Netflix is no longer available for your rooted Android phone

Have you noticed that you suddenly can’t (officially) download the Netflix app to your rooted Android phone? You’re not alone. Netflix has confirmed that its app is no longer visible on Google Play to anyone with a device that is “not Google-certified or [has] been altered.” A spokesperson tells Android Police that it’s all about a shift in copy protection. Version 5.0 of the Netflix app now leans entirely on Google’s Widevine digital rights management to prevent piracy, so it has to treat those modified devices as incompatible. The crackdown isn’t completely shocking, but it does create some issues.

There’s certainly an incentive for the shift in strategy: now that you can download shows, piracy is more of a concern than ever. In theory, it’s a bit easier to strip the copy protection from the downloaded copy of a Netflix series than it is to rip the stream. And when you root a device to gain more control over the operating system, you potentially have a better chance of circumventing that DRM than you would otherwise.

This measure might not stop many people, however, and it could hurt otherwise well-meaning viewers. While Netflix says its app “will no longer work” with modified Android devices, Android Police has verified that it still runs properly if you manage to install the app (such as by sideloading the APK), at least for now. Also, the Google Play listing appears tied to whether or not you’re cleared to run Android Pay, not Widevine itself. That can create problems — if you have a device with an unlocked bootloader, you might be denied easy access to Netflix even if you’re using untouched, secure firmware.

This isn’t going to spook determined fans (you can even use root methods that won’t be detected), but it underscores the tough spot that Netflix and other media providers find themselves in. Many people who root or otherwise modify their phones are just interested in customization, and some of them may now have to decide between keeping their root access and watching Stranger Things.

Source: Android Police

Lyft and Waymo work together on self-driving cars

Waymo just got a ton of help in its bid to make self-driving cars a common sight on public roads. The Alphabet-owned company and Lyft have forged a deal that will see the two work together on self-driving cars, both for development and for test projects. The exact terms aren’t clear, but both have strong incentives to team up. Waymo tells the New York Times that it’s about helping autonomous tech “reach more people, in more places.” For Lyft, meanwhile, it’s about getting access to the “best self-driving technology” and speeding up its plans for autonomous ridesharing.

The Times’ Mike Isaac adds that Lyft’s pacts with both Waymo and GM are non-exclusive, so it doesn’t have to worry about treading on one of its partners’ toes.

It’s safe to say the agreement is a coup for Lyft in more ways than one. This fast-tracks its strategy, of course, but it’s also a particularly deep blow against its arch-nemesis Uber. Travis Kalanick’s firm has not only been accused of swiping Waymo’s technology, but now has to watch as Waymo runs into the open arms of its ridesharing rival. Even though Lyft’s existing coverage is small, it could claim a huge advantage over Uber if it’s the first of the two with a widely available (not to mention trustworthy) self-driving option. Would you rather hope there’s a driver available at 2AM, or know that a robotic car is always ready to take you home?

For Waymo, this is a good sign that its driverless tech is evolving into more than just a grand experiment. While it already has a deal with Fiat Chrysler (and the potential for one with Honda), that’s not the same as offering actual service. The Lyft collaboration gives Waymo’s efforts a clearer purpose: it knows there’s a large customer willing to use its technology the moment it’s ready for public consumption. That, in turn, could help you hop into an autonomous Lyft car sooner than you might have expected.

Source: New York Times

Microsoft blasts spy agencies for hoarding security exploits

Microsoft is hopping mad that leaked NSA exploits led to the “WannaCry” (aka “WannaCrypt”) ransomware wreaking havoc on computers worldwide. Company President Brad Smith has posted a response to the attack that roasts the NSA, CIA and other intelligence agencies for hogging security vulnerabilities instead of disclosing them to be fixed. There’s an “emerging pattern” of these stockpiles leaking out, he says, and they cause “widespread damage” when that happens. He goes so far as to liken it to a physical weapons leak — it’s as if the US military had “some of its Tomahawk missiles stolen.”

To Smith, this is a “wake-up call.” Officials ought to treat a mass of exploits with the same caution that they would a real-world weapons cache, he argues. Microsoft had already floated the concept of a “Digital Geneva Convention” that required governments to report security holes, but the idea has gained a new sense of urgency in light of the recent ransomware chaos. Will the NSA and other agencies listen? Probably not — but Microsoft at least some has some evidence to back up its claims.

Smith’s write-up also calls for a greater sense of “shared responsibility” in fighting online threats. While Microsoft makes its own efforts by rushing out patches and sharing concerns with other companies, it also chastises customers who could have closed the WannaCry hole two months earlier but didn’t. If they don’t get updates quickly, Smith contends, they’re “fighting the problems of the present with tools from the past.” He’s being a bit unrealistic — it’s not so simple for companies to upgrade to the latest versions of Windows, especially if budgets are tight or there’s must-have software that could break. At the same time, it’s hard to escape the reality that many WannaCry victims are running outdated software.

Workers might not have to wait for their IT departments to get into gear, at least. Rendition Infosec as introduced a stopgap TearSt0pper tool that can thwart WannaCry without requiring a patch. You need to launch it every time you boot your PC (provided you’re allowed to run apps like this), but it could mean the difference between a productive day or explaining why your system is out of commission.

Source: Microsoft on the Issues, Rendition Infosec

FTC cracks down on internet tech support scams

The Federal Trade Commission isn’t letting up in its quest to rid the world of tech support scammers. Officials have launched a legal campaign, Operation Tech Trap, in a bid to crack down on frauds that rely on a mix of web pop-ups and phone calls to frighten you into paying up. The effort includes four fresh complaints (in Alabama, Colorado, Florida and Ohio), two settlements (in Connecticut and Florida) and charges against seven people — two of which have already pleaded guilty. It’s as much a public show of the FTC’s might as it is a significant bust, but many of the perpetrators were particularly insidious.

In most cases, the scams produce fake alerts that claim your PC is infected or hacked, and urge you to call a toll-free number for help. They sometimes even include a countdown to make it seem like your files will vanish if you don’t act. If you’re spooked enough to call, you promptly talk to telemarketers posing as technicians (usually from Microsoft or Apple) who will insist your system is compromised and offer to either repair or protect your system if you pay hundreds of dollars. You probably aren’t the sort to be tricked if you’re reading this, but the fraud clearly capitalizes on the fears of less tech-savvy people.

This action definitely isn’t going to put an end to the shady behavior when all it takes is a semi-plausible web ad and a few people working the phones. However, it does show that the FTC is making a concerted effort to clamp down on these questionable pop-ups, and it might deter some of those perpetrators who assume their combination of anonymity and scare tactics will keep them safe.

Via: The Verge

Source: FTC

Aura’s smart frames want to put your best face (and photos) forward

Why it matters to you

For avid photographers, choosing the best photos to display on your walls can be tough. But it doesn’t have to be, not if you have a smart frame from Aura.

Your smartphone already serves as your camera and your photo album, but unfortunately, you can’t very well hang it up on your wall and call it a picture frame, too. Luckily, you don’t have to — that is, as long as you have an Aura frame.

The smart frame promises to automatically display the very best photos you have to offer from your phone, creating photo collections of the people you’re most often photographing. So whether that’s your child, your pet, or your best friend (and perhaps those are all the same people), Aura can curate what you display on your walls for all to see.

The elegant frames from Aura can either be hung on your walls or placed on a mantle, but regardless of where you put the product, you’ll never have to think about what you put in it. Thanks to Aura’s Smart Selection feature, your frame will be updated with new photos as you take them. That means you won’t have to remember to check the companion Aura app to select new photos to display — rather, your best pictures will just self-populate.

What constitutes best? For starters, Aura will never display a photo that is low contrast, blurry, low resolution, or contains nudity (unless, of course, you explicitly ask it to). It’s also capable of scrolling through photos and ensuring it doesn’t exhibit duplicate pictures, so your content is always fresh.

The high-resolution, LCD screen of the frame will ensure that your photos look as good as they possibly can, and thanks to Aura’s sensor technology, the smart frame will actually detect and adjust its lighting based on its environment. And if the room is completely dark, the device will turn itself off, saving energy and your electric bill.

The Aura comes in three color options — Ivory/Rose Gold, Charcoal/Black, and Crystal Blue/Silver, and start at $399.

The best fitness trackers you can buy

The fitness wrist band remains very popular, despite the growing attraction of smartwatches, which can perform many of the same functions, with added convenience and notifications. The reason fitness bands aren’t going anywhere is because they’re often well-priced, lighter, more compact, and more focused as a product than even the most basic smartwatch.

If you’re looking for a wrist band to help motivate you get more exercise, track your calories, or even keep a log of your sleep patterns, then you’ll probably be surprised by the amount of choice out there. We’ve collected seven of our favorite fitness tracking wearables, to help make the buying process a little easier.

Our pick

Fitbit Blaze

Why you should buy this: It’s versatile and attractive, with an incredible mobile app and top-shelf motion detection

NEEDS PRODUCT CARD: “The Fitbit Blaze combines looks, power, and convenience into one incredible package.”

Who’s it for: Anyone and everyone, except swimmers

How much will it cost: $150

Why we picked the Fitbit Blaze

Aesthetics are important when it comes to wearable tech. So is battery life, and waterproofing, and a number of other factors. The most important thing, though — in our view, anyway — is convenience. Nobody wants to spend half their allotted workout time fiddling with their tracker’s settings or slogging through a cumbersome mobile app, and Fitbit has taken this into consideration.

As a result, the Blaze (and its companion app) works like a charm, offering accurate tracking of everything from hours slept to steps taken. The watch itself — a handsome square touchscreen designed to slot into bands of several materials and colors — displays a quick overview of your fitness statistics for the day, and allows you to select different types of workouts to track. The companion app offers a wealth of useful information; the Blaze tracks your heart rate while resting and while exercising, and counts calories for you. Setting daily goals is extremely easy, and the app is a breeze to navigate. If you’d like to enter your food and water intake, you can do that too, to more accurately manage nutrition.

The Blaze can control your smartphone’s music, too, as long as you’ve got your phone on you, and you can quickly view text messages or phone calls directly from your wrist. The Blaze is lightweight and comfortable (as long as you wash the band regularly), and its battery lasts a few days with regular use. One drawback: It’s water resistant, not waterproof, so don’t take it in the pool. If you’re short on cash, the Fitbit Blaze may not be for you, but otherwise it’s tough to beat.

Our full review

Best choice for Android users

Samsung Gear Fit 2

Why you should buy this: You want a stellar fitness band with GPS, a display, storage for music, and some smartwatch features

Our Score

The Best Tracker for Android

Samsung Gear Fit 2

The Gear Fit 2 is the best fitness tracker we’ve tried in just about every way. Sadly, it requires an Android phone.

$127.94 from Amazon

$179.99 from Samsung

Who’s it for: Any Android user who’s teetering on the edge between a fitness band and smartwatch

How much will it cost: $180

Why we picked the Samsung Gear Fit 2

Samsung’s Gear Fit 2 is one of the best fitness trackers we’ve used. Its subtle design, smartwatch-like features, and ability to stream music during your workouts make it stand out from the ever-increasing mob of cheap, crappy, ugly fitness trackers. The auto-workout tracking is awesome and it really works, so you can exercise naturally without having to press a button every time you go out for a run. It offers built-in GPS and 4GB of music storage, so you can leave your phone at home when you hit the gym.

The 1.5-inch curved AMOLED screen is absolutely stunning and you can view all your metrics on it in full color at any time. You can even view a map of your route, thanks to its built-in GPS. It’s customizable with fun watch faces and you can download a bunch of handy apps from the Gear app store, including Spotify, which allows you to stream music from the Gear Fit 2 during workouts. The Fit 2 recognizes and automatically tracks a number of activities, and everything syncs with the S Health app, which offers a super detailed view of your progress on your smartphone.

Although its main purpose is fitness tracking, the Gear Fit 2 can also perform many smartwatch functions, including notifications, the ability to reply to messages, and download apps. The extra smarts aren’t thrown in your face; they are subtle and helpful. This is the device for anyone who wants a fitness tracker, but is smartwatch-curious. The battery lasts about 3 days, though GPS will eat into that estimate.

For $180 it is a great deal. The Gear Fit 2 is significantly cheaper than any smartwatch you can buy, and it’s even cheaper than some Fitbit devices, despite having more features. If you’re looking for a smart fitness tracker with heart rate, GPS, and notifications, the Gear Fit 2 is for you. The only bad news? You have to have an Android phone; it doesn’t work with iOS.

Our full review

Best choice for iPhone users

Garmin Vivosmart HR+

Why you should buy this: You want a subtle fitness tracker you’ll never have to charge

The Best Tracker for iOS

Garmin Vivosmart HR+

It’s not the prettiest fitness band, but Garmin’s Vivosmart HR+ is a reliable, affordable band for iPhone owners.

$149.99 from Amazon

$149.99 from Target

Who’s it for: Any iPhone or Android user who wants a full-featured fitness tracker

How much will it cost: $220

Why we picked the Garmin Vivosmart HR+

Garmin’s Vivosmart HR+ brings GPS, a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, automatic workout tracking, and more to the table. It’s a typical looking fitness tracker with a black and white screen for reading your metrics. It’s also water-resistant for your runs in the rain.

If you’re a runner, the built-in GPS and special running features — including personal records, a virtual pacer, Auto Pause, Auto Lap, and a walk/run mode — will appeal to you. You can also see a map of your route in the app. It auto-detects your workouts, so you don’t have to start and stop them. When you turn on GPS, the battery takes a hit down to 8 hours, but the Vivosmart HR+ usually gets 5 days of battery life before it conks out.

You can sync with the Garmin Connect app to view more detailed metrics and get an overview of your progress over time. The app offers challenges in which you compete with fellow Garmin users if you need extra motivation to achieve your goals.

It is not the most stylish band in town, but you do have color and size options. The Vivosmart HR+ comes in black/shark fin gray, imperial purple/kona purple, and midnight blue/bolt blue in the regular size. If you have a larger wrist, you can opt for the extra-large size in only the black/shark fin gray color.

More coverage

Best low-maintenance fitness band

Moov Now

Why you should buy this: The battery lasts forever, and motion tracking is crazy accurate

NEEDS PRODUCT CARD: “The Moov Now will guide you through workouts and track your every move without running out of juice”

Who’s it for: Anyone looking for a covert, versatile, affordable tracker

How much will it cost: $60

Why we picked the Moov Now

Who needs a touchscreen? Hell, who needs a screen, period? The Moov Now eschews onboard functionality in favor of excellent battery life, comfort, and understated beauty — and it works. The Moov is so light you won’t even notice its presence on your wrist, but rest assured it’s there, and it’s collecting tons of data for your benefit.

The mobile app is absolutely loaded with different types of workouts, including cool training programs that’ll put you through several exercises in order. For many trackers, this type of programming is a reach, but it works with the Moov largely because of its accurate tracking. For example, when you select a boxing workout, the Now can differentiate between a jab and a cross, a hook and an uppercut. If you keep your phone on you during a workout or run (and if you’ve got earphones in), a helpful voice will let you know whether you’re properly carrying out the assigned regimen. The voice will give you helpful tips to correct your form, or it’ll play a sound when you get it right. Soon, this sound will result in a Pavlovian release of endorphins.

The webby design is cool, but not too flashy, and the included array of sensors is fairly standard for a low-price wearable (there’s no heart rate monitor, for example). If you truly want a workout companion, though, the Moov is nearly unbeatable; its feedback is timely and effective, its battery lasts for months, and the app is packed with different types of exercises to choose from. At $60, it’s a home run.

More coverage

Modulaj by Triing is a new smart ring that wants to help you step away from your smartphone

Why it matters to you

With so many notifications coming through our phones, it can be difficult to decipher what’s important and what’s not. But the Modulaj by Triing smart ring can help.

If you shrank your smartphone down to about a tenth of its size and put it on your finger, you might end up with something that resembles the new Modulaj by Triing, a modular piece of jewelry made of aircraft grade titanium and lab-grown gemstones that brings the traditional ring into the digital age.

The unisex band was inspired by Montreal’s mid-century Brutalist architecture, and indeed, bears a unique aesthetic for the more fashion forward. The Modulag promises to organize and filter indiscriminate data feeds from your smartphone. In doing so, it delivers the most pertinent bits of information to your fingers. This smart ring seeks to address what its makers consider to be the three core human needs: social interactions, productivity, and personal safety.

Modulaj can inform you of phone calls, text messages, and emails that matter (you can create word clouds to ensure that only the communication you care about gets through); store calendar events and remind you of scheduled appointments; or even initiate a fake phone call (or send an SOS) to get yourself out of sticky situations.

“Jewelry hasn’t changed for over two thousand years,” Modulaj team notes on its Kickstarter page. “We reinterpret jewelry and make it relevant to our century. Technology and modular concepts create pieces valued as much for functional attributes and form-factor as for being decorative.”

With this smart ring, Android and iOS users alike can interface with their smartphones literally with their fingers, using touch-input context-derived visual and sensory alerts. The goal, the Modulaj team explains, is to give you full control over the relevance and amount of information you receive, helping you disengage a bit from your otherwise ubiquitous smartphone.

But not only is Modulaj concerned with how you interact with the world, but the company is also particularly cognizant of its own place in society. As such, the team strives to keep ethical and environmental concerns at the forefront of the creative process, using exclusively conflict-free precious and semi-precious stones from around the world.

The Modulaj smart ring comes in three colors — the white Glace, the blue Ciel, and the black Noir. All the feature the same geometric design and can be pre-ordered for about $170. Modulaj estimates a delivery date of February 2018.

Are jerkasses stealing your Wi-Fi? Here’s how to find out, and stop them

Is your internet a little slow? Do YouTube videos take too long to buffer? Do your Netflix programs show up in a lower resolution than expected? We’ve got some bad news for you — someone next door may be stealing your Wi-Fi.

While you might not mind a neighbor borrowing a bit of bandwidth, allowing unauthorized devices to use your internet isn’t a good idea, especially given the havoc it can wreak on your connection speeds and your peace of mind. After all, nobody wants to leave themselves susceptible to outside intruders if they can help it.

How people steal Wi-Fi (and why it sucks)

There are a number of ways that others can hijack your Wi-Fi for their own use, but the most common cases occur when people nearby get a little lazy and simply click on your Wi-Fi name when looking for available connections. Note that this happens when you don’t protect your Wi-Fi with passwords and proper security. Unfortunately, this is still a common occurrence. Actual hacking, where people break into your Wi-Fi with software designed to do so, is far more rare and less of a concern.

When it occurs (in the casual way), the biggest detriment to Wi-Fi theft is that it can slow down your connection. There’s only a certain amount of bandwidth to go around, and if yours is already divided up between a few computers, a smart TV, and a couple of phones, there’s a good chance that you’ll start seeing slower speeds when an internet freeloader streams a high-definition video.

Many service providers have also started putting data caps on home internet usage, and if one of your neighbors uses your internet for data intensive activities, you could see additional charges on your monthly bill.

In addition to slow connection speeds, an unsecured wireless router also opens you up to serious security risks. While your neighbor might only be looking for a free place to check their email, an unsecured router can be used by others to glean data from the web sites you visit, access devices on your network, or infect your computer with a virus. They can also use your internet connection to perform illegal activities. If that happens, guess whose door the authorities will knock on when they try to track your neighbor down.

Determining if someone is stealing your Wi-Fi

Method 1: Use an app

A number of apps are available to provide automatic searches for unusual devices logged into your Wi-Fi network. Checking those devices, especially if they’re connecting at odd times of day when no friends are over, can provide valuable clues. Here are a few apps that can help you pinpoint problems.

Wi-Fi Inspector: This Chrome download may have a few ads, but it still provides a free look at all devices on your network, including important details like device names, IP addresses, and more. You can save a list of customized devices and immediately note if unfamiliar ones have logged on.

F-Secure Router Checker: F-Secure is a web-based tool that is useful if you want to avoid any downloads. This tool checks for more serious hacking — specifically, it looks for signs that someone is using stealthy setting tweaks to hijack your internet, which may be useful for tougher cases.

Wireless Network Watcher: This bit of independent software is designed to help Windows and MacOS users watch for suspicious wireless activity and monitor all currently connected devices. It’s similar to Wi-Fi Inspector, but with broader compatibility if you don’t want to use a Google app.

Fing: Fing is an iOS download for more mobile-oriented protection. It allows you to immediately see connected devices, what type of devices they are, and the nature of their connection, MAC address, and so on. You can also check Wi-Fi connection behavior to note particularly busy times that could indicate someone else is hopping onto your network.

Method 2: Check administrator logs

If you suspect that someone is stealing your Wi-Fi, you need to log in to your router’s administration page. Most people can do this by typing “192.168.1.1” or “192.168.2.1” into the address bar. If these don’t work, swing on over to our guide for accessing your router’s admin panel.

Once you’ve accessed the admin page, you’ll need to locate the page listing the various Media Access Control (MAC) addresses connected to your computer. The location of this page will differ depending on your router, but you may find it under “wireless configuration,” “wireless status,” or in the “DHCP client” list. You can use this list to count how many devices are connected to your internet. If you see six MAC addresses — any device connected to your network will have its own unique MAC address — but only have four devices in your home, somebody is probably stealing your internet.

Note: Old phones, gaming consoles, Wi-Fi enabled cameras, and other connected devices may show up on the MAC address list. You can get a better handle on what MAC address represents what device by using a website like macvendors.com.

Wireless encryption to keep outsiders away

If you suspect someone is stealing your Wi-Fi, it’s a good idea to beef up security. If you don’t have a password on your network, add one. If you still use the default router name and password, change it — you can do this from the admin page on your router.

To change your password, look for the PSK or Pre Shared Key in your security settings. Changing your wireless password will kick off all current devices (including those unwanted freeloaders), so you’ll have to reconnect your devices once you have a new password.

To change your router name, locate the Service Set identifier (SSID). This is typically found in the wireless settings menu.

Lastly, it’s important to use the strongest wireless network encryption available for consumers, which is currently WPA2. If your router was manufactured prior to 2006, it may not be compatible with WPA2 encryption. If that’s the case, you may want to think about getting a new router. Thankfully, we have a few suggestions.

Jammy is a new smart guitar that features a fretboard and no body

Why it matters to you

Sometimes, you don’t have room on your road trip to bring your full-sized guitar. Luckily, you can bring the foot-long, smart version — the Jammy

If your justification for jamming out on an air guitar instead of the real deal has always been related to portability issues, get ready to drop that excuse. Meet Jammy, a smart, portable guitar that will ensure that you never say, “I didn’t have room” when it comes to toting along your axe.

The latest product from Internet of Things company RnD64 (the maker of AI-powered kitchen assistant Hello Egg), Jammy promises to be “the most compact yet most fully functioning digital guitar ever.” Think of it as a guitar without the body. Comprised solely of the strings and fretboard of your traditional instrument, this 21st century answer to an approximately 3,300-year-old invention promises a “full-fledged creative musical experience” at about a quarter of the size.

Featuring steel strings and a full-scale telescopic neck that allows the Jammy to measure just 12.6 inches in its unextended position, this smart guitar promises both a real guitar feeling and genuine acoustic range … without a real guitar. If you’re just learning to play, the LED-equipped frets will show your fingers where to go, and if you don’t want to assail your neighbors with your beginner’s sounds, you can use the Jammy’s direct audio output to stream music straight into your earphones. Alternatively, if you’re already a pro, you can use the same output to send sound to an amp.

In free-play mode, you can play the Jammy just as you would a regular acoustic or electric guitar, or if you enter jamming mode, you can select a genre, your back-up band, and live out your on-stage dreams in your living room. 

“A desire to take up music often fades away when we realize that it takes long hours of practice to master playing virtually all the instruments,” said Dmitry Shemet, RnD64’s CEO. “Our product is the perfect solution for inexperienced people who still want to express themselves in music and fully explore their creativity. Its innovative built-in technology gives users a choice of playing modes that help to develop guitar skills organically.”

He added, “The unique construction of the neck allows Jammy to fit where your standard 6-stringer never will, providing immersive creative experience anywhere.”

The Jammy will be made available in the fourth quarter of 2017 and is currently available for preorder at playjammy.com. While pricing has yet to be announced, you can leave your email address with the company in exchange for a “special price.” 

5 songs you need to stream this week: Fleet Foxes, The Maldives, and more

Every week, there are thousands of new songs hitting the airwaves — and it’s just too much for your two ears to handle. With all those options, you can’t be wasting your time on tracks that deserve a thumbs-down click.

But don’t worry, we’re going to save you the hassle. We listen to some of the most-hyped and interesting songs each week, and tell you which are worthy of your precious listening time.

Here are our top five songs to stream this week. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our Spotify page for a playlist of our weekly picks, which can also be found at the bottom of this post.

Fleet Foxes — Fool’s Errand

The second new song from indie folk heroes Fleet Foxes comes as the countdown clock to their upcoming album Crack-Up approaches the one-month mark. A simple and driving jam that overflows with the complex vocal harmonies listeners have come to expect from the band, Fool’s Errand  is a return to form that many fans will be excited about.

The Maldives — No Sense In A Slow Death (and more)

Slow rolling and full of musical space, The Maldives bring sharp live chops to this recent take of No Sense In A Slow Death — the first cut from their terrific recent album Mad Lives. Electric and acoustic guitars blend with powerful organ tones in an extremely vibrant half-hour performance that will ease you perfectly into the record.

Girlpool — Powerplant

Whether it’s the rollicking 6/8 time signature or the gorgeous use of unison vocals that transform into two-part harmonies at just the right moment, there is a distinctly Elliott Smith-like feeling to Girlpool’s Powerplant. Like Smith’s many iconic singles, this is the kind of song that you want to live with in the real world, whether you’re blurring out the sounds of a bleak bus ride, or you are filling in the space between thoughts on a long walk to nowhere.

Lost Balloons — Numb

The quick-paced indie pop of the mid-2000s is beautifully reworked by Lost Balloons on their latest song Numb. After a short acoustic guitar intro, Numb leaps into itself and drags you with it — a musical escape that will help you clean your room 10 times faster, or blast you into the final half mile of your evening jog.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band — Santiago

The spirit of springtime is perfectly embodied by the sounds of New Orleans’ Preservation Hall Jazz Band, who brought a massive ball of sonic energy to this recently record live video for KCRW radio. Screaming saxophones meet deep and groovy bass and drum lines, creating an atmosphere that will have you looking forward the dog days of summer.

That’s it for now, but tune in next week for more tunes and check out the playlist loaded with our recent selections below: