Apple supplier accused of chemical safety and overtime violations

Apple is still struggling to improve working conditions at its suppliers. Both China Labor Watch and Bloomberg report that Catcher, a key supplier for iPhone and MacBook casings, makes workers endure harsh safety conditions and unfair work terms in a factory in Suqian. According to observers and discussions with workers, the machines are not only loud, but spray fluid and metallic particles that frequently hit workers’ faces (only some of which have access to safety goggles and gloves). Workers suffer health issues such as vision problems, irritation and discoloration. Beyond this, the facility reportedly pumps out wastewater that violates local safety levels, and workers return to cold dorms with no hot water or built-in showers.

CLW adds that the work requirements run afoul of local laws. Factory staff are legally supposed to work 40-hour weeks, but they’re actually made to work 10 hours a day for 6 days each week. The scheduling approach also conveniently lets Catcher avoid paying double for overtime, as the law demands. Training frequently stopped at 4 hours when it’s supposed to last 24 hours. Even quitting is difficult, according to the report. Contract workers may have to wait weeks to receive their expected wages, and the contracting company frequently refuses to accept resignations.

Both Apple and Catcher say they’ve investigated CLW’s claims, but found no evidence to suggest that the working conditions had violated Apple’s code of conduct. It’s not clear why that’s the case, though, given the multiple reports of illegal activity and Catcher’s history of labor violations.

Whatever the exact story, the findings highlight the problems that Apple, and the tech industry at large, have with maintaining reasonable working conditions. They frequently depend on wide networks of suppliers to make the parts that go into products, and these suppliers often feel compelled to do whatever it takes to meet production quotas. That usually means hiring temporary workers willing to endure brutal hours and unsafe conditions to make an income they would never get in rural China. And while robotics can help, they also leave many people out of work. Companies like Apple can tighten their labor controls, but they don’t have any easy answers.

Via: Bloomberg

Source: China Labor Watch

‘Far Cry 5’ limited edition includes new art and vinyl soundtrack

If you get excited by cool vinyl video game soundtracks like we do, you’re in luck. Mondo, the company behind the amazing Contra vinyl and that fantastic The Last of Us box set, has just partnered with Ubisoft on Far Cry 5. Starting today, January 16th, you can pre-order the “Far Cry 5 x Mondo Edition” of the game for $100. The special edition is set to release alongside the title itself on March 27th of this year for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

There are only 4,000 of these units available worldwide, so if you’re interested, you’ll probably want to jump on it. You’ll get the title itself in an attractive, durable SteelBook case designed by the creative director of Mondo, Jay Shaw, a vinyl record with the original Far Cry 5 soundtrack, a code for the digital version and a nice little box to hold it all in with an illustration of the game’s main villain Joseph Seed. You’ll also receive special in-game cosmetic and consumable items in the Doomsday Prepper Pack and Chaos Pack as part of your pre-order.

Source: Ubisoft

Comcast brings Jackbox’s Party Packs to X1 set-top boxes

Comcast is rolling out some new gaming options for its X1 set-top box users. Multichannel News reports that Jackbox Games has begun to show up on X1 this month with two gaming packages being offered. Jackbox Party Packs 3 and 4 are available for $25 each and include games like Quiplash, Trivia Murder Party, Fibbage and Monster Seeking Monster.

To purchase the multiplayer game packages, look for the Jackbox Games app on your X1 or say “Jackbox Games” into your Voice Remote. Once you buy the package, instructions will pop up telling you how to access it.

Though new to X1, Jackbox’s games have been available on a number of other platforms including PS4, Xbox One, Steam, Nintendo Switch, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, PCs and others. Gaming packages will show up on customers’ Comcast cable bills and users should note that playing the games on X1 will count towards their monthly internet data usage and Jackbox Games purchased on other platforms cannot be played on X1 boxes.

Via: Multichannel News

Source: Xfinity

Lamborghini’s 650HP Urus is equal parts muscle and infotainment

Lamborghini’s Urus is more than just an absurdly overpowered SUV, it’s packed with technology both on the entertainment and safety sides too. That means along with its 650 horsepower twin-turbo aluminum 4.0 liter V8 (whew) you also have the option for a pair of Android Auto tablets mounted to the back of the driver and passenger seats. Oh, and there’s a digital instrument cluster as well, which will either make keeping it under the 305 KMH (189.5 MPH) top speed easier or harder, depending on your driving style.

The driver and front-seat passenger aren’t left out in terms of tech either. Urus also features Lamborghini’s third-generation infotainment system which appears on two screens. Navigation, phone interfaces (both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are supported) and car status data are presented on the center console display. The lower-mounted screen offers a keyboard and a handwriting-capable screen for adjusting climate control and the ride’s heated seats, among other functions.

Lamborghini also says that the system is fully voice-controllable and capable of natural-dialogue voice commands for managing your music, sending text messages and taking calls. Those are tied into the Lamborghini Smartphone Interface, which works with Baidu-Carlife in China, in addition to Cupertino and Mountain View’s in-car mobile ecosystems.

Underneath the center console’s arm-rest you’ll find a wireless charging pad for your compatible phone, a “personal memory profile,” pair of full-sized USB ports, an SD card slot and a SIM slot so the vehicle can communicate telematics with Lamborghini. There’s also an optional TV tuner (for when you need a break from dune surfing in Dubai); heads-up display and 1,700-watt, 21-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system capable of 3D audio.

The supercar maker’s Level 2 autonomous Advanced Driver Assistance Systems are here, featuring “an innovative PreCognition system preventing or mitigating collision.” Front and rear parking sensors are on offer as well as a top-view camera and trailer-backup mode.

With all this you’re probably wondering how much this doggie in the window will cost you. Well, once it’s available sometime this spring it’ll have an MSRP of $200,000. Scoff all you want, but no one ever accused Lamborghini of being easy on the wallet.

Richard Lawler contributed to this report.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from NAIAS 2018.

Microsoft may be working on a new Xbox Elite controller

Microsoft’s Xbox Elite controller is pricey, but arguably the go-to choice for Xbox One owners who want a gamepad that fits their exact needs. And apparently, there’s enough demand to merit a sequel. Multiple leaks appear to have uncovered a new Elite controller that builds on lessons learned from the first model. If the tips are accurate, it would include Bluetooth (to painlessly connect to your PC), a USB-C wired connection, an Apple MagSafe-style charging connector on the back and a built-in battery instead of disposables. And naturally, there are more tweaks for players who want their controls just so.

To begin with, the new details suggests that an earlier leak showing the whole controller (from Reddit’s EDDS86, below) is accurate: it’d have new grips that make sure your hands are steady in frantic sessions. The new scoops also suggest there will be a three-profile switch, three-level hair trigger locks and adjustable stick tension. Microsoft had applied for a patent on this exact stick design in December, so there’s at least some degree of truth to the claims. A Verge source corroborates the story.

There’s no mention of when the controller might show up, assuming it isn’t scrapped. We wouldn’t count on it appearing for a while even if the rumors are rock-solid, though. Microsoft tends to save its big gaming announcements for E3 (this year, mid-June), and it could be some time after that before you can get one in your hands. Still, it’s good to know that Microsoft’s effort to court its most dedicated gamers wasn’t just a one-off fling.

Via: Reddit (1), (2), The Verge

Source: Baidu

Amazon makes it easier to find live shows on Fire TV

While most movies and TV shows on Amazon Channels are available on demand, a few of them can be watched live at the same time they’re broadcast on traditional TV. If you use a Fire TV stick to watch television and movies on the big screen, you might now see a new row of available live programming called On Now in the newly available channel guide.

The On Now row appears at the top of the guide and shows all the programming available to you live, provided you’re a subscriber to HBO, Showtime, Starz or Cinemax. The channel guide also lets you browse all of the shows and movies you can watch in the future, just like a standard cable TV guide. Simply press the Options hamburger button on the Alexa Voice Remote while you’re watching live TV to access the guide. All the channels you’ve favorited will show up at the top, too. You can also do the same thing with your voice, either with the microphone button on your Alexa Voice Remote or via a connected Echo device. “Alexa, watch HBO” could be your new rallying cry.

Source: Amazon

FCC chair proposes $500 million push for rural broadband

Bringing broadband internet access to rural areas has been an ongoing, long-term effort, but millions of Americans, including over a third of rural citizens according to 2016 reports, still don’t have the option. Today FCC Chairman Ajit Pai proposed an order that would put $500 million in funding towards closing the broadband gap, institute new regulations aimed at preventing abuse of the Connect America Fund and promote broadband access in tribal lands.

“We need more deployment in sparsely populated rural areas if we’re going to extend digital opportunity to all Americans,” Pai said in a statement. “But I’ve heard from community leaders, Congress and carriers that insufficient, unpredictable funding has kept them from reaching this goal. With the $500 million in new funding provided by this order, we’ll boost broadband deployment in rural America and put our high-cost system on a more efficient path, helping to ensure that every American can benefit from the digital revolution.”

As part of a Connect America Fund promise, AT&T has been rolling out wireless internet to rural areas since April of last year and as of September, it had launched its services in 18 states. Last June, Donald Trump said that his infrastructure plan would include provisions for expanding broadband internet access and earlier this month, he signed an executive order that would speed up the process of obtaining federal permits, making it easier for companies to expand broadband networks. However, it did not provide any additional funds for the effort. This year, the FCC will conduct a reverse auction that will provide telecommunications carriers with nearly $2 billion spread out over 10 years to expand their broadband and voice services across rural areas.

Pai’s proposed order hasn’t been released and, therefore, there aren’t many details available about the plan. But in his statement, Pai said, “Closing the digital divide is the FCC’s top priority.”

Source: FCC

Congressman requests Meltdown and Spectre briefing from chip makers

US Representative Jerry McNerney sent a letter to Intel, AMD and ARM today requesting a briefing on the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities and the companies’ handling of them. McNerney, a California representative and member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said, “I am looking to better understand the nature of these critical vulnerabilities, the danger they pose to consumers and what steps your companies plan to take to protect consumers.”

The Meltdown and Spectre security flaws were brought to everyone’s attention earlier this month and a number of companies have released patches to address the exploits. Intel, which has promised to patch all recent chips by the end of the month, is now facing a number of lawsuits over the bugs.

Along with requesting a briefing, Representative McNerney also listed a handful of issues that the companies should be able to address. Those include questions about how consumers will be impacted by Spectre and Meltdown, when the companies first learned of them, if there’s any evidence that the vulnerabilities have been exploited and how the companies are ensuring new chips will be secure.

“The Spectre and Meltdown vulnerabilities are glaring signs that we must take cybersecurity more seriously,” said McNerney. “The warning signs keep piling on, yet cybersecurity practices continue to lag far behind.”

Via: The Verge

Source: Representative Jerry McNerney

The fight to restore net neutrality is picking up steam

Yesterday, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said that Senate Democrats now have a total of 50 votes in favor of restoring net neutrality. Today, the push back against the net neutrality repeal intensifies, as a companion House bill to reject the FCC’s repeal now has 80 co-sponsors. What’s more, 22 state attorneys general have also filed a lawsuit to block it from happening.

The companion House bill is by Rep. Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania and is designed to accompany the “resolution of disapproval” sent in by Senator Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts). Under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), the resolution needs simple majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass Congress, though there’s also a chance a veto could override that (which itself could be overrode).

The attorney general lawsuit, on the other hand, was brought by Eric T. Schneiderman of New York, who said to the New York Times that the net neutrality repeal would turn internet service providers into gatekeepers, “allowing them to put profits over consumers while controlling what we see, what we do, and what we say online.” The lawsuit is the first legal challenge against the FCC’s order to repeal net neutrality, though other lawsuits by Public Knowledge and the Free Press are expected.

In a statement, Free Press Action Fund President and CEO Craig Aaron said:

“FCC Chairman Ajit Pai ignited a firestorm of dissent when he and his Republican colleagues voted to gut popular Net Neutrality protections. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have told us they’re getting a flood of phone calls opposing Pai’s decision and supporting efforts to restore the Net Neutrality safeguards put in place in 2015.”

Source: New York Times

Nissan: Leaf EV pre-orders are over 13,000

Over the last week or so we’ve seen some wild concepts from Nissan at CES (IMx) and NAIAS (Xmotion), but as usual, its Leaf EV is quietly a story as well. The revamped electric vehicle is weeks away from going on sale, and the company tells Engadget that there are already 13,000 pre-orders. With a newly-extended range capable of 150 miles on a charge, its price starts at less than $30k (before any tax credit) for the base model and buyers can actually expect to receive one in 2018.

Of course, there’s the conundrum of another model due next year with even more range, but according to Nissan, this balances the range people wanted with a similar price to the original, and is enough to cover standard commuting.

Meanwhile, the XMotion concept serves as a design exercise that combines the company’s Japanese heritage and traditional materials with new technology. In the middle of the crossover SUV there’s a wooden console using “traditional Japanese architectural wood joinery techniques ” called kanawa tsugi that features a “floating commander” ready to interpret passenger’s gestured-orders with its motion sensor.

While that may be more realistic at some level of an Inception dream, the brake lights are particularly intriguing, using holographic projection. When German suppliers Hella and Covestro showed off holographic auto lighting technology in 2016, they said that it could reduce lighting installation depth with smaller lamps. We’ll see if it reaches production in time to arrive on the next-gen Leaf, or, more likely, a slightly milder crossover than the Xmotion.

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Source: Nissan