YouTube TV now works on Apple TV over AirPlay

If you’re the rare YouTube TV subscriber who finds yourself stuck in an Apple household, there’s good news for you. The streaming TV service’s iOS app just got upgraded with AirPlay support, giving you a quick way to shoot whatever you’re watching over to an Apple TV. Sure, an actual Apple TV app (or really, any streaming box app) would be nice, but it’ll likely be awhile before Google gets those out. That’s a shame, since competing TV services from Sling, DirecTV and Hulu all have apps of their own. At least Youtube TV subscribers aren’t just stuck using Chromecasts to get their big screen fix.

Via: The Verge

Source: YouTube TV (iTunes)

Supreme Court shuts down location loophole for patent suits

Patent trolls have had it pretty easy lately, especially in East Texas. A 2016 ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit allowed patent suits anywhere a defendant company’s products are sold. The Eastern District of Texas has become a favorite of high-tech patent lawsuits thanks to its rapid litigation timetable and plaintiff-friendly rulings. The US Supreme court today may have put an end to such free-range suit practices, however. The justices involved in the patent case between TC Heartland and Kraft Foods ruled unanimously that patent suits can only be filed in courts located where the target company is headquartered.

It’s not just friendly juries or quick turnarounds that made East Texas so attractive. Many in the district require defendants to seek permission before they can file motions to dismiss cases that are based on abstract concepts, like podcasting or computer-based stock trading systems. If the target company can’t show good cause for dismissal, the lawsuit will continue, usually with less-than-favorable results for the company being sued.

Technology companies like Apple and Google have been a particular favorite of patent litigators. The companies have even taken to the Supreme Court to recoup losses around frivolous suits as well as limiting where the suits can be filed. The current ruling could help stem the tide of patent litigation filed in East Texas, at least, making it a bit more difficult for trolls to find favorable rulings.

Source: Reuters

Nest’s next camera might be 4K, but not for streaming

It’s been almost a year since Nest has released a new product and rumors are starting to trickle out that the one-time connected home darling is on the verge of a new release. As Android Police claims, Nest is launching a new, higher-resolution WiFi security camera sometime later this month.

According to AP’s “trusted source,” the camera will have a 4K-capable sensor, but will only stream 1080p images. Although that may sound like a loss of quality, it actually gives the image more detail at 1080p and a wider viewing angle that doesn’t require a wide lens that can cause distortion. If the rest of the rumor holds up, the device will automatically zoom in on regions where it detects motion and stream that in 1080p. Effectively, you get a camera that can pan and tilt without moving parts. (It’s the same way that Mevo cameras can mimic a multi-camera setup with just one device.) You can also view the whole frame in down-scaled 1080p, but there’s currently no plan to stream or save at 4K resolution since that would likely strain most people’s home wireless.

Resolution aside, the camera apparently looks a little like the current Nest Outdoor camera and is said to be powered by USB-C with an LED recording ring. The 4K device will likely be rated only for indoor use and carry a steeper $300-plus price tag when it is announced later this month.

If the 4K camera becomes a reality, it could also be a key component in another rumored Nest product: a smart home security hub with alarm sensors, smartphone control and selective user access. Security products aside, the company is also said to be working on a low-cost, sub-$200 version of its popular learning thermostats.

‘Red Dead Redemption 2’ won’t come out in 2017 after all

Apparently, 2017 ain’t big enough for Red Dead Redemption 2. The sequel is now slated to hit PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in spring 2018, rather than its initial release window of fall 2017. Rockstar Games announced the delay in a blog post, alongside a handful of fresh apology screenshots.

“This outlaw epic set across the vast and unforgiving American heartland will be the first Rockstar game created from the ground up for the latest generation of console hardware, and some extra time is necessary to ensure that we can deliver the best experience possible for our fans,” Rockstar says. “We are very sorry for any disappointment this delay causes, but we are firm believers in delivering a game only when it is ready.”

Rockstar promises more details about Red Dead Redemption 2 in the summer (take note that E3 is coming up in June).

The new screenshots are just as vague as the announcement trailer: They feature pristine American landscapes and Old West settings, but offer few clues as to the sequel’s story or any updated mechanics. But in case anyone was worried, there are definitely guns in Red Dead Redemption 2. Whew.

Source: Rockstar Games

Scrolling Changes Coming to Mobile Safari in Future Update

Apple is planning to make some changes to scrolling behavior in mobile Safari in a future update, making for a more unified scrolling experience.

The news comes courtesy of a Hacker News thread discussing Apple’s default scrolling behavior vs. the scrolling behavior of webpages that use Google AMP, a discussion inspired by a Daring Fireball post on the subject.

Google AMP (or Accelerated Mobile Pages), for those unfamiliar, is an online publishing format created by Google that’s optimized for mobile web browsing and rapid page loading. It is used by multiple news sites, including CNN, ABC, and The Washington Post. On mobile Safari, AMP uses its own scrolling behavior, making AMP pages stand out from non-AMP pages.

In the Hacker News discussion, Malte Ubl, who created Google AMP, says the AMP team filed a bug report about the scrolling discrepancy, and as a result, Apple is going to implement a change that makes all webpages scroll like AMP pages.

With respect to scrolling: We (AMP team) filed a bug with Apple about that (we didn’t implement scrolling ourselves, just use a div with overflow). We asked to make the scroll inertia for that case the same as the normal scrolling.

Apple’s response was (surprisingly) to make the default scrolling like the overflow scrolling. So, with the next Safari release all pages will scroll like AMP pages.

Another Hacker News responder, “Om2,” who appears to work on WebKit, explains that Safari webpage scrolling is inconsistent from all other scrolling, an intentional decision implemented several years ago. Following a review of scrolling rates, Apple has decided to implement a change to introduce a more consistent scrolling experience.

In current iOS Safari, webpage scrolling is inconsistent from all other scrolling on the system. This was an intentional decision made long ago. In addition, overflow areas are consistent with the rest of the system, and thus inconsistent with top-level webpage scrolling. This is semi-accidental. In reviewing scroll rates, we concluded that the original reason was no longer a good tradeoff. Thus this change, which removed all the inconsistencies: https://trac.webkit.org/changeset/211197/webkit

Having all scrolling be consistent feels good once you get used to it.

At the current time, the difference between scrolling on an AMP page and a standard webpage is noticeable, with the AMP pages scrolling faster and more smoothly. It’s not entirely clear when the scrolling change will be implemented in mobile Safari, as the new scrolling behavior is not available in the current iOS 10.3.3 beta.

Related Roundup: iOS 10
Tag: Safari
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Apple Debuts Revamped ‘Switch’ Site to Lure Android Users to iPhone [Update: New Videos Added]

Apple today debuted an overhauled webpage aimed at encouraging Android users to switch to the iPhone, introducing a simpler FAQ-style site that highlights iPhone features and makes it clear how simple it is to switch from an Android device to an iPhone.

Apple previously had a webpage dedicated to customers coming to an iPhone from Android devices, but it featured less information on the iPhone itself and focused primarily on the Move to iOS app, a dedicated app that helps Android users transfer contacts, message history, photos, mail accounts, calendars, and more.

The new site, while featuring a section on Move to iOS, also attempts to lure Android users with details on the iPhone’s camera and its processor, along with information on Apple Pay, Apple’s privacy policy, the Messages app, Apple’s commitment to the environment, and Apple Support.

The site, which features clever animations and a simple design that’s quick to scroll through, ends with an iPhone comparison chart and direct links to purchase iPhones from Apple’s current lineup, including the iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6s, and iPhone SE.

Apple continues to see a growing number of customers who are switching to the iPhone from an Android device, which Apple CEO Tim Cook covers in nearly every earnings call. During the second quarter earnings call in early May, Cook had this to say: “We saw the largest absolute number of switchers outside of Greater China that we’ve ever seen in the same period.”

Update: To go along with the new site, Apple has uploaded a series of 16 second videos on its YouTube channel. Each video (there are five in total) highlights how easy it is to switch from Android to iPhone with the Move to iOS app or points out iPhone features like speed and privacy.

Tag: Android
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YouTube TV App for iOS Devices Gains Support for AirPlay

YouTube TV, the streaming television service that launched in April, was today updated with support for AirPlay, allowing video streamed from the iPhone or the iPad to be played on an Apple TV.

The service has been available on the iPad and the iPhone through a YouTube TV app since it launched, but YouTube has not yet made an app available on the Apple TV.

Prior to today, Chromecast was the only way to broadcast content from the app to a television set, but with AirPlay support, YouTube TV content is also available through the Apple TV.

Priced at $35, YouTube TV is only available in a limited number of cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

YouTube TV is a standalone streaming service that’s focused on a mobile first experience, and it is separate from the YouTube Red premium service. It includes access to ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, CW, Disney, ESPN, FX, USA, and dozens of other major cable channels, alongside standard YouTube video content. Premium channels like Showtime are available for an additional fee.

For customers who want to try YouTube TV, the service includes a one-month free trial. YouTube TV can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tag: YouTube
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LG’s affordable, rugged Venture X smartphone is heading to AT&T

Why it matters to you

If you need an affordable smartphone that will survive accidental drops and bumps, LG’s Venture X doesn’t seem like a bad option.

Sometimes, you don’t need a high-end smartphone with more bells and whistles than you can shake a stick at. Luckily, affordable, no-frills phones aren’t that hard to come by, and LG’s among the manufacturers leading the charge. Case in point: The LG Venture X, a budget phone coming exclusively to AT&T.

“AT&T is the only place to get your LG X venture with unlimited entertainment on a full HD screen,” Jeff Bradley, senior vice president of AT&T, said in a statement. “With this device you can confidently stream your favorite shows on a shatter-resistant Full HD Gorilla Glass screen surrounded by a resilient metal frame and a non-slip design. This smartphone is in step with your on-the-go lifestyle without you compromising design, battery, or features.”

The LG Venture X’s angular, textured body won’t win any design awards, but manages to cram midrange hardware into a compact package. The Venture X boasts a 5.2-inch FHD (1920 x 1080 pixels) Gorilla Glass-shielded screen and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 435 processor, plus 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. Two cameras — one 16MP camera on the rear and 5MP on the front —  handle picture-taking duties, and a fingerprint sensor secures your personal files and photos from wandering eyes.

The Venture X’s durable, too. It can with stand 14 different military toughness tests, and it’s IP68 rated, meaning it can survive water up to a depth of 30 meters for five minutes. The Venture X’s 4,100mAh battery can charge quickly — up to 100 percent capacity in as few as two hours. And it ships with LG’s Outdoor Essentials app, which packs a compass, barometer, exercise tracker, activity counter, weather report, flashlight, and more.

Business customers can take advantage of the Venture X’s Push-to-Talk feature, which makes it possible to connect quickly to contacts over a cellular connection or Wi-Fi.

“Today’s consumers want a phone that looks great, doesn’t skimp on features and can easily handle their on-the-go lifestyle,” Juno Cho, president of LG, said in a press release. “Whether you’re an adventurist who needs a phone tough enough to be your sidekick on demanding hikes and record-setting workouts, or a multi-tasker who wants a phone that can withstand the curveballs and surprises each day may throw at you, the LG X venture was built to ensure you can feel unstoppable and look good doing it.”

The Venture X will hit AT&T’s airwaves on May 26. It’ll be available for as little as $11 per month for AT&T Next customers.

Stingray phone tracker used to locate man living in country illegally

Why it matters to you

This implementation of a Stingray device demonstrates how emerging technology tends to trickle down through the hierarchy of U.S. law enforcement agencies.

It’s being reported that agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the FBI have used a Stingray to track an undocumented individual who was living in Michigan. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has described this usage of the technology as “novel,” prompting concerns that it could potentially be misused in a way that infringes upon civil liberties.

Stingray has become something of a catch-all terms for cell-site simulators, even though it started out as branding for a particular product developed by the Harris Corporation. It works by fooling phones into thinking it’s a standard cell tower, which causes the devices to share information related to the identity and location of its owner.

FBI and ICE operatives used a Stingray device to track the whereabouts of a man from El Salvador who was working at a restaurant in Michigan, according to a report from Engadget. The man had been deported twice in the past, and investigators obtained a warrant before utilizing the hardware, so there’s not much cause for complaint regarding the way this particular investigation played out. However, it does perhaps signal that the Stingray is set to become more widely used across all levels of law enforcement.

Stingrays were originally designed for the military, and then used by federal investigators to track terrorists. Last year, local law enforcement began adopting the technology, a move that was criticized in a report published by the U.S. House of Representatives.

At present, there’s a gray area when it comes to situations where it’s appropriate for law enforcement to utilize a Stingray device. In February 2017, a bill known as the Cell Location Privacy Act was submitted, with the intention of setting a requirement for a probable cause warrant before the hardware could be employed. However, the bill has not been passed as of the time of writing.

Stingray phone tracker used to locate man living in country illegally

Why it matters to you

This implementation of a Stingray device demonstrates how emerging technology tends to trickle down through the hierarchy of U.S. law enforcement agencies.

It’s being reported that agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the FBI have used a Stingray to track an undocumented individual who was living in Michigan. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has described this usage of the technology as “novel,” prompting concerns that it could potentially be misused in a way that infringes upon civil liberties.

Stingray has become something of a catch-all terms for cell-site simulators, even though it started out as branding for a particular product developed by the Harris Corporation. It works by fooling phones into thinking it’s a standard cell tower, which causes the devices to share information related to the identity and location of its owner.

FBI and ICE operatives used a Stingray device to track the whereabouts of a man from El Salvador who was working at a restaurant in Michigan, according to a report from Engadget. The man had been deported twice in the past, and investigators obtained a warrant before utilizing the hardware, so there’s not much cause for complaint regarding the way this particular investigation played out. However, it does perhaps signal that the Stingray is set to become more widely used across all levels of law enforcement.

Stingrays were originally designed for the military, and then used by federal investigators to track terrorists. Last year, local law enforcement began adopting the technology, a move that was criticized in a report published by the U.S. House of Representatives.

At present, there’s a gray area when it comes to situations where it’s appropriate for law enforcement to utilize a Stingray device. In February 2017, a bill known as the Cell Location Privacy Act was submitted, with the intention of setting a requirement for a probable cause warrant before the hardware could be employed. However, the bill has not been passed as of the time of writing.