Uber rolls out in-app driver tipping in the UK

Uber can only be successful if it has a growing fleet of drivers willing to ferry people around their local town or city. With this in mind, the company has announced a slew of changes today aimed at appeasing the biggest complaints of UK drivers. Following the US, the app will support rider tipping from tomorrow, making it easier for passengers to reward good service. In addition, Uber will charge riders who force drivers to wait at their agreed pick-up point. From August 22nd, passengers will have to pay 20 pence per minute if they fail to turn up after two minutes.

At the moment, riders are charged a small fee if they cancel a trip five minutes after completing an order. Soon, Uber will be reducing this time frame to two minutes in order to discourage last-second back-outs. There is an exception, however — if you book a car and two minutes pass, but your driver is more than five minutes behind schedule, you can still cancel and avoid a fee. That way you’re not penalised if what should be a 10-minute trip is fast becoming an hour-long wait for an Uber driver.

Other additions include a “no thanks” button, so drivers can instantly pass on a trip and wait for the next offer. It only works three times, however — drivers will be logged out of the app if they keep turning down work. Uber is also adding a filter so fancy UberXL and Exec drivers can ignore lower-paid UberX trips. Finally, Driver Destinations is being updated with arrival times. That way, drivers can be clear about their schedule for the day — a doctor’s appointment at 2pm, or a dinner reservation at 7pm — and pick up passengers that need to be in roughly the same place, at the same time.

GoDaddy dumps white supremacist site ‘Daily Stormer’

White supremacist website Daily Stormer just lost its web domain. In a tweet, GoDaddy claims it’s giving the site “24 hours” to move to another domain provider, having found it to be in violation of its terms and services. The announcement came in response to a Twitter appeal from The New Agenda co-founder Amy Siskind, who pointed out an article by the neo-Nazi publication. In the piece, Daily Stormer used obscene language in regards to Heather Heyer — the woman who was killed in Charlottesville on Saturday after a man rammed his car into a crowd of people. Heyer was among those protesting against the Unite the Right white supremacist rallies over the weekend.

We informed The Daily Stormer that they have 24 hours to move the domain to another provider, as they have violated our terms of service.

— GoDaddy (@GoDaddy) August 14, 2017

Adding insult to injury, a message has now appeared on Daily Stormer claiming it’s been breached by hacking group Anonymous. “This site [is] now under the control of Anonymous. We have taken this site in the name of Heather Heyer a victim of white supremacist terrorism,” reads the message. However, it seems the post may be a self-manufactured stunt. An account associated with the hacking group just tweeted that the alleged breach is a “false flag,” with the aim of implicating Anonymous in the site’s takedown.

Please Retweet The Following:

DAILY STORMER HACK IS A FALSE FLAG OP BY OWNER ANDREW ANGLIN TO IMPLICATE ANONYMOUS IN HIS WEBSITE’S SHUTDOWN

— TheAnonJournal (@TheAnonJournal) August 14, 2017

GoDaddy is the latest company to recently distance itself from white supremacist users. Just last week, Airbnb canceled a bunch of accounts and bookings associated with the Unite The Right rally. However, as other Twitter users pointed out, it’s surprising it took this long for GoDaddy to take action. To make matters worse, the Southern Poverty Law Center reportedly claims it informed the company about Daily Stormer (which describes itself as “The World’s Most Genocidal Republican Website”) months ago.

“If no action is taken after 24 hours, we will cancel the service,” GoDaddy said in an email to TechCrunch. “Given this latest article comes on the immediate heels of a violent act, we believe…[it] could incite additional violence, which violates our terms of service.”

Hateful publications weren’t the only ones in the Twitterverse’s sights this weekend. Users have also been busy identifying those involved in the white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville. A number of individuals were named and shamed, after the @YesYoureRacist account sent out a call asking for info on the participants. One torch-bearer even allegedly lost his job as a result of the Twitter crusade. And, as clarified by The Washington Post journalist Dave Weigel, the identification of participants at a public rally doesn’t count as doxing — therefore, it isn’t in violation of Twitter’s terms and conditions.

Attn trolls: It’s not “doxxing” to identify people who appeared in public at a rally and have given media interviews about their beliefs.

— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) August 13, 2017

Source: GoDaddy (Twitter)

Amazon is finally killing what’s left of Lovefilm

After starving Blockbuster to death, the streaming age is preparing to mount another head on its wall. Lovefilm By Post — yes, the subscription movie rental service you forgot about long ago — has begun notifying the last, loyal holdouts that it’s shutting up shop on October 31st. The culprit, of course, is all those newfangled, convenient streaming services that have slowly stripped consumers of their desire to wait for DVDs and Blu-rays to pop through the letterbox.

Amazon, which operates Lovefilm By Post, is predictably pushing subscribers in the direction of Prime Video, and is sweetening the deal with £15 off the cost of a Fire TV Stick. DVD and Blu-ray rentals will still be available up until the end of October, though, and Amazon won’t be billing subscribers for that final month. The service is also shutting down in Germany, the only other European country it still serves, on the same day.

I guess it’s been a long time coming but @lovefilm by post service to close 31st October pic.twitter.com/Vq1rpFX0l1

— Robertie (@Clert) August 14, 2017

In a way, Lovefilm is partly responsible for the demise of its own postal option. Many moons ago, Lovefilm used to run a streaming service in parallel with its rental offering. It became a relatively big player through various acquisitions, even relieving Amazon of its DVD rental arm in 2008. The house that Bezos built returned the favour in 2011, purchasing Lovefilm in its entirety. A few years later, the streaming side of things was absorbed into Amazon Prime Video, making the rental service a separate subscription and the last thing bearing the Lovefilm name.

The idea of getting your movie fix by post might seem seriously old fashioned now, but the demise of Lovefilm actually leaves something of a hole in the market. There’s a reason streaming services like Netflix don’t carry the latest titles. Studios want to make sure they’re squeezing as much money as they can out of new films through purchases and rentals before selling blanket streaming licenses. You can buy digital copies of movies as soon as they are released on DVD/Blu-ray, or pay a couple of quid to rent them for a watch or two.

Lovefilm By Post, however, was an unlimited service. The top, £12 per month tier (£10 for Prime subscribers, naturally) offered unlimited rentals, which is something that simply isn’t replicated by streaming services these days — the way streaming licences work makes this impossible. It was inevitable Lovefilm By Post wasn’t going to be viable forever, but come October 31st, we’re not just losing a forgotten rental service, but the last unlimited movie subscription of its kind.

Via: Robert Purchese (Twitter)

Source: Amazon

Canary improves livestream skills of its home security camera

Smart home security company Canary has unveiled a new range of features to make it easier to keep an eye on your home, including two-way audio, a web app and real-time monitoring. The updates join Canary’s existing line of features which include intelligent security alerts, video playback, home health monitoring and incident support.

First up is Canary Talk, which connects remote users to people (or pets, if that’s your thing) inside the protected property through real-time conversation. This is usually called two-way audio, but Canary’s offering allows multiple remote users to log in and chat simultaneously. This feature is available for Canary All-in-One devices today, and for Canary Flex come September.

Then there’s a new web app service which allows desktop streaming. Previously users relied on their smartphones, Apple TV or Apple Watch for video playback, so this addition — which some might argue is long overdue — makes monitoring more accessible. This option is available from today to everyone with a Canary membership. Finally, and perhaps most pertinently to a home security service, users can now stream live video in real-time via their smartphones. Canary’s latency-mitigating upgrade, called Watch Live, does away with the app’s previous streaming delay. This is also open now to all Canary users.

“Canary redefined how people interact with their environments and loved ones, and today’s upgrades are true to our mission of building products that get smarter and more sophisticated over time,” said Adam Sager, CEO and cofounder of Canary. “By design, we’ve created a smart networked video platform that serves our users in ways that traditional security simply cannot.”

ZTE’s latest big-screen phone packs dual cameras for $129

While the rest of the tech world gets ready for the return of Samsung’s Galaxy Note line, ZTE continues its quiet takeover of the budget phablet market. Every year since 2014, the company has released a low-cost handset with a large screen, generous battery and surprisingly modern features (think: fingerprint sensors and USB-C ports). This time is no different. The 6-inch Blade ZMax is now available for pre-order via MetroPCS, and will be in stores on August 28th, starting at $129.

What stands out about this year’s model is that it has dual cameras — an unusual feature at this price. A slew of $200 phones unveiled at CES all featured the same iPhone 7 Plus–like setup, but the Blade ZMax is the first to offer it for less than $150. With the pair of sensors on the back, you can take pictures with artificially blurred backgrounds to highlight your subject. The Blade ZMax’s 16-megapixel RGB sensor captures color information, while its 2-megapixel monochrome counterpart takes care of details. During my brief time with the new handset, this system worked, blurring out chairs and desks in the background while keeping the man in the foreground crisp.

The Blade ZMax’s images fall short of those taken with iPhone 7 Plus, though. Apple’s software delivers cleaner, sharper pictures with better-defined edges between the subject and the background. Upon closer inspection, I also noticed a halo effect around the subject in shots taken with the Blade ZMax. It could be because I was using a defective unit, although ZTE hasn’t responded to my question as to whether this was the case. Still, the artifact was minor enough to overlook, and I’m not going to nitpick about a device that costs less than a night out with friends.

There’s really not much else to say about the Blade ZMax. Its rear is covered with a grippier dotted texture than its predecessor’s matte cover, while its battery is now 4,080mAh, up from 3,400mAh on last year’s model. Impressively, the phone is ever so slightly (0.03 inch) slimmer than its predecessor, despite that larger cell inside. But I still prefer the older handset’s aesthetic, which featured a blue rear with rose gold accents. The new rubbery cover feels comfortable, but it looks dull.

ZTE also opted for Japanese company Asahi’s Dragontail glass on its display instead of Corning’s Gorilla Glass. We’d seen this material on the Neo Reloaded as well, but Dragontail hasn’t shown up in other phones yet. From my time with the Blade ZMax, the different glass had no noticeable impact on the screen’s quality; colors and text on the 6-inch full HD display looked about as rich and sharp as on competing devices I’ve tested.

Although it has a more rugged aesthetic than its predecessor, the Blade ZMax is a well-rounded device for the price. In fact, it’s the only 6-inch phone around with relatively modern features for less than $150. There are some compromises you’ll have to tolerate in exchange for the savings, but people looking for a new handset with a large screen will find the Blade ZMax a promising option.

Delorean’s next car is a flying one

Paul DeLorean is as famous as Larry Page, Airbus or Uber, but he’s competing with all three in the race to build a flying car. DeLorean does have a famous name, and is the nephew of the John DeLorean, maker of the eponymous sports car made famous by Back to the Future. In a profile at Wired, the youger DeLorean reveals his plans for the DeLorean DR-7, a two-seater VTOL craft for personal transport.

According to the report, the DR-7 has four wings and a pair of winglets, while you’ll find a fan jet up front and ’round back. The two fans will tilt, much like the Harrier and Osprey, from a horizontal orientation for take off and landing, through to vertical for flight. So far, DeLorean has built a dummy model that measures 30 feet long and 18.5 feet wide, although plans to have it fold down enough to fit in a large garage.

DeLorean intends to realize his dream of creating an autonomous, battery-powered craft with a range of 120 miles. That outrageous range is, he claims, because he plans to cruise at higher altitudes than other flying car projects. DeLorean expects to have a working prototype by the end of next year, and will conduct unmanned test-flights shortly afterward.

What DeLorean, or anyone else for that matter, has failed to explain is how exactly all of this is going to work in practice. For instance, what sort of air traffic control setup will be required to ensure mid-air collisions don’t become commonplace? If a car has engine failure on a highway, that’s a problem, but what happens if your VTOL craft conks out in a built-up area?

Not that those questions necessarily need to be answered just yet, after all, there’s still all the Doc Brown gags to do in the next decade.

Via: Wired

Source: DeLorean Airspacw

Multiple Apple Suppliers Share Revenue Reports Ahead of ‘Peak’ iPhone and Apple Watch Season

A collection of Apple suppliers have shared revenue reports today, which also provide a glimpse into the upcoming “peak” iPhone and Apple Watch manufacturing season. Starting off, Foxconn looked back at its profits in July and reported consolidated revenues of NT$315.06 billion (US$10.62 billion) for the month, which marks an increase of 7.53 percent year-on-year. For the first seven months of 2017, Foxconn’s combined revenues were NT$2.2 trillion, increasing by 1.64 percent year-on-year (via DigiTimes).

Those watching Foxconn’s revenue report are now expecting the October-December period to be the “peak of 2017” for the company, thanks to its status as one of Apple’s biggest suppliers and the launch of the iPhone 8 sometime in September. Foxconn’s revenue will increase “gradually” in August, according to market watchers, and will continue until the end of the year. Holiday spending traditionally helps increase Apple and its suppliers’ revenue, even boosting Foxconn’s December period in 2016 in the face of an overall year that saw its first-ever profit decline.

Check out our recent hands-on with an iPhone 8 dummy model

Some market watchers expect Foxconn’s revenues to increase gradually beginning August and the growth will last until the end of 2017 with the fourth quarter being the peak of 2017 for Foxconn.

Apple Watch supplier Quanta Computer announced revenues for the second quarter of 2017 at NT$235.37 billion (US$7.93 billion), growing 3.3 percent from the previous quarter and 13.3 percent from the year-ago quarter. Today’s report stated that next-generation Apple Watch shipments will begin in the fourth quarter, gradually increasing Quanta’s financial performance in the second half of 2017 — a sentiment that’s been shared in previous supply chain reports due to Quanta’s status as the sole supplier of the “Apple Watch Series 3.”

With the notebook market entering the traditional peak season, its server shipments expected to enjoy growth and the next-generation Apple Watch set to begin shipments in the fourth quarter, some market watchers expect Quanta’s financial performances to gradually pick up in the second half of 2017.

In other supply chain ramp-up stories, TSMC has entered mass production on the iPhone 8’s A11 chip in the third quarter of 2017. The next-generation chip is being crafted with a new 10-nanometer FinFET process, and originally began production back in May after a month-long delay. TSMC is also using its 10nm manufacturing process to build the new iPad Pro’s A10X processors, and it’s predicted the A11 processors will also find their way into the “iPhone 7s” and “iPhone 7s Plus.”

In addition, TSMC has already started mass production of 10nm FinFET chips in the third quarter, driven by Apple’s orders, the report indicated. TSMC’s 10nm FinFET process has been adopted by Apple for its A10X processors for use in its 10.5- and 12.9-inch iPad Pro tablets and A11 chips that will power the upcoming iPhones.

There have been numerous reports from Apple’s supply chain in recent weeks, timed ahead of the rumored announcement of the iPhone 8 in September. These include a report centered on Lumentum and “massive” orders it has received for components related to its vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers. Such technology is believed to be for the advanced camera and 3D sensing features of the iPhone 8.

Last week, all three new iPhones were reportedly entering volume production, and Samsung Display began gearing up to operate seven of its next-generation OLED lines at full capacity earlier this month, all aimed at the iPhone 8. In terms of the main suppliers for Apple’s next-generation OLED smartphone, Foxconn, Pegatron, and Wistron are predicted to hit a sales high in the period running from September to November of this year, due to shipments of finished iPhones that will “start gaining momentum” as soon as this month.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8
Tags: TSMC, Foxconn, Quanta
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Leaked videos may show iPhone 8 getting care and attention in the factory

Why it matters to you

The phone seen inside the factory may be the iPhone 8, and the body doesn’t have a rear cutout for a fingerprint sensor, signally Apple has solved its technical problems.

This year has seen more Apple iPhone rumors than ever before, and to accompany the leaks showing the possible iPhone 8/iPhone X design, specs, and features, a pair of videos apparently filmed inside the factory producing the phones have been published online. The release of the videos either highlights the difficulty Apple is having keeping its next phone a secret in 2017, or the extent to which it’s orchestrating the leaks surrounding the device.

Neither video is very long, and at first glance, it’s difficult to pick out much detail. However, pay close attention to the production line video, and you’ll spot a device which matches many of the leaks we’ve already seen, with a very interesting omission. The 10-second video was filmed walking down a production line, where dozens of workers appear to polish the rear panel on a smartphone. A close up reveals the device has a vertically stacked dual-lens camera on the back, a distinct feature which has separated the iPhone X design leaks from other iPhone 7S/7S Plus models.

What’s interesting here is the lack of a cutout for a fingerprint sensor on the rear, a feature feared to be introduced on the iPhone 8 by iPhone fans, due to Apple possibly being unable to integrate a fingerprint sensor into the phone’s bezel-less screen. Its absence in the video isn’t absolute proof Apple will use either an on-screen sensor or facial recognition only; but it seems unlikely a team of workers would be cleaning a device destined to have more holes cut in it later on.

The second video shows even less detail, as the individual filming the factory passes racks of smartphone bodies, apparently waiting for further processing. Pausing the video at the start shows the device has the same vertically stacked camera lens arrangement, and lack of further cutouts, on the back. The Apple logo is absent throughout, so it’s not certain this is an iPhone. It’s also unclear which factory is being filmed; but any Apple executive watching will likely be able to quickly find out.

Whether strategic leaks by Apple in the face of hyped-up and popular bezel-less phones from Samsung, LG, and others, or the work of daring insiders; the iPhone 8/iPhone X is likely the most leaked iPhone we’ve ever seen.

Mint SIM vs. Project Fi: Which is better for you?

It’s Mint SIM vs. Project Fi in this head-to-head comparison.

Mint SIM and Project Fi are “alternative carriers” or mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). They’re not the Big Four (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile), but they lease coverage from those networks and resell it to you for less. Plans are often prepaid and fixed contracts are few and far between.

Let’s compare Mint SIM and Project Fi to see how they stack up against one another.

• Mint SIM background
• Project Fi background
• Mint SIM plans
• Mint SIM phones
• Project Fi plans
• Project Fi phones
• Which should you go with?

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Mint SIM background

Who owns it? Ultra Mobile

Which network does it use? T-Mobile 4G LTE

How long has it been around? Since 2016

Tethering allowed? No.

Cheapest plan: $45 for 3 months: 2GB 4G LTE, unlimited nationwide talk, text, and 2G data

Project Fi background

Who owns it? Google

Which network does it use? Sprint CDMA and LTE, T-Mobile 4G LTE, U.S. Cellular CDMA and LTE

How long has it been around? Since 2015

Tethering allowed? Yes

Cheapest plan: $20/month: Unlimited nationwide talk and text, unlimited international text

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Mint SIM plans

Mint SIM doesn’t operate with traditional contracts. You pay up front for your term, which can be 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months, with “buying in bulk” saving you more money in the long run. All plans include unlimited nationwide talk, text, and data, though you only get so much 4G LTE per month. Unlimited international texting is included in all plans.

3 months	$15/month ($45 upfront)	$20/month ($60 upfront)	$25/month ($75 upfront)
6 months	$18/month ($108 upfront)	$24/month ($144 upfront)	$30/month ($180 upfront)
12 months	$15/month ($180 upfront)	$20/month ($240 upfront)	$25/month ($300 upfront)

Add-ons

As far as add-ons are concerned, Mint SIM’s selection is very slim:

Extra data:

• 1GB/month: $10
• 3GB/month: $20

International credit:

Mint SIM’s plans contain no international calling, though unlimited international texting is included. You can add international calling credit to your account in $5, $10, or $20 increments.

You can see a list of international rates here.

Mint SIM also offers a 7-day money back guarantee on service plans.

Mint SIM phones

Mint SIM uses T-Mobile’s nationwide network. Any phone built for T-Mobile will work with Mint SIM’s LTE network and Wi-Fi calling options. For Unlocked phones, the network requirements are:

• Phones supporting only 1900 MHZ and 850 MHz will be able to use the service, but won’t be able to access the high-speed network in many parts of the U.S.
• A fully compatible phone is one that supports the AWS bands (1700/2100 MHz), the 1900 MHz and 850 MHz bands and Band 12 (700 MHz).

If you’re not sure the phone you have will work, give Mint a call at 844-646-8746 (6-6 PT Mon-Fri, 8-5 PT on Saturday) or you can chat with a specialist at the Mint SIM website.

Project Fi plans

Project Fi offers two types of plans: family and single line. What you get with each plan is the same, but you’ll save money on each additional family plan line (up to 5 lines).

Price	$20/month	$10/month
Free Extras	Unlimited international texting Call and text from any Android or iPhone

Family Plan

Primary line price	$20/month	$10/month
Secondary lines (up to 5)	$15/month	$10/month
Free Extras	Unlimited international textingCall and text from any Android or iPhone

Note: Google calls the base Project Fi plan “The Basics.” No data is included and must be purchased at the rate of $10/GB. Data is not shared between lines on a family plan. Each line pays the same $10 per GB of data (domestic and international in 135 countries) with the cost of any unused data refunded at the end of each month

Add-ons

Data-only SIM:

Google offers a data-only SIM card to use in any compatible LTE device, It shares data with the primary line at the same $10/GB rate. You need to have at least one line of service and purchase a minimum of 1GB of data to use the data-only SIM card.

Data pricing:

• 1GB of 4G LTE: $10/month

Phone Insurance:

$5 per month per device covers accidental damages and device malfunctions. You can make one in a 12-month period. Deductibles are $79 for Pixel, $99 for Pixel XL, $69 for Nexus 5X, $99 for Nexus 6P. When you make a claim Google will ship out a replacement device the next business day.

International add-ons:

International cellular calls cost $0.20 per minute.

• Learn more

Google Wi-Fi services:

Your Project Fi phone service includes Wi-Fi calling and texting anywhere in the world. In addition, Google VPN services are available and allow you to connect to open Wi-Fi hotspots safely and securely.

• Learn more

Project Fi and Google Hangouts apps:

The Project Fi app is tied to your Google account and can be installed on any Android or iPhone. You can pay your bill, check account balances and talk to customer service through the app at no cost. The Google Hangouts app allows calls and texts using your Project Fi number on any Android or iPhone.

Project Fi phones

Project Fi only supports phones from Google. That means your selection is currently limited to:

• Nexus 5X
• Nexus 6P
• Google Pixel
• Google Pixel XL

Note: While it’s possible to enable Project Fi on unsupported phones, this is against the Project Fi terms of service.

A data-only SIM is available and can be used in any compatible LTE device as long as at least one line of Fi service is active.

Which should I go with?

Google’s Project Fi refunds you for any unused data every month, but the $10/GB baseline means it will always be the more expensive option when buying data. From a pure price perspective, Mint SIM is the better bargain.

That being said, if you aren’t using a lot of data every month or can take advantage of the Google VPN Wi-Fi offloading, Project Fi’s options and services can be compelling. Google is a bit more forward thinking than most other carriers and services like the free VPN that connects you to open WI-Fi hotspots and free international texting from any Android or iPhone can’t be ignored. Nor can the excellent coverage map Project Fi offers through the combined network of T-Mobile, Sprint, and US Cellular and Wi-Fi services.

The final thing to consider is phone choice. Your new Samsung Galaxy S8 or iPhone isn’t supported on Project Fi, which only officially supports phones from Google. Both, as well as many other unlocked models, are supported by Mint SIM.

Both carriers are a great way to break free of the shackles of the Big Four carriers, but your usage will determine which is best for you.

Update August 2017: with new plan pricing and terms.

Alternative carriers (MVNOS)

• What is an alternative mobile carrier?
• What are the advantages of going with an alternative carrier?
• How to make sure your phone works on a prepaid alternative carrier
• 8 Important Considerations When Switching To An MVNO
• These are the cheapest data plans you can buy in the U.S.
• Mint SIM vs. Cricket Wireless: Which is better for you?

The Morning After: Monday, August 14th 2017

It’s Monday morning! Over the weekend you may have missed more HBO hacker leaks, and how you can now get Google’s Pixel phone’s camera tricks on other smartphones.

You won’t need to switch phones to get improved HDR photos.
Google Pixel’s camera trick comes to other phones through a mod

Much of the Google Pixel’s photographic prowess comes from its software — it’s particularly good at high dynamic range photos thanks to its HDR+ mode, which fills in gobs of detail while reducing the blur you sometimes see in HDR shots. But do you have to buy a Pixel phone to see the benefit? Not necessarily, if you’re willing to live life on the edge. Developer B-S-G has modified the Google Camera app to enable HDR+ on any Android phone with a Snapdragon 820, 821 or 835 processor. While your Galaxy S8 or OnePlus 3 won’t perfectly mirror the Pixel’s photo quality, this could lead to improvements when taking photos in situations with bright highlights or dark shadows, where HDR, well, shines.

It doesn’t want customers going blind.
Amazon offers refunds for dodgy solar-eclipse glasses

It cares.

The latest dump includes new ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm.’
HBO refuses to play ball with hackers as more episodes leak

HBO isn’t willing to budge. Despite hackers having already dumped episodes of its shows, plus an archive of emails from HBO VP Leslie Cohen, online, it’s not willing to pay its hacker ransomers. It doesn’t seem like they’re done yet, either. The latest leak includes episodes from the upcoming season of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Self-driving cars could loosen up if they collide with humans.
Waymo patents cars that soften to safeguard pedestrians

The Alphabet-owned Waymo recently received a patent for technology that would soften a car’s body in the event of a collision with a pedestrian. The feature would change the rigidity of body panels, bumpers and the hood using underlying cables, rods or springs. The moment sensors detect an imminent pedestrian impact, the car would loosen those underpinnings and create a relatively gentle surface to reduce injuries. However, for now, it’s just a patent.

But wait, there’s more…

• Facebook knew about Snap’s struggles months before the public
• After Math: come out and burn
• Super-thin semiconductors delay the ‘death’ of silicon