assistant SDK and Google Cloud Speech API.

The MagPi contains all the instructions needed to set up the makeshift Google Home and get it working properly. With Raspberry Pi, the project can easily be enhanced to make something better. For example, users could build a voice-controlled robot or a simple voice interface that answers any question thrown at it.

Aside from the included project, this latest issue also includes a number of tutorials. This month includes an introduction to programming with Minecraft Pi and ways to hack an Amazon Dash button. Additionally, the magazine is full of reviews, project showcases, and a guide to building the perfect makers’ toolbox.

If this is something that interests you, issue 57 should reach subscribers starting May 5. New subscriptions cost $129 for 12 issues and include the latest Pi Zero W, a case, and cable. Alternatively, The MagPi can be picked up at various stores in the UK including WHSmith, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Asda. In North America, it can be found at Barnes & Noble, or purchased online for about $8 from The PiHut where it is currently sold out. Digital versions without the free project kit are available as a free PDF download.

The latest version of Opera Max helps you save data while browsing Facebook

Opera Max gets much better at optimizing data.

Opera has rolled out an update for its data compression utility that should make it easier for you to cut down on data while using Facebook. Opera Max 3.0 offers an all new design along with better data management tools, and the ability to use a mobile web version of Facebook from within the app’s interface.

Opera Max gives you a detailed list of your Wi-Fi and mobile data usage habits on a per-app basis, giving you an idea as to what services are consuming a lot of data. The app will also show tips to extend your data usage, and as the service routes all traffic through its own servers, you’ll get an additional layer of security when connected to public Wi-Fi networks.

With Facebook’s own app being notorious for consuming vast amounts of data and your phone’s battery, it’s a better bet to switch to the web version built into Opera Max if you’re looking to cut down on your data usage.

Interested in taking a look? Download Opera Max 3.0 from the Play Store and let us know what you think of the service in the comments.

Refurbished Note 7 clears FCC certification as Korean launch draws near

The refurbished Note 7 is one step closer to launch.

Samsung announced back in March that it would introduce a refurbished variant of the Galaxy Note 7 with a smaller battery, and the phone is now one step closer to launch. South Korean variants of the refurbished Note 7 have passed through FCC certification, with recent rumors suggesting the phone could make its debut in Samsung’s home market at the end of June.

According to the FCC filings, three models have picked up certification — the SM-N935K, SM-N935L, and SM-N935S. The SM-N935K model is likely to be South Korean carrier KT’s variant of the handset, while the SM-N935L and SM-N935S could end up launching on LG U+ and SK Telecom respectively.

The refurbished Note 7 is rumored to retail for the equivalent of $620, or $250 less than the launch price of the Note 7 last year. Leaked images of the device show that it will feature the same design as the Note 7 albeit with a smaller 3200mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

• Galaxy Note 7 fires, recall and cancellation: Everything you need to know
• Survey results: Samsung users stay loyal after Note 7 recall
• Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review
• The latest Galaxy Note 7 news
• Join the Note 7 discussion in the forums!

How to set up the Galaxy S8 to send Bluetooth audio to two devices at once

Sharing audio from one device to two headphones has always been a pain.

From headphone splitters that almost never work when you need them to spltting earbuds and staying uncomfortably within inches of each other for an in-flight movie, it’s just sucked. Well, rejoice, music and movie sharers! The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ sport an awesome new feature called Dual Audio, which will broadcast Bluetooth media audio to two Bluetooth devices at once. It’s easy to use and works remarkably well.

Let’s get our beat on, together!

Before you can use Dual Audio, you need to turn it on.

Open Settings.
Tap Connections.

Tap Bluetooth.

Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the screen.
Tap Dual Audio.
Tap the toggle switch in the top right corner of the screen to turn Dual Audio on.

Once you’ve activated Dual Audio, when you connect two Bluetooth devices, your Galaxy S8 will begin to stream its audio to both headsets, or to one headphone and one speaker, or two speakers. If a third Bluetooth audio device connects to your Galaxy S8, it will kick the oldest connection off Dual Audio and add the third device to Dual Audio, so be advised if you’re someone with a drawer full of Bluetooth headphones.

Another quirk of Dual Audio to be aware of: the first device to connect to the Galaxy S8 during Dual Audio will be the device that can use its headset media controls to pause, play, or change tracks. The second device is just along for the listen, so if you want to control the music, make sure you connect your headphones first and then you partner’s.

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

• Galaxy S8 and S8+ review!
• Galaxy S8 and S8+ specs
• Everything you need to know about the Galaxy S8’s cameras
• Get to know Samsung Bixby
• Join our Galaxy S8 forums

Verizon
AT&T
T-Mobile
Sprint