Plex Live TV and DVR launches for subscribers

Last fall Plex started beta testing a DVR feature for its popular media server setup, and now it’s making the next big step by offering live TV and DVR for all Plex Pass subscribers. They will need to bring their own tuner(s), connected to a TV antenna or cable jack, but Plex will do the rest, providing the necessary guide data as a part of the Pass subscription if you live somewhere with DVB-T or ATSC (North America) broadcasts. . As of today, it not only supports more kinds of tuners, it’s also ready to stream live TV to iOS or Android TV, with Android mobile devices and Apple TV next up.

Plex positions itself as a successor to Microsoft’s abandoned Windows Media Center, and for many people it may fit the bill. Especially for those who have already configured their media library for access through its software, adding live TV should be a cheap and familiar option. Its built-in recommendation system will even find TV shows you might like based on stuff you’ve previously loaded into Plex.

For the DIY DVR crowd, or just cord cutters looking for easy access to live TV, Plex will support as many tuners and as much storage capacity as you can provide. If you want to shift video around the house or to a remote device, it’s ready to handle the job (for DVR’d content, live TV support will continue to roll out across its apps.) The Plex Pass package that gives access to features like Plex Cloud, offline access and more still costs$4.99 a month / $39.99 a year / $119.99 lifetime, and just gained a very useful upgrade.

Source: Plex Blog

Save cities from massive ogres in ‘Extinction’

If you’ve played Tron: Evolution, BioShock 2: Minerva’s Den or Destiny — among quite a few others — you’ve played a game worked on by Iron Galaxy Studios. The Chicago- and Florida-based development studio formed in 2008 primarily to help other studios port their games to new platforms, debuting their first original game, Wreckateer, in 2012. This was soon followed by two more originals, the two-button fighting game Divekick and the minimalist sports title Videoball. Now, though, the seasoned development team is ready to start teasing a brand-new action game, Extinction, with a brand new trailer and some new details.

Set to release in early 2018, Exctinction will challenge you to fight massive brutes that can crush city walls as well as their flying minions. Strategy and quick reflexes will keep you alive while the hordes of attackers come at you from all sides, including the air. The trailer above shows all of the bloody mayhem you’d expect, plus the requisite lone hero player character — the last of an ancient order who must take on an endless stream of gigantic ogres with just his sword.

The team promises a deep story campaign, various side missions to earn upgrades in, skill-based combat with skill trees to let you play how you want, a fully-destructible environment, a ton of battle scenarios and an “extinction mode” where you just hack and slash your way through wave after wave of giant ogres and their minions.

There will be details yet to come at this summer’s E3, before the eventual release by publisher Maximum Games on PS4, Xbox One and PC. “Extinction is absolutely relentless,” said Kraig Kujawa, Game Director at Iron Galaxy, in a statement. “We’re really happy with the fast, fluid feel of the game and we’re looking forward to showing it behind closed doors at E3.”

AT&T’s $70 bundle pairs unlimited data with 60 TV channels

First, it gave Unlimited Choice customers unrestricted mobile data, then it tried to lure people in with free HBO. Now, AT&T is attempting to win over more customers by sweetening its mobile deals even further. Today the company announced a brand new package for its Unlimited Choice customers, offering over 60 DirectTV channels for only $10 more a month than the regular Unlimited Choice bundle.

With just a single-line package currently setting users back $60 a month, AT&T’s new package with 60 TV channels seems pretty reasonable at $70 a month. Unfortunately for videophiles, however, AT&T Unlimited Choice customers’ data is capped at 3Mbps, so without WiFi users will be stuck streaming videos in standard definition at 480p.

Back in February, AT&T priced the same package at an eye-watering $100 a month. With Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile offering their customers similarly limitless use of data, talking and texting, AT&T’s latest package looks like the company’s bid to one up the big name competition.

Source: PR Newswire

Apple, Microsoft and others urge Trump to keep Paris climate pact

Apple, Google, Facebook, Microsoft and 21 other companies today published an open letter to President Donald Trump, urging him to keep the US in the Paris Agreement to fight climate change for the good of the country’s economy. The letter was posted as a full-page ad in the New York Times; it’s also set to appear in the Wall Street Journal and New York Post. “As some of the largest companies based or operating in the United States, we strongly urge you to keep the United States in the Paris Agreement on climate change,” the letter reads. “Climate change presents both business risks and business opportunities. Continued U.S. participation in the agreement benefits U.S. businesses and the U.S. economy in many ways.”

The letter goes on to outline the various economic factors at play in regard to the Paris Agreement and climate change, including the creation of more jobs and economic growth as well as reduced business risks. “As businesses concerned with the well-being of our customers, our investors, our communities, and our suppliers, we are strengthening our climate resilience, and we are investing in innovative technologies that can help achieve a clean energy transition,” the letter says. “For this transition to succeed, however, governments must lead as well.”

The Paris Agreement is an agreement that has been ratified by 143 countries and signifies the intent to limit the effects of climate change as much as is reasonably possible. The topline goal is to limit global temperature increase to less than 2 degrees Celsius, with a focus on keeping it to 1.5 degrees or less. The United States officially entered into the agreement in November of last year.

But Trump has made his feelings on climate change quite clear, and he has signaled his intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement for some time now. The New York Times reported that Trump would hold a press conference in the Rose Garden today at 3PM ET to announce his decision regarding the Paris Agreement — and while it sounds like the White House is in its usual chaotic state regarding exactly how this will all play out, there’s a pretty good chance he will announce that the US will pull out of the agreement. The Times notes that Trump fears it’ll harm the economy, hurt job creation in areas where many of his supporters live and damage his “American first” message. Given the success of the many companies who signed today’s letter, there’s clearly an economic argument to be had for staying in the Paris Agreement — if Trump is willing to listen.

Source: Center for Climate and Energy Solutions

Apple Says Developers Have Earned Over $70 Billion From App Store Since It Launched

Apple today announced that its global developer community has earned over $70 billion since the App Store launched in 2008.

“People everywhere love apps and our customers are downloading them in record numbers,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Seventy billion dollars earned by developers is simply mind-blowing. We are amazed at all of the great new apps our developers create and can’t wait to see them again next week at our Worldwide Developers Conference.”

Given that Apple takes a 30 percent cut of App Store sales, including in-app purchases, the App Store’s all-time revenue has likely passed $100 billion.

Apple said App Store downloads have grown over 70 percent in the past 12 months, led by the Gaming and Entertainment categories. Lifestyle apps, as well as Health and Fitness apps, have experienced over 70 percent growth in the past year. The Photo and Video category has grown nearly 90 percent in that time.

Last month, following its quarterly earnings results, Apple said App Store revenue grew 40 percent year over year to set an all-time quarterly record, but it didn’t disclose the exact amount. Apple said the App Store’s success has been boosted by “breakout hits” like Pokémon GO and Super Mario Run.

Apple last disclosed its App Store payout amount in August 2016, when CEO Tim Cook said developers had earned over $50 billion.

Tag: App Store
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Intel Gaining Larger Foothold in iPhone LTE Chip Supply Chain as Apple Distances Itself From Qualcomm

In the wake of Apple’s lengthy legal battle with iPhone LTE chip supplier Qualcomm, Apple is believed to be leaning more on Intel as a manufacturer for the iPhone’s baseband chip component. The news comes in a report by DigiTimes, which states that Apple’s increase of Intel-created wireless chips for iPhones could lead well into 2018, suggesting the so-called iPhone 7s, iPhone 7s Plus, and iPhone 8 have a higher chance of receiving Intel’s chip than Qualcomm’s.

Apple sourced both of the manufacturers for wireless chips in the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in 2016, with a ratio of around 70 percent sourcing going to Qualcomm and 30 percent going to Intel. Now, Apple is believed to have given each supplier an equal 50 percent proportion of the wireless chip manufacturing for the rest of 2017, and that number could eventually increase to weigh in Intel’s favor — all because of Apple’s legal fight with Qualcomm.

Analysts watching the supply chain predict that Apple will eventually give Intel 70 percent of the production capacity in iPhones by 2018, because neither Apple nor Qualcomm are willing “to give in to make peace.”

Apple’s outsourcing proportion to Intel for the next-generation iPhone baseband chips has risen to about 50% for orders running through the end of 2017 due to the lawsuit between Qualcomm and Apple, which has grown fiercer recently.

Since both Qualcomm and Apple are unwilling to give in to make peace, some market watchers believe Apple is likely to shift even more baseband chip orders away from Qualcomm with Intel to supply over 70% of the baseband products for iPhones by 2018.

Apple and Qualcomm’s feud began with a complaint filed by the FTC in January that centered around Qualcomm’s anticompetitive patent licensing practices, which the FTC claimed it used to remain the dominant supplier of baseband chips for smartphones. Not long after, Apple filed a lawsuit against Qualcomm over the news of its practices, claiming Qualcomm charged unfair royalties for “technologies they have nothing to do with.”

After a few quiet months, in April Qualcomm countersued Apple, so Apple decided to stop making royalty payments to its suppliers in relation to Qualcomm’s baseband chip technology, igniting a new series of arguments between the companies. Because Qualcomm holds licensing deals with Apple’s iPhone manufacturers, and not Apple itself, the move was suggested to hurt Qualcomm to the tune of $500 million, causing the company to adjust its third quarter guidance from $5.3 billion – $6.1 billion in revenue down to $4.8 billion – $5.6 billion.

Qualcomm eventually tried to get an import ban passed that would prevent iPhones from entering the United States, and then decided to file a lawsuit against Foxconn, Pegatron, Wistron, and Compal for “breaching their license agreements” by failing to pay royalties on the use of Qualcomm’s technology in the assembly of Apple’s devices. Last week, Qualcomm requested an injunction to force Apple’s iPhone manufacturers to keep paying royalties during the legal battle.

Due to the ongoing nature of the feud between the two companies, it’s expected that the case will continue well into 2017, leading to today’s report that Qualcomm might see a greatly reduced presence in the manufacturing of the next-generation iPhones. Even with the bad blood between Apple and Qualcomm, insiders still call Apple’s reliance on Intel “a friendship of convenience” more than any kind of long-term partnership, because Intel’s chips are said to have “inferior performance” in comparison to Qualcomm’s technology.

Related Roundups: iPhone 7, iPhone 8 (2017)
Tags: Intel, Qualcomm
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Misfit Debuts New ‘Make Your Misfit’ Customizable Activity Tracker Options

Misfit today announced the launch of a new Make Your Misfit (M.Y. Misfit) service, which is designed to allow users to mix-and-match Misfit wearable devices and bands to create a customized activity tracker or smart watch.

Misfit makes a range of affordable activity trackers, including the Shine 2, the Ray, Phase, and Vapor, all of which are now customizable using the Make Your Misfit Service.

Customers can choose an activity tracker in a wide range of colors, including Jet, Rose, Silver, Midnight, and Champagne, and then choose a strap to match. Misfit is offering silicone, field, paracord, and leather straps to match its activity trackers.

According to the company, there are more than 600 possible combinations at launch, with plans to add more options throughout the year. With so many combinations available, Misfit will be offering some of the most customizable activity tracker options on the market.

The Make Your Misfit site is available as of today, with activity tracker pricing starting at $79.99 for the Shine 2 and the Ray activity trackers and going up to $149.99 for the Misfit Phase smart watch. The Misfit Vapor smart watch will be available soon.

Tag: Misfit
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12 rugged cases to shield your pricey iPhone from dirt, dings, and drops

Update: Added cases by Incipio and Supcase.

Apple’s iPhone is a beautiful device, but beauty is often fragile. If you work outside in all weathers, you like to go adventuring, or maybe you just drop your iPhone a lot, you should definitely consider investing in a tough case that can take the knocks. We’ve gathered together the toughest of the tough right here. These are the best rugged iPhone cases around. Some of them offer drop protection, some are weatherproof, and some are both. If you really want to keep your phone safe in any situation, these are the cases that can do it.

The links below will take you to the best rugged iPhone 7 cases, but you’ll find that these are all available for the iPhone 7 Plus, and you can find most of them for older models too.

Otterbox Defender Series Case ($30+)

Many people consider Otterbox to be the gold standard when it comes to rugged protection for your iPhone, and the Defender Series is the toughest case it offers. It boasts a layered design with a durable silicone slip cover, surrounded by a polycarbonate shell. There’s also a built-in screen protector, and covers keep lint and dirt out of your ports. The button covers are well defined and easy to press without looking around for them. Otterbox puts these cases through 24 different tests, for a total of 238 hours of testing, so you can be confident about the drop protection on offer.

Buy it now from:

Amazon OtterBox

Tech21 Evo Elite Case ($50)

Rugged iPhone cases can be expensive, but sometimes they’re worth it. This case from Tech21 offers solid drop protection for your iPhone. It has been drop tested from 6.6 feet, which is slightly higher than the typical height of a smartphone fall. The protection extends around the entirety of the case, it’s durable and coated with a scratch-resistant finish. This case also adds some extra comfort for long term use, and it’s ultra thin and lightweight. It has built-in button covers, and cut-outs for the camera, speaker, and Touch ID.

Buy it now from:

Tech21 Apple Verizon

Ballistic Tough Jacket MAXX Case ($39+)

This case from Ballistic is ridiculously tough. It offers multiple layers of protection, it can survive drops of 7 feet onto concrete without a problem, and it comes with a replaceable screen protector. The corners are raised and heavily reinforced to prevent cracked screens, it has openings for ports, and port covers to keep out dirt and dust. The holster, which can be rotated 180 degrees, supports the case’s “Tough” aesthetic, having been designed to fit standard law enforcement and military belts.

Buy it now from:

Amazon

Lifeproof Frē Case ($90)

If you want something that’s really waterproof, then this Lifeproof case is worth a look. It scores an IP-68 rating, which means it can be submerged in water up to 6.6 feet (2 meters) deep, for up to one hour without damage. This case is also tough, meeting military drop test standard 810G-516.6, so your phone should also be unscathed after falls from as high as 6.6 feet. Obviously, you get complete coverage with this case, so no part of your iPhone is exposed to the elements. It’s ideal for skiing, and other adventures in harsh or wet conditions.

Buy it now from:

Verizon

Incipio Reprieve Sport Case ($17+)

This case combines a clear, scratch-resistant, polycarbonate shell with a flexible frame and reinforced corners. Your iPhone is most likely to land on one of its corners if dropped, so the design of this Incipio case makes for great drop protection — it can even handle falls of up to 12 feet. Built-in openings offer easy access to your phone’s ports and camera, the button covers work well, and the case leaves the front of your phone uncovered and fully accessible. You might want to pair this rugged case with a screen protector, however, if you want complete protection.

Buy it now from:

Amazon

Supcase Unicorn Beetle Case ($20+)

Rugged cases can be expensive, but Supcase’s Unicorn Beetle is surprisingly affordable. Not only does it utilize a combination of hard polycarbonate and shock-absorbent TPU, but it also sports a built-in screen protector and port covers. Every angle of your iPhone 7 will be covered with this case, and it comes with a holster and rotating belt clip. The button covers are fine and the cut-outs are accurate, but the screen protector is a bit of a weak point as it doesn’t look or feel great.

Buy it now from:

Amazon

Miso Happy app gives your selfies an AR twist, for unsettling and hilarious results

Why it matters to you

This is your chance to be in at the start of what could be a big selfie trend: Augmented reality, 3D characters using your face.

Remember the mad selfie app Meitu, which did an astonishing job of turning your normal face into one that had been airbrushed into oblivion? The craze may have passed, but selfie fans looking for the latest thing may have a new obsession. It’s called Miso Happy, and it takes your humble selfie, then gives it an augmented reality twist by stitching your face on to a series of crazy 3D cartoon characters who strut their stuff in the real world.

It’s the work of Finnish app developers Futurefly, and June 1 marked its global launch on the Apple App Store. There’s only a handful of pre-installed characters to try at the moment, but there’s the promise of new characters to unlock each day. Some will be added for free, and others will require you to watch an advert. When we tried the app, two new characters were accessed by watching a 30-second video ad.

Open the app, and you’re instructed to snap a selfie. Miso Happy is technically impressive, and uses computer vision to map your face, face detection to get the position of your features just right, before finally adding 3D effects. It’s a similar method to that employed by Snapchat and Facebook Messenger. The result is both extremely cool and utterly bizarre.

It’s clearly you, but also not you at the same time. Oddly, my own Miso Happy character has shockingly white teeth, which are fully on display. A lot of time could be spent getting your character, surroundings, and expression just right. When you’re happy, the app saves a still and a video to your Photo Gallery, ready for it to be shared online.

My job today. Selfies, posing, and #misohappy. pic.twitter.com/vGIV9hJaDL

— Andy Boxall (@AndyBoxall) June 1, 2017

What selfie app would be complete without a beauty mode? Exactly, none, so there’s a three-stage beautify mode for your selfies, and the chance to store more than one. This is ideal for adopting different expressions suited to different digital characters, which range from a guy on a hoverboard to a sumo wrestler. There’s only one female character included in the U.K. version we downloaded though, which seems to be a massive oversight; but characters do appear to differ by geographic location.

It’s all ridiculous, and therefore has considerable potential to become a massive social hit. Currently Miso Happy is only available for iOS, but an Android version is in development for release in the future.

How to set up the Secure Folder on the Samsung DeX

You don’t even have to set it up through DeX if you don’t want to.

Having people snoop around your stuff when you’re not at your desk is seriously infuriating. Unfortunately, your best bet against this kind of personal violation is to take advantage of some of the available measures you can set up beforehand.

If you’ve got a Samsung DeX in your possession for dressing your regular smartphone as a desktop compute, you can set up the Secure Folder on the Galaxy S8 beforehand with a virtual compartment of sorts where you can store apps and files you hold near and dear to your heart. But if you didn’t set it up before docking the Galaxy S8, you can do so later in the main DeX interface. Before you attempt to set up anything, however, make sure you’ve got an active Samsung account.

How to set up the Secure Folder on the Samsung DeX

Open up the Device Settings from the notifications shelf.
Scroll until you see the Lock screen and security section.
Scroll until you see Secure Folder.

Log in with your Samsung account to begin the process.

Once you’ve started the process and you’re all signed in and ready to rev it up, you’ll have to set up a Pattern, PIN, or Password to unlock the folder from DeX. Afterwards, you’ll see the Secure Folder pop up on screen with a few apps already installed. You can add more as you please.

What else can the Secure Folder do?

Everything the Secure Folder can do on Samsung DeX is possible through the Galaxy S8. Here’s more information on how to set up the Secure Folder so that you get the most use out of it.