Bollywood star Salman Khan is coming to Amazon Prime Video

Amazon has made no secret of its ambitions when it comes to TV and film; after all, it just took another step towards becoming a full-fledged film studio by handling distribution for one of its movies. Now, the retail giant has locked in a streaming deal for one of India’s biggest film stars: Salman Khan is coming to Amazon Prime Video.

His name might not be a household one to US audiences, but anyone with a passing familiarity with Hindi cinema knows the smiling muscled man. This deal covers any films produced by Salman Khan Ventures and future films starring Khan. It’s not clear what past films are included in the deal, but The Hollywood Reporter claims that recent release Tubelight is among the offerings, along with Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Kick, Jai Ho and Hero.

This latest Bollywood agreement makes it apparent just how valuable American streaming companies consider the movies coming out of India. Netflix signed an exclusive deal with Red Chillies Entertainment, the production company of arguably the biggest movie star in the world, Shah Rukh Khan, back in December. It’s clear that Amazon and Netflix both consider it incredibly important to secure these deals in order to not only make their Indian services more attractive, but to increase options for worldwide customers as well.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Variety

Getting NASA astronauts safely out of Orion

As Project Mercury astronaut Gus Grissom learned, NASA spaceflights are not over after splashdown. During his 1961 mission, the hatch blew too soon and nearly took him and the “Liberty Bell” capsule to the bottom of the sea. Ever since, NASA has taken splashdown exit procedures very seriously, and it’s no exception for the manned Orion capsule, that’s intended to go to Mars on the tip of the massive Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.

NASA’s Orion team, the Ground Systems Development and Operations group, and the US Coast Guard, Navy and Air Force recently ran Orion crew egress testing on the waters off of Galveston, Texas. The aim was to get the astronauts out of the capsule and into a raft without assistance from recovery personnel in under three minutes. The ocean tests follow extensive recovery procedures practiced in the 6.2 million gallon Neutral Buoyancy Lab at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

With the tremendous speeds required to power it to Mars, Orion will be subject to more stresses than any capsule before. For instance, NASA flew Orion on top of a Delta IV Heavy rocket in late 2014, where it went beyond the Van Allen belt to an orbit of 3,600 miles. While the heat shields stood up during the test mission, the agency realized it had to redesign them for the greater SLS speeds during the return trip from Mars.

NASA and its partners are working on multiple ways to get astronauts out of Orion. Normally, crews would be on the scene within minutes to assist. However, if the capsule goes off course and crews can’t get there quickly, or the weather is rougher than expected and water starts to seep in, astronauts must be able to get out and into a life raft on their own, as quickly as possible. The capsule is equipped with emergency supplies like water, tools, and signaling mirrors, and can sustain a crew for up to 24 hours.

To make things even more realistic during recent tests, astronauts and testers wore the all-new “pumpkin” Orion Crew Survival System spacesuits, which will first see action in 2023.

The Orion capsule is destined for big things — as part of the SLS, it will hopefully one day take astronauts to Mars. It’s built with all new technology, including “advances in propulsion, communications, life support, structural design, navigation and power,” NASA says. It also comes with its own crew and service modules, a spacecraft adapter and launch abort system that can save crew in the event of an accident.

Source: NASA

Share your ‘Minecraft’ creations in 3D

Minecraft is all about creating 3D worlds, but sharing them outside of the game has always been a 2D experience — you’re sharing screenshots and videos like with any other game. Microsoft wants to do something better. It’s releasing a beta version of its Better Together Update that, in addition to cross-platform play (more on that later), lets you export your creations in 3D. If you have Windows 10, you can use Paint 3D and Remix3D.com to showcase your work from every angle.

As for cross-platform support? The beta lets Android and Windows 10 fans play with other testers regardless of what devices they’re using. Better Together also establishes a more common feature set, including in-game objects like fireworks and stained glass. You’ll need to meet some basic conditions to check out the beta (install the Xbox Insider app on Windows 10, or own a Google Play copy of Minecraft on Android), but you’re otherwise free to try the new features right away.

Source: Minecraft

WeChat App in China Described as Apple’s ‘Toughest Rival’ as iPhone 8 Launch Nears

Apple’s difficulty in garnering a larger share of the smartphone market in China has been looked at recently by The Wall Street Journal, which described the ubiquitous mobile app WeChat [Direct Link] as the iPhone’s “toughest rival” in the country. Citing data from QuestMobile, on average WeChat is said to have captured nearly 35 percent of each user’s monthly smartphone usage time, averaging about 1 billion monthly active users in total.

The problem for Apple is that WeChat is an entire ecosystem, with one app allowing users to pay for services, text, call cabs, watch videos, play mobile games, and access cloud-based “mini programs,” or apps that don’t need to be downloaded to a device to be used. Because all of these WeChat features are universal across smartphone brands, analysts speaking with The Wall Street Journal questioned whether or not Apple is “losing its edge” in China.

Specifically, Apple saw a sales drop in Greater China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan) in the first half of this past fiscal year, with revenue falling 13 percent in the period. According to analysts looking towards the launch of the iPhone 8, that device’s success “largely depends on sales in China.”

Skeptical investors are asking whether consumers in China will pay $1,000 for a new iPhone, when they spend more than 60% of their phone time inside a system from Tencent or from rivals Baidu Inc. and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. “That’s the question: Is Apple losing its edge?” said Katy Huberty of Morgan Stanley, who remains optimistic about Apple’s prospects in China.

Apple has been making moves recently to focus on China, including naming Isabel Ge Mahe as vice president and managing director of Greater China, who is said to ensure that Apple’s products and services appeal specifically to China users. Just this weekend, Apple also removed VPN apps from the China App Store, a move that could potentially help Apple gain favor with Chinese authorities.

Some iOS 11 features — such as the new QR code scanner in the Camera app — are also seen as a way for Apple to appeal to users in China who are used to having these abilities on hand with WeChat. If Apple doesn’t continue to bolster its software, solely relying on upgraded hardware changes might not be enough to convince iPhone users to stick around, according to analyst Ben Thompson.

Tailoring software for the market could be critical to keeping the iPhone competitive. Otherwise, Mr. Thompson wrote, Apple runs the risk that the phone’s appearance becomes the only thing that matters when Chinese consumers buy a new device.

Such a shift potentially would force Apple to overhaul its entire business model, moving to a system where it releases a new-looking phone annually rather than every other year, as it does currently.

In terms of market share, market research firm Warren Capital noted that Apple and the iPhone have taken fourth place in China, behind Oppo, Vivo, and Huawei. Apple dropped to fifth place in terms of smartphone devices shipped in Q4 2016 (with Xiaomi added into the mix along with the previously mentioned Chinese brands), and in April Kantar Worldpanel’s data noted that iOS dropped to its lowest share of the China smartphone market since 2014.

Thompson points to WeChat as a major reason only 50 percent of China-based iPhone owners stayed with Apple when purchasing a new phone, while in other countries that number is closer to 80 percent on average. Since users spend so much time within WeChat and rarely see any other advantages to owning an iPhone, the app “has turned Apple into just another vendor in China,” which analysts see as particularly problematic for Apple as the iPhone 8 launch grows nearer.

During a visit to China earlier in the year, Apple CEO Tim Cook told local media outlet Caixin, “We’re not just someone who’s here to access the market. We’ve created almost 5 million jobs in China. I’m not sure there are too many companies, domestic or foreign, who can say that.” Ultimately, Cook said that Apple isn’t afraid of the challenges it faces in China, telling the site that Apple is “here to stay.”

Related Roundups: iPhone 7, iPhone 8
Tags: China, WeChat
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Former Google Executive Vic Gundotra: ‘If You Truly Care About Great Photography, You Own an iPhone’

Google’s former senior vice president of social, Vic Gundotra, recently made remarks on Facebook about the advantages of Apple’s iPhone ecosystem, specifically pertaining to the iOS Camera app and the quality of photos it creates (via Business Insider).

Image via Business Insider
He said that the “end of the DSLR era” has arrived, and shared pics he took of his family recently with an iPhone 7 as an example.

The end of the DSLR for most people has already arrived. I left my professional camera at home and took these shots at dinner with my iPhone 7 using computational photography (portrait mode as Apple calls it). Hard not to call these results (in a restaurant, taken on a mobile phone with no flash) stunning. Great job Apple.

Gundotra’s original post received a comment that said Samsung’s Galaxy S8 was a better photography tool than the iPhone 7, to which he commented with a detailed response explaining why he believes that’s not the case. Specifically, the former Google executive referenced Android’s need to be “neutral to all parties” since it’s an open source platform, making it difficult for Google to release hardware and software innovations at the same time.

He also mentioned that Google has “fallen back” recently in regards to its development of computational photography software. But where Android-backed smartphone innovation lags, Gundotra said that Apple is far ahead of the competition because it “doesn’t have all these constraints,” leading to the best smartphone camera system on the market.

Apple doesn’t have all these constraints. They innovate in the underlying hardware, and just simply update the software with their latest innovations (like portrait mode) and ship it.

Bottom line: If you truly care about great photography, you own an iPhone. If you don’t mind being a few years behind, buy an Android.

The iPhone 8 is expected to see yet another leap forward in the realm of smartphone photography, potentially including a VCSEL (vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser) system for the rear camera, which would enable speedier autofocus when capturing an image. The vertically aligned dual-lens camera system will also help fuel augmented reality experiences on the iPhone 8, which we’ve already begun to see take shape in ARKit demos.

Related Roundup: iPhone 7
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Apple Outlines Products Qualifying For State Sales Tax Holidays Later This Week

Six U.S. states, including Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, South Carolina, and Virginia, will offer sales tax holidays from Friday, August 4 through Sunday, August 6, providing Apple customers with a brief opportunity to purchase a Mac, iPad, or select other products with no or reduced sales tax.

Apple’s website outlines the terms and conditions for each state, including which products are eligible, spending limits, and other information. MacRumors has summarized the details for each state below:

• Florida: Computers and related accessories with a sales price of $750 or less qualify, including all eligible Mac and iPad models, Apple TV, iPod touch, Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, Apple Pencil, AirPort base stations, cables, speakers, RAM upgrades, microphones, printers, docking stations, hard drives, flash drives, and headphones. Software priced up to $750 also qualifies.
• Louisiana: All products are eligible. The tax holiday reduces the 5 percent state sales tax to 3 percent. Local taxes will apply. All tangible items with a sales price of $2,500 or less qualify. Any amount above $2,500 is subject to the full tax rate.
• Missouri: Computers and related accessories with a sales price of $1,500 or less qualify, including all eligible Mac and iPad models, Apple TV, iPod touch, Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, Apple Pencil, AirPort base stations, displays, speakers, RAM upgrades, microphones, printers, hard drives, and flash drives. Software priced up to $350 also qualifies. Local taxes may apply.
• New Mexico: Computers with a sales price of $1,000 or less qualify, including all eligible Mac and iPad models, and the iPod touch. Related accessories with a sale price of $500 or less also qualify, including the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, Apple Pencil, AirPort base stations, cables, speakers, microphones, RAM upgrades, hard drives, flash drives, and printer supplies.
• South Carolina: No spending limits. Computers qualify, including all eligible Mac and iPad models, and the iPod touch. Printers, printer supplies, software, and books also qualify. When purchased with a CPU, AppleCare, Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, Apple Pencil, and displays also qualify. Accessories not sold with a CPU will remain taxable during the holiday period.
• Virginia: The tax exemption applies to products with a sales price of $20 or less, and cell phone chargers and batteries with a sales price of $60 or less.

Apple should automatically adjust sales tax amounts at checkout. Contact Apple Support if you experience difficulties.

Live in another state? Apple authorized reseller B&H Photo Video doesn’t charge sales tax on Apple products purchased on its website in 48 states, with the lone exceptions being New Jersey and New York.
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Gboard for iOS Introduces Google Maps, YouTube, and Doodling ‘Ink’ Tabs Into Keyboard App

Gboard is Google’s own keyboard app for iOS devices, and today the company announced that it’s integrating Google Maps and YouTube directly within the keyboard. The two new features will be housed behind the “G” button on Gboard, now sitting alongside Google Search.

With Google Maps in Gboard, users can share their location, or another location that they wish to serve as a rendezvous point, and send the address to a contact in Messages. YouTube lets users search and send any YouTube video to friends and family directly from Gboard. There’s also a new “Ink” tab that lets users draw pieces of art to share with their contacts.

Outside of the Gboard app, Google also has a Google Maps app for Apple’s Messages App Store, which lets users send their location to a friend as an iMessage.

Gboard originally launched in May of 2016, with built-in Google search as its flagship feature, and was later updated with 3D Touch cursor tracking and voice support.

Gboard is one of the main iOS keyboard apps that users can install as an additional keyboard to text with on their iPhone or iPad. Microsoft’s SwiftKey is another well-known keyboard app for iOS, which the company has now decided to focus on after recently removing Word Flow from the iOS App Store.

Gboard is available on the iOS App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tags: Google, Gboard
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Amazon will become a bona fide film studio this year

Amazon has traditionally stuck to buying and producing films, relying on indie film studios to distribute its flicks to cinemas. However, its next big release will see the retail giant’s burgeoning production arm move one step closer to becoming a full-scale film studio. According to Variety, Amazon Studios will solely handle distribution for Woody Allen’s Wonder Wheel, which is due out in December. As a result, it will have complete control over how the film is released — from marketing to film festival screenings to its wider rollout in theatres.

The move comes in the wake of a mammoth year for the production company, capped off by its three Oscar wins in February. Amazon Studios biggest winner on the night, Manchester By The Sea, also raked in a tidy $62 million at the global box office (not bad for a film it snagged for $10 million). After seeing those kinds of numbers, it’s no wonder Amazon wants to self-distribute its films. That way it can control exactly how much it spends on marketing a movie, how many (if any) theatres it should be shown at, and (crucially) hold on to the majority of the profits.

Self-distribution also sees Amazon take a very different approach from that of rival Netflix. The latter has landed in hot water with theatre chains (and the wider film industry) by restricting its output to its streaming service. Whereas Amazon is further entrenching itself within the conventional studio system by handling its own distribution. Of course, those films will also make it on to Amazon Prime Video too.

Aside from Allen’s latest, Amazon Studios also has a bunch of buzzy releases in the pipeline, including Todd Haynes’ Wonderstruck, Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria, and Lynne Ramsay’s You Were Never Really Here.

Source: Variety

London is getting another dockless bike rental service

Competition over putting bums on the seats of rental bikes is hotting up in London, with Mobike today announcing an expansion of its dockless service into the capital in September. The company will start by parking 750 bikes around the London Borough of Ealing, primarily in Acton, and will add more as demand grows. This follows the launch of oBike in London, which operates an identical dockless bike rental scheme, just a few weeks ago.

If you’re catching up, dockless rental schemes don’t require you to pick up and drop off bikes at specific stations. You locate your nearest dormant bike via a mobile app, unlock it with your phone and then lock it back up anywhere it’s legal to park a bike when you’ve completed your journey. This decentralised strategy has proven extremely popular in Asia, particularly in China, and several companies successful in that region have expanded into the UK this year.

There have been teething problems — Mobike’s initial launch in Manchester in June has been tainted by some petty vandalism, for example. What’s interesting about Mobike’s announcement is the emphasis the company’s put on being the first council-backed scheme to come to London, suggesting oBike has, to some extent, taken a less formal approach.

It’s important to play nice with local councils and Transport for London, because these bike rental schemes will inevitably feel the long arm of regulation before too long. Ofo was the first of the Asian bike rental giants to come to the UK earlier this year. It had to seriously scale back its Cambridge trial after the council raised concerns the bikes might clutter the city’s pavements, and the company hasn’t expanded elsewhere since.

So, Obike turned up in Hammersmith. And the bikes have already been served a highway obstruction notice. pic.twitter.com/jtJEFRPRsa

— Michael Passingham (@MrPassingham) July 14, 2017

As soon as oBikes began rolling into the capital, some were hit with highway obstruction notices after being deemed a potential pedestrian hazard. In some Chinese cities saturated by tens of thousands of bikes, a lack of places to park them up has manifested in mangled piles of wheels at popular disembarkation spots.

Gaining the approval of one council doesn’t solve all of Mobike’s potential problems. Bikes can travel to other boroughs, and users have to be trusted to park them legally. With over 11,000 ‘Boris bikes’ already taking up space in the capital, city-wide regulation is bound to end up dictating how many dockless players London is willing to entertain.

Source: Mobike

Samsung’s latest LTE modem supports faster-than-fiber speeds

If you’re in the market for the Galaxy S9 next year, it could have a modem that’s faster than your home fiber connection. Samsung has unveiled a co-called 6CA (carrier aggregation) modem that can handle download speeds as high as 1.2 Gbps, fast enough to download a full-length HD movie in 10 seconds.

That’s 20 percent faster than the 1 Gbps 5CA (five carrier aggregation) modem that Samsung put in its Exynos 8895 chips for the Galaxy S8. As a reminder, this is still LTE Advanced and not the 5G that networks in the US, Europe and elsewhere are building out now. To get such speeds, mobile operators allow the chips to grab multiple LTE frequencies, like 800Mhz and 1.8GHz, and combine them.

Samsung worked with a Japanese company that measures cellphone network speeds, Anritsu. The new system combines up to six frequencies rather than five and will offer more stable data transfers, Samsung says. It also supports 4×4 MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) tech, which improves bandwidth when signals are strong, and another technique called higher-order 256 QAM to maximize data rates. (For more on this tech, check our mobile gigabit explainer.)

The theoretical 1.2Gbps speed is nice, but in real life you’d be lucky to get a fraction of that in North America. Most carriers are only aggregating three LTE channels at best, and network congestion prevents the amazing speeds we see in testing. However, Sprint recently promised four carrier aggregation and achieved 330 Mbps on a single channel via “massive MIMO” trials with Samsung.

Samsung’s 6CA chip will hit production by the end of 2017, meaning it won’t appear in the Galaxy Note 8 (due in August) but could appear in its next-gen processor, thought to be called the Exynos 9810. That’s the likely chip for the Galaxy S8’s successor, though US buyers will probably get a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip.

Source: Samsung