Uber faces DOJ criminal investigation over creating evasive Greyball software

Why it matters to you

It’s possible Uber could lose approval to operate in some cities if DOJ probe uncovers more evidence of evading regulators.

Looking into Uber’s attempt to evade government regulators in Portland, the U.S. Department of Justice has launched a criminal probe into the development and use of Uber’s Greyball software. Detailed by Reuters, a subpoena from a Northern California grand jury was received by Uber recently. That subpoena specifically requests information on where Greyball was deployed and how the software functions.

In cities where rideshare services like Lyft and Uber are illegal, government officials will occasionally launch sting operations to bust drivers. Basically, a police officer will hail an Uber car in order to ticket the driver and potentially impound the vehicle. Obviously, this dissuades drivers from operating Uber vehicles within the city and increases the number of residents using licensed taxi services.

Enter Grayball, a piece of software that analyzes information like credit card data or social media profiles in order to filter out unwanted users. For instance, the software may identify a police officer that operates these type of stings and hides all nearby drivers within the app. Basically, the software would either show fake drivers on the app screen or simply show zero cars available in the area. Those fake cars would never respond to the officer’s requests.

While Uber claims that the software is designed to identify and filter out taxi union protesters that could potentially harm their drivers, the company announced that Greyball would no longer be used for filtering out government officials after the New York Times exposed Greyball’s existence during March 2017.

According to sources knowledgeable of the probe, the federal investigation is currently in the early stages. At this time, the U.S. Department of Justice and Uber haven’t released an official comment on the status of the investigation. However, Uber has retained the services of the third party law firm to investigate usage of Greyball software within the company.

Obama is back in the White House — giving a VR tour of the place, that is

Why it matters to you

If you’re looking for a new place to visit with your VR headset, how about taking a tour of the White House?

It already feels like a very long time ago that Barack Obama was calling the shots in Washington though it’s actually been barely three months since The Donald took over.

Nostalgic types, or those simply interested in learning more about the history and work of the White House, can now sling on an Oculus Rift or Gear VR headset for a 360-degree, stereoscopic 3D tour of the president’s official home given by its most recent former resident.

Shot toward the end of last year before Obama left office, The People’s House takes you on an immersive tour of 19 White House rooms. Made by Emmy-award-winning Felix & Paul Studios in partnership with Facebook and Oculus, the sequence includes personal appearances by not only Barack Obama, but by Michelle Obama, too.

A shorter version of the documentary was released back in January, while the full 22-minute version of the video became available this week.

Felix Lajeunesse said the goal of the movie was to document the “incredible space and the history that [the White House] encapsulates, in a very specific moment in time, and preserve it for future generations.” He added how pleased he was that the Obamas had been willing to “layer in their personal memories in addition to historic references to contextualize the rooms that are indelibly imprinted on so many minds across the world.”

Once your headset’s fired up, you’ll be able to dig into the extensive and personal history of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and view rarely seen parts of the 216-year-old building. “From the Lincoln Bedroom and other never-before-experienced spaces within the private First Residence (including the Treaty Room, referred to by Obama as his “man cave”) to sitting with President Obama in the Oval Office, to exploring the Rose Garden and the Situation Room,” The People’s House offers many personal memories and insights from the 44th U.S. president and his wife.

If you enjoy The People’s House, you might also want to check out Felix & Paul Studios’ Through the Ages, also featuring Barack Obama, which celebrates the National Parks Service Centennial at Yosemite.

Here’s why Xiaomi got rid of the headphone jack in the Mi 6

Xiaomi explains why it ditched the 3.5mm jack on the Mi 6.

There’s a lot to like in the Xiaomi Mi 6, but one change that has frustrated potential customers is the removal of the 3.5mm jack. Xiaomi isn’t the first company to ditch the ubiquitous port for USB-C audio, and we now have a clearer understanding of why the move was carried out.

In a statement to Android Central, Xiaomi revealed that the headphone jack was removed to facilitate a larger battery:

Smartphones are highly-integrated products and internal space is precious. By removing the headphone jack, we can save room for other components such as a bigger battery. Audio through USB Type-C is becoming more common, and will continue to provide excellent sound quality.

The Mi 6 has the same 5.15-inch screen size as its predecessor, but Xiaomi managed to increase the battery capacity by 10.5%, from 3000mAh to 3350mAh. The phone also has dual rear cameras even though the overall size of the chassis is roughly the same as the Mi 5. With the 3.5mm jack positioned at the top in the Mi 5, Xiaomi would have faced space constraints with the addition of dual cameras.

The removal of the 3.5mm jack also makes the Mi 6 splash resistant. There’s no IP rating for the device, and Xiaomi was careful not to use the term water resistance, but it should withstand the occasional splash of water. While a bigger battery and better camera tech is always welcome, ditching the 3.5mm jack to achieve that is a shortsighted move by a company that has otherwise been very cognizant of its customers’ needs.

If you’re eyeing the Mi 6 as a prospective purchase, then you’ll either need to switch to Bluetooth headphones or use a dongle to hook up your audio gear to the device. If you’re opting for the latter, Xiaomi includes a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter in the retail box.

What are your thoughts on Xiaomi’s decision to remove the 3.5mm jack in the Mi 6?

YouTube brings in big names like Ellen and Kevin Hart for new shows

During its big Brandcast presentation YouTube made a pitch to advertisers based on some well-known names, with new shows on the way from Kevin Hart, Ellen DeGeneres, Demi Lovato and Katy Perry. Interestingly, this year’s slate of offerings is coming to YouTube for free, instead of the subscription Red package. YouTube’s message is that “Prime Time has gone online,” where it claims that more 18-49-year-olds visit YouTube than any TV network. It’s an interesting angle, particularly considering that YouTube just launched its own live TV package earlier this year.

• Ellen’s Show Me More Show: Like nothing Ellen has done before, Ellen’s Show Me More Show is a twice-a-week series built just for YouTube, giving fans behind the scenes access to some of the biggest stars and her favorite moments.
• Good Mythical Morning: Worldwide YouTube superstars—and hosts of YouTube’s most popular daily show—Rhett & Link will go to new heights in a long-form expansion of Good Mythical Morning, giving fans even more of what they crave: larger-than-life stunts, zanier challenges, and over-the-top laughs.
• Kevin Hart: What the Fit?: Kevin will team up with celebrity friends and YouTube stars each week as they attempt to master a different trending, grueling and sometimes ridiculous workout routine.
• I Am: Demi Lovato: Global music sensation and social advocate, Demi Lovato reveals a yearlong personal journey of music reinvention and deep discovery as she dives into the writing and recording of her new album in her new series, I Am: Demi Lovato.
• Best.Cover.Ever.: From Ryan Seacrest Productions and Endemol Shine North America, Best.Cover.Ever. is a cutting-edge talent competition series hosted by Ludacris where emerging talent from across the globe submit covers to YouTube to vie for the ultimate prize: an opportunity to perform a duet with a superstar artist. Submit your cover now at thebestcoverever.com.
• The Super Slow Show: YouTube stars The Slow Mo Guys will test the latest in technology to reinvent the way we look at celebrities, music, pranks, comedy sketches and more, giving a one-of-a-kind glimpse into what the world looks like in slow motion.
• Katy Perry Live Special: It’s real. It’s raw. It’s Katy Perry. Live on YouTube, The Katy Perry Live Special will take you inside of her world, revealing the experiences and emotions she poured into her all-new soul-baring music on the eve of her highly anticipated album launch. With unique access, global reach and surprise fun packed along the way, Katy will break it all down in this album listen-along, and if you stick around long enough, there might just be fireworks.

YouTube’s Chief Business Officer Robert Kyncl explained its focus by saying that “Five years ago, 85 percent of all original series were ad-supported. This year, that number has fallen to just over two-thirds.” CEO Susan Wojcicki said “Our users don’t come to YouTube for polish, they come to YouTube for texture. They come to see the world as it truly is, filled with people just like themselves. They come to witness our shared humanity.”

Source: YouTube

Microsoft tests a secured Edge browser for business

If the idea of a more secure Windows browser appeals to you — and why wouldn’t it — then you might want to have a peek at the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview Build. That’s because it includes the Windows Defender Application Guard for Microsoft Edge, which was announced last September but is finally available for testing today. This Application Guard essentially encases your browser in a virtual machine, so that if your browser ever gets attacked by malware, it won’t affect the rest of your PC.

To enable this, you need to use the “Turn Windows features on or off” dialog, and then mark the checkbox for “Windows Defender Application Guard.” Now when you open Microsoft Edge and click on the menu, you’ll see the option for a “New Application Guard window.” Click it, and a new special isolated browser window will appear.

The whole thing is possible due to the Virtualization Based Security (VBS) made possible by Windows 10. The virtual PC created by Application Guard would keep the Edge browser separate from storage, other apps and the Windows 10 kernel. Other browsers offer “sandboxes” too, but Microsoft says that Application Guard is unique because there’s a hardware container that makes it impossible for malware and other exploits to seep through.

There are a couple of caveats though. Running Edge in a virtual machine will likely slow it down, and since each browser’s session is siloed, all data and cookies are lost once you close it. It’s also only available for Enterprise users for now, presumably because their security needs are much higher than the average person. Still, perhaps it could be introduced as an optional feature later on for everyday users.

Aside from Application Guard, the Windows 10 Insider Preview Build also includes an improved PDF Reader for Microsoft Edge and integrated Cortana settings.

Latest Windows 10 Insider brings improved Edge PDF viewer and other enhancements

Why it matters to you

If you’re a Windows Insider on the Fast Ring, then hit that update button for some nice new Windows 10 features.

Microsoft Build 2017 developers conference is next week, and the company’s employees are likely busy getting everything ready. That’s not stopped the Windows 10 development team from pushing a new Windows Insider build today, including adding some interesting new features.

The build released to the Windows Insiders Fast Ring this morning is build 16188, and it’s the second build since Windows 10 Creators Update was released to offer more than just core operating system updates. This time around, the Edge browser’s PDF support was ramped up, Windows Defender got a new enterprise feature, and there’s a new Ninjacat in town.

First up is Microsoft Edge, which not only serves as the default Windows 10 browser out of the box but is also the default PDF viewer. Its PDF support has been somewhat limited, but as of build 16188 Edge has a number of significant new PDF features that might compel more users to maintain its default status.

Here are the highlights:

• PDF form filling: Edge now supports completing PDF-based forms and then saving and printing them.
• PDF Annotations: You can now annotate PDFs using the same annotation features supported by the browsing function. Simply hit the “Make a Web Note” button and start annotating.
• Table of Contents for easier navigation: Microsoft has added a table of contents (ToC) that makes navigating through longer PDF documents much easier. The ToC button will show up on the left of the PDF toolbar if the PDF author has defined a table. Simply click on a heading to navigate to a specific PDF section.
• Better view and navigation: Edge now supports rotating PDFs and adjusting the reading layout from one to two page views. Other layout options include showing the cover page separately and enabling or disabling continuous scrolling.

Windows Defender also received a new feature aimed at enterprise users. Specifically, Windows Defender Application Guard can now be enabled, which provides enterprises with maximum protection against malware and zero-day attacks.

To enable Windows Defender Application Guard, go to the Control Panel, open Programs and Features, the select “Turn Windows features on or off.” Select the checkbox for Windows Defender Application Guard.

Once your PC has restarted, you can go to Edge and note the “New Application Guard windows” menu option. Clicking on it will open a new Edge windows that creates a browsing session that’s isolated in Application Guard.

Next, Windows Insider build 16188 brings a new Ninjacat icon for the Settings app. To check it out, open All settings from the Action Center, then go to Update & security, then check out the Windows Insider Program menu item.

The Settings app has received some additional updates. Cortana’s settings now have a section in the Settings app, making it easier to configure Windows 10’s personal digital assistant. There’s also an update Magnifier Settings page that makes it easier to configure the Navigator accessibility feature – check out Microsoft’s blog post for all of the details.

Finally, build 16188 also improves the update experience by adding in a new interactive toast notification. That way, you’ll be notified directly when a new build is available prior to being interrupted with a restart request.

There are also the usual fixes and improvements. Highlights include universal Cortana reminder dismissals that carry across configured Wnidows devices, fixes to how the Windows Defender app is opened, and a resolution to some problems opening localized apps.

You’ll want to also check out the known issues for this build. For example, if you’re running a non-English Insider Preview build, then PC Reset via Settings > Update & security > Recovery will not work. It’s best to check out the list of known issues before heading over to the update section of the Settings app and hitting that update button.

A ‘Purple Rain’ concert film may be the next streaming exclusive

The Prince estate is trying to interest a major music streaming service in the exclusive rights to an unreleased concert film. It was recorded in a Minneapolis nightclub just prior to, and containing songs from, his 1984 movie Purple Rain. There’s additional footage on the table, too — enough to make a documentary about the filmed show. The potentially multimillion-dollar deal hasn’t been finalized, but the estate is shopping the goods around to non-Spotify streaming providers like Apple Music, according to Billboard.

If content services bite, it would be the latest prize from the late music legend to be fought over. Prince removed his songs from every streaming provider but Tidal back in 2015, but his catalog returned to other streaming services back in February. The estate reportedly isn’t approaching Spotify to buy the concert film. The streaming service released its first documentary project last August, a four-part series on Metallica’s early days. But Apple might be interested given that we learned last week that it plans to put a major focus on video content inside its streaming app. And that includes a number of exclusives including a Clive Davis documentary, Cash Money Records film and, of course, Carpool Karaoke… at some point.

Source: Billboard

GE’s new Sol smart lamp comes with Alexa, now available to preorder

GE made a cool, multifunctional lamp with built-in Amazon Alexa.

It actually announced the light in December, but now we know it will be called C by GE Sol. It’s part of GE’s C-branded line of smart lights. We also now know that it will cost $199.99 when it starts shipping in September. But, if you preorder it now, you can get it for $160. There’s no word yet on UK pricing or availability. We’ve contacted GE for more details and will let you know.

• Apple finalising plans for Amazon Echo-like device
• Amazon Echo Look is the personal assistant that replaces your mirror

The Sol is a 60-watt equivalent light. It features a circular LED light and doubles as a hands-free voice assistant and Bluetooth speaker. It can also act like a clock. GE said you can “enable a clock function that puts illumination around the ring where clock hands would go in a traditional clock”. And, like most smart lights today, it can be set to use either a warmer or cooler light.

GE has claimed Sol is the first Amazon Alexa-embedded lighting product. If this sort of thing interests you, preorder it now and take advantage of the limited-time, 20-per cent discount.

Reuters: DOJ investigates Uber ‘greyballing’ scheme

Uber has to tell the feds how Greyball works and where exactly it was deployed now that it’s facing a criminal probe over the controversial tool. According to Reuters, the Department of Justice has issued the ride-hailing firm a subpoena from a Northern California grand jury asking for documents that can answer those questions, indicating the beginning of a criminal investigation. The company used Greyball to prevent regulators from grabbing a ride in locations where the service operated without permission. Uber confirmed its existence and its questionable use of the tool after The New York Times exposed it in March.

The company originally created Greyball to protect its drivers from scammers and bogus riders. It is, after all, capable of determining if a request is legit by analyzing credit card and location data, among other info. Eventually, Uber used it to avoid authorities in places where it wasn’t legally allowed to operate, including Portland, Oregon back in December 2014. The city conducted an investigation last week and found that Uber used Greyball to evade 16 transportation officials that month three years ago.

While the company now has to answer some uncomfortable questions in the midst of various other controversies, it’s still unclear if it’ll ever be penalized for the tool. Reuters says the DOJ is in the very early stages of its investigation, and a criminal probe doesn’t necessarily mean that charges will be filed.

Source: Reuters

Twitch comments for pre-recorded videos are like a slow chatroom

If we’ve learned anything from experiments like Twitch Plays Pokemon, it’s that a large part of the streaming site’s success lies on the enthusiasm of its community. Twitch viewers don’t just watch streams, they participate by flooding their favorite streamers chatbox with memes, emoji and a never-ending march of inside jokes. When the company launched the Twitch Uploads beta, the company encountered a problem: there’s no chatroom for pre-recorded videos. Today, Twitch is taking steps to fix that, introducing a chat mode for uploaded content that locks messages to specific moments in the video.

If that sounds familiar, you’ve probably used SoundCloud before. Much like that service’s comment system, the Twitch Uploads chatroom ties individual messages to a timestamp, locking them to the moment in the video that the commenter was watching when he sent the message. It’s designed to make video comments seem more interactive — creating a faux-chat that fits in with the existing viewer culture Twitch has cultivated over the years. The feature is being showcased today on specific channels, but will roll out to all users over the next few weeks.

Source: Twitch