YouTube creators are less likely to lose ad money

YouTube riled its community when its effort to automatically demonetize offensive videos led to an “adpocalypse” that stripped innocent creators of revenue, and it’s taking one of its first big steps toward making amends. The service is pushing an update that should reduce the number of misclassified videos. All told, YouTube expects 30 percent fewer videos that have to make do with limited ads on their way to becoming fully monetized. This should lead to “millions” more videos raking in full income, according to the streaming media giant.

The company knows this won’t necessarily solve everyone’s issues, and that the update might accidentally limit ads on some videos. You should appeal (and thus get a human to review your clip) if that happens, YouTube said. A video’s fate is only final if an appeal fails.

The update comes after YouTube used appeals over the summer to refine the machine learning system that automatically categorizes videos. In theory, the system should continue to improve both as more appeals come in and YouTube itself gets better at determining what constitutes an offensive video. The problem, of course, is that this isn’t much consolation to creators who depend on YouTube for income and lost a significant chunk of money.

Imagine if an algorithm accidentally deprived you of an important paycheck, and you were never going to get all of that money back even with a successful appeal. Wouldn’t you be upset? This underscores the risks of not only relying on AI technology for content screening, but of basing your livelihood around someone else’s video service. A change in code could do real damage to people’s lives, and they may not have much choice but to live with the consequences.

Via: Polygon

Source: YouTube Help Forum

‘Stranger Things’ invades ‘Minecraft’ with new skin packs

Minecraft players who love the upside down of Stranger Things have a new skin pack to acquire. It’s available now in concert with the new season of the hit retro-horror show on Netflix. It looks like the whole cast is represented as a Minecraft character, including Hopper, Mike, Eleven, Dustin, Lucas and Will.

Stick around to the end of that trailer and you’ll see the Minecraft skin for that scary monster from the alternate universe, too. The skin pack is ready for purchase now on all “Bedrock” versions of Minecraft (which means mobile, Windows 10, and Xbox One for now) for $3 or 490 coins in the Minecraft Marketplace.

Source: Minecraft

WhatsApp lets you delete your embarrassing texts, if you’re quick

Have you ever accidentally sent a message on WhatsApp that you wish you hadn’t? Well, starting today, you can delete it — as long as you catch it within the first seven minutes. If you do, however, your recipient will instead see a “This message was deleted” alert.

The feature is called “delete for everyone,” and is essentially an extension of a previous feature that lets you delete messages, but only for yourself. Hence, it was fairly useless if you had just sent a message to the wrong person, as the recipient could still see it. With today’s update, however, when you delete a message, it means that everyone will no longer be able to see it.

That said, this feature only works in the latest update of WhatsApp, and all participants in the conversation must have this latest update for it to work. Seeing as the rollout of this new update is relatively slow, you should probably double check your messages before sending for the time being.

Source: 9to5google

Senator wants more details on Russian Twitter and Facebook accounts

As Twitter and Facebook prepare to attend Senate hearings about Russian interference in the 2016 election, they’re hit with yet more investigative queries. This time, the queries come from California Senator Dianne Feinstein, who is demanding both companies turn over reams of data about the Russian disinformation campaign.

The request specifically asks for information and copies of Russian-linked accounts, pages and ads that were aimed at the U.S. Even though Facebook has already turned over 3,000 of those ads to the government, apparently it did not reveal any of the “organic content” posted by the accounts. Feinstein has requested that content, as well as IP addresses and any potentially identifying information. She also would like copies of the correspondence that Facebook employees have had with these accounts.

Feinstein asked the same of Twitter. She even asked Twitter to turn over direct messages to and from WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who reportedly corresponded with Cambridge Analytica, a data firm that the Trump campaign used in 2016. She also wanted information about Guccifer, who was accused of hacking the DNC’s email servers during the election.

Feinstein has given both companies a deadline of November 6th to comply with the request. This will be just five days after both companies have agreed to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee regarding the Russian ads.

Source: Recode

MacRumors Giveaway: Win an iPhone X Case From Casetify

For this week’s giveaway, we’ve teamed up with Casetify to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a case for the new iPhone X, which is launching on November 3. Casetify has created a whole range of new cases for the iPhone X, including the Essential Snap, Essential Woven, Essential Impact, Essential Skin, and DTLA. All of Casetify’s cases work with the wireless charging feature in the iPhone X.

The four Essential cases are similar in design, but each offers unique features. The Snap Case, priced at $35, is one of Casetify’s slimmest cases and offers a grippy non-matte finish along with basic protection from drops.

The Woven Case, priced at $40 with a card slot and $30 without, holds a couple of credit cards and offers more protection than the Snap Case with a woven fabric back and rubber bumpers at the sides.

Casetify’s Essential Impact Case, priced at $45, is thicker and more protective than other cases, and it’s constructed from a clear shockproof material that lets the design of the iPhone X shine through. The case has a hardshell exterior that’s combined with an impact absorbing layer and a raised bezel around front to protect the screen.

The Essential Skin Case, priced at $25, is Casetify’s most basic and affordable case. It’s slimmer than even the Snap Case at .45mm thick, and offers light protection from drops. Though it’s a thin case, there is a slightly raised lip to protect the iPhone’s camera lens at the back.

The DLTA case line, priced at $49, comes in Sand, Olive, Matte Black, and Maroon. It offers military grade shock protection to keep the glass body of the iPhone X from shattering when dropped, and it has a raised lip to protect the display. It’s 0.8mm thick and is made from a thermoplastic polyurethane that both absorbs shock and makes the iPhone easier to grip.

We have 10 Casetify cases to give away to MacRumors readers, and winners will be able to pick the style and color they like best. To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

a Rafflecopter giveawayThe contest will run from today (October 27) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on November 3. The winners will be chosen randomly on November 3 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.

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Some AT&T and Apple Store Customers Faced Unexpected Delays When Trying to Pre-Order iPhone X

iPhone X pre-orders began at 12:01 a.m. on the West Coast and 3:01 a.m. on the East Coast in the United States, with throngs of Apple customers rushing to purchase the device as quickly as possible in the middle of the night.

While many customers were able to complete their order quickly enough to receive a delivery date of November 3, the day the device launches, some using the AT&T app to pre-order faced unexpected delays of 10 to 15 minutes or longer.

One AT&T subscriber, for example, tweeted screenshots of the app showing that her estimated wait time was 18 minutes until she could pre-order an iPhone X, but once she got down to one minute remaining she lost her position in the virtual queue.

@ATTCares …You care?? I just had to wait 18 min to pre order and then redirects me to the site and makes me wait AGAIN now 30 more min???? pic.twitter.com/2TrgOd47e6

— momof4always (@Bayley4everat20) October 27, 2017

A second AT&T customer Chris tweeted a screenshot of the app saying “there’s been an error tracking your place in line” with a “try again” button. When he tried again, he said he was placed into another 35-minute queue.

What is this @ATT I wait 47 min for the iphone X after a supposedly 15 wait and then I get this message? I’m really dissatisfied right now. pic.twitter.com/agmmIxzYUz

— Christopher Saker (@CJSaker) October 27, 2017

Meanwhile, some customers attempting to pre-order on Apple.com or with the Apple Store app said the storefront remained offline for around 10 to 20 minutes after iPhone X pre-orders officially began.

iPhone X shipping estimates slipped to 2-3 weeks for most models within just 15 minutes, and to 4-5 weeks within 30 minutes, so these hiccups mean that some customers might not receive their iPhone X until early December.

Apple typically underpromises with its shipping estimates, however, so some customers may receive their iPhone X earlier than expected.

A bit of good news is that some customers who received a message from Apple stating they “can’t reach the carrier systems” have received an email with instructions to complete their order for delivery as early as November 3.

iPhone X shipping estimates are now holding steady at 5-6 weeks in the United States.

Related Roundup: iPhone XBuyer’s Guide: iPhone X (Buy Now)
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Best Buy Says iPhone X Costs $100 Extra at Full Price Because Flexibility Sometimes ‘Has a Cost’

Best Buy began accepting iPhone X pre-orders alongside Apple at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time today, but several customers quickly realized that the electronics retailer is charging an extra $100 for the smartphone at full price.

Apple charges $999 or $1,149 for the iPhone X with 64GB or 256GB of storage in the United States. Best Buy charges $1,099 or $1,249 online and in stores for the equivalent models on a Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint account.

In a statement issued to MacRumors, Best Buy said its prices reflect a customer’s ability to “get a phone the way they want.”

“Our prices reflect the fact that no matter a customer’s desired plan or carrier, or whether a customer is on a business or personal plan, they are able to get a phone the way they want at Best Buy. Our customers have told us they want this flexibility and sometimes that has a cost,” a Best Buy spokesperson told MacRumors.

A customer ordering an iPhone X through Apple also has the flexibility of choosing their desired carrier and plan, so Best Buy’s statement doesn’t really justify why the device costs $100 more at its stores.

Best Buy representatives in stores, on the phone, and on Twitter have provided mixed answers about its price matching policy for the iPhone X. A company spokesperson simply linked us to Best Buy’s price matching policy in general.

Best Buy also charges $100 more for the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus at full retail price in the United States.

Related Roundup: iPhone XTag: Best BuyBuyer’s Guide: iPhone X (Buy Now)
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iPhone X Models Flooding Craigslist and eBay Amid Six Week Shipping Estimates

It took somewhere around 15 minutes for the iPhone X to begin selling out this morning after pre-orders went live at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time, and for some models, that timeline was much shorter.

Delivery estimates started slipping to one to two weeks within minutes, and by the time 1:00 a.m. rolled around, Apple was listing 5 to 6 week estimates for all models across all carriers in the United States. Orders placed now will not arrive until December.

Unsurprisingly, hundreds of iPhone X models that were purchased via pre-order this morning are flooding Craigslist and eBay at huge markups.

On Craigslist, in the San Francisco Bay Area, for example, people are charging $2000 for a 256GB iPhone X on average, a markup of almost $1,000. Similar high prices are listed for all models and capacities. It’s the same story on eBay.

Thousands of iPhone X models are listed, many that already have tons of bids. An auction ending in an hour for a 256GB iPhone X has a current bid of $1,675, for example, a premium of $500.

With supplies so constrained, it’s no surprise to see hundreds of people who are hoping to make a few bucks from Apple customers who don’t want to wait months to get their hands on a new device, but it’s frustrating. Apple limits iPhone X purchases to two per customer, but with some people willing to pay hundreds extra, that limit doesn’t put a stop to the scalping practice.

Customers who have not already pre-ordered are looking at weeks of waiting, but Apple does plan to have iPhone X models available for purchase in store on launch day, so for those who don’t mind going early and waiting in line, there’s still a chance to get a device on November 3 without paying extra to a scalper.

Apple said in a statement this morning that demand for the iPhone X is “off the charts.” “We’re working hard to get this revolutionary new product into the hands of every customer who wants one, as quickly as possible,” the company added.

Related Roundup: iPhone XBuyer’s Guide: iPhone X (Buy Now)
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Hopper will now also tell you when to book that hotel for the best rate

Why it matters to you

With an average savings of $34 a night, an eight-night hotel stay could be $272 cheaper.

Booking a hotel is a gamble between getting a good room and getting a good rate — but soon Hopper’s airfare price prediction algorithms will be able to tell you when to book that room for the best deal. This week, Hopper launched Hotels in New York City, a price-prediction program that recommends when to book, alerts users to price tops, and integrates a tool for choosing the right place to stay. Hopper says that the hotel tool will roll out to ten more cities soon, and while the feature is launching first to iOS, Android users will soon have access to the tool, too.

Hopper says that, on average, the hotel tool saves about $34 a night, with some travelers saving as much as $90 a night. The program uses algorithms and past data to estimate the best time to book. And if the app tells you now isn’t the best time, users can set up notifications for when that predicted price drop should actually happen. The app also serves as a tool for comparing prices without using multiple apps and offers in-app booking.

Along with determining when the best time to book is, the new hotel tool inside of Hopper also helps travelers plan their trip. A calendar tool will highlight the cheapest and priciest dates to travel. Integrated maps will show you which hotels in the area have the best rates and what popular destinations are nearby. In-app tips will also recommend the best neighborhood, and once the app learns your travel habits, Hopper will make personalized recommendations.

Hopper is also taking a nod from the popular Stories inside several social media networks with video-focused hotel profiles. Like Stories, Hopper hotel profiles will play a short series of video clips that allow travelers to explore the rooms, the pool, the view, the lobby and more, with taps and swipes to move ahead to the next clip.

The Hotel feature launched for New York City travelers using iOS first, but the company plans to bring the feature to ten more areas soon, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Miami. An Android update with the hotel feature is also expected to launch soon.

“Hotels on Hopper will make planning your trip what it should be – fun! – by taking the stress out of finding the right accommodation for you, whether you value location, price, or vibe the most (or maybe it’s an equal combination of all three),” Hopper wrote in a statement. “Bringing together millions of hotel prices, qualitative and quantitative data on location, and thousands of customer reviews, Hopper has created an algorithm that takes into account what you care about, and will recommend whether you should buy or wait to book that hotel room you’ve been eyeing. And just like with flights, we’ll be sure to alert you when to buy, wait, or if prices are expected to rise.”

The update is now available from the App Store.

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WhatsApp now lets you delete messages so recipients can’t see them

Giving you some protection against drunk texts.

We’ve all been there before: maybe you made a typo, perhaps you sent a text to the wrong person, or maybe an adult beverage encouraged you to send something you shouldn’t have. Whatever the case, there are situations throughout life where being able to recall and delete a message that you sent to someone would be extremely useful. Thankfully, WhatsApp will soon allow you to do just that.

You’ve been able to delete messages in WhatsApp for a while now, but doing so would only delete it on your end. With this latest update, you’ll now have the option to delete a message either just for yourself or for you and the person it was sent to.

With the update, holding onto the message you’d like to delete and tapping the trash icon near the top of your screen will showcase a few different options – Delete For Me, Delete For Everyone, and Cancel. When choosing to delete a message for everyone, the message on your screen will be replaced with “You deleted this message”, whereas your recipient’s screen will show the text “This message was deleted.”

You only have seven minutes to recall a message after you’ve sent it.

This will likely be a very welcome addition for a lot of users, but there are some things to keep in mind. For starters, WhatsApp only gives you seven minutes to delete a message after you’ve sent it. Once those seven minutes are up, the person you sent the message to will be able to see it until the end of eternity. Additionally, WhatsApp doesn’t give you any sort of notification if you were able to successfully delete a message or not.

I’m currently running v2.17.400 of the WhatsApp beta, so it appears that the rollout is a server-side thing. The feature should be making its way to more and more devices over the next couple days, however, so keep checking now and then to see when it lands on your phone.

WhatsApp for Android: The ultimate guide