Everyone will soon have to use the Google Calendar redesign

If you’ve been avoiding the visual refresh Google recently gave to the web version of Calendar, your time is almost at an end. Starting January 8th, users of G Suite and Google Domains will be automatically switched to the new design. Anyone who opted out manually won’t be forced to use the new Calendar until February 5th, but all users will get the upgrade on February 28th.

The new Google Calendar on the web looks much more like the mobile version, now, with a matching color palette and a self-adjusting interface based on your browser’s window size. There’s a new drop-down menu that lets you switch views between day, week, month, year, schedule and four days, too. You can put rich text and hyperlinks in calendar entries, and format text and create bulleted lists as well. Enterprise users will see more details on conference rooms if administrators have added the information.

Via: 9to5Google

Source: Google

Pixel 2’s ‘Portrait Mode’ unofficially makes it to non-Google phones

While Google’s Pixel 2 didn’t change much from its predecessor, which came out only a year before, one of the newer smartphone’s standout features is the background-blurring Portrait mode. But this photo tech might not be exclusive to Google’s flagship phone anymore: Members of XDA Developers community got Portrait Mode working on other devices, from the original Pixel to non-Google devices running Android Oreo.

XDA Senior Member Charles_I, known for previous Google Camera mods, was the first to port the Portrait Mode software beyond the Pixel 2, getting it working on the Pixel & Pixel XL as well as Google’s Nexus 5X and 6P phones via a custom app. Then XDA Senior Member Arnova8G2 adjusted that app to work on a broad range of non-Google devices, with users reporting it functioning on Xiaomi, OnePlus and Moto G5s Plus phones.

Google’s imaging and HDR algorithms have long been prized, and they work magic with the Pixel 2’s basic lenses. Porting that tech to a smartphone with higher-caliber cameras — or at least an optical zoom — could be big.

Source: XDA Developers

Hyundai and Volkswagen team with Google’s former self-driving lead

Both Hyundai and the Volkswagen Group announced today that they are partnering with self-driving technology company Aurora Innovation and will be incorporating the firm’s autonomous driving systems into their own vehicles. Hyundai will be working the technology into its latest fuel cell vehicle, debuting next week at CES, while the Volkswagen Group says it could be incorporated into a number of its brands’ vehicles, including self-driving Sedric pods, shuttles, delivery vans or trucks.

Aurora was launched last year by three big shots in the self-driving world — Chris Urmson, who headed Google’s self-driving project before it was spun out as Waymo, Tesla’s Sterling Anderson and Uber’s Drew Bagnell. The company is focused on developing highly and fully autonomous driving systems that they can then license to companies like Hyundai and Volkswagen. While this sort of strategy means those companies won’t have exclusive technology like they would if they developed it themselves, it allows them to get their hands on it more quickly and while devoting fewer resources to technology that is currently in constant flux. Volkswagen Group’s Chief Digital Officer Johann Jungwirth told The Verge that going with a startup like Aurora was done because of the people on Aurora’s team. “It’s not just the founder team,” he said. “The team they’ve been able to hire, the talent they are attracting? They are the best in the world. The progress they have made in such a short time frame, it’s just amazing.”

The Volkswagen Group, which has been working on integrating Aurora’s technology into its vehicles for the last six months, plans to test a double-digit number of self-driving vehicles by the end of 2018, The Verge reports, upping that fleet to triple digits next year and aiming to pilot the vehicles in two to five cities in 2021. Hyundai is also looking to have self-driving vehicles on the market by 2021.

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

Via: The Verge

Source: Hyundai, Volkswagen Group

‘Black Mirror’ predicted our dystopia. How does it evolve?

Before Black Mirror became a Netflix phenomenon, it was the very definition of a cult hit. It appeared on the British network Channel 4 out of nowhere in 2011, and for years it was almost impossible to find outside of the UK. That, to be honest, felt fitting. Its biting and deeply observant commentary on technology’s creeping influence in our lives felt dangerous. In many ways, it was like the Twilight Zone reborn. Black Mirror was so prescient, it predicted that a cartoonish reality show star could almost win an election thanks to the power of social media. But in its fourth season, available exclusively on Netflix, the series’ cautionary lens on tech is beginning to feel stale.

Spoilers for Black Mirror season four ahead.

There’s no doubt the world in 2018 is a very different place than when Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones started the series. You could say we’re basically living through a Black Mirror episode. We’re more addicted to smartphones than ever. Social media companies have a tremendous sway on how we consume news, making it harder to discern fact from fiction. And, of course, there’s a reality show star sitting in the White House who could start a nuclear war while tweeting from the toilet. Compared to that, a story simply telling us that we should be wary of child surveillance technology doesn’t seem as compelling. We know.

It could be that we’re just holding Black Mirror to high standards, given just how trenchant it’s been over its first three seasons. Fifteen Million Merits (my personal favorite) thrust us into a futuristic world where people live in rooms surrounded by screens, are forced to exercise for money and their only respite is a vapid reality TV show. Be Right Back is a somber tale of romantic loss that explores the creation of a digital consciousness and the value of an android’s life. And White Christmas, the show’s Netflix debut special starring Jon Hamm, explored the existential horror of forcing AI to live through months of isolation at the turn of a dial. Sure, every episode isn’t a slam dunk — the voyeuristic punishment of White Bear and the bee drones (yup) for Hated in the Nation come to mind. But the show’s dramatic highs overshadowed those pitfalls.

In season four, it’s as if Brooker is struggling to find something truly new to say. Or perhaps it’s just becoming easier to see the mechanics of his allegorical tales. New technology might seem useful at first, but it eventually reveals itself to be something that controls our lives or strips us of our humanity. (Much like the Twilight Zone episode The Man in the Bottle, they typically lean on the downsides of something you’ve wished for.) And when he’s not exploring that, he ponders the sentience of digital life. There’s certainly room to mine for more stories around these topics, but they don’t feel as fresh as they used to. And at times, the predictability of Brooker’s storytelling begins to feel didactic and laughable to the point of self-parody.

The key to good parenting. pic.twitter.com/1eLks4754S

— Black Mirror (@blackmirror) January 3, 2018

Arkangel, for example, tells the story of a mother who implants a surveillance device in her young daughter after almost losing her at a park. She can track the child’s location through a tablet, an obvious extrapolation from the increasing popularity of today’s GPS trackers for kids. Going further, though, she can see and hear everything her daughter does. And, just to take things into true dystopian territory, she can also block her child from seeing disturbing imagery — in her eyes, it just ends up looking like amorphous blobs. (That’s similar to how people could choose to “block” themselves from your vision in White Christmas.) Naturally, that leads to emotional development issues and bigger problems when she’s a teenager.

While the episode brings up some interesting ideas, it doesn’t really say anything new. We can see the pitfalls from the beginning, especially since we’ve seen similar scenarios before in Black Mirror. There isn’t much room for the story to surprise us. And it doesn’t help that the episode ends with a flash of violence that feels as if it’s there for shock value, instead of exploring what the technology means to the characters or the predicting dangers of extreme surveillance.

Netflix

Similarly, Crocodile introduces an intriguing concept — a device that can read your memories — but fails to do much with it. Booker frames it as a noir tale: An accidental killing occurs, and inevitably, violence begets more violence. All the while, an inquisitive insurance agent uses the memory reading technology to verify a claim from a client, which eventually puts her on the path of the killer. We’re told that it’s mandatory for people to open up their memories to investigations, which shows a society where civil rights and privacy are secondary to security and conformity. But that world building is bogged down by clunky and at times nonsensical storytelling.

Even the highlights of this season feel more reminiscent of earlier Black Mirror episodes than anything truly new. Hang the DJ gives us a unique take on the algorithmic matchmaking behind dating apps, but it’s not nearly as moving as last season’s Emmy-winning San Junipero. And Black Museum gives us a smattering of familiar Black Mirror concepts where the pitfalls are easy to see from a mile away. It’s ultimately a moving exploration of digital consciousness, but it’s hard not to feel like we’ve gone down this path before.

Netflix

Black Mirror still manages to explore a few new concepts this season. USS Callister is Brooker’s take on modern misogynistic gamer culture, which also ends up being a hilarious Star Trek spoof. Metalhead is a straightforward horror tale, reminiscent of The Terminator. The core idea behind it is pretty silly — What if there were killer Aibos?! — but it’s held together by solid direction from David Slade (Hard Candy, Hannibal).

So where does Black Mirror go from here? Hopefully, Brooker opens the show to more writers with fresh ideas. He’s written most of the series so far and only occasionally brought in collaborators. Just two episodes, The Entire History of You and Nosedive, feature scripts he didn’t write (though he did get a story credit on the latter). While Brooker might fashion himself as the next Rod Serling, even he made room for the likes of Richard Matheson and Ray Bradbury on The Twilight Zone.

Black Mirror might just be a victim of its own success. It’s done such a good job of warning us about where we’re headed, its commentary is beginning to feel practically obvious today. There’s still room for Brooker’s unique brand of criticism, though. Perhaps instead of focusing so much on the dangers of specific innovations, it’s worth exploring how they come about, and the societal pressures that make them flourish. Instead of leaning into the idea of technological dystopias, let’s see how we get there.

Ex-NSA contractor will plead guilty to stealing 50TB of data

Harold Martin, the former US National Security Agency contractor accused of stealing classified information, has agreed to plead guilty to his charges. According to court filings posted on Wednesday, Martin will plead guilty to one count of wilful retention of national defense information and could face up to 10 years in prison on the single count.

Martin, who spent 20 years working for intelligence agencies with top-level security clearance, was indicated in February last year after authorities seized 50 terabytes of data from his home in October 2016. Officials say this could be the biggest heist of US government secrets in history, although it’s not yet clear what Martin did with the stolen data. At the time of his arrest he was working for Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp., the same firm Edward Snowden was working for when he leaked top secret files to the press in 2013.

The court filings say that Martin is due to plead guilty at a federal court in Baltimore on January 22nd, has not yet struck a plea deal with prosecutors and could still be tried on 19 further counts in the indictment. His lawyers will have their work cut out for them, as they had previously stated that Martin didn’t intend to use the data for nefarious purposes, but that he was simply a “compulsive hoarder.”

Source: Reuters

Tesla’s in-car trip planning tool is available on the web

To date, using Tesla’s trip planning tool has meant sitting inside your electric car while you map a route that takes you past charging stations. That doesn’t make much sense if you’re gearing up for vacation, does it? There’s now a better way: Tesla has launched a web version of its trip planner to use while you’re still sitting at your desk. It’s not as fleshed out as the in-car version, but it can tell you where you’ll need to charge and how long you need to drive based on both the route and the particular Tesla you’re driving. You could see fewer stops with a Model S P100D than you would with a Model X 75D, for instance.

Convenience is clearly the main goal for the web planner, but it’s also helpful if you’re a prospective buyer. You can tell whether or not it’s practical to drive to your favorite destination without having to search the internet for charging maps and unofficial guides. Tesla is no doubt hoping that you’ll pull the trigger on an EV if you discover that range isn’t an issue.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Tesla

Apple joins group pushing for efficient mobile video

As streaming video becomes more ubiquitous on all every platform, it’s even more important that we get some sort of standard for scalability across devices and bandwidth. The Alliance for Open Media is an open-source project that has engaged a ton of tech heavy hitters to get together and figure out how to create a next-gen video format that can do just that. As noted by CNET, Apple has just joined the Alliance at a founding (board) member tier. Engadget checked archive.org and confirmed Apple’s inclusion in the list sometime in the past week. We’ve reached out to Apple and will update this post if we hear back.

Other founding members include Amazon, ARM, Cisco, Facebook, Google, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Mozilla, Netflix and NVIDIA. The first video streaming standard from the group, AV1, was announced in April of last year. The codec is used to compress video before it even gets sent over the network, making it smaller and therefore better for your phone’s data plan without losing quality. Having Apple on the AV1 side will likely help it compete with other video standards like the one supported by Mozilla and Cisco, as CNET notes.

Via: CNET

Source: Alliance for Open Media

Wirecutter’s best deals: Save $15 on a Logitech MX Master 2S wireless mouse

This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read their continuously updated list of deals here.

Fitbit Flex 2 Fitness Tracker

Street price: $60; deal price: $50

The black and lavender colors of the Fitbit Flex 2 are both now available for $50 from Abt. The street price of the Fitbit Flex 2 was $80 at the beginning of the year but has now fallen to around $60, which was the previous low for this tracker. This deal is part of a New Year’s sale on Abt and likely won’t be around too much longer.

The Fitbit Flex 2 is the budget pick in our guide to the best fitness trackers. Amy Roberts wrote, “If you just want a simple way to monitor and track your daily activity (including workouts), nightly sleep habits, and get reminders to be more active, the Fitbit Flex 2 is a great choice—especially if all your friends are on Fitbit. Unlike most other Fitbits, it’s water-resistant to 50 meters, so you can track swimming and shower with it. However, it doesn’t have a screen—just five status LEDs to track progress toward your daily step-count goal. It also doesn’t track heart rate, but Fitbits in general continue to struggle with heart-rate accuracy, so we don’t see this as a major issue; it helps the Flex 2 maintain its slim profile and lower price. The Flex 2 syncs wirelessly to the Fitbit app on a smartphone or the Fitbit website on a computer to keep a record of your activity and link you to other Fitbit users—a real highlight, as research shows that friendly competition can be very motivating.”

Tribit XSound Go Bluetooth Speaker

Street price: $40; deal price: $32

While this budget Bluetooth speaker, the Tribit XSound Go, is already pretty affordable, this deal offers an additional $8 drop from the usual $40 street price. This portable waterproof speaker is our new budget pick in an upcoming update to our portable Bluetooth speakers guide and is presently cheaper than our old budget pick.

The Tribit XSound Go is our new, upcoming budget pick in our guide to the best portable Bluetooth speakers. Brent Butterworth wrote, “Our new budget pick will be the Tribit XSound Go, a compact, waterproof speaker that plays louder and sounds clearer than competitors in the low-two-figures price range.”

Logitech MX Master 2S Wireless Mouse

Street price: $95; deal price: $80

At $80, this is the lowest price we’ve seen on the Logitech MX Master 2S, our upgrade wireless mouse pick. The successor to the beloved MX Master mouse is great itself, though one thing not so great is the cost, usually around $95. This deal drops it significantly lower, and if you use a mouse all day every day, at this price it’s worth a look. The MX Master 2S will be back in stock and available to ship in a few days.

The Logitech MX Master 2S is our upgrade pick in our guide to the best wireless mouse. Justin Krajeski and Kimber Streams wrote, “If you use a mouse for hours every day, we recommend the Logitech MX Master 2S Wireless Mouse for about $100. It’s expensive, but its comfortable design, excellent thumb rest, and smooth tracking on every surface (even glass and mirror) make it a pleasure to use for long periods of time in most situations. The Master 2S can also pair with up to three Bluetooth devices simultaneously; and it has six buttons that can be customized using the Logitech Options software, a scroll wheel toggle, and a second programmable scroll wheel for your thumb. Plus, it has a rechargeable battery that Logitech says will last 70 days on a single charge, and our testing so far supports this claim.”

Simplehuman Steel Frame Dishrack with Wine Glass Holder

Street price: $80; deal price: $62

If you have a kitchen with a lot of countertop space and need a large-capacity dish rack, this is a nice opportunity to pick one up at a discount. The Simplehuman Steel Frame Dishrack with Wine Glass Holder, usually $80, is down to $62, the lowest price we’ve seen for it this year. This price has been present a few days but previous sales haven’t lasted long, so pick this up soon if you want it at this price.

The Simplehuman Steel Frame Dishrack with Wine Glass Holder is our upgrade pick in our guide to the best dish rack. Winnie Yang and Rena Behar wrote, “Some homes need a larger dish rack, and the Simplehuman Steel Frame is one of the largest we’ve seen. It’s twice the price of our top pick, but that extra cost brings plenty of extra space and sturdiness. In our tests, this rack easily accommodated a Dutch oven, its lid, and some plates from dinner without wobbling or tipping. The rack’s drip-free design and simple rotating-spout system should keep your countertops safe from any water spills. But be warned: All that water collection and runoff can lead to mold, which means more frequent hand cleaning than you would need for our top pick.”

Because great deals don’t just happen on Thursday, sign up for our daily deals email and we’ll send you the best deals we find every weekday. Also, deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go to thewirecutter.com.

Spotify Now Has 70 Million Paid Subscribers

Spotify today announced on Twitter that it has hit a new milestone, with the streaming music service reaching a total of 70 million paid subscribers.

Over the course of the last six months, Spotify’s paid subscriber base has grown by 10 million customers, up from 60 million in late July. When adding in customers who listen to the free ad-supported Spotify tier, the service has more than 140 million subscribers worldwide.

Comparatively, Apple Music has upwards of 30 million paying subscribers. Apple last shared Apple Music metrics in late September, when Apple Music executive Jimmy Iovine said the service had “well over” 30 million subscribers. Since it’s been three months since we last heard an update, Apple’s current subscriber number is likely closer to 35 million subscribers, based on past growth rates.

Hello 70 million subscribers 👏

— Spotify (@Spotify) January 4, 2018

In September of 2016, Apple Music had 17 million subscribers, so growth has nearly doubled over the course of the past year, but that hasn’t stopped Spotify from continuing to grow at a rapid pace as well.

Apple Music subscriptions start at $9.99 per month following a free trial (with lower prices available for students), while Spotify continues to offer both a free tier and an upgraded on-demand listening tier also priced at $9.99 per month.

Spotify’s new 70 million subscriber milestone comes following a recent confidential IPO filing with Securities and Exchange Commission. Spotify plans to go public through a direct listing, forgoing the traditional initial public offering. Without a traditional IPO, there will be no predetermined price for Spotify shares when it goes public.

Spotify is also currently facing a copyright lawsuit for allegedly using thousands of songs from artists like Tom Petty, Neil Young, Stevie Nicks, and the Doors without a license from publisher Wixen Music.
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App Store Sees Record-Breaking $300 Million in Purchases on New Year’s Day

The App Store had a record-breaking holiday season according to a new press release issued by Apple this afternoon. During the week starting on Christmas Eve, a record number of customers made App Store purchases, spending more than $890 million in that seven-day period.

On New Year’s Day 2018 alone, customers made $300 million in purchases. Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller said the company is “thrilled” with the reaction to the revamped App Store that was introduced as part of iOS 11.

“We are thrilled with the reaction to the new App Store and to see so many customers discovering and enjoying new apps and games,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “We want to thank all of the creative app developers who have made these great apps and helped to change people’s lives. In 2017 alone, iOS developers earned $26.5 billion — more than a 30 percent increase over 2016.”

According to Apple, popular augmented reality game Pokémon Go topped the App Store charts on December 21 after new AR features were introduced. Apple says there are close to 2,000 ARKit-enabled apps on the App Store, with popular titles including CSR Racing 2, Stack AR, Kings of Pool, Amazon, Wayfair, Night Sky, Pitu, and Snapchat.

Apple’s ARKit mention comes following a report that has suggested interest in ARKit apps is waning. App Store data shared yesterday by Apptopia suggests developers have been releasing fewer ARKit-compatible apps over the course of the last two months.

Apple in iOS 11 introduced a new App Store that separates apps and games into distinct categories for improved app discovery. The redesigned App Store also features a “Today” section that’s updated on a daily basis with new and popular apps and games.

Tag: App Store
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