Vizio adds Amazon Video to its list of SmartCast TV apps

Earlier this week, we reported that Vizio was finally integrating Smart TV apps directly into its displays; previously, owners of these Vizio models used an included Android tablet to download apps and cast to their TV. Now, Vizio has announced another app will be added to its onboard SmartCast TV platform: Amazon Video.

If you aren’t planning on buying a new Vizio set with the software already installed, owners of 2017 models will receive the updated platform in a software update. It’s rolling out now to P and M series Ultra HD displays; E series TVs will be updated sometime later this year.

As a Vizio TV owner, I actually find the tablet/cast option much more convenient than using onboard services. However, Vizio must have come to the conclusion that their sets were less competitive (despite the attractive pricing) than competitors’ because of these missing integrations. It’s always nice to see manufacturers adding, rather than taking away, features at the same price point. While I won’t be using this, it’s likely that there are at least a few Vizio users out there excited by this development.

Source: Vizio

‘Horizon Zero Dawn’ add-on ‘The Frozen Wilds’ lands November 7th

Guerilla Games still isn’t saying much about what Horizon Zero Dawn’s upcoming The Frozen Wilds expansion will contain, but at least you know when you’ll get your hands on it. The studio has revealed that its big DLC will arrive on November 7th — appropriately, just ahead of winter. You’ll hear more about Frozen Wilds closer to launch, but the company is teasing “new, highly lethal machines” for Aloy to fight in addition to the namesake tundra and a fresh story. All we know for sure: if Guerrilla can maintain the production quality from the base game, you’ll have something to look forward to in several weeks.

Source: PlayStation Blog

Apple Joins Instagram to Share ‘Shot on iPhone’ Photos From Users Around the World

Apple has officially joined Instagram.

The company opened the followable account @Apple today that will exclusively feature curated photos and videos from iPhone users around the world, according to Mashable. The report said Apple won’t share any ads or marketing on the account, which has already quickly amassed thousands of followers.

Apple’s presence on Instagram had been limited to ads, without a followable account, and an @AppleMusic account. Apple has traditionally shied away from social networks, with blank accounts on Facebook and Twitter that, for now, exist to serve ads. The company also runs @AppleSupport on Twitter.

A look through the lens of iPhone users around the world. Tag #ShotoniPhone to take part. – Words and images by @koci, @itsreuben, @danilo, @_xst, @subwayhands, @marcelonava, @brockdavis, @lanadeathray, @thesdcowgirl, @inomad, @_yaisyusman_, @dawn_denfeld, @pauloctavious, @jeremysnell, @laurazazanis, @ryanpernofski, @abstractconformity, @mirafilm, @joez19, @daniil, @oli_op, @fotombo, @j9ryl, @tertiusalio, @maggiefortsonphoto, @trevorpaulhus, @rodrigomartinezfotos, @louiegraphy, @vmiura, @lfleischer, @vasjenkatro, @stevenxuex, @ianteraoka, @easonhsiung, @omidscheybani, @tamon_, @jaywilliamsphotography, @holephoto, @bigheadtaco, @mamacaxx

A post shared by apple (@apple) on Aug 7, 2017 at 5:15am PDT

Apple tells Instagram followers to use the hashtag #ShotoniPhone for a chance to have their photos and videos shared in one of the galleries.

Tags: Instagram, Shot on iPhone
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France and Germany Prepare Crackdown on Tax Loopholes With Tech Companies Like Apple in Sights

France and Germany are looking to stop tech companies like Apple from exploiting tax loopholes in their respective countries. The loopholes are said to have allowed Apple to “minimize taxes and grab market share” at the expense of Europe-based companies.

France will draft and propose a list of “simpler rules” that will be aimed at creating a “real taxation” law for non-European companies, which also include Amazon and Facebook (via Bloomberg).

The new rules will be looked at in September during a meeting of European Union officials, which French finance minister Bruno Le Maire hopes will help speed up Europe-wide initiatives related to properly taxing international companies. Germany is said to be looking into similar proposals following its national election on September 24.

French President Emmanuel Macron is one of the leaders behind the tax crackdown on international tech companies, with a goal of bringing a more unified corporate tax system across the nineteen euro area states.

The clampdown on tech firms is part of President Emmanuel Macron’s muscular approach to ensuring a level playing field, after seeing first hand during his election campaign how French firms struggle to compete with countries where taxes and social security payments are lower.

“Europe must learn to defend its economic interest much more firmly — China does it, the U.S. does it,” French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said. “You cannot take the benefit of doing business in France or in Europe without paying the taxes that other companies — French or European companies — are paying.”

In similar news, last year the European Commission ruled that Apple received illegal state aid from Ireland and ordered the company to pay $14.5 billion in back taxes. Apple admitted that it expects the case to continue for several years, and eventually appealed the decision in December of 2016 by arguing the European Commission made “fundamental errors” in its ruling.

If the new crackdown on tax loopholes goes into effect, Apple could potentially face more tax avoidance charges, which company CEO Tim Cook called “total political crap” in the wake of the Ireland-related ruling. In an open letter around the same time, Cook said that Apple has become “the largest taxpayer in the world,” stating that the company “follows the law and we pay all the taxes we owe.” He called the European Commission’s ruling an “effort to rewrite Apple’s history in Europe,” and said that any claim that Ireland gave Apple a “special deal” on taxes “has no basis in fact or in law.”

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tags: France, Germany, tax
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Samsung boss may face 12 years in prison over bribery charges

After being charged back in February (and a month’s stint in jail), Samsung’s acting head Lee Jae-yong could now face up to twelve further years in prison over his role in a corruption scandal that forced South Korea’s president out of office. Prosecutors are looking for a heavy sentence as Samsung’s involvement points to the connections and corruption between South Korea’s government and its powerful (often family-controlled) companies. As The Guardian notes, Samsung’s total revenues (it’s not just an electronics firm), are almost a fifth of the country’s GDP.

Lee is officially Samsung’s vice-president but has run the company since his father, and company president, Lee Kun-hee, suffered a heart attack a few years ago. The vice-president told the court: “I have never asked anyone, including the president, for anything for the company or my personal gain.”
He said the trial had been “unjust”, but added that as Samsung grew bigger and more powerful, “the stricter and higher the expectations [were] from the public and society”.

Lee allegedly offered $38m (£29m) in bribes to four foundations, which were setup to support then-President Park’s policy initiatives. After this, Lee then allegedly moved to gain government approval for a $8 billion merger of two different Samsung companies in 2015 — one that was opposed by many shareholders, but was passed due to support from the government’s national pension fund. The court will deliver its verdict in a few weeks, on August 25th.

Source: The Guardian

Sylvania HomeKit-Equipped Multicolor Bluetooth Smart Bulb Now Available for Pre-Order

LEDVANCE’s HomeKit-compatible Sylvania Smart A19 Full Color LED Bulb is now available for pre-order, with deliveries expected to start in September.

First introduced late last year, Sylvania’s new bulb connects to a HomeKit setup over Bluetooth, so no hub or WiFi connection is necessary. It’s a multicolored bulb, so it can be set to several different shades of white or a range of different colors, much like the well-known Philips Hue color bulbs.

We were able to go hands-on with the Sylvania Smart Bulb ahead of its launch, and it works well. As with any HomeKit product, setup takes just a couple of minutes and is as simple as screwing the bulb into a lamp. It’s about as bright as a Hue bulb and the color can be adjusted through the Home app. Color wise, its range is similar to the Hue, though some of the shades are not quite as deep (especially greens and purples).

The benefit to the Sylvania bulb is its ability to connect over Bluetooth, alleviating the need for a hub. Early on, Bluetooth HomeKit products were slow and prone to not working, but those issues have long since been worked out. The Sylvania bulb responds quickly and works anywhere in the house. It also works when away from home if there’s an Apple TV or an iPad to serve as a home hub.

Like all HomeKit-equipped products, the new Sylvania bulb responds to Siri commands and can be used with scenes and timers for automation.

“Our approach is unique in the Smart industry because we focus on delivering quality lighting products first and only then adding Smart functionality second. Our customers expect their Smart lighting to not only work with the latest and greatest technology ecosystems, but to look good while doing it,” added Ganick. “Our products combine over a century of lighting expertise with our forward-thinking, high tech mentality. That’s why they aren’t just Smart, they are SYLVANIA SMART+.”

The Sylvania Smart A19 Full Color LED Bulb can be pre-ordered from Amazon for $44.99.

Later this year, LEDVANCE plans to release an Indoor Full Color Flex Strip, an A19 Soft White Light Bulb, and a Plug, all of which will be HomeKit compatible and will be available at major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Lowe’s, and more.

Tags: HomeKit, Sylvania
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Potential ‘Copper Gold’ iPhone 8 Color Depicted in New Images

In July, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo made the claim that the OLED iPhone 8 will come in fewer color options than LCD models of the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus, in a bid by Apple to maintain the iPhone 8’s “boutique image.” Kuo never made it clear exactly how many colorways that might entail, and a few new images today provide a glimpse into one potential possibility, although their credibility remains uncertain.

Shared on the popular Chinese microblogging site Weibo (via MyDrivers), three new images depict three separate models of the iPhone 8. One is the expected black version, another is white, and the last is what’s described as a “champagne gold” option that’s said to be “closer in copper” in its color. The new colorway is also visually similar to current rose gold iPhones.

Due to the nearly bezel-less design of the iPhone 8, an all-black iPhone would provide an even more seamless blending into the device’s OLED screen. For this reason, black iPhone 8 components have been spotted more frequently in the supply chain, suggesting Apple might only release the device in black, or at least in shades of black. A white or gold-type version would have bezels that more directly clash with the OLED display, particularly when it’s turned off.

While the images provide an interesting look at a potential new iPhone 8 color, their veracity remains in question. Besides the vertical dual-lens rear camera and slightly elongated lock button, they don’t show any other sides of the iPhone 8 that would support previous rumors. There’s also no indication as to whether they are components directly taken from the supply chain, or if they are dummy models made by non-Apple suppliers based on recent rumors.

In separate color-related iPhone 8 news, leaker Benjamin Geskin last month claimed that Apple will make the OLED iPhone 8 available in four colorways, with a “mirror” shade pitched as the new option. Although the recently released HomePod firmware has yet to hint at any iPhone 8 color details, it’s provided information on a wealth of other topics, including the general design of the new smartphone and advanced facial recognition features.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8
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Indian Movie Company Eros Group Reportedly in Talks With Apple and Others to Sell Media Library

Eros Group, a movie production company based in India, is said to be looking at potentially selling its entire media library to Apple, further boosting the Cupertino company’s foothold in the Indian smartphone and entertainment markets. The $1 billion deal is said to also include interest from companies like Amazon and Netflix as potential competitors to win Eros Group’s library of films and music.

Still, nothing at this time is confirmed. The talks are in “very early stages,” according to a source who spoke to Reuters, and even market watchers looking at the deal believe that the $1 billion estimation will be “substantially lower” if any agreement is made. When asked for a comment by Reuters, Eros Group didn’t respond, and Apple said it does not comment on speculation, which is its usual response for such stories.

Apple CEO Tim Cook meeting with Indian PM Narendra Modi in 2016
The back catalogue of Eros Group’s media library includes 3,000 films, many of which are major movies from Bollywood and are believed to help any streaming partner boost its presence in India. Eros Group reportedly began looking for a company to sell its library to about six months ago, including previous attempts to work out deals with Sony, Star, Viacom, and Zee.

Apple has recently gained a stronger foothold in India through the beginning of production on the first-ever iPhone devices assembled in the country, related to an iPhone SE plant in Bangalore. Aimed at consumers looking for cheaper devices, Apple’s made in India iPhone SE smartphones began appearing at retailers in June, although at the time there had yet to be any price cut. If the company wins the deal with Eros Group — potentially making iOS devices the exclusive home of Eros Group’s film and music content — it could be a way for Apple to convince more Indian customers to purchase iPhones.

Tag: India
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Verizon Introduces New ‘Up’ Rewards Program With Perks Including Free Months of Apple Music

Verizon today introduced a new Verizon Up rewards program that offers customers perks for paying their monthly bills.

For every $300 spent towards Verizon products and services, including a phone bill, customers will receive one credit, which can be exchanged for one reward. Every month, there are six new customized rewards to choose from, with the selection changing on the first day of each month.

Those rewards include up to four free months of Apple Music for new Verizon customers, and one free month for existing subscribers, along with 20 percent off roundtrip JetBlue flights, three free months of HBO NOW, up to $10 per credit towards their next device purchase, up to 2GB bonus data, and more.

Other rewards partners listed on Verizon’s website include Amazon, EA Sports, Google Play, Nike, and Starbucks.

Verizon Up also provides customer with access to a limited number of tickets for sought-after events in sports, music, and entertainment, such as NFL games and Broadway shows, on a first-come, first-served basis. There also appears to be a chance to win tickets to major NFL events, including Super Bowl LII.

The rewards program is available to Verizon postpaid customers enrolled in the Verizon Selects marketing program and residing in the United States. Credits earned expire after 60 days, and all rewards have an expiration date. Additional information can be found on the Verizon Up website, video, and FAQ.

Verizon Up is available through the free My Verizon app [Direct Link] for iPhone and iPad.

Tag: Verizon
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How to remove a Style Ring from your phone

Before you die, you see the Ring.

You might have noticed a lot of people just love these Spigen Style Rings. In case you have no idea what we’re talking about, they’re a metal ring you affix to the back of your phone designed so you can slip a finger in to help hold it. You know, like a ring. They’re made of some sort of brushed metal on a plastic base and have adhesive attached to the back so the two parts — your phone, and the ring — stick together and form something beautiful.

There are two types of people in this world: people who love the Style Ring and people who know better. Seriously though, you already know if you think this is a good idea and if you do, just go for it. Style Ring the living hell out of the back your phone and own it. We’re all wired differently and you should totally do the things you think are cool and buy the things you like.

If you are like me and refuse to follow the instincts that have served you well throughout your life, here are some ideas to get the darn thing off.

• Fire. Everything burns, even regret. Enough heat will remove both the Ring and your phone, leaving no trace of your misfortune.
• Tools. Specifically, the power kind. A belt sander will turn your Ring-laden phone into dust you can then sprinkle into the wind. You will be left with fond memories of days before the Ring and the love you shared.
• Water. A lot of water. A quiet fishing trip on Lake Tahoe would be fine. I know it was you, Style Ring. You broke my heart.
• Alcohol. Use liberally until you think this whole Ring thing was a great idea. Repeat daily.
• Macho Man lives on in our hearts and minds and will fix everything.
• A shovel. Bury the evidence. Admit nothing.

Seriously though. You can remove it by sticking your fingernail underneath and prying it up. There will be a bit of sticky residue, which can serve as a reminder or punishment, but something like Goo Gone wipes will clean things up good as new.

If you think I’m just a hater and want your own Style Ring, you can get one below.

Read a review from someone who actually likes the Style Ring

See at Amazon