HBO Announces iOS App-Based TV Show ‘Mosaic’ With Branching Narrative and Multiple Endings

HBO recently announced a new TV project in the works by director Steven Soderbergh called “Mosaic.” The show will air as a six-part linear narrative in early 2018, but in addition to the traditional distribution, HBO is launching an app where viewers can watch the show, make decisions, and help shape the outcome of certain events (via The Verge).

The Mosaic iOS app will be available to download for free beginning in November, and it will let viewers choose what point of view they want to follow the story, effectively building their own experience from material written and directed by Ed Solomon and Soderbergh, respectively. According to HBO, each choice “builds upon one another,” leading to different versions of the same scene, and different endings.

In January 2018, the linear version of Mosaic will air on HBO and the network said that this will allow viewers to compare their own version of the story with Soderbergh’s narrative.

“MOSAIC is a branching narrative piece. While branching narratives have been around forever, technology now allows, I hope, for a more elegant, intuitive form of engagement than used to be possible. Also, we weren’t reverse engineering the story to fit an existing piece of technology; the story was being created in lockstep with the technical team. The fluidity of that relationship made me feel comfortable because I wanted it to be a simple, intuitive experience. I didn’t want moments where you are making a decision to feel like interruptions.”

In both mediums, the show will star Sharon Stone, Garrett Hedlund, Beau Bridges, Paul Reubens, and others. The iOS app will include character profiles and various pieces of content — like newspaper clippings and voice recordings — that serve to deepen the show’s story. The plot itself is largely being kept under wraps by HBO and Soderbergh, but is expected to have some murder mystery elements.

Tag: HBO
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Tim Cook Visits iPhone X Supplier, Normandy Cemetery, and ‘My Little Paris’ Startup on French Trip

Apple CEO Tim Cook is in Paris today ahead of a meeting with the French president Emmanuel Macron at 4:15 CEST. Before that meeting happens, Cook has a full itinerary for his day and the CEO has been documenting parts of his travels on Twitter.

Cook’s first Tweet noted his visitation to Eldim, a company based in Normandy that specializes in creating advanced optical metrology tools. Eldim is a component supplier of the upcoming iPhone X, providing Apple with critical components of the iPhone X’s Face ID biometric security system.

Thanks to my friends at Eldim, a team of talented engineers and craftspeople helping make iPhone possible. Bravo pour votre travail! 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/hEpxD3iBGf

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) October 9, 2017

Specifically, Eldim is said to be responsible for the eye detection abilities of Face ID — a crucial factor in Apple’s new software, which can detect when a user’s eyes are open (unlocking the iPhone X) or closed (keeping the smartphone locked). Eldim CEO Thierry Leroux called the collaboration with Apple “an incredible adventure.” Leroux further stated that, “for us it was a bit like sending someone to the moon.” Tim Cook was said to have responded with a congratulations and telling the company and its 42 employees, “it’s great what you did for us!” (via Mac Generation and Ouest-France).

While in Normandy, Cook visited the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, which honors the American lives that were lost in Europe during World War II.

At Normandy, honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice. “Think not only upon their passing. Remember the glory of their spirit.” pic.twitter.com/Unq6NXoe5y

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) October 9, 2017

Cook also made a surprise visit to a startup called “My Little Paris” where he shared a roast chicken with employees. My Little Paris specializes in recommending sites and attractions to see around the city. Originating as a weekly newsletter created by Fany Péchiodat and sent to her friends and family, the original idea has since evolved into a $42 million startup.

Visite surprise de @tim_cook ! Le CEO d’@Apple a partagé un poulet rôti chez #MyLittleParis pour célébrer ses 11 applications. pic.twitter.com/6Kv1SC7OLk

— MyLittleParis (@My_Little_Paris) October 9, 2017

Next up should be Cook’s meeting with Macron. The topics of discussion for this meeting are being kept secret, but the two men are largely expected to talk about the issue of corporate tax law in France. In August, France and Germany announced preparations to stop tech companies like Apple from exploiting tax loopholes in their respective countries, with Macron leading the crackdown on international tech companies in France.

Cook’s visit to France in 2017 follows a troublesome period of months for Apple back in 2016, when 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 appealed the decision in December of 2016 by arguing the European Commission made “fundamental errors” in its ruling, but the Cupertino company has noted that it expects the case to continue for several years.

In the wake of these reports, Cook called the tax avoidance claims “total political crap,” writing an open letter that stated Apple has become “the largest taxpayer in the world,” and that the company “follows the law and we pay all the taxes we owe.”

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: Tim Cook, France
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World View nails longest flight yet with data-gathering Stratollite balloon

Why it matters to you

World View’s balloon-based Stratollite system could transform the way scientists observe, react to, and collect data about our planet.

Elon Musk and his SpaceX team may grab all of the headlines with their rocket-landing feats and talk of going to Mars, but an Arizona-based outfit has been working diligently on its own high-altitude project aimed at drastically reducing the cost of satellite deployment.

World View, which has a number of different sky-based projects on the go, just scored a success with its Stratollite balloon system by completing a five-day flight, its longest yet in the stratosphere.

The Stratollite is an uncrewed and remotely controlled vehicle that’s taken to the edge of space by a system of high-altitude balloons. Offering deployment at low cost and for long durations, the Stratollite harnesses stratospheric winds to move to and from desired locations and, once fully developed should be able to stay floating on the edge of space for up to several months.

“This is our first successful attempt at testing all of the Stratollite’s integrated critical systems over the course of multiple days, and we’re thrilled with how everything worked,” said Jane Poynter, World View founder and CEO. “This is an enormous leap in our development program and we’re certain the Stratollite is going to forge a new path in how we observe, react to, and collect data about our planet.”

Five days may not seem that long considering World View plans months-long flights with its balloon, but this latest mission was a significant improvement on the Stratollite’s previous longest flight of just 27 hours.

The Stratollite is capable of carrying a wide variety of commercial payloads, including sensors, telescopes, and communications arrays, all of which can be brought safely back to terra firma once the mission is over. World View engineers say the system has the potential to help researchers “greatly advance knowledge of planet Earth, improve our ability to identify and track severe weather, and assist first responders during natural disasters.”

Flying at an altitude of between 55,000 and 75,000 feet, the Stratollite’s most recent test flight saw it successfully demonstrate both directional steering and station-keeping trajectories. Its solar-power systems also operated as planned through day and night cycles, the team confirmed. It took to the skies equipped with a Canon EOS 5DS camera, enabling World View to demonstrate the Stratollite as a viable platform for high-altitude Earth observation.

It also carried a communications payload for U.S. Southern Command, which could use World View’s technology in the fight against human and drug trafficking, as well as maritime piracy in sparsely monitored locations.

The company is also trying out a system for near real-time, high-bandwidth data transfer from a high altitude that could be used to deliver real-time data to future commercial customers.

Other World View projects include Voyager, a balloon-based space tourism capsule, which, if it makes it through the testing stage, will cost moneyed tourists $75,000 each for the ride of a lifetime.

Solar Challenge sets sun-powered cars in race across Australia

Why it matters to you

Improving designs and falling costs point to the exciting possibility of a marketable solar-powered car one day trundling along the street.

Being cooped up inside one of the cars racing in Australia’s biannual World Solar Challenge from Darwin to Adelaide looks like the most uncomfortable experience ever for those behind the wheel. You can imagine the drivers having to be lifted out of the vehicle by a small crane once they cross the finish line, their limbs having seized up somewhere south of Uluru.

Aimed at inspiring research and development work in sustainable road transport, the 30th anniversary of the 1,860-mile race kicked off on Sunday with 42 solar-panel-laden cars from 40 countries hitting the road across three classes of vehicle.

The Challenger category tends to get the most attention thanks to the cars’ often striking designs that allow them to reach speeds of just over 60 mph using only the power of the sun.

Lined up and ready for action, the first out of #Darwin get ready to roll. #BWSC17 pic.twitter.com/LSL3UbAEQs

— World SolarChallenge (@WorldSolarChlg) October 7, 2017

This year the race organizers decided to make things a little tougher for the designers and engineers who create the cars by decreasing the permitted size of the solar collector area on each vehicle.

The favorite to reach the finish line first is Nuna9 from the Dutch Nuon Solar Team, which is aiming for its eighth World Solar Challenge win. The team says it has tweaked Nuna9’s design for this year’s event by removing its overhanging nose to reduce aerodynamic drag.

“With our successes in previous years, every year is harder to get a great result,” the team said. “This means our students have to become more innovative every year.”

We told you these cars can seriously move – @uitm_EcoSprint sitting on 90 clicks coming out of Darwin #BASC17 pic.twitter.com/LsaUuDQMDF

— World SolarChallenge (@WorldSolarChlg) October 8, 2017

U.S. participation includes the Sundae solar car from Stanford University. The team said its design aims for “reliability and safety … rather than focusing primarily on speed, paying special attention to car handling when possible,” adding that the race is “a unique opportunity to exercise our car in the most intense way possible, truly proving its mettle and testing our team at the same time.”

Racers in the Challenger class will be out to beat the fastest time to date, set by a Japanese team from Tokai University, which crossed the line with a driving time of 29 hours and 49 minutes in 2009.

Besides the Challenger class, the Cruiser category focuses more on practical designs that you might actually want to ride in for more than a few minutes, and includes at least two seats. The Adventure class, meanwhile, comprises cars from previous races and could include those that don’t quite meet the requirements for the other two categories.

The vehicles, which make several stops along the route through Australia’s barren outback, are expected to cross the finish line in Adelaide on Thursday, October 12.

Walmart shopping app to challenge Amazon by speeding up in-store returns

Why it matters to you

Anything that improves the online shopping experience — including when you want to return something — has to be a good thing.

When you consider that nearly a third of items ordered online end up getting returned, ecommerce companies need to ensure that the process of sending something back is as simple and straightforward as possible.

Walmart, which has been steadily building out its online shopping service to take on the likes of Amazon, is about to unveil a new system via its smartphone app that aims to expedite the returns process, Bloomberg reports.

Launching in November just as the busy holiday season moves into full swing, shoppers with an unwanted item bought online can hit the app to notify Walmart they no longer want it, and then head straight to the nearest Walmart store to offload it. Using the app to notify the store of their impending visit means the average time it will take to return an item will be cut from five minutes to just 30 seconds, with customers directed to a dedicated express lane for customer service. Funds will be returned to the customer’s account within 24 hours.

At launch, Walmart’s speedier returns service will only apply to items bought online, though it may be introduced for goods bought in stores starting in 2018. The service can’t be used for anything bought via its site from resellers and dealers, and customers will of course still have the option to return goods by mail within 90 days of receiving them.

Bloomberg reports that some items, such as shampoo and cosmetics, will be credited without the customer even having to hand them over, though the store will have to have a robust system in place to ensure no one abuses the process, an issue that hits rival firm Amazon from time to time.

Walmart: ‘Saving time is the new currency’

Commenting on the imminent launch of the new returns service, which is expected to be officially announced by the company on Monday, October 9, Walmart’s Daniel Eckert told Bloomberg, “We recognize that saving time is the new currency for customers, as much as saving money.”

Walmart’s effort to improve its returns process comes less than a month after Amazon announced a partnership with retail chain Kohl’s that allows Amazon shoppers to return items, for free, via one of 82 Kohl’s locations in Chicago and Los Angeles. If all goes well, Amazon could seek to expand the service to all of Kohl’s 1,100-plus stores across the United States.

The Morning After: Monday, October 9th 2017

Hey, good morning!

Welcome to your week! Over the weekend, we mention a few ghosts from smartphone past, we pour one out for the end of AIM, and there’s the return of our robotic table-tennis rival.

It’s a KEYOne for the less-traditional crowd.BlackBerry Motion arrives with no keyboard and a giant battery

That didn’t take long. Mere days after images emerged, BlackBerry has launched the Motion. As expected, it’s effectively a KEYone without the keyboard… and a couple of extra perks. You’re still looking at a mid-range device with a Snapdragon 625 chip, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and a 12-megapixel rear camera, just with a 5.5-inch 1080p display taking up most of the front (there’s still a fingerprint reader). However, it’s what you can’t see that makes the difference. The Motion is IP67 water-resistant, and it packs a whopping 4,000mAh battery. Given the middling processor, this likely translates to a phone that can easily handle a full day off the charger.

He’s confirming that Windows for phones is basically on life support.
Microsoft exec says Windows 10 Mobile is no longer a ‘focus’

It’s no secret that work on Windows 10 Mobile has wound down given the lack of new devices, but what’s happening with it, exactly? Well, Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore has just settled the matter. The Windows VP (and former Windows Phone program manager) informed Twitter users that new features and hardware for Windows 10 Mobile “aren’t the focus” anymore. There will be fixes and security patches, of course, but you shouldn’t expect more than that.

And it’s probably not too late to apply for the 2020 Olympics.
OMRON’s updated ping-pong robot can serve and handle smashes

At Japan’s eccentric tech show, CEATEC, we knew OMRON would once again bring out its massive table-tennis robot to belittle us humans, but what Senior Editor Richard Lai didn’t expect was a significant performance jump this time. FORPHEUS, now in its fourth generation, features improved AI to boost its responsiveness — so much that it can now predict and attempt to deal with smashes. Better yet, there’s now a companion robot arm that throws a ball up and lets FORPHEUS serve. Which should mean less mid-training ball chasing, right?

Where words are not, feeling remains.
AIM: AFK 4EVA

For the better part of two decades, AIM (previously AOL Instant Messenger) was the way to communicate online. For a certain generation, which most of the Engadget staff happens to be a part of, it defined their youth. We made friends from across the globe, and a few of us even found love. Now the OG of instant messaging apps is being put out to pasture. On December 15th, AIM will finally shut down. But first the Engadget staff wanted to give it a proper send off.

But wait, there’s more…

• Recommended Reading: The ‘Blade Runner’ effect on electronic music
• MLB fines coach for wearing an Apple Watch during a game
• Casio’s 2.5D printer can mimic leather and fabric
• Facebook aims to balance its fact checking with a right-wing magazine

Google’s Store is now just a click away from its homepage

Google is making its minimal homepage that little bit busier. Keep your eyes peeled the next time you land on Google.com and you should spot two new links in the upper left hand corner. “About” and “Store” are the debutants. One gives you the lowdown on the company’s history, software, team, and search Trends. The other is aimed at your wallet. Yes, Google wants you to know that it’s a serious hardware player now. And, what better way to do that than to navigate you to its store.

The company recently unveiled its flagship Pixel 2 phones, a new Daydream VR headset, and little and large additions to its smart speaker family, among other (equally impressive) items. This is its (unobtrusive) way of serving them directly to you. The new links were spotted by Android Police, which also saw a bunch of text ads for the new products below the search bar on October 5th (but they seem to have vanished since).

So, the next time you jump on Google.com in search of a smartphone, you may not have to look very far. If Google has its way, you’ll shop directly from the source — just don’t go expecting to buy an Android Wear smartwatch while you’re there.

Via: Android Police

Apple Quietly Releases iTunes 12.6.3 With Built-In App Store

Apple has quietly released iTunes 12.6.3, which reintroduces the ability to download App Store apps and ringtones from within the iTunes desktop software.

Apple is making this version of iTunes available because “certain business partners might still need to use iTunes to install apps”, but the download is basically available to anyone looking to reinstate the functionality that was removed in iTunes 12.7.

If you’ve already installed a newer version of iTunes, you can download this version of iTunes on your Mac, PC 32-bit or PC 64-bit and run the installer. After installation is complete, you can continue to deploy apps with iTunes. You won’t be prompted to download new versions of iTunes after you install this version.

Installation packages for Mac and PC (32-bit and 64-bit) are available for download on the support page. After the installation, most users will need to rebuild their iTunes Library. To do this, hold down the Option key when the app launches and in the dialog window that appears choose “Create Library…”. Give the new library a name that’s different to your existing library, and then migrate over your albums using the Add to Library… option under the Files menu.

Apple released iTunes 12.7 in September and said the new version was designed to focus solely on music, movies, TV shows, and podcasts, audiobooks, which was the reason behind the removal of the built-in App Store. Following the change, apps and ringtones could only be downloaded on an iOS device.

This special “business edition” of iTunes includes compatibility with iOS 11, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. It’s not clear how long Apple will offer iTunes 12.6.3, and the company does not provide technical support for this version, but for those who want the functionality it could be a useful makeweight until Apple comes up with an alternative solution.

(Thanks, Luming!)

Tag: iTunes
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Microsoft Admits Windows Phone is Basically Dead

Microsoft has publicly admitted for the first time that its Windows Phone is dead. In a series of tweets, Windows 10 chief Joe Belfiore said that the company is no longer developing new features or hardware for Windows 10 Mobile, with only bug fixes and security updates to come for existing users.

Belfiore explained that his team had tried “very hard” to incentivize app developers by paying them and writing apps for them, but the low volume of users meant it was no longer worth the investment in Windows Phone.

Microsoft officially ended support for Windows Phone back in July, but the software giant never owned up to the fact that the move was essentially the final nail in the coffin for its flagship mobile platform. Today’s news that the Windows 10 Mobile hardware is no longer a focus for the company now puts that beyond doubt, and makes the possibility of a long-rumored Surface-branded phone seem further away than ever.

Of course we’ll continue to support the platform.. bug fixes, security updates, etc. But building new features/hw aren’t the focus. 😟 https://t.co/0CH9TZdIFu

— Joe Belfiore (@joebelfiore) October 8, 2017

Windows Phone was released in 2010 and quickly became the world’s third most popular mobile operating system, but the platform couldn’t compete with iOS and Android, which accounted for a combined 99.6 percent market share earlier this year.

In another sign of the times, the New York Police Department recently confirmed it will begin transitioning from Windows Phones to iPhones for its 36,000 police officers in the fall.

In Belfiore’s series of tweets, the corporate VP also revealed that he had switched away from Windows Phone to a rival mobile operating system, but didn’t say which one.

Tags: Microsoft, Windows 10, Windows Phone
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Engadget UK giveaway: Win an iPhone 8 courtesy of Casetify

Even the sweet scent of autumn rain can’t beat that new iPhone smell, and that’s exactly what we’re giving away this week. And not just that, but an actual gold iPhone 8 (64GB) to go with it, thanks to our friends at Casetify. They’ve also been kind enough to bundle that with a £35 voucher for the winner to put towards one of their standard or personalised cases. If you’ve got your heart set on an iPhone X, you can prepare for its arrival with one of Casetify’s covers for that device, too. As always, you can enter the competition up to three times, but not before you give the rules a once-over, capiche?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

• Entries are handled through the Rafflecopter widget above. Comments are no longer accepted as valid methods of entry. You may enter without any obligation to social media accounts, though we may offer them as opportunities for extra entries. Your email address is required so we can get in touch with you if you win, but it will not be given to third parties.
• Contest is open to all residents of the UK, 18 or older! Sorry, we don’t make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so direct your anger at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
• Winners will be chosen randomly. One (1) winner will receive one (1) iPhone 8 and one (1) £35 Casetify voucher code.
• If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Make sure that the account you use to enter the contest includes your real name and a contact email or Facebook login. We do not track any of this information for marketing or third-party purposes.
• This unit is purely for promotional giveaway. Apple, Casetify and Engadget / Oath are not held liable to honour warranties, exchanges or customer service.
• The full list of rules, in all its legalese glory, can be found here.
• Entries can be submitted until October 13th at 11:59PM BST. Good luck!

Source: Casetify