HomePod No Longer Available for Launch Day Delivery From Apple in U.S.

As the launch of the HomePod approaches, it’s no longer possible to place an order for delivery on Friday, February 9 in the United States. HomePod orders submitted today on the Apple online store will deliver next week, on February 12 to February 13.

In-store pickup for HomePod orders also became unavailable on Tuesday morning, suggesting Apple’s initial online HomePod supply has been exhausted.

HomePod supply in the United Kingdom and Australia has also dwindled, and new HomePod orders placed in those countries will be delivered between Monday, February 12 and Wednesday, February 14.

Although HomePod shipping estimates have slipped into next week, HomePod supply has been plentiful throughout the pre-order process, and it’s still going to be possible to get a HomePod on launch day.

In the United States, Best Buy continues to offer the HomePod with in-store pickup available on February 9, as do several retailers in the UK. It’s also likely that Apple retail stores in the United States, Australia, and the UK will have stock available for walk-in purchases on Friday.

HomePod orders have yet to ship out from Apple, but customers should start getting shipping notices soon. In the United States, Apple is sending HomePod packages from local hubs via UPS using Next Day Air delivery. HomePod orders have not shifted from preparing to ship, but shipping labels were created earlier in the week and can often be tracked on the UPS website using the track by reference option and a phone number.

Related Roundup: HomePodBuyer’s Guide: HomePod (Buy Now)
Discuss this article in our forums

How to watch the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang

Well, it’s that time again. We’re more than ready for some friendly, athletic contests between countries, and the 2018 Winter Olympics are shaping up wonderfully. Perfect scores aside, we’re looking forward to some ice-cold competition, and we’re betting you are too.

Televised Olympics coverage — thanks to the NBCUniversal family of networks in the U.S. — from PyeongChang, South Korea starts February 8 at 8:00 PM ET with figure skating, and continues February 9 with the opening ceremony. You can stream it, record it, and even watch in 4K HDR with Dolby Atmos if you’ve got the right gear. Here’s our comprehensive guide to watching the Olympics on any platform.

A note: DVR is your friend! Some coverage will be aired on delay, but in many cases you may need to record events of choice since PyeongChang is 17 hours ahead of us (PST). Below, we’ll cover DVR options for all the various viewing methods. For reference, here’s the full event schedule, courtesy of NBC.

Cable or satellite

Luckily, every major cable and satellite TV provider has the Olympics on tap this February. Here’s how to watch in the United States (check here for international broadcasters). Note: To watch in 4K or HDR, you need a compatible TV. Events available in 4K include the Opening Ceremony, ski jumping, figure skating, and snowboarding.

DirecTV

If you want to watch in 4K and/or 4K HDR, you’ll need a Genie DVR box. Head to channel 106, DirecTV’s channel for 4K Olympics coverage, some of it in immersive Dolby Atmos surround sound. If you’re just looking to watch in regular old HD, head to NBC (local), CNBC (355), NBC Sports Network (220), USA (242), and/or the Olympic Channel (1667). You can watch on mobile devices with the DirecTV App as well. Note that most coverage in 4K HDR with Dolby Atmos will only be available on-demand — which is probably the best way to watch in the US since South Korea is 17 hours ahead of U.S. Pacific time — even though Dolby is producing the immersive surround audio live.

Comcast Xfinity

If you’ve got an Xfinity X1 Cloud DVR box, you’ll get access to a wealth (supposedly more than 2,400 hours!) of Olympic coverage, including select programming in 4K HDR with Dolby Atmos surround sound support. To do so, just say “Olympics” into your voice remote, or head to On Demand, then Sports, then Olympics Home. X1 includes up to 50 different curated video playlists — Comcast wants to call these “Olympic Channels,” but that’s a bit misleading — with on-demand highlights and replays.

If you want to access Olympic Channels (or if you want to watch anything in 4K or HDR), you’ll need an XG1v3 DVR box. RNG150 boxes don’t have built-in DVR, so they won’t work. See here if you’re confused. If you don’t have an X1 box, you can watch live Olympics coverage — assuming your cable package includes NBC, USA Network, CNBC, NBC Sports Network and/or the Olympic Channel (channel listings vary by location). As with DirecTV, most coverage in 4K HDR with Dolby Atmos will only be available on-demand.

If you’re an Xfinity subscriber, you can also download the Xfinity Stream app on a compatible device and watch just as you would on your TV. Careful, though — streaming video obliterates data caps.

Dish Network

Dish Network just announced it, too, will offer NBCUniversal’s 4K HDR coverage of the Olympics. In addition, Dish is offering a dedicated sports hub on channel 147 for easy navigation of all of NBC’s coverage across the five networks we mentioned earlier. Dish also offers a “Sports Bar Mode,” which will allow Hopper 3 owners to watch up to four events simultaneously. You can watch it all via the Dish Anywhere app too. Dish hasn’t mentioned any support for Dolby Atmos sound.

If you don’t use one of the providers listed above, check with your cable or satellite provider for channel listings and other Olympic programming. 

Web browser

As long as you’ve got a capable computer and a pay-TV subscription (it shouldn’t matter which provider you use), you can stream all the events live and on-demand via NBC’s official website (schedule here). If your internet is fast enough, this just might be the best way to do it, and if you’ve got a Chromecast, you can use screen mirroring to watch on a big-screen TV.

If you’re located outside the U.S., you might need to utilize a VPN to get around those pesky restrictions. We’ve got a handy explainer and a list of popular VPNs if you want to go that route. A VPN can also help you “spoof” your location to gain access to broadcasts from Britain or Canada (where the Olympics are broadcast on public TV stations) using a “tunnel” or a “proxy.” For non-techies, this can be a little daunting, but if you don’t mind announcers with funny accents, it could save you some money.

A note: U.S. service members and veterans can log in to watch for free with an Exchange account.

Streaming via NBC Sports

The NBC Sports app — available for a smorgasbord of devices, from TVs to streaming sticks to smartphones and tablets — offers the same live and on-demand coverage as the NBC Olympics website, plus a healthy collection of highlight videos and other miscellaneous content. As you might expect, it requires a pay-TV subscription.

Compatible Devices

Apple iPad
Windows Phone

Apple iPhone
Roku devices

Apple iPod Touch
Amazon Fire TV

Android phones
Android tablets

Apple TV
Google Chromecast

Xbox One
Select smart TVs

Device compatibility details

Streaming services

Not a cable or satellite subscriber? No worries! The cord-cutting revolution is well underway, and there are myriad options to watch without signing scary contracts.

Sling TV

Sling TV has long been a popular alternative for those who prefer not to opt for cable or satellite subscriptions. Sling’s Olympic coverage promises to be fairly thorough, though at 600 hours total, you’ll get less than a third of the content Xfinity provides.

Most of Sling’s coverage is tied to Sling Blue, so if you pay for Orange instead, you might be out of luck. Sling Blue subscribers in select markets (details here) can watch the Opening Ceremony live, as well as a smattering of daytime and primetime events. No matter where you live, Sling Blue customers also have access to NBC Sports Network, which features 24/7 coverage throughout the Games.

Select events (mostly curling) will air on CNBC, which Sling subscribers can add to packages for $5 via ‘News Extra;’ same goes for USA Network (mostly hockey), which is included with Sling Blue. As you might already know, you’ll need a computer, set-top box, streamer, smart TV, gaming console, or mobile device for Sling. Here’s a full list of compatible devices.

A Sling Blue subscription will run you $25/month. Sling Orange is cheaper, but it doesn’t offer any of the networks you need for the Olympics. Sling also has cloud-based DVR so you can record what you want to watch and watch it at a reasonable hour.

Compatible Devices

iOS devices
Android devices

Android TV
Roku devices

AirTV Player
Amazon Fire devices

LeEco
ZTE

Xiaomi
Select smart TVs

Apple TV
Google Chromecast

Google Chrome
Windows 10 (app)

Device compatibility details

PlayStation Vue

Vue hasn’t been around as long as Sling — it’s less than three years old — but it’s quickly become a common choice for PlayStation owners and others. Vue utilizes Cloud DVR and allows users five simultaneous streams, so if you’ve got a family of Olympic fans, it can be a solid selection.

Users in select markets can watch NBC live coverage of the Olympics (see here for a list), and no matter which Vue package you’re signed up for, you’ll have full access to CNBC, NBC Sports Network, and USA Network. Elite and Ultra packages also get the Olympic Channel.

Vue pricing depends on location (see Pricing & Channel Packages in our Vue explainer); an Access or Access Slim subscription costs $40 or $30 per month, and Elite (which’ll get you the Olympic Channel) costs $55/$45.

Compatible Devices

PlayStation 3
PlayStation 4

Android devices
Android TV

iOS devices
Apple TV

Android devices
Amazon Fire tablets

Roku devices
Amazon Fire TV

Google Chrome
Safari

Firefox
Microsoft Edge

Device compatibility details

Hulu Live TV

Hulu’s Live TV service, launched in mid-2017, allows users to customize their Olympic viewing experience by setting event preferences, which will dictate the way different events are organized within your Hulu interface. Every relevant channel (including the Olympic Channel!) is included with the one-size-fits-all $40 monthly fee.

Compatible Devices

Apple iPad
Amazon Fire TV devices

Apple iPhone
Roku devices

Mac
PC

Android phones
Android tablets

Apple TV
Google Chromecast

Xbox One
Xbox 360

Device compatibility details (scroll down)

Fubo TV

Fubo TV is a sports-centric newcomer to the streaming wars. Fubo’s list of compatible devices isn’t as vast as the competition, but you can plop down $20 for your first month to get every channel the Olympics are broadcasting on. Make sure to cancel before the month is up if you don’t want your bill to double, though.

Compatible Devices

Apple iPad
Windows Phone

Apple iPhone
Roku devices

Android TV (beta)
Amazon Fire TV (beta)

Android phones
Android tablets

Google Chromecast

Device compatibility details

Youtube TV

As with Hulu and Fubo, Youtube TV — which just debuted in December — offers just one set of channels, which includes all the channels you need for $35/month. It’s got cloud-based DVR, too, so you can record anything you want to watch later. Right now, Youtube TV is available in more than 80 U.S. markets.

Compatible Devices

Apple iPad
Apple TV

Apple iPhone
Roku devices

Android tablets
Android TV

Android phones
Google Chrome

Google Chromecast

Device compatibility details

DirecTV Now

Don’t like regular old DirecTV? Try DirecTV Now! Like Vue, the streaming service offers several different package levels. At the $35 level (“Live A Little”) you’ll get NBC, CNBC, NBC Sports Network, and USA. To get the Olympic Channel, you’ll need to upgrade to the $60 tier (“Go Big”).

Compatible Devices

Apple iPad
Amazon Fire devices

Apple iPhone
Roku devices

Apple iPod Touch
Android phones

Apple TV
Android tablets

Safari
Google Chromecast

Google Chrome
Select smart TVs

Device compatibility details

Over-the-air

Antenna

If you own an HD antenna, you can watch your NBC affiliate’s event coverage for free (assuming you get NBC in your area). Unfortunately, that’s just a small slice of the Olympics; peruse the top row of this chart to see what’s available.

If this is your method of choice, you’ll want an OTA (over-the-air) DVR as well; we recommend the Tablo or TiVo’s Roamio OTA DVR.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Cutting the cord? Let us help you find the best streaming TV service
• From the Roku Ultra to Amazon Fire TV, these are the best streaming devices
• Comcast Xfinity: Everything you need to know about cable’s biggest player
• The best 4K content available right now
• Why Sling TV is an essential part of a balanced cord-cutting diet

How to hide the taskbar in Windows

Just because the Windows taskbar has a lot of handy information on it, doesn’t mean that you want to see it all the time. While it might disappear during gaming sessions, if you’d like to learn how to hide the taskbar in Windows when you’re just using the desktop or tablet mode, you’ve come to the right place.

Although the process differs slightly depending on which version of Windows you’re running, making sure that you don’t have to stare at the taskbar all day is relatively simple. It’s quickly reversible too, so if you find yourself pining after it in the future, finding it is easy and bringing it back for good is no problem either.

Once you’ve learned how to master the taskbar, why not take a look at our guide on how to take a screenshot in Windows?

Auto-hide the Windows taskbar

Windows 10

If you’re one of the majority of Windows users out there, you’re running Windows 10 and most likely its latest release, the Fall Creators Update. To hide the taskbar away until you need it, you need only follow these few short steps.

Step 1: Right-click on the taskbar and select “Taskbar settings” from the resulting menu.

Step 2: On the “Settings” page that appears, choose when you want the taskbar to be automatically hidden. Whether desktop or tablet (or both) click the corresponding button. Triggering them on and off will give you a preview of what it’s like with the taskbar hidden — it should slide out of site at the bottom of the screen.

Step 3: When happy with the results, simply close the Settings window. The taskbar is now hidden!

If you find yourself needing the taskbar in the future, simply move your mouse to the bottom of the screen and the taskbar will magically reappear. When you’re done, move your mouse away and the taskbar will once again slide out of view.

If eventually, you find yourself missing your old pal taskbar though, bringing it back to the base of your screen all the time is just as easy as auto-hiding it in the first place. Just repeat the steps outlined above, and deactivate the settings button instead of activating it.

Windows 7 or older

If you’re running an older version of Windows, the process for hiding the taskbar is much the same, the menus just aren’t as pretty.

Step 1: Right-click on the taskbar and click “Properties.”

Step 2: On the taskbar menu windows that appears, tick the box that reads “Auto-hide the taskbar.”

The taskbar should now be hidden and you can access it much the same way you would in Windows 10. If you want to reactivate the taskbar, simply repeat the steps above and untick the respective box.

Now that you have your taskbar where you want it, here are some other tips on how to make the most of it. While you’re at it, why not take a few extra steps to speed up your Windows experience?

Editors’ Recommendations

• How to fix Microsoft Edge’s most common problems
• How to uninstall Windows 10
• How to download movies from Netflix to your phone, tablet, or PC
• Weekend Workshop: Show off your record collection with this DIY storage frame
• Like Chrome OS, but miss Windows? Here’s how to install it on your Chromebook

The Best PlayStation Exclusives

• Best Horror
• Best Adventure
• Best Action RPG
• Best Story

Best Horror

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

See at Amazon

There is a reason that Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice received so many nominations at the 2017 Game Awards. Ninja Theory put out a game that is nothing short of stunning. With stellar voice acting a motion captured performances it takes elements of Norse mythology and weaves a fantastic narrative exploring the nature of psychosis.

The game blends hack and slash combat elements, horror, and puzzles in a way that provides excellent gameplay all on its own. When you add the surprisingly moving performances from first-time actor Melina Juergens, the powerful score, and tight writing you end up with a game that edges dangerously close to the realm of art.

Bottom line. Do yourself a favor and give this game a spin. I think it does a fantastic job of pushing the envelope of what a video game can be. It is to gaming what art films are to blockbuster cinema.

One more thing Play it with headphones. The clever use of binaural audio design gives you a small taste of psychosis and only serves to deepen the experience.

Best adventure game

Yakuza 0

See at PlayStation Store

The Yakuza series has been quietly plugging away at the construction of a vast gaming world since 2005. With a release nearly every year since its inception one might think that the series has done everything possible within its framework. However, Yakuza 0 released in Japan in 2015 and slipped onto western shores in 2017 and there is plenty of new stuff to keep you busy.

Yakuza 0 acts as a prequel to the Yakuza series. Set in the late 80’s you will follow Goro Majima and Kazuma Kirya as they find themselves wrapped up in a battle between various nefarious underworld entities for control of a small piece of property. This seemingly small issue is just a jumping off point for a winding and interesting plot which boasts all the earmarks of a great Yakuza film.

There is absolutely no dearth of things to keep you busy in the world of Yakuza 0. Aside from the quests directly related to the main storyline, there are plenty of fun and goofy side quests and a boatload of genuinely fun mini-games which have the potential to keep a player busy for hours.

Bottom line. Yakuza 0 has a ton to offer and makes for a fantastic addition to any PS4 library. If you are a fan of the series it is not to be missed.

One more thing. If you have ever wanted to run a cabaret club or own an ever-expanding real estate empire then Yakuza 0 is definitely the place to be.

Best Action RPG

Bloodborne

See at PlayStation Store

Thus far, From Software has done one thing and done it quite well. They have managed to relentlessly brutalize gamers and leave them begging for more. Bloodborne is not a sequel to the “Souls” series but more of a spiritual successor… Or blood successor if you will. Infused with a Lovecraftian-cum-Bram Stoker vibe Bloodborne feels similar to the “Souls” series but switches things up in a number of ways.

You will hack and slash your ways through the streets of Yharnam, a gothic analog for a 19th-century European city, which has been infested by a plague. As you battle your way deep into the city you will have to make strategic use of your wits and your arsenal. You will also die. A lot.

Bottom line. If you love a game that doesn’t hold your hand and rewards you for patience, persistence, and precision then you are going to have a great time in the world of Bloodborne.

One more thing. Bring a snack, those load times are brutal.

Best Story

Horizon Zero Dawn

See at Amazon

If you want a beautiful looking game with a great story, you should look no further than Horizon Zero Dawn. It is chock full of gorgeous visuals and the combat mechanics are intuitive while also managing to be incredibly satisfying. Guerilla Games managed to make a game that had me want to find every unexplored corner of its lush world.

Aside from being fun to play and really good looking they also managed to tell a rip-roaring story. The way the story plays out had me wanting to know more throughout my entire playthrough. As you progress through the game, the story builds and the world deepens. The universe of Horizon Zero dawn seems to be ripe for sequels but it also can stand up all on its own as an example of stellar storytelling and world building.

Bottom line. Horizon Zero Dawn has a lot going for it. It totally justifiably made a ton of 2017’s best-of list. It’s exclusives like this that can draw gamers to specific consoles.

One more thing. The main character is one of the best examples I have experienced in recent years of a well rounded, powerful female lead. I hope to see lots more characters like Aloy in the future.

Conclusion

There are plenty of exclusive games on PlayStation, and these are just some of the best. As we move forward there are more excellent exclusives coming to the fore. As you begin to explore these games and the many others that can only be played on PlayStation there will be laughs, tears, and furious curses waiting for you. Is there a PlayStation exclusive that should have made our list? Are any of your favorites here? Be sure to leave us a comment and let us know about it!

Gordon Ramsay will insult your sandwiches with Alexa’s help

If your life won’t be complete until you’ve gotten roasted by Gordon Ramsay like that dude in that Super Bowl ad, then Alexa can help make your dream come true. Ground Control, the same interactive audio company behind “Biden’s Briefing” that uses the former VP’s voice to read news, has released a new Alexa skill that brings the famous chef to your kitchen. Just say “Alexa, ask Gordon Ramsay what he thinks about my [insert food here],” and the skill will “critique” your work.

Obviously, it can’t actually give you a valid critique, but it’s a surefire way to hear one of the chef’s infamous/hilarious putdowns directed at you… especially when you know your “idiot sandwich” deserves it. Want a sample? In the video below, the user asks what Ramsay thinks of his dish, and the chef replied with “How can you do this to food, and [bleeping] sleep at night?” Sounds like a fun skill already.

Source: Ground Control

Bring out your inner Michelangelo with the best drawing apps for the iPad Pro

Although nothing can truly replace a traditional piece of paper or sheet of canvas, the iPad Pro comes incredibly close to bringing digital art up to the same level as analog art. The larger screen opens the iPad Pro to new levels of artistry and turns a fun sketching tool into a serious platform for creativity. Designed from the ground up with the promising Apple Pencil in mind, the iPad Pro is the ultimate digital canvas. Luckily, there are scores of drawing apps in the App Store, and many of them have already been optimized for the Pro’s enlarged screen and the Pencil’s fine-point tip. Below are 20 of the best drawing apps for the iPad Pro, so you can become the Michelangelo of the mobile world.

Just pick up an iPad Pro for the first time? To help you get started, we’ve rounded up the best games for the iPad Pro and the best keyboard cases for the iPad Pro.

MediBang Paint

MediBang Paint is a very easy to use painting program that may remind you of Photoshop, in that it allows you to work with layers. It has a very good brush editor, and offers the ability to add styles to your layers. This program has so many tools that it feels more at home on the larger iPad Pros, but it is also compatible with the fourth-generation iPad and above, or iPad Mini 2 and above. If you like to draw comic books, this app gives you a lot of comic book fonts to get the professional look you want. You can save your projects locally or to the cloud.

Download now from:

iTunes

Artrage ($5)

The main idea of Artrage is to make painting as real as possible on the iPad. You can mix paints with one another as though you were blending them on a real canvas. This app works with layers, and if you’re already familiar with Photoshop, you’ll feel right at home with the blend modes. Artrage also allows you to record your drawing for later viewing on the desktop. It not only supports the Apple Pencil, but also has support for Wacom, Adonit, and Pogo styli.

Download now from:

iTunes

SketchBook by Autodesk

Even if you’re not a professional artist, you’ve probably heard about Sketchbook by Autodesk. It is definitely one of the most popular apps for artists. The layout is everything when it comes to design programs, and Sketchbook’s toolbars are laid out in an easily accessible way — and you can even pin them to the screen. Great features include import/export from and to Photoshop, and the ability to zoom in as much as 2,500 percent to let you work on those fine details. It supports the Apple Pencil on the iPad Pro, along with some of the better styli available for other tablets.

Download now from:

iTunes

Graphic ($9)

If you remember when the iPad Pro was announced, it was touted by Apple as being a replacement for your PC. Graphic is like having Adobe Illustrator on your iPad. This app used to be called iDraw, and because it is available for your Mac, you can go back and forth between your desktop and your iPad designing and drawing. It features different brushes and full support for the Apple Pencil but also is an app that lets you create vector-based technical drawings. If you’re into graphic design, you will be amazed how Graphic can push the capabilities of the iPad.

Download now from:

iTunes

Adobe Illustrator Draw

Similar to Graphic, Adobe Illustrator Draw allows you to create vector-based designs. This app, however, is a lot more simple, with a less intimidating UI. It’s geared toward someone who wants to quickly start working on ideas. The app lets you take your work on the go, and you can easily transition your latest project to Illustrator on your desktop or laptop when you’re back at the office.

Download now from:

iTunes

Inspire Pro ($8)

This app is one of the most intuitive ones when it comes to drawing and sketching. Taking advantage of the iPad’s multicore CPU and OpenGL, it can draw and render images quickly, which is one of the things you want when you’re drawing on a tablet to help it mimic real drawing. The app saves your favorite colors for quick access and fully supports the Apple Pencil.

Download now from:

iTunes

Assembly

Making stickers, icons, and other graphics with Assembly is easy. You can create crisp and professional-looking work in no time at all with this app. There’s also a vast selection of shapes, symbols, and stickers for you to manipulate and layer. You can save your work as a high-resolution JPG or PNG, as well as in vector formats like SVG and PDF. The app is free, but if you want 21 themed shape packs, a text engine with 25 custom fonts, the ability to combine and intersect fonts, or even import vector images, you’ll have to pay for a Pro subscription that costs $3 per week, $5 per month, or $30 per year.

Download now from:

iTunes

Sketch Club ($3)

Sketch Club has something unique, and that is a community of artists with whom you can share your art. You’ll also be able to comment on everyone’s work and get inspiration. The app even lets you create 64 layers in total, and you can create your art on canvases that are up to 4K in resolution. With a wide selection of brushes and vector tools, this is a full-fledged drawing app. It has full support for the Apple Pencil and the ability to record in 1080p.

Download now from:

iTunes

Brushes Redux

Brushes took the stage when the Apple iPad debuted back in 2010 and showed the world that an iPad could be a tool for artists. Since then, the app has grown to support the iPad Pro. Because this app is an iOS exclusive, it has been written specifically for iPad. It supports OpenGL and takes advantage of the 64-bit processing on the iPad. Not only is it very fast, but it has the typical iOS interface design language that iOS users are comfortable with, so finding your way through the very simple toolbar is a breeze. It has layers support, but unlike other more robust professional apps, you can only create up to 10 layers.

Download now from:

iTunes

Astropad ($30)

Astropad pairs your iPad Pro with a Mac and turns your tablet into a dedicated drawing slate. It’s meant for professional creatives who use applications such as Photoshop and Illustrator. The app is even optimized for the iPad Pro to showcase improved image quality, reduced latency, a custom pressure curve specifically designed for the Apple Pencil, and support for tilt with the stylus. The latest update offers advanced stroke tuning for removing stray points and providing strokes with the Pencil, which means you only see what you intend to draw. It’s the ultimate drawing app for professional illustrators, comic book artists, and anyone who’s ever wanted a Wacom tablet. It does cost $30, but that easily beats the price of professional drawing slates.

Download now from:

iTunes

Editors’ Recommendations

• The pen is mightier than the finger: The best stylus for all your needs
• These 100 best iPhone apps will turn your phone into a jack-of-all-trades
• Elevate your photography with the 20 best camera apps for the iPhone
• Put your health first and get into shape with the best iPhone fitness apps
• The world can be your oyster with a little help from the 21 best travel apps

Dream Chaser’s first ISS resupply mission launches in late 2020

After years of testing, Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser cargo spacecraft has a launch window. NASA has given the go-ahead to the vehicle’s first mission, which is now slated for late 2020. Appropriately, it’s a straightforward resupply trip for the International Space Station. The company received the all-clear after hitting a slew of key NASA-approved design milestones.

Out of the companies NASA picked to provide ISS resupply missions back in 2016, Sierra Nevada’s vessel is the only aircraft-like design of the bunch — the Orbital ATK and SpaceX offerings are capsules. That should give it an edge when it carries scientific experiments, as it can land on a runway and offload equipment immediately (crucial for time-sensitive science) instead of waiting for a recovery. There’s a pressurized cabin for human-tended experiments.

Dream Chaser might not serve its original purpose for long when the ISS isn’t poised to receive funding past 2024. Even so, it should help usher in the private spaceflight era and offer some fresh competition.

Source: Sierra Nevada

Activist and EFF co-founder John Perry Barlow has died

John Perry Barlow, a founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, died in his sleep this morning at the age of 71. EFF executive director Cindy Cohn shared the news in a blog post.

“It is no exaggeration to say that major parts of the Internet we all know and love today exist and thrive because of Barlow’s vision and leadership,” she wrote. “He always saw the Internet as a fundamental place of freedom, where voices long silenced can find an audience and people can connect with others regardless of physical distance.”

Through the EFF, Barlow championed net neutrality and an open internet, often suing the federal government over its handling of online information and privacy matters. Barlow founded the EFF in 1990 alongside Mitch Kapor and John Gilmore, in response to what they saw as the government’s overzealous, misguided and illegal attempts to police cyber crime.

Here’s how Barlow viewed his mission at the EFF, as he wrote in 1996 after the signing of the Telecommunications Reform Act:

Cyberspace consists of transactions, relationships, and thought itself, arrayed like a standing wave in the web of our communications. Ours is a world that is both everywhere and nowhere, but it is not where bodies live.

We are creating a world that all may enter without privilege or prejudice accorded by race, economic power, military force, or station of birth.

We are creating a world where anyone, anywhere may express his or her beliefs, no matter how singular, without fear of being coerced into silence or conformity.

Barlow was a writer as well as an activist, and he founded the Freedom of the Press Foundation. He was also a lyricist for The Grateful Dead.

US busts $530 million Infraud cybercrime ring

The US just took down one of the larger online crime organizations in recent memory — certainly one of the largest prosecuted by the feds. Department of Justice officials have filed charges against 36 people allegedly involved with Infraud Organization (no really, that’s the name), a global cybercrime ring with roots in the US as well as numerous other countries. Combined, the group is believed to have trafficked in stolen financial data (including up to 4 million cards), identities and contraband worth over $530 million in losses. And that’s what they actually managed to accomplish. Reportedly, they hoped to inflict a total of $2.2 billion in damage.

Law enforcement has only arrested 13 of the members so far, five of which are from the US and only one of which (Sergei Medvedev) is considered top brass. Ukraine resident Svyatoslav Bondarenko, who’s believed to have founded Infraud back in 2010, isn’t one of them. And while there are just five suspects still at large, the actual membership is considerably deeper with 10,901 registered members as of March 2017.

The Americans involved with Infraud have already appeared in court, and they could face more than 30 years in prison if they’re found guilty. This is unlikely to dissuade other groups — Infraud wasn’t the first big cybercrime ring, and probably won’t be the last. Nonetheless, the scale suggests this should put at least a temporary dent in digital fraud.

Via: CNET

Source: Department of Justice

Apple’s ‘Amazing Stories’ revival loses showrunner Bryan Fuller

Apple has yet to launch any of the original shows funded by its $1 billion war chest, but it’s already losing part of its production team. Hollywood Reporter has learned that showrunner Bryan Fuller (of Star Trek and American Gods fame) has left Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories revival for the tech giant. The departure was “amicable,” according to sources, and stemmed from creative differences. Reportedly, Fuller wanted to make a Black Mirror-style show that wasn’t what Apple intended.

Fuller wasn’t new to the Amazing Stories continuation. He’d been around since 2015, when the series was attached to NBC and Spielberg wasn’t involved. He’s had some relatively short stints lately: he was booted from American Gods after the production company wanted to reduce the per-episode fee, and left Star Trek: Discovery over cost and casting issues with CBS.

This is a significant blow, but not a dramatic one. Apple has several original shows lined up, and executive producer Hart Hanson (known for Bones) is expected to fill Fuller’s shoes. The exit does, however, illustrate the risks involved in lining up multiple high-profile shows at once: there’s a real chance that something will go awry.

Source: Hollywood Reporter