Disney May Split Out Star Wars and Marvel Into Standalone Streaming Services

During its quarterly earnings report yesterday, Disney revealed that it plans to remove all of its content from Netflix and debut a streaming service of its own in 2019. The announcement didn’t make clear which exact Disney-related pieces of content might be found within that service, but more information from the earnings report has been shared today by TechCrunch, with Disney CEO Bob Iger mentioning Marvel and Star Wars could get their own streaming services down the line.

This means that the 2019 service would be related to Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar films like Lilo and Stitch, Zootopia, Moana, and Finding Dory (all of which are on Netflix right now). Then, the company would debut a Marvel service for movies and television shows in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and a Lucasfilm service for properties in the Star Wars universe.

Disney is said to be “considering” these services right now, but a decision “is not yet set in stone.”

According to Disney CEO Bob Iger, the company is still considering how it wants to bring Marvel and LucasFilm titles to consumers. There’s been talk of launching proprietary Marvel and Star Wars services, he said on Disney’s earnings call on Thursday. But that decision is not yet set in stone.

“We’re mindful of the volume of product that would go into those services, and we want to be careful about that,” Iger explained.

Currently, Netflix subscribers can watch a number of shows and movies from these Disney-owned brands, including Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Iger mentioned that he and the company have also considered adding Marvel and Star Wars content into the new Disney streaming service. What’s stopping this from happening is that they aren’t sure that it would be “the right place for them [Marvel/Star Wars properties],” because of a potential lack of overlap between Disney and Pixar fans, and Marvel or Star Wars fans.

The Disney service will reportedly have enough content of its own, with the company’s vast back catalogue of films and tv shows, early access to upcoming releases like Toy Story 4, and exclusive new original content.

According to Iger, if these Marvel and Star Wars services do happen, a Disney-created Marvel streaming platform will not interfere with the company’s multiyear deal with Netflix, which has resulted in Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and the upcoming team-up show The Defenders, as well as The Punisher. These original Netflix shows were formed under a separate deal from the one created in 2012, which will see Disney films leave Netflix ahead of the 2019 streaming service’s launch.

Because of this, Disney “has no plans” to remove any of these original Marvel TV shows from Netflix, and Iger said that Disney is potentially willing to license even more Marvel characters to Netflix in the future.

Tags: Disney, Star Wars, Marvel
Discuss this article in our forums

Chamberlain’s ‘MyQ Home Bridge’ Launches, Adding HomeKit to Compatible Garage Door Openers

After an introduction at CES in January, and an expected launch date of April 2017, Chamberlain’s MyQ Home Bridge has today been made available for users to purchase. For users already in the company’s MyQ ecosystem, the MyQ Home Bridge will upgrade any MyQ garage door opener with the addition of Apple’s HomeKit.

This will allow users to control their garage door with Siri, set scenes within the Home app, and connect a MyQ garage door opener with other HomeKit-enabled devices, so users could make a smart thermostat or light bulb adjust accordingly to when their garage door opens or closes. The company also has a series of MyQ lighting accessories that can be connected to HomeKit, and be controlled with an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Apple Watch.

The MyQ Home Bridge adds smartphone control to your MyQ enabled garage door openers (without built in Wi-Fi) and MyQ lighting. Get peace of mind knowing the main access point to your home is secure. This easy to install product allows you to check the status or control your MyQ products from anywhere.

Never worry again if your garage door is left open. Plus, this product is compatible with Apple HomeKit and Siri Voice Control. If you are an existing MyQ user with an Apple device, upgrade your garage door opener and MyQ lights with HomeKit to make your smart garage even smarter.

Following CES in January, Chamberlain-owned company LiftMaster announced that all of its residential garage door openers will be upgradeable with HomeKit compatibility thanks to the new MyQ Home Bridge. Chamberlain itself also announced a Smart Garage Hub aimed at new members entering the MyQ ecosystem of products, but that has missed its July 2017 launch date and it’s unclear when it might debut.

Those interested can purchase the MyQ Home Bridge from Chamberlain’s website for an introductory price of $49.99, which will rise to $69.99 sometime in the future. The device’s page also has a full list of compatible garage door openers and a quick start guide for installing a new Chamberlain device in your garage.

Tag: Chamberlain
Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Placing ‘Massive’ Orders From Leading 3D Sensing Laser Supplier Ahead of iPhone 8 Launch

Apple supplier Lumentum has received over $200 million in bookings for the rest of the 2017 calendar year, related to components for vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSEL), believed to be aimed at Apple’s advanced 3D sensing camera on the iPhone 8. The bookings represent a noticeable increase in revenue for the supplier, in comparison to a reported $5 million in 3D sensing revenue during its last fiscal quarter.

Because of this, LoupVentures analyst Gene Munster believes that the September launch of the iPhone 8 will see an increase in the number of iPhones with advanced 3D sensors supporting augmented reality applications. Lumentum is believed to be one of around three companies supplying Apple with VCSEL components, as well as Finisar.

iPhone 8 mockup by Benjamin Geskin
It’s predicted that most of Lumentum’s $200 million VCSEL order, “if not the entire order,” will be for Apple, leading to further confirmation that AR will be a “focus feature” of the iPhone 8. This “massive” uptick in production has seen Lumentum increase its VCSEL production capacity by 25 to 30 percent more than it had projected as recently as the last quarter.

In the June-qtr, Lumentum recorded $5M in 3D sensing revenue, but more impressively they received over $200M in bookings in the quarter, which they believe will all be shipped by CY17. We believe the majority, if not they entire order, is all being shipped to Apple. We believe these comments further confirms 3D sensing (and in-turn AR applications) will be a focus feature in the next iPhone.

In addition, Lumentum highlighted they have increased VCSEL laser capacity by 25 – 30% from what they anticipated only one quarter ago. Given the uptick in Management’s demand forecast, we believe advanced 3D sensing capabilities will be integrated in more iPhones that what most were previously expecting.

Furthermore, LoupVentures believes that the iPhone launch “remains on track” for release in September, with a total 133 million units of new iPhone devices shipping in the second half of 2017. Of those, 55 million (43 percent) will have VCSEL components, related to the next-generation OLED iPhone 8 device. Next year, as more VCSEL production is added, it’s predicted that as much as 85 percent of new iPhones shipped in the second half of 2018 will support 3D sensing abilities.

For the other two devices coming in 2017 — the “iPhone 7s” and “iPhone 7s Plus” — it’s not expected that 3D sensing features supported by advanced VCSEL components will be added. The iPhone 8 will remain the central showpiece device in the new line of iPhones in 2017, particularly with the help from developers creating new experiences in apps fueled by ARKit.

Recent production ramp-up stories have pegged all three new iPhones as entering volume production ahead of their launch in September. Currently, it’s expected that the LCD iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus will be fairly easy for customers to obtain, but the OLED iPhone 8 “could fall short of demand” and be difficult to purchase for the first few months of its availability.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8
Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 37 With Apple Pay Support for France’s Carte Bancaire

Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser Apple first introduced one year ago in March of 2016. Apple designed the Safari Technology Preview to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari.

Safari Technology Preview release 37 includes fixes and improvements for Web API, JavaScript, WebAssembly, CSS, Web Inspector, WebDriver, Rendering, Accessibility, and Media. Today’s update also adds Apple Pay support for Carte Bancaire, France’s national interbank network.

With Safari 11 now available to developers through the macOS High Sierra beta, Apple is providing two versions of Safari Technology Preview, one for macOS Sierra users and one for those using macOS High Sierra.

The Safari Technology Preview update is available through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store to anyone who has downloaded the browser. Full release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website.

Apple’s aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download.

Tag: Safari Technology Preview
Discuss this article in our forums

Best iOS app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps for free for a limited time

Everyone likes Apple apps, but sometimes the best ones are a bit expensive. Now and then, developers put paid apps on sale for free for a limited time, but you have to snatch them up while you have the chance. Here are the latest and greatest iOS app deals available from the iOS App Store.

These apps normally cost money and this sale lasts for a limited time only. If you go to the App Store and it says the app costs money, that means the deal has expired and you will be charged. 

VO Starter

VO Starter is the first app to offer blind and visually impaired iOS users training on the built-in VoiceOver screen reader.

Available on:

iOS

Happy Hypnosis

Lift your spirits with an encouraging and uplifting hypnotherapy session by Rachael Meddows Hypnosis. Don’t forget to snap out of it!

Available on:

iOS

Breathe Pro

Breathe in and out to relax with gorgeous scenes from around the world and measure your stress resistance with your iPhone camera.

Available on:

iOS

MoneyCoach

MoneyCoach brings you more money and financial freedom by helping you manage all your financial accounts, create amazing reports, and give you personalized finance tips.

Available on:

iOS

Stress Guide

Developed by stress experts, the app is made to help you quantifying your level of psychological or physical stress. The app will also help you manage your stress levels.

Available on:

iOS

My Rec

My Rec is an app for managing audio recordings: It’s easy, fast and beautiful to use. It’s the ideal for working with voice memos, saving reminders, and recording calls.

Available on:

iOS

Facebook’s teens-only app Lifestage has flunked out of the App Store

Why it matters to you

High schoolers no longer have access to the app designed just for them, while Facebook Groups features will soon be only in the main app.

Facebook’s teenager-focused app is no longer on the App Store after only a year of existence — but the social media platform says the app’s short lifespan is has already helped inspire youth-favored options inside Facebook. The developer pulled Lifestage, a social network for high schoolers that took some inspiration from Snapchat, earlier this month, confirming on Tuesday that the app was no longer available for download. The social platform also recently announced that the  Facebook Groups app features are now completely integrated into Facebook and that the stand-alone app will be discontinued on September 1.

If you’ve never heard of Lifestage, you’re not alone — Facebook launched the app quietly last year and it never topped the charts in the App Store. Lifestage was a social network designed for high schoolers. The idea was to connect students at the same school through video profiles and selfies.

The app itself was built by a teenager, Michael Sayman, who was just 19 when the app launched after working for Facebook for a year.

Since the app is designed for high schoolers, anyone who was over 21 was blocked from viewing any profiles or data. Facebook also designed other security features, like quick swipes to block a user and easy in-app reporting of any abuse. The app still raised security questions, however, since anyone could lie about their age to get inside the app.

While Lifestages in no longer around, the app is still inside smartphones in spirit, influencing some of Facebook’s latest features including the augmented reality camera and Stories inside both Facebook and Instagram.

“We originally launched Lifestage to make it easier for teens in the U.S. to connect with others at their school by creating a video profile with content for all the things that make up their identity,” Facebook told Business Insider, which first noticed the app’s absence from the App Store. “Teens continue to make up an important part of the global community on Facebook, and we’ve learned a lot from Lifestage. We will continue to incorporate these learnings into features in the main Facebook app.”

Lifestage hadn’t seen updates for several months before being eliminated from the App Store entirely. While originally an iOS app, Lifestage also launched for Android two months after the iOS launch.

Facebook will also be eliminating the separate Groups app, with the community features still accessible inside the main app. Facebook says the change is to focus on groups inside the main Facebook app.

Galaxy Note 8 to allegedly have ‘3D Touch’ feature

Note 8 to be announced August 23rd; one more feature has been leaked.

According to The Investor, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 will include a feature similar to Apple’s 3D Touch and Huawei’s Force Touch technologies. The pressure sensitive display would allow the user to interact with the display with more forceful taps to complete certain actions.

On the Luxury Edition of the Huawei Mate S, Force Touch can be used in the Gallery application to magnify certain parts of a photograph, and used in lieu of on-screen navigation buttons. Samsung has already dabbled with this a bit with the Galaxy S8’s “permanent”, pressure-sensitive on-screen home button, and this technology could lead to Samsung to doing away with the navigation buttons altogether.

The Galaxy Note 8 is scheduled to be announced on August 23, and will likely use a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 or Samsung Exynos 8895 processor, feature 6GB of RAM, a 3300mAh battery and Samsung’s classic S Pen.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

• Galaxy Note 8: Everything we know so far
• Rumored Galaxy Note 8 specs
• All Galaxy Note 8 news
• Should you buy the Galaxy S8+ or wait for the Note 8?
• The buttonless future of Samsung phones
• Join our Galaxy Note 8 forums

TripIt launches in-airport point-to-point navigation for Pro users

Never get lost in an airport again.

Air travel is often frustrating, as we all know, but TripIt is doing its best to smooth out the experience with a new feature in its app that takes airport maps to a new level. Its new in-app airport maps not only give you a top-down view of the entire airport with every bit of information you need, but also now complete navigation between points in the airport.

So now whether you’re navigating a new airport, are somewhere international with an unfamiliar language or just have a tight connection between terminals, the TripIt app has you covered. You just enter your start and end points and it will walk you through the fastest route to get there, even estimating your travel time. Entrance to gate, gate to gate, or maybe just gate to bathroom. You can also leverage the map’s information to search for the nearest restaurant and then navigate there.

TripIt says the point-to-point airport mapping and navigation is available in “nearly” 50 airports around the world.

As usual, this big of a feature is tied to being a TripIt Pro subscriber, which comes in at $49 per year and offers a whole host of features and benefits above and beyond this one. The new feature will also require an update to the TripIt app, which is rolling out imminently.

Press release:

TripIt Pro Takes the Hassle Out of Getting to Your Gate

New Interactive Maps Help Travelers Navigate the Airport with Ease

SAN FRANCISCO, August 9, 2017 – TripIt® from Concur®, the world’s highest-rated travel-organizing app, released interactive airport maps that give travelers everything they need to quickly and easily find their way through the airport. The new TripIt Pro feature allows travelers to search for what’s available at the airport and get step-by-step walking directions that include an estimate of how long it’ll take to get there.

“Airports can be overwhelming, especially when you’re rushing to board a flight,” said Jen Moyse, director of product at TripIt from Concur. “Whether you’re trying to make a connecting flight or looking for something to eat before you take off, TripIt Pro will make sure you never wander around lost in an airport again.”

With TripIt Pro’s newly enhanced airport maps, travelers can pull up easy-to-follow directions between any two points in an airport. This includes navigating a terminal, finding your departure gate, and airport amenities—such as restaurants, charging stations, ATMs, restrooms, and more. The maps also show walking times, and other useful information that makes it easier for travelers to:

Go from security to gate: Quickly find the fastest route to the departure gate after getting through security.
Make a tight connection: See how long it’ll take to get from gate to gate, or from one terminal to the next, and give them directions that show them the most direct route.
Find the best dining options: Search for restaurants, bars or cafes, and TripIt Pro will show what’s available, what’s open and exactly how much time it should take to get there—taking the guesswork out of deciding where to go.

Airport maps are shown for each leg of a trip, including departure, arrival and layover airports, and can be found within flight-details screens in the TripIt mobile app. The new interactive airport maps are available for nearly 50 airports worldwide and require Internet to access.

While TripIt organizes travel plans in one place for free, a subscription to TripIt Pro ($49/year) is required to access the new feature. To learn more about how TripIt Pro can help you stay one step ahead, visit http://www.TripIt.com/pro.

Acer’s latest Chromebook 11 has a rugged design, 13-hour battery life

Acer built a Chromebook that can withstand the rigors of the classroom.

Acer is rolling out a new Chromebook that’s designed to withstand drops and tumbles. Dubbed the Chromebook 11 C771, the device is compliant with the MIL-STD 810G standard, featuring rubber bumpers on the display and keyboard to give it added resistance to drops. It also has a spill-resistant keyboard, and a 180-degree hinge that allows you the Chromebook to lay flat on a surface.

Acer mentions that it can tolerate tumbles from heights up to 48 inches, spills of up to 11 fluid ounces (330ml) of water, and that the top cover can take a downward force of up to 132 pounds (that’s a lot of textbooks). The Chromebook 11 C771 has a 11.6-inch 1366×768 display, with both touchscreen and non-touch variants available.

The device can be configured with up to sixth-generation Core i3 or i5 CPUs, although the base models will be powered by a Celeron 3855U processor. Other specs include 4GB of RAM, 32GB of eMMC storage, USB 3.1 Type-C port, two USB 3.0 ports, one HDMI port, a 3.5mm jack, built-in microSD card slot, Wi-Fi ac 2×2 MIMO, a 720p webcam with HDR, stereo speakers and a microphone.

The Chromebook weighs 2.98 pounds (1.35kg), and has a thickness of 21mm. It will be available in two variants — a touch-enabled version (C771T) that retails for $329, and a regular model (C771) that will set you back $279. The Chromebook 11 C771 will go on sale to education and commercial customers in North America later this month, with the Core i3 and i5-powered models making their debut next month.

Acer Chromebook 11 C771 Provides Performance in a Portable, Rugged Design

San Jose, Calif. (Aug. 9, 2017) Acer today debuts a new performance-minded Chromebook for education and business customers, the Acer Chromebook 11 C771, which is the industry’s first Chromebook to use 6th Generation Intel processors. It builds on Acer’s award-winning line of Chromebooks to deliver faster performance with up to 13 hours of battery life in a portable and durable chassis.

“Chromebooks continue to grow in popularity at schools for their range of capabilities – and now the new Acer Chromebook 11 C771 can meet even more advanced needs such those of as students who are coding or editing videos and images,” said Chris Chiang, vice president of product management at Acer America. “Additionally, it can handle the more demanding computing needs of administrators, teachers and business users while still being portable enough to take anywhere.”

Acer Group was the world’s leading Chromebook brand in 2016 according to data from Gartner.

The Chromebook 11 C771 will provide additional capabilities thanks to planned support for Android apps via the Google Play™ Store in coming months.

Enhanced Performance; Long Battery Life

The new Acer Chromebook 11 C771 delivers enhanced performance with 6th Generation Intel Core i5, Core i3 and Celeron processors, so students and administrators can enjoy graphics capabilities, better response time and utilize even more tabs and apps. It supports up to 4GB of RAM[3] to boost start-up and responsiveness. Business customers, such as those in healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing, can utilize the Chromebook 11 C771 as a mobile thin client solution.

The Acer Chromebook 11 C771 delivers extra-long battery life for productivity and fun through the school day into the evening. The C771T models with a touch screen provide up to 12 hours of battery life, while the C771 models can provide up to 13 hours. This makes the line ideal for students in 1:1 programs as well as for organizations with extended classroom and work hours.

Investment Protection in a Durable Design

Schools and businesses looking for an excellent investment that contributes to reduced IT maintenance costs will be pleased with the durability and design features of the Chromebook 11 C771. The Chromebook is compliant with the stringent Military Standard U.S. MIL-STD 810G that validates its ruggedness, durability and quality. In addition, the corner-shield structure and rubber bumpers surrounding the display and keyboard further protect the Chromebook, so it can tolerate drops from heights up to 48 inches (122cm).

The internal honeycomb structure defends the device from up to 132 pounds (60kg) of downward force on the top cover, so it’s protected even when students stack textbooks on top of it or cram it in a backpack. Plus, the Acer Chromebook 11 C771 is protected against spills of up to 11 fluid ounces (330ml) of water with its unique spill-resistant keyboard that routes water away from internal components and out the bottom of the chassis. Also, the keyboard has recessed keys and smaller gaps, so it’s less likely that students will remove the key caps.

180-Degree Hinge Opens Flat; Multiple Display Options

The Acer C771 Chromebook has an IPS display with touch screen or non-touch options, so schools can meet their curriculum and budget requirements. The 11.6-inch display has a 1366×768 resolution that ensures clear apps and text as well as vivid images. The hinge design securely holds the display in place, yet also opens up to 180 degrees, so it can lay flat for easier sharing during labs and project time.

The Acer Chromebook 11 C771 is slim and portable, measuring only 0.82 inches (21mm) thin and weighs only 2.98 pounds (1.35kg).

Students Stay Connected

The Chromebook 11 C771 has a USB 3.1 Type C for fast data transfers as well as two USB 3.0 ports and one HDMI port. Students can plug in headphones with the 3.5mm combo audio port. Files can be transferred with the device’s built-in microSD card reader. Also, students and business customers can stay connected with fast dual-band 2×2 MIMO 802.11ac/a/b/g/n Wi-Fi. The HDR webcam delivers an easy and fun way to connect with HD 1280×720 resolution and 720p audio/video recording. The Chromebook also includes HD audio support, dual built-in stereo speakers and a microphone.

Easy to Share, Manage

The Acer Chromebook 11 C771 supports multiple user sign on to keep data safe. Students and employees simply log onto their unique accounts to ensure their project, Gmail and other information is kept safe, even if the Chromebook is lost or stolen. Storage on Google Drive protects files, documents, and photos safely in the cloud, and ensures that the most current version is always available. Students can also access files offline, and even open and edit Microsoft® Office documents as well as Google Documents.

The Acer Chromebook 11 C771 is easy to deploy and manage. IT administrators will find it easy to make updates, configure apps, utilize extensions and policies and more with the web-based management. Students will stay protected since Chrome OS is automatically updated and guards against ever-changing online threats, such as viruses and malware.

The new Acer Chromebook 11 C771 has a Kensington lock, so it can be secured to a wireless cart or lab.

Price and Availability

The initial models to be available in the line will come with a 6th Generation Intel Celeron 3855U processor, 32GB of eMMC storage and 4GB of RAM, and either a touch-screen (model C771T-C1WS) or non-touch (model C771-C4TM) IPS display priced at $329.99 and $279.99 respectively. They will be available to education and commercial customers in North America this month. Models with 6th Generation Core i5 and Core i3 processors will be available in September.

Nokia 5 and 6 beat most other phones with timely August security updates

Nokia is keeping its users safe and secure.

For most Android users, the monthly security updates aren’t actually monthly, with a lot of manufacturers opting for either a quarterly or a “LOL” schedule. HMD Global, recent licensee of the Nokia name, promised that it would keep up with security and feature updates, even on its lowest end phones. It’s a new month with a new security update, and HMD/Nokia appears to be doing just that.

The Nokia 5 and 6 began receiving their August security updates this week, just a few days after the official release from Google.

Google makes security updates available to manufacturers about midway through the previous month, so it’s great to see a small newcomer complete a quick turn around and keep users safe. Our forum users have noted that Nokia also delivered the June and July security updates in a timely manner, so Nokia is starting to set a pattern for itself. This is especially important because a high profile exploit from Broadcom Wi-Fi modems was patched with the July security patch.

Additionally, HMD has confirmed that even the cheaper Nokia 3 will receive an update to Android 8.0, though the company did not provide a timeline for that update, or for an Android 8.0 upgrade for the Nokia 5 and 6. Based on the track record so far, we can expect a fast turn around.

Learn more about the Nokia 3, 5 and 6