Uber refines its rating system to appease both drivers and riders

In its quest to build back goodwill, Uber has been trying to curry favor with both riders and drivers. Today, the ride sharing company is trying to appeal to both by changing its rating system to be more transparent and fair. In-app descriptions will give riders a better idea what level of service correlates with each star, while several adjustments will add more information to poor ratings.

On the whole, the changes should make it easier for drivers to keep their overall rating high — or at least give them context for poor feedback. By next month, riders who rate below five stars or below will be asked to clarify why. Reasons outside of drivers’ control, like traffic or GPS snafus, will no longer affect a driver’s reputation. And if a rider frequently doles out 4-star ratings or lower, their feedback won’t be counted.

While clearing up the rating process is great for all, this update is the latest in Uber’s efforts to improve service for its drivers. As part of its image-repairing ‘180 Days’ campaign, the company added features so drivers can share their location with family and charge more for longer-than-expected pickups.

Via: Mashable

Source: Uber

YouTube TV now has a picture-in-picture mode on Android phones

If you’re going to watch YouTube TV on your phone, there will probably be a point when you’ll want to do something else. But how will you keep watching? If you have Android Oreo, it’s now relatively easy. An update is rolling out that adds picture-in-picture support on Oreo devices. All you have to do is tap the home button and your show will float on top of whatever app you’re running. You can turn it off if you’d rather not have a broadcast grab your attention.

The feature gives YouTube TV an advantage over Hulu and other TV services that have yet to take advantage of Oreo’s picture-in-picture feature, although you probably won’t want to pay $35 per month just for the privilege. This is more of a perk that could give you a reason to stick with YouTube TV when you might otherwise consider an alternative.

Via: 9to5Google, The Verge

Source: Google Play

What to expect from the FCC’s net neutrality proposal

Today, senior FCC officials outlined the net neutrality draft proposal that will be released by the commission tomorrow. As has been discussed for months, if the new proposal is accepted by the FCC, broadband internet service will cease being subjected to Title II regulations and will return to an information service classification rather than a telecommunications one. Additionally, the order would fully repeal the FCC regulations allowed by the internet conduct standard put in place in 2015, which let the commission investigate practices like zero-rating schemes — AT&T’s Sponsored Data and Verizon’s FreeBee Data 360 setups, for example — and would get rid of the bright-line rules that prevented internet service providers (ISP) from blocking, throttling or fast-laning certain content.

Instead, ISPs would be required to disclose certain practices such as blocking, throttling and prioritization. If providers decide to engage in those actions, they would have to reveal what content they were blocking, what content they were throttling, which affiliates were engaged in service prioritization and how paid prioritization schedules were laid out. That information would have to be released on a publicly accessible website or sent directly to the FCC, which would then publicly publish it itself.

In addition to those changes, the FCC says that any state-level laws that go against the FCC’s new regulation policies, if put in place, will be preempted. Any regulations that override the federal policy will cease to apply.

Once broadband is no longer considered a telecommunications service, the FTC will regain some authority over ISPs and their network management practices. The FTC and FCC would then hold joint responsibility over ISPs and both would consult on which would be the best agency to take action against a company accused of violating the new transparency rules or engaging in anticompetitive behavior.

The draft will include much more detail including cost-benefit analyses regarding the Obama-era regulations that were put in place, which the commission has maintained inhibited innovation and investment. The FCC and Chairman Ajit Pai have also said that the more stringent regulatory policies put in place in 2015 were attacking problems that didn’t exist.

A number of groups and companies have spoken out against the proposed changes. Apple filed a comment on the proposed plan in support of strong open internet policies, as did millions of others. And groups like the ACLU, Greenpeace, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Color of Change voiced their support of net neutrality during the Day of Action that took place in July. Companies like Netflix, Spotify, Reddit and Amazon did as well. However, among those that have voiced support for the FCC’s proposed changes are Comcast, AT&T, Verizon and the Trump administration.

The full draft will be released by the FCC tomorrow morning and the commission will vote to approve them on December 14th. It is expected to pass.

Apple’s HomePod has been in and out of development since 2012

Have you wondered why it took Apple 3 years to come up with an answer to the Amazon Echo in the form of the HomePod? Apparently, it’s because it wasn’t really meant as an answer to the Echo. Bloomberg sources claim that work on the HomePod started in 2012 as a side project (common at Apple), and it was reportedly cancelled and resurrected “several times” as the company tried to figure out how a connected speaker would work in its lineup. It reportedly went through multiple dramatic redesigns, including a 3-foot-tall design chock-full of speakers.

The company did study the Echo closely when it showed up in 2014, but dismissed its lackluster audio quality and set to working on something that sounded better. Beamforming (which directs sound based on the shape of the environment) was key to that strategy, but the exact shape and components didn’t coalesce for a long time.

Then there’s the question of priority. Apple appears to have always treated the HomePod as an accessory, rather than a platform like Amazon’s Echo line. For Amazon, the Echo was its primary way of getting Alexa (the real star of the show) into your home; for Apple, Siri on the HomePod was just one of the selling points. While it seems like Apple treated Amazon as competition, it just wasn’t in a rush to create a living room AI companion.

Whether or not that’s a problem isn’t clear. Even with the HomePod’s delay to 2018 and $349 price, Apple is reportedly expecting to sell 4 million units in the next year. However, the Bloomberg piece suggests that Apple’s relative lack of commitment to smart spakers not only kept it from launching the HomePod in a timely fashion, but may have given Amazon (and Google, for that matter) a long-term advantage in AI. If voice assistance becomes a household must-have instead of a luxury, Apple may have to scramble to keep pace.

Source: Bloomberg

Harley Quinn animated series slated for DC’s streaming service

If you’ve been hankering for some more animation from comics juggernaut DC, or if you simply love Harley Quinn (originally created for Batman: The Animated Series herself), then you’ll dig the news from Warner Bros. According to Deadline, the villainess will be heading up her own animated show for DC’s upcoming streaming service.

The report says that the show, titled Harley Quinn, will also feature Poison Ivy and a host of heroes and villains from the DC Universe. The show will be run by the producers of Powerless, in association with Warner Bros. Animation. This will be the third series given the go ahead for the platform, including the live-action Titans and a revival of the animated Young Justice. Deadline also says that the show will focus on a Harley Quinn that has finally broken it off with the Joker and is trying to make it as her own crime boss in Gotham City. Better yet, Deadline reports that Margot Robbie, who played Harley Quinn in the ill-fated Suicide Squad film, is expected to be asked to voice the title character in this animated version, too.

Via: The Verge

Source: Deadline, DC Comics Blog

MacMall Begins Black Friday Savings on MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, iPad, and More

Following B&H Photo and Adorama, MacMall today has started its Black Friday savings a few days ahead of the shopping holiday. While there are exceptions, many of MacMall’s deals are matching the discounts for the same products over at B&H Photo and Adorama. We’ve listed some of the best sales below, so be sure to look them over, and you can also check out MacMall for the full array of Apple products and accessories that are being marked down for Black Friday.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with MacMall and Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

MacBook

• 13-inch MacBook Air (Mid 2017): 1.8GHz, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD – $899.00, down from $999.00
• 12-inch MacBook (Mid 2017): 1.2GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD – $1,199.00, down from $1,299.00
• 13-inch MacBook Pro (Mid 2017): 2.3GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD – $1,349.00, down from $1,499.00
• 12-inch MacBook (Early 2016): 1.2GHz, 8GB RAM, 512GB flash storage – $1,379.00, down from $1,599.00
• 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (Mid 2017): 3.1GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD – $1,649.00, down from $1,799.00
• 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (Mid 2017): 3.3GHz, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD – $1,909.00, down from $2,099.00
• 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (Mid 2017): 3.1GHz, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD – $2,029.00, down from $2,199.00
• 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (Mid 2017): 3.5GHz, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD – $2,299.00, down from $2,499.00
• 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (Mid 2017): 3.1GHz, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD – $2,379.00, down from $2,599.00
• 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (Mid 2017): 3.3GHz, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD – $2,449.00, down from $2,699.00
• 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (Mid 2017): 3.1GHz, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD – $2,699.00, down from $2,999.00

iMac

• 21.5.-inch iMac (Mid 2017): 2.3GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB Hard Drive – $999.00, down from $1,099.00
• 21.5-inch iMac (Mid 2017): 3.0GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB Hard Drive – $1,199.00, down from $1,299.00
• 27-inch 5K iMac (Mid 2017): 3.4GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB Fusion Drive – $1,649.00, down from $1,799.00
• 27-inch 5K iMac (Mid 2017): 3.5GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB Fusion Drive – $1,869.00, down from $1,999.00

Mac mini

• Mac mini (Late 2014): 1.4GHz (Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz), 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive – $399.00, down from $499.00
• Mac mini (Late 2014): 2.6GHz (Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz), 8GB RAM, 1TB Hard Drive – $599.00, down from $699.00
• Mac mini (Late 2014): 2.6GHz (Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz), 8GB RAM, 256GB Flash Storage – $799.00, down from $899.00
• Mac mini (Late 2014): 2.6GHz (Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz), 16GB RAM, 1TB Fusion Drive – $999.00, down from $1,099.00

iPad

• 9.7-inch iPad (2017): 32GB, Wi-Fi – $299.00, down from $329.00
• 10.5-inch iPad Pro (2017): 256GB, Wi-Fi – $729.00, down from $799.00
• 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2017): 256GB, Wi-Fi – $879.00, down from $949.00

If you’re a member of My Best Buy, it’s also worth heading over to the retailer’s Early Access Black Friday sale event, which is marking down select MacBook and iMac models by as much as $250, leading to some of the best Mac-related savings so far this week. The Early Access part of the sale ends later today, after which it will open up for everyone.

Keep track of all the best sales hitting Apple products this week by reading our Black Friday Roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple Black FridayTag: MacMall
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The Supreme Court could soon change the course of how location data is used

The courts of the 21st century are being tasked with 21st-century issues, namely those related to smartphones and their data. From data stored on iPhones to location data associated with other mobile devices, these tiny pieces of technology are presenting big headaches for lawmakers and officials across the nation. The latest case to reach the highest court in the land just may reduce authorities’ power to track people by way of mobile phone data. Next week, the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments that would require prosecutors to obtain a warrant before accessing mobile phone tower records showing an individual’s location.

The case in question revolves around Timothy Ivory Carpenter, who hopes to overturn his current conviction for his involvement in armed robberies of Radio Shack stores. Prosecutors used four months of location data to prove that Carpenter was within half a mile and two miles of four of the robberies when they took place, and obtained this location data without a warrant by way of the 1986 Stored Communications Act. And now, the Supreme Court is considering how much the judicial branch ought to heed the 1986 Act, which is now more than three decades old.

As initially reported by Bloomberg, this case could set quite the precedent. Indeed, prosecutors ask for this sort of data from telecommunication companies “in tens of thousands of cases of year,” using the information as evidence or an alibi. And even outside of smartphone location data, the case could also call into question other devices that are cloud-connected, like virtual assistants; IoT devices like smart thermostats, security systems, and even connected refrigerators; or fitness trackers.

“The data that is transmitted can reveal a wealth of detail about people’s personal lives,” according to a court filing by technology companies including Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Verizon, Twitter, and Google. “Users of digital technologies reasonably expect to retain significant privacy in that data.”

The current Supreme Court has a record of valuing citizens’ digital privacy, and being rather bearish on technology as it relates to users’ privacy. Five years ago, the court limited the ability of police to install tracking devices on cars, and three years ago, the justices ruled that police generally need to need a warrant before searching an arrested suspect’s phone.

“It is no exaggeration to say that many of the more than 90 percent of American adults who own a cell phone keep on their person a digital record of nearly every aspect of their lives — from the mundane to the intimate,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote at the time.

Don’t hold your breath about a ruling, though. The Supreme Court won’t hand down its decision until next June.

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Skype becomes victim of Chinese censorship, disappears from App Stores

Yet another communication tool has disappeared in China. Joining social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat, Skype has become the latest foreign-run victim of Chinese censorship. As initially reported by The New York Times, the popular video calling software has been unavailable for nearly a month, unavailable on app download sites, as well as Apple’s app store.

“We have been notified by the Ministry of Public Security that a number of voice over internet protocol apps do not comply with local law. Therefore these apps have been removed from the app store in China,” an Apple spokeswoman told the Times in an emailed statement regarding questions about Skype’s recent vanishing act. “These apps remain available in all other markets where they do business.”

Curiously enough, Skype is still functional in China, and we’re not yet certain as to whether or not the service will be fully banned in the nation. But now that it’s no longer available for download, it only seems like a matter of time before government officials remove the service altogether from behind the so-called Great Firewall of China.

President Xi Jinping’s administration has been among the toughest on social media and messaging technology, reflecting the government’s desire to control content and communication within the nation’s borders. Just a few months ago, China blocked Facebook-owned WhatsApp, and other apps popular in Asian nations like Telegram and Line have also been banned. The Times reports that the government’s complaint with these services lies in their encryption options (which means that they’re more difficult for government officials to monitor). Plus, these apps don’t require users to share their real names for accounts, which runs contrary to official Chinese rules.

And now, Skype may be the latest service to join this burgeoning list of disallowed services. A Microsoft spokesman noted that the app had been “temporarily removed” from the App Store, but that the company is “working to reinstate the app as soon as possible.” However, there’s no word as to what might happen with regard to Skype’s removal from third-party Android app stores like the ones controlled by Chinese companies Huawei and Xiaomi. So if you’re traveling to China anytime soon, you may want to make alternate plans about how you’ll stay in touch with folks in other countries — your options are increasingly limited.

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Nova Launcher 5.5 adds adaptive icons, Google search in dock, and more

The 5.5 update is live on the Play Store now.

Nova Launcher is widely considered to be one of the best launchers around, and the recent update to v5.5 adds a lot of long-awaited features – including adaptive icons, the ability to put the Google search bar in your dock, and much more.

Starting first with adaptive icons, these are supported as long as you’re using Nova Launcher on a device running Android 5.0 or later. Adaptive icons have been available as part of the Nova Launcher beta since September, but this is the first time they’ve made their way to a public build.

You can access adaptive icon settings by going to Settings -> Look & feel -> Adaptive icon style. From here, you can change your icon shapes to round, squircle, rounded square, square, and teardrop.

Also new is the ability to have your Google search bar placed in your dock (either below or above your apps here) to mimic the look of Google’s Pixel 2. However, Nova Launcher takes things a step further by allowing you to customize the look of the search bar and even replace it with another widget.

Lastly, Nova Launcher 5.5 adopts Android 8.1’s slightly changed popup menu and adds some general optimizations and bug fixes for an overall better experience.

The 5.5 update for Nova Launcher is live on the Google Play Store right now.

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Grab the Withings Smart Body Analyzer for just $79 at Amazon

It’s time to be smarter about tracking your weight.

Is this deal for me?

The Withings Smart Body Analyzer is now down to just $79 via Amazon. This deal features this product’s lowest price ever and saves you around $30 off its average price.

The Smart Body Analyzer can not only keep track of your weight, but also your heart rate, the air quality, and more. It can connect to the free Withings: Health Mate app so you can view your results and track your progress from anywhere, and it’s even compatible with other fitness and health apps too, like RunKeeper, MyFitnessPal and more.

• What makes this deal worth considering? – This price drop marks a new all-time low on this item and is significantly lower than it has sold for recently. The average selling price on this smart scale is closer to $111, so you won’t want to miss out on this deal. There are apps for both Android and iOS that allow you to view your results and track your progress.
• Things to know before you buy! – Withings makes one of the best smart scales out there. I’ve been using one for years to track my weight, and love that you can set user profiles for different people in the family. Beyond your weight, this scale can keep track of your heart rate, the air quality, and more. This discount is available for only the black version right now.

See at Amazon