Google Fiber won’t offer TV in San Antonio and Louisville

It’s no secret that Google Fiber is struggling. Its CEO George McCray stepped down in July, only five months into his term, and parent company Alphabet has yet to announce a replacement. On top of that, Fiber’s rollout hasn’t gone as planned, with the company reportedly running up the budget and having to compromise on the products it offers consumers. And things don’t seem to be getting much better. Google Fiber has now revealed that when it launches in Louisville, Kentucky and San Antonio, Texas, it will only focus on providing high-speed internet and not a TV add-on.

In a blog post, Google Fiber said that this strategy shift is about “trying something new,” pointing to video-streaming services like Hulu, Netflix and YouTube as examples of how watching television has changed. It added that people in existing markets with a Fiber TV add-on shouldn’t worry, since there aren’t any plans to get rid of that right now. “As customers look for new options that better reflect what they value in their entertainment, sports and news,” the company said, “Google Fiber will also experiment with new ways to deliver that value and opportunity.”

Via: 9to5Google

Source: Google Fiber

Car makers ask US officials to loosen fuel economy requirements

It’s no secret that automakers believe the US’ recently-instituted fuel efficiency requirements are too stringent, but now they’ve made those views official. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which includes companies like GM, Toyota and VW, has made official comments to both the EPA and NHTSA asking the regulators to loosen Obama-era rules intended to raise a fleet’s average fuel economy to 51.4MPG by 2025. They don’t object to the targets as such — rather, they don’t like the projected costs of reaching those targets.

The brands contend that the previous administration made mistakes forecasting the cost of hitting that fuel economy target. There’s a “misalignment” between the ever-tougher requirements and a car market that’s skewing toward less fuel-efficient vehicles, the Alliance claims in its comments to the EPA. Companies contend that previous officials overestimated the ability to hit goals using “conventional technologies.” In other words, they believe that they’d have to use exotic designs to achieve their objectives.

The Alliance also calls for increased flexibility in the rules’ credit system, which lets manufacturers offset low-efficiency cars by producing hyper-efficient cars (including EVs and hybrids). Just what that flexibility entails isn’t clear, but it’s implied that companies would like either more opportunities to earn credits or for their achievements to count more.

Whether or not they’ll get any changes in the rules is another story. The current EPA leadership is close to the fossil fuel industry and has a deregulatory bent, but that won’t matter much if California continues to resist attempts to soften regulations. Like it or not, automakers have to honor the state’s rules if they expect to succeed — if they don’t, they give up sales in California and the 12 other states that follow its lead. As it is, the gripes may not amount to much. Auto giants like GM have already promised an abundance of electric cars over the next several years. They may not need to worry about reaching the 2025 goals if large portions of their lineups are fuel-free before that time.

Source: Reuters

Thousands of cheaters taste the wrath of the banhammer in Battle Royale

Why it matters to you

Just a couple of cheaters can ruin an entire 100-player match, and Epic is aggressively rooting them out and booting them.

Although Epic Games only released its new Battle Royale mode in the free-to-play (FTP) shooter Fortnite a couple weeks ago, it’s already had to unleash a new weapon – the banhammer.

On its game site, Epic Games Community Coordinator Nathan Mooney pulled no punches with a blog post about maintaining the integrity of their online matches. “Let’s be straight for a second, nobody likes playing with cheaters. Not you, not me. Nobody,” he wrote. “We’re exploring every measure to ensure these cheaters are removed and stay removed from Fortnite Battle Royale and the Epic ecosystem.”

Mooney was vague about the actual tools and methods Epic is using to identify cheaters, but he did confirm that thousands have already been booted “and we have no plans to stop!”

Fortnite Battle Royale, built using Unreal Engine 4, is a new free-for-all style multiplayer frenzy, where all 100 players begin on a massive map in a floating bus with a glider and a pickaxe. From that point on, it’s every man or woman for themselves. There are weapons to discover, traps to set, and the last one standing is declared the winner of the match.

Epic also announced that it’s rolling out Account Progression in the next few weeks, letting you earn (and presumably accumulate) items as you play. It also encouraged using its contact form to provide any info about possible cheaters, including any video or screenshot evidence.

Over 1 million players have partied on the Battle Bus during the first day of Battle Royale! Thank you and party on! ???????????? pic.twitter.com/Tdqnk8YClb

— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) September 27, 2017

The game has become insanely popular in just a short time, surpassing seven million players as of this writing (that figure includes all Fortnite players, not just the FTP Battle Royale mode). In addition to the emphasis on cheaters, Epic also released Duos (letting you play Battle Royale with a partner) and Supply Drops (“the best loot you can find” dropping randomly from the sky).

But wait a minute – isn’t there another very popular multiplayer game out there using Unreal that’s quite similar? Indeed there is, and there have been grumblings from PlayerUnknown Battlegrounds about that issue. In a rather rambling interview with PC Gamer, the Bluehole developers seemed to indicate that it was not the style of the Battle Royale mode they objected to, but the fact that Epic implied some sort of endorsement by PUBG in their announcement.

“It was in their promotional video that was posted on Twitter and they would openly mention that they were fans of PUBG,” said Events Manager Sammie Kang. “That kind of gave the impression that we were officially involved in this.” Bluehole also vaguely threatened some sort of “action” against Epic, but it’s not clear what that means.

Epic has announced plans to make the campaign mode of the game free-to-play at some point in 2018. Fortnite is available now on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and Mac.

Sinot Nature superyacht redefines ‘ocean view’ in a yacht for the century

Why it matters to you

The big question is whether you have enough friends and family to fill the guest list.

This is the day when the ultimate boutique hotel and spa transformed into a magnificent 120-meter luxury vessel. The Sinot Nature superyacht concept defies simple definition because of its atypical design goals.

As we watched the video just above and looked through Nature’s slide deck, the yacht’s spaciousness and open ocean views commanded our attention. While luxurious and designed with impressive entertainment areas, Sinot’s focus on tranquility and peacefulness is foremost. Notice the absence of water toys or people swimming off the aft water-level deck. Nature has space for plenty of toys and has an over-sized beach club, but neither are emphasized in the concept marketing materials. What sets this superyacht apart is its use of vast spaces.

The company’s full name is Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design. Founded by designer Sander Sinot, Sinot’s marine designs emphasize natural and artificial lighting and space, detail, comfort, and fully customized furniture. Nature exists as a concept only today. Sinot presented the design at the Monaco Yacht Show in late September to VIP guests of Sinot’s longtime partner Feadship Royal Dutch Shipyards.

With its 120-meter (394-foot) length and 50.5-foot beam, Nature has an abundance of space on four main decks. The most noticeable single space is the 9,687-square-foot panorama deck. And believe it or not, that’s just one area on the ship.

The owner’s deck has a climate-controlled interior garden and retractable platforms that open to serve as semi-private beach clubs above the main deck. In addition, the forward space in the owner’s suite serves as an observatory for those who wish to search the stars without going out on the deck. The solid outer wall of the observation area retracts to allow the owner and especially fortunate guests an unobstructed forward view.

According to Yachtemoceans, Nature has a toybox with room for a full continent of ancillary transport including a 10-meter limo tender, a 10-meter sport tender, a luxury tender, two crew tenders, and eight WaveRunners.

The yacht can accommodate 18 guests in six guest staterooms, two VIP staterooms, and the owner’s suite. Guests can find their own peace and tranquility on the spa deck or hit the gym, swimming pool, sauna, waterfall, or one of the expansive sunbathing lounges.

Two decks have vast expanses of continuous windows for ocean views inside the superyacht. In many of the interior spaces the glass “walls” slide to open to the outside decks. Movement between decks is made especially elegant via a massive circular staircase in the center of the ship that reaches from the main deck to the top panorama deck.

Nature can carry up to 50 crew members to ensure that guests are well served. Crew accommodations include two double staff cabins, 18 double crew cabins, two triple crew cabins, two officer cabins, one first officer cabin, and the captain’s cabin.

FCC approves 30 Project Loon balloons for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Eight regional carriers said to be onboard for a six-month deployment.

According to Wired, the FCC gave permission for 30 Project Loon balloons to fly over Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for up to six months.

Project Loon is the name for Alphabet’s (Google’s parent company) ambitious project that provides cellular data capabilities from above. With thousands of cell towers decimated by Hurricane Maria, the balloons would provide needed communications for both affected residents and relief efforts.

Earlier this year, Project Loon was deployed to Peru after a series of devastating floods. Alphabet worked with Peruvian network Telefonica to help pass a signal to the ground and allocate the correct spectrum and services. In Puerto Rico, things are still in the planning stages. An Alphabet spokesperson told Wired:

Things are a little more complicated because we’re starting from scratch. Loon needs be integrated with a telco partner’s network—the balloons can’t do it alone.

Loon balloons work by “relaying communications between Alphabet’s own ground stations connected to the surviving wireless networks, and users’ handsets.” Wired reports that eight regional wireless carriers in Puerto Rico have approved of the arrangement, so it looks like plans are off to a good start.

MLB fines coach for wearing an Apple Watch during a game

Officials at the MLB are definitely keen to remind teams that they aren’t allowed to use wearable tech during games. The league has fined Arizona Diamondbacks coach Ariel Prieto for wearing his Apple Watch in the dugout during an October 4th game against the Colorado Rockies. The team is facing a collective fine, too. Investigators looking at Prieto’s watch and phone were quick to stress that there was “no evidence” of cheating, but the mere presence of the wristwear was enough.

The Diamondbacks maintain that Prieto simply made a mistake when he wore his smartwatch during the game.

MLB isn’t revealing the size of the fines, which will be donated to Hurricane Maria relief in Puerto Rico. In practice, though, the penalty is more about the message it sends. The league wants to make it patently clear that the Apple Watch and other connected wearables don’t belong on the field, even if their owners are only interested in checking the time.

Via: CNET

Source: CBS Sports

Magic Leap will get Madefire mixed reality comics on launch day

Magic Leap is getting Madefire’s mixed reality comics from day one. Reps from both companies announced their partnership at the New York Comic Con, revealing that they’ve actually been working together for the past five years. They promise you’ll be able to view comic panels like they’re 3D illustrations floating mid-air and that you’ll be able to pin them around your room like digital wallpaper. Madefire plans to bring all its graphic novels to Magic Leap, including comics from Marvel, DC and Blizzard, along with original titles made just for the device.

Madefire already has VR apps for the Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR, but Magic Leap advisor Andy Lanning has revealed a couple of key differences at the con. The Magic Leap version will apparently feature spatial sound and comics will appear much crisper and more readable on it. You’ll have to temper your excitement and expectations, though. The secretive company might have announced the partnership at Comic Con, but it still hasn’t revealed when it’s releasing its VR-AR device… or even what that device actually is.

Source: Madefire

‘Project Aurora’ brings the massive world of ‘Eve Online’ to iOS and Android

Why it matters to you

The vast sci-fi universe of Eve will soon be available to explore on your phone.

Eve Online is one of the biggest games ever made; a massive multiplayer online (MMO) universe with millions of players that’s been around since 2003. The game features complex true-to-life economies, political factions that often ally and sometimes betray each other, and epic space battles involving tens of thousands of players. It’s more than a game to many players. Some of the ships destroyed in battle cost thousands of real-world dollars to create, the Verge reports.

Eve Online went free-to-play last year as part of its Ascension expansion, and now its creators plan to bring the vast sci-fi universe to mobile devices with Project Aurora.

CCP Games, the developer of Eve Online, has partnered with PlayRaven to deliver its epic sci-fi universe to the handheld market. “We’re all longtime fans of CCP and EVE Online, so we’re immensely proud and honored to be working with such a legendary developer and beloved franchise,” co-founder and CEO Lasse Seppänen said in a press release. “It’s really a dream come true to have the opportunity to create a new Eve experience on mobile.”

CCP has tried Eve spinoffs before, with the PlayStation 3 exclusive Dust 514 and the virtual reality experience Eve Valkyrie, which supports Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, and HTC Vive. Engadget reports that you can even help search for real-life exoplanets with the Project Discovery mini-game launched earlier this year.

Other than a few screenshots, little has been revealed about the actual game itself, such as how the mobile experience may be integrated with the larger Eve universe. According to PlayRaven, players must work together to become the most powerful corporation in the universe by dominating the center of the galaxy.

“For years and years we have wanted to bring the Eve Universe to mobile devices in a way that is tailored to the platform and Eve fans.” Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP Games, said. “We wanted to find a partner who is passionate about Eve, has a track record of producing high quality and deep mobile games and is capable of creating completely new experiences on mobile.”

Project Aurora is planned for a wide release in 2018, with some limited availability sooner in certain territories in the upcoming months.

Is Apple really slowing down your old iPhone in order to make you buy a new one?

Why it matters to you

Many people believe Apple deliberately slows down old iPhones and now we have the truth.

It’s one of the oldest conspiracy theories in tech. Everytime Apple releases a new version of iOS, there are complaints from users that their older model iPhones are slowing down. Many have speculated that Apple intentionally slows down older models of iPhones in order to incentivize users to upgrade to newer more expensive models. The concept of planned obsolesce is nothing new, and has been around since long before smartphones. While there is a grain of truth to the theory in general, a new study proves it false in the case of Apple.

TechCrunch has reported that Futuremark, the makers of numerous pieces of benchmark software, have concluded a years-long test involving more than a hundred thousand iPhones, and the data refutes the old rumors that Apple is deliberately slowing things down.

Futuremark tests involved the Phone 5s, 6, 6s, and 7 and found that there was no evidence of deliberate slowdowns. In the case of the iPhone 5s which was released in 2013, GPU and CPU performance remained consistent from iOS 9 to the recently released iOS 11. There were some minor variations, but those all fell within normal ranges.

In the case of the other models, GPU performance remained consistent over time, but there was a slight drop in CPU performance. Futuremark noted that these could have been influenced by iOS updates, but stressed that normal users would be unlikely to notice them in regular use.

As far as the origins of these rumors, Futuremark offered a few theories. For starters, apps may be one of the biggest contributing factors to actual slowdowns. Older apps might not optimized for the newer version of iOS which results in less optimization. On the other hand, apps designed for new devices might not run as well on older smartphones though that is on the app developers rather than Apple.

Futuremark did concede that one area in which iOS updates may be responsible for slowdowns is the addition of new features. New versions of iOS may add new features which take up more processing power causing an older phone to slow down.

Overall, however, Futuremark concluded that rather than slowing down their old devices, Apple was actually doing a good job of supporting them by providing updates which maintain a consistent level of quality across multiple versions of the OS.

Google Pixel 2 XL vs. Google Pixel XL: Is it worth the upgrade?

The original Google Pixel and Pixel XL fast became two of the most-loved Android smartphones ever, and for good reason. Not only did they offer excellent specs, but they also boasted a slick software experience and top-tier cameras. Now, however, there are follow-ups: The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.

How do the two plus-sized phones compare? We put them head to head to find out.

Specs

Google Pixel 2 XL

Google Pixel XL

Size
157.9 x 76.7 x 7.9 mm (6.2 x 3.0 x 0.3 in)
154.7 × 75.7 × 8.5 mm (6 × 2.9 × 0.3 in)
Weight
6.2 ounces (175 grams)
5.92 ounces (168 grams)
Screen
6.0-inch pOLED
5.5-inch AMOLED
Resolution
2880 x 1440 pixels
2560 × 1440 pixels
OS
Android 8.0 Oreo
Android 8.0 Oreo
Storage
64GB or 128GB
32GB or 128GB
SD Card Slot
No
No
NFC support
Yes
Yes
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
RAM
4GB
4GB
Connectivity
GSM / HSPA+ / LTE / CDMA
GSM / HSPA / LTE / CDMA
Camera
Rear 12.2MP, Front 8MP
Rear 12.3MP, Front 8MP
Video
4K at 30 fps, 1080p at 120 fps, 720p at 240 fps
4K at 30 fps, 1080p at 120 fps, 720p at 240 fps
Bluetooth
Yes, version 5.0
Yes, version 4.2
Fingerprint sensor
Yes
Yes
Other sensors
Gyroscope, accelerometer, magnometer, barometer, proximity sensor
Gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, barometer, proximity sensor
Water Resistant
Yes, IP67
No
Battery
3,520mAh
3,450mAh
Charger
USB Type-C
USB Type-C
Quick Charging
Yes
Yes
Wireless Charging
No
No
Marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store
Color offerings
Just Black, Black and White
Very Silver, Quite Black, Really Blue
Availability

Unlocked, Verizon

Unlocked, AT&T, Verizon

Price
Starts at $849
Starts at $670
DT Review
Hands-on
4.5 out of 5 stars

As we expected, in this situation it really is a matter of “newer is better.” We’re not surprised — it would be strange if the successor to the original Google Pixel XL wasn’t an improvement.

For starters, the Google Pixel 2 XL offers a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip, which is Qualcomm’s latest and greatest chip and promises to deliver a super fast and responsive performance. That’s compared to the Snapdragon 821 — which is 2016’s flagship processor. It’s an excellent chip in its own right, but it just can’t compete with the newer processor. Both phones have 4GB of RAM.

There’s more storage on the new phone too — while the original Google Pixel XL offered either 32GB or 128GB of storage, the Pixel 2 XL steps things up to 64GB or 128GB of storage, doubling the amount on the base model.

Winner: Google Pixel 2 XL

Design, display, and durability

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The design of the original Google Pixel XL turned some heads when it first launched thanks to the half-glass back, and that design choice has been refined a little in the Pixel 2 XL. Instead of half of the back being covered in glass, only the top quarter or so is — and that glass ends before the fingerprint sensor. Of course, there are other design choices on the Pixel XL that set it apart — like the beautifully rounded corners on the display and the tiny bezels on the front, which really help push the phone’s design into 2017.

Speaking of the display, it’s gotten a small upgrade. That’s largely thanks to the aspect ratio change — so while the original Pixel XL offered a 5.5-inch 2560 x 1440-pixel AMOLED display, the new Pixel 2 XL kicks things up to a pOLED display that sits in at 6-inches and a resolution of 2880 x 1440 pixels. The density of the displays is more or less the same thanks to the larger display on the Pixel 2 XL.

The new phone is also a little more durable. For starters, less glass on the back is less glass that you could accidentally smash. On top of that, Google has given the phone an IP67 rating, meaning it will be able to withstand up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes.

The Pixel 2 XL offers a better design, display, and durability. It’s the clear winner here.

Winner: Google Pixel 2 XL

Battery life and charging

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The battery life hasn’t changed all that much for the Pixel 2 XL, and Google still hasn’t given the phone wireless charging — thanks to the fact that the back is largely made from metal. While the Pixel XL offers a 3,450mAh battery, the Pixel 2 XL offers a 3,520mAh battery. Both phones have a USB-C connector, and both offer fast charging. It’s a tie here.

Winner: Tie

Camera

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The camera on the original Google Pixel XL was one of the best smartphone cameras of 2016, and it seems like that’s not going to change in the Pixel 2 XL. While the standard Pixel XL offers a 12.3-megapixel camera with an aperture of f/2.0, the new Pixel 2 XL boasts a 12.2-megapixel camera with a f/1.8 aperture, meaning it should be slightly better in low light situations.

Early reviews suggest that the new phone’s camera is even better than the original in almost every way, but on top of the hardware, Google has spent a lot of time on machine learning to improve the camera’s software — meaning that, while the phone does not offer a dual-sensor camera, it does still offer cool portrait-mode effects, among other things. The Pixel 2 XL has been rated as the best smartphone camera so far by DxOMark.

The Google Pixel 2 XL has the slight edge here thanks to its better software and larger aperture.

Winner: Google Pixel 2 XL

Software

Google’s self-built phones are known for offering stock Android, with only a few tweaks to put Google’s features front and center and to offer a nice clean experience. Both the Pixel XL and Pixel 2 XL currently offer Android 8.0 Oreo, and both will eventually get the same Android launcher.

That launcher offers some pretty sweet features. For starters, the search bar is back in the Google launcher, and is found at the bottom of the phone’s display. At the top, you’ll get important information about your day or about the weather, which is a nice addition.

One nifty feature on the Pixel 2 XL that you won’t find on the original is Active Edge. Just like the HTC U11, you can squeeze the edges of the phone to launch Google Assistant or snap a selfie.

Winner: Pixel 2 XL

Pricing and availability

The Google Pixel 2 XL has only just been announced, and as such its availability is a little limited at this point. The phone comes in at $850 for the 64GB version, which is a lot of money. You can get it for yourself unlocked on both the Google store, or through Verizon.

The standard Google Pixel XL is still available through the Google Store, and it’ll cost $670 for the 32GB version. Of course, you could also get it through Verizon, where it also costs $670. It’s likely the price will be cut at some point in the near future, considering the fact that it’s now an aging device. Still, because of its lower price the original Google Pixel XL is the winner here.

Winner: Google Pixel XL

Overall winner: Google Pixel 2 XL

There’s no surprises here — the Google Pixel 2 XL is simply a better phone than the original. While the original Pixel XL is cheaper, the Pixel 2 XL offers better specs, design, display, and camera. Is it worth the extra $200? If you have the money, then yes, it is. If not, however, the standard Pixel 2 is an equally awesome phone, but if you must have the larger display the Google Pixel XL is an excellent choice.