Facebook Messenger Bug Preventing Some iPhone Users From Being Able to Type Messages

Many Facebook Messenger users have taken to social media today to point out a frustrating keyboard bug occurring within the iPhone app (via TechCrunch). According to the affected users, Messenger is “totally broken” and freezes after they type a few words in a chat window.

Users have tried force closing the app, as well as deleting and reinstalling it, but nothing has yet fixed it. Facebook confirmed that it is looking into the bug, “but for now there’s no word from the company on what is causing it and how it plans to fix it.”

Dear

Facebook, please

Fix messenger so I

Can type

More

Than

A couple words

Thanks

— Adam Colgan 🏳️‍🌈 (@nerdenator) January 18, 2018

There also appears to be no workaround, so those needing to contact someone on Facebook Messenger will need to use another device or visit the social network on the web. Complaints on Twitter about the problem show that issues began late last night and have persisted into the morning.

One user reported that the bug caused their iPhone 6s Plus to crash, and another theorized that the source of the problem might be with the app’s autocorrect function.

Earlier this week, Facebook vice president of messaging products, David Marcus, admitted that Messenger’s mobile app has become “too cluttered.” In response to this, the company will invest in “massively simplifying and streamlining” Messenger in 2018.

Tag: Facebook Messenger
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Hasselblad’s crazy 400-megapixel camera does have a purpose

If you judge cameras by megapixels and dollar signs, then Hasselblad just introduced the ultimate model. The H6D-400c can shoot 400-megapixel photos and will cost you $48,000, the price of a well-equipped Tesla Model 3. It does so by combining up to six different exposures from its 100-megapixel, medium-format 53.4 X 40.0mm sensor in a process it calls “Multi Shot.” Each image is shifted by a pixel, creating a much-higher resolution image, similar to how Pixel Shift works on Sony’s A7R III mirrorless camera.

Photos are captured at a true 16-bit depth. You can either combine six images to create a higher-resolution 400-megapixel image (23,200 x 17,400, at 2.4GB in size), or create an enhanced 100-megapixel photo with more accurate colors. The images are snapped in rapid succession, but your subject needs to stay relatively still.

400 megapixels may seem like pixel-peeping overkill, but there is a point to this. For digital archivists who log art, insects and other specimens for museums, or macro photographers, more detail is always a better thing. As an example of that, Hasselblad shows just how far you can zoom in on an insect snapped by Göran Liljeberg, a macro photographer and Swedish Museum of Natural History committee member. Professional landscape, art or fashion photographers can also benefit from more resolution to aid in photo post-processing.

Hasselblad, not known for its technical prowess, finally caught up with other camera makers with the release of the X1D. The H6D-400C continues that trend, with USB 3.0 Type C for speedy data transfers, 30 fps live view, dual memory cards (CFast 2.0 and SD) and WiFi that, along with the Phocus Mobile iOS app, gives you speedy wireless studio image previews.

The H6D-400C can even do 4K video recording in Hasselblad’s proprietary RAW video format. That would give your films an incredibly unique look, considering the depth of field and bokeh potential from some a massive sensor. Just remember that the $48,000 price tag (£43,500) doesn’t include any lenses.

Via: Engadget Chinese

Source: Hasselblad

Samsung starts producing GDDR6 RAM for next-gen graphics cards

You can start getting pumped about the next generation of graphics cards, as Samsung has announced that it’s building the first-ever 16-gigabit GDDR6 chips using its 10-nanometer class technology. The news isn’t a complete surprise, as Samsung previously said that GDDR6 was coming when it unveiled 8-gigabit DDR4 RAM chips last month and won a CES 2018 Innovation Award in November.

“Beginning with this early production of the industry’s first 16Gb GDDR6, we will offer a comprehensive graphics DRAM line-up, with the highest performance and densities, in a very timely manner,” said Samsung’s Senior VP Jinman Han. The company also did a minor tease, saying the chips “will play a critical role in early launches of next-generation graphics cards and systems.”

The voracious demand from bitcoin mining has pushed the GeForce GTX 1070 from a $380 suggested retail price to $890.

You may debate whether Samsung is behind TMSC with 7-nanometer tech, or if it’s 10-nanometer tech — now on its second generation — is inferior to what Intel (still) has in store for the future. However, at least Samsung’s foundries our stamping out the damn chips, which is all that really matters to consumers.

The GDDR6 chips will make things all kinds of better for gamers. First off, they offer double the speed of previous 8-gigabit GDDR5 RAM, with speeds up to 72 GB/s (that’s gigabytes). They also consume about 35 percent less energy, Samsung says, and offer a 30 percent manufacturing productivity gain, so that its assembly lines can build more chips in the same amount of time.

What that means to you, in theory, is better gaming performance, less power drain and cheaper graphics cards. That is, unless all the chips are gobbled up by bitcoin miners. The voracious demand from that industry has pushed a GeForce GTX 1070 from a $380 suggested retail price to $890, as Techspot noted. That’s killing gamers and folks who love to build rigs (and promoting pollution), but all of it is obviously good for Samsung’s profits.

Wikipedia explains how those late-night reading binges happen

Everybody’s prone to falling down a Wikipedia rabbit hole, clicking link after link until it’s been hours since you’ve started our journey. Now the foundation has begun releasing monthly data dumps for English, Russian, German, Spanish and Japanese Wikipedias that can give you a better understanding of how readers end up navigating from one article to the next. The Wikimedia Analytics team worked on being able to release datasets every month after seeing how the similar set of info released in 2015 led to a number of scholarly research studies.

Based on the data they compiled in November 2017 — you can download that right here along with data from December — most clicks come from external sources like Google. That’s not exactly surprising since one in three people visit a topic on Wikipedia after it gets mentioned in the media. Fans of The Crown, for instance, flock to the website after watching an episode. Sixty percent of the links people visit are internal links, though, which means most people tend to view another article when they visit. For example, looking up net neutrality led people to visit former President Obama’s, open-source software’s and the first amendment’s pages:

The Wikimedia Foundation says the datasets can help researchers understand Wikipedia reader behavior. If you’re simply curious what other people who have the tendency to spend hours on the website are reading, though, don’t worry — you don’t need to have a scientific reason to access them.

Source: Wikimedia

Lifeguard drone completes world-first ocean rescue

Australia’s ‘Little Ripper’ drone has saved a pair of swimmers caught in rough seas in what’s thought to be a world-first rescue operation. Lifeguards were busy testing the UAV off Lennox Head as part of New South Wales’ $250,000 shark-spotting strategy when the distress call came in. Within 70 seconds the aerial helper had tracked down the stranded duo and dropped them a flotation pod, which they used to safely make their way to shore, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Australia has been leading the charge in deploying drone coast guards, with countries like the UK following suit. The ‘Little Ripper’ UAVs, packed with supplies including inflatable rafts and GPS beacons, can fly through the air for two-and-half hours on a single charge. In August, it was reported that the drones were being fitted with AI smarts to map Australia’s shark-infested waters. Around 40 Little Rippers were reportedly shipped to Australia’s Surf Life Saving Clubs last year.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

Apple and Other Companies Fear ‘Looming End’ of H-1B Work Visa Spousal Protection Program

Apple, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and other technology companies have sent a message to the Trump administration through various Washington, D.C. lobbying groups, urging President Trump to keep protecting spouses of immigrants who work in the U.S. with H-1B visas. The companies reportedly fear a “looming end” to the program that protects these spouses and allows them to work in the U.S., as it could cause “immense trouble” for many of their workers and potentially lead to large swaths of H-1B employees having to “reconsider working for U.S. companies at all” (via Recode).

The spousal work permit program began in 2015 under the Obama administration, allowing spouses of high-skilled immigrants to be granted work authorizations while in the process of seeking lawful permanent resident status. The Trump administration has worked throughout 2017 to fundamentally reevaluate the program, and in November the Department of Homeland Security noted imminent plans to “propose to rescind” the final rule and remove H-4 dependent spouses “from the class of aliens eligible for employment authorization.”

Apple CEO Tim Cook attending an executive tech summit at Trump Tower in 2016
Now, a coalition of tech companies have responded with a statement, noting that spouses are “eager to work” to support their families. Their statement also describes fear of an “increased risk” of losing long-term employees.

“We represent employers who are committed to growing the U.S. economy and creating jobs for American workers. However, we cannot achieve these goals unless companies can recruit and retain the most qualified employees,” wrote a slew of companies, all speaking through their Washington, D.C.-based lobbying groups, including the Information Technology Industry Council.

In the Thursday letter, ITI, the U.S. Chamber and other organizations stressed that spouses are “eager to work in order to support their families, contribute to their communities by paying taxes, and utilize their skills to help the U.S. economy grow.”

“Employers would also face an increased risk that their valued, long-term employees will choose to leave their companies for other employment opportunities in countries that allow these workers and their families to raise their standard of living,” the business groups continued.

Tech companies like Apple would be the hardest hit by such sweeping changes to work visa policies since it employs many workers with H-1B visas, whose spouses potentially also benefit from the program. Nearly one year ago, Apple was also affected by the drafting of an executive order by President Trump, which stated that the country’s policy on immigration should not give priority to foreign workers and should instead prioritize and protect American workers.

Following the draft proposal, the Trump administration followed through and rolled out a collection of policy shifts that planned out a roadmap to better serve American workers’ current and future jobs. Apple and other tech companies were affected out of the gate as the first change came from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency, which “made it harder” for such companies to bring foreign workers to the country using the H-1B work visa.

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.

Tag: Donald Trump
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Apple to Begin Paying $16 Billion to Ireland Around March Amid Legal Battle With European Commission

Ireland will begin collecting €13 billion from Apple around March, with payments expected to continue through September, according to Irish broadcaster RTÉ via Cult of Mac.

Derek Moran, the Secretary General of Ireland’s Department of Finance:

“However, identification of the escrow agent/custodian by the end of March 2018 will then allow for a payment into the escrow fund account, with payments continuing through the course of April, May and June and up to the end of September 2018”.

The money will be held in an escrow account while both Apple and Ireland continue to battle the European Commission, which in August 2016 ruled the iPhone maker received illegal state aid from the country, and ordered the Irish government to collect up to 13 billion euros—nearly $16 billion currently—in back taxes.

Ireland is required to collect the money until the legal process is completed, according to the report. Apple has previously said the money will be reported as restricted cash on its balance sheet once it begins making payments.

The premise is that the Irish government gave Apple unfair advantage between 1991 and 2007 by allowing the company to move income from the European market through two “non-resident” head office subsidiaries based in Ireland, but Apple says the European Commission made “fundamental errors” in its findings.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has called the decision “total political crap” and said Apple pays all of the taxes it owes based on the laws of each country in which it operates. Likewise, the Irish government said it did not give favourable tax treatment to Apple and added that it “does not do deals with taxpayers.”

Apple expects its appeal with the European Union’s highest courts to take several years, but ultimately expects the European Commission’s decision to be overturned, in which case the €13 billion would be returned to the company.

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.

Tag: Apple-Ireland tax case
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New Details and First Trailer Debut for iOS RPG ‘Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery’

Mobile game developer Jam City this week launched the first trailer, as well as revealed a few new details, for its upcoming iOS and Android role-playing game set in the Harry Potter universe, called “Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery.” The game shouldn’t be confused with the other upcoming Harry Potter iOS game, “Harry Potter: Wizards Unite,” which is the augmented reality title being created by Pokémon Go developer Niantic.

In Jam City’s game (the developer behind “Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow”), players will be able to create their own Hogwarts student, attend classes, gain new spells, interact with other students, and more as they progress through their education at the school. Jam City said that this marks the “first game” where you can role play as your own customized student at Hogwarts.

In terms of story, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is set in the 1980s, after Harry Potter is born but before he enrolls at Hogwarts. The game features both “large plot arcs” and “smaller stories” that relate to relationship quests with fellow students, and an “encounter system” that will make your decisions impact both quests and how certain characters interact with you.

The game is set in the time between Harry Potter’s birth and his enrollment at Hogwarts, when Nymphadora Tonks and Bill Weasley were students. The avatar customization system allows you to continually upgrade your avatar as you gain new expertise and magical skills – you can even choose your own pet. You will join one of the four Houses before progressing through your years at Hogwarts, participating in magical classes and activities such as Potions and Transfiguration. Building your skills will come in handy as you solve mysteries and go on adventures. As players improve their skills, they will unlock new locations, spells and other magical abilities.

Before the game officially launches in spring 2018, Jam City will debut it at A Celebration of Harry Potter, an event at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida starting January 26. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is also launching under Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment’s game label Portkey Games, which the company said is dedicated to launching new games that let players “explore, discover and be at the center of their very own wizarding world adventure.”

While Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery has a launch window of this spring, the AR-fueled Harry Potter: Wizards Unite has yet to be given a more specific date besides sometime in 2018. During its announcement, Niantic said players will be able to learn spells that help them explore their real world neighborhoods to discover and battle the wizarding world’s fantastic beasts.

Tag: Harry Potter
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Hori’s Onyx is a wireless alternative to the PS4 DualShock

We’ve had a slew of third-party, Sony-approved PS4 controllers over the years, including the pint-sized Mini Wired Gamepad and the pro-focused Razer Raiju. While welcome, they’ve all been missing a crucial feature — wireless connectivity. That changes this week with the Onyx controller from Japanese accessory maker Hori (best known for its usually superb fighting sticks). Unlike Sony’s pad, it sports asymmetrical sticks — like the Xbox One controller — a rounder shape and longer, curved bumpers. The Share and Options buttons are also below the touch pad, making them easier to reach (and not accidentally press) than on the DualShock 4.

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, however — as The Verge notes, there doesn’t seem to be a speaker or light bar on the back. The latter is mitigated by a small LED bar on the front, sandwiched between the D-pad and right analog stick. Personally, I’ve always hated the light bar (though it does have functionality in games like Tearaway: Unfolded) and would happily trade it for some extra battery life. (Here’s hoping the Onyx lasts longer than the DualShock 4.) The controller is available now in Europe, though without an official price tag; Amazon is stocking it for £44.99/€69.99, which is roughly the same as Sony’s PS4 controller. Hopefully it will come to the US too.

Source: PlayStation Blog

Amazon will focus on ‘bigger’ movies to lure people to Prime

Having made its name buying smaller, niche independent projects to build its TV and movie division into a multi-award-winning studio, Amazon plans ramp things up a little moving forward, Reuters reports. According to sources, the company will increase its spending on new films, dedicating as much as $50 million to more commercial projects. Amazon will reportedly reduce the number of art-house movies it buys, which it typically acquires at events like the Sundance Film Festival for figures in the low millions, in its bid to lure more people to Prime and onto its expanding streaming service.

Amazon Studios’ shift to movies with a broader appeal mirrors its plans for its TV business, which is also spending big in order to secure big-budget projects. In November 2017, the company confirmed it had acquired the rights to a Lord of the Rings TV series, which may have cost as much as $250 million. Netflix is also spending more on original movies: Will Smith fantasy Bright reportedly cost $90 million.

In order to fund more commercial content, Amazon is likely to scale back but not completely abandon smaller projects. On the TV side, the company recently announced that it had canceled three original comedies: One Mississippi, I Love Dick and Jean-Claude Van Johnson.

All three series were picked up by former Amazon Studios head Roy Price, who recently left the studio following reports of sexual harassment. One Mississippi was also executive produced by Louis CK, who had his second stand up special canceled following similar allegations.

It isn’t clear whether Amazon is attempting to distance itself from a disgraced former employee or whether it’ll use the money it saves on those projects to bankroll its more popular series. As news hit that the three comedies were on the chopping block, the studio also announced that one of its newer series, The Tick, had been greenlit for a second season.

Source: Reuters