Joel McHale’s weekly Netflix show premieres this weekend

As promised, Joel McHale’s weekly Netflix show is premiering on February 18th — and you now have a better idea of what to expect going in. The streaming service has posted a preview of The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale that gives a feel for what the commentary series will involve. It doesn’t include the signature green screen (a carryover from The Soup), but it’s clear that the show will play on McHale’s Community days — fellow alumni and initial guests Alison Brie and Jim Rash show up to keep the star in check.

The first episode also has Kevin Hart, Paul Reiser and Luke Cage’s Mike Coalter. The series as a whole will definitely take advantage of the freedom Netflix offers to cover subjects (and language) that wouldn’t fly on most TV networks.

McHale’s show is part of Netflix’s larger strategy to take on the late-night shows you see everywhere from the big over-the-air broadcasters to premium channels like HBO. The formats vary, but the aim remains the same: Netflix wants reasons for you to come back on a regular basis, not just when there’s a new season of your favorite show.

Source: Netflix, YouTube

Facebook will send postcards to verify US election ad buyers

Facebook has a new yet very old solution to fighting Russian manipulation attempts during future US elections: conventional mail. Global policy program director Katie Harbath has revealed that the social network will send postcards to verify the identities and locations of anyone hoping to buy ads related to federal-level candidates. Recipients will have to enter a code on the postcard to prove that they are, in fact, living in the US. The requirement won’t apply to state-level candidates or ads based around issues.

There’s no specific time frame for when the cards will take effect, but they should be in use before the 2018 mid-term elections in November.

Harbath acknowledged to Reuters that this “won’t solve everything.” A determined foreign manipulation effort could rely on US-based volunteers, for instance, and this won’t help if there are any plans to skew smaller votes. There’s also no mention of using this approach for other countries. However, this could thwart many ‘casual’ attempts at persuading voters from afar, and might help Facebook address politicians’ concerns that it isn’t doing enough to keep Russia from meddling in American politics.

Source: Reuters

Lyft follows Uber into bike sharing, beginning in Baltimore

Just a couple of weeks after Uber revealed it was getting into the bike-sharing game, Lyft, too, is hopping onto the two-wheelers.

While Uber tests out a scheme in San Francisco with ebike company Jump, Lyft’s debut effort involves a partnership with the city-operated Baltimore Bike Share scheme in Maryland.

The company more famous for rides in cars than on bikes is investing $270,000 in Baltimore’s scheme. The initial three-year deal allows Lyft to put its branding onto five of the city’s busiest bike-sharing stations that will also act as quick and convenient pick-up and drop-off zones for Lyft riders.

Commenting on the company’s first foray into bike sharing, Lyft’s Mike Heslin said in a statement, “Whether someone is taking a Lyft ride from the suburbs to the city and hopping on a bike around downtown, or taking a bike to one of these hubs and meeting a Lyft driver for a trip to the other side of town, the multimodal transportation future is very bright for Baltimore.”

The Lyft app and the Baltimore Bike Share app will feature each information on the other’s services, but you won’t be able to rent a bike via the Lyft app, nor request a car ride via the bike app. A launch promotion (use code BBS2018) gives Lyft users a 50-percent discount for up to two rides to or from any of the five designated stations between now and February 28, 2018. Individuals can also redeem the promotional code “Lyft” within the Bike Share app for a free one-month bike-share membership.

Baltimore launched its bike-sharing system in 2016 and claims to have the largest electric-assist bicycle fleet in North America. Hundreds of bikes are available from around 50 stations dotted about the city, and riders can use the service around the clock.

“Lyft’s partnership supports the growth and sustainability of the system infrastructure throughout Baltimore City,” Michelle Pourciau, director of the Baltimore City Department of Transportation, said in a statement. “This unique collaboration helps to address traffic congestion in Baltimore and represents our commitment for a multimodal city with fewer vehicles on our roadways.”

Lyft says the partnership fits with its long-term goal “to reduce individual car ownership and to redesign cities around people, not cars.” If its first bike-share scheme sees its investment pay off with more people signing up to its ride-sharing service, look out for similar Lyft-backed efforts across the country.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Uber is getting into the bike-sharing game
• Google has a problem with its campus bike-sharing scheme
• Go ahead, have another! The best ridesharing apps help get you home safely
• Bikesharing app Spin adds pedal-assist ebikes for urban commuters
• BMW imagines elevated tubes for speedy, comfortable ebike commutes

A million Snapchatters protest app redesign but CEO sticks by it

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Snap CEO Evan Spiegel loves Snapchat’s redesign, even if no one else does.

Speaking at a Goldman Sachs investor event in San Francisco on Thursday, February 15, Spiegel insisted his team is “excited about what we are seeing so far” but admitted it will “take time” for many users to get used to the changes.

More than a million people have signed an online petition protesting the revamp, which has been introduced gradually in a number of markets — among them Canada, the U.K., and Australia — and is set to go global by the end of March.

One of the main modifications separates friends and family interactions from content posted by brands after Spiegel commented last year that “blurring the lines between professional content creators and your friends has … produced some strange side-effects,” citing fake news as an example. The move isn’t so different from what Facebook is working on and comes as social media companies fend off criticism about their reach and power, and the dubious content sometimes posted on their services.

Some of the alterations are supposed to make the app less confusing for new users but seem to have had the opposite effect for a number of long-time Snapchatters. In a brief statement to the BBC, a spokesperson for Snap pointed out that updates “can take a little getting used to,” adding, “We hope the community will enjoy it once they settle in.”

But an online petition set up by Snapchatter Nick Rumsey has so far chalked up a million signatures. Rumsey said the update had inadvertently made many features harder to use.

“There is a general level of annoyance among users and many have decided to use a VPN app, or are using other risky apps or steps, to go back to the old Snapchat as that’s how annoying this new update has become,” he wrote on the petition page.

With more people still adding their names to the petition, and critics continuing to voice their disappointment on other platforms, pressure is mounting on Spiegel to take another look at the revamp. It wouldn’t be the first time for a social media company to reverse an update in the face of protests, with both Twitter and Instagram having done so in the past, although admittedly neither concerned changes as fundamental as Snapchat’s.

But at the current time, Spiegel seems intent on sticking by the “whole new Snapchat,” as he himself has described it.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Snapchat redesign adds colorful text, while all users can mute specific chats
• Ahead of global rollout, the Snapchat redesign could already be sparking growth
• New to Snapchat? Follow our guide and go from newbie to pro
• Here is what users are saying about that new Snapchat redesign
• What do emojis mean in Snapchat? Here is a guide to what’s what

Apple’s latest patents hint at sleep tracker and continued work on AR

Apple often files patents for new tech, even if in the end it doesn’t end up using those patents. The company has filed for a series of five new patents this week alone, making for some very interesting speculation about the future of some of its biggest and most important products.

The patents could relate to Apple’s future endeavors in augmented reality, as well as its attempts to keep the iPhone’s camera relevant in the face of increased competition from the likes of Google. Here’s a quick rundown of the patents we’ve seen from Apple this week.

Accessory lenses for the iPhone

One of the more interesting patents seems to be related to developing accessory lenses for the iPhone. The patent is titled “Adapting Camera Systems to Accessory Lenses,” and it seems to show Apple is considering small lenses that could attach or mount to the camera lens on devices like the iPhone, helping give them better zooming capabilities, among other things.

Of course, the overall system could be pretty complex. In order to get the best image quality, the optical axis of the phone’s camera has to be lined up with the optical axis of the accessory lens. That could be difficult, unless Apple adopts some kind of standard for attaching lenses to the camera.

Apple continues work on AR

Apple has been developing quite an interest in Augmented Reality, and its latest patent confirms that isn’t going to change anytime soon. The patent, called “Transparent Electronic Device,” is slightly different from a patent that was filed back in November. Most notably, the new patent, which describes an electronic device with a transparent display, places a heavier emphasis on an adjustable opacity layer, along with a dedicated processor arranged to specifically configure an opaque portion and transparent portion.

It’s not immediately clear what this device will be used for, but a report from Patently Apple notes that Apple has been working on an AR display specifically for the Mac.

Different refresh rates for different portions of the display

The third new patent discusses a new display technology that Apple seems to be developing related to display refresh rates. Notably, it seems that Apple wants to develop a display that can refresh at different rates in different parts of the display.

It’s an interesting proposition, and basically means that when a portion of the display is static, it doesn’t need to be refreshed as often — which could ultimately save on battery life, depending on how the technology works.

Apple seems to be specifically developing the tech for its mobile devices, though if it continues to pursue it we could see it showing up on its computers, too.

Setting an alarm based on when you get to sleep

The final two patents relate to sleep tracking, with the first specifically designed to set an alarm and change that alarm depending on when you get to sleep. Now, that may not work if you have to get up to go to work, for example, but in some situations that could be pretty handy — especially for those who find they have trouble getting to sleep at night.

The systems seems to go a step further too by predicting when the user goes to sleep, based on previous sleep rituals. Those rituals can include any number of tasks one might perform before going to bed, like brushing your teeth.

Vital signs monitoring

Last but not least is a vital signs monitoring system, which seems to work through sensors placed in the user’s bed. It would make sense — Apple acquired sleep tracking company Beddit last year, and hasn’t really released any sleep-tracking technology since then.

According to the patent, the technology would be used to track sleep and then give feedback on ways to improve sleep — all without having to attach any devices to the users themselves.

Despite the fact that it makes sense that Apple would be developing a sleep tracker after the Beddit acquisition, according to a report from Patently Apple, the two inventors listed on the patent have no history with Beddit — so it’s possible that Apple was working on this tech before the Beddit acquisition.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Apple AR glasses: News and rumors about ‘Project Mirrorshades’
• The best sleep trackers
• Sleep Cycle app for Android will soon allow users to track sleep using sound
• Wake up on time with the best alarm clock apps for Android and iOS
• ‘Pokémon Go’ levels up its augmented reality abilities with Apple’s ARKit

Furby/Alexa hybrid makes the creepy toy at least a little bit useful

Why confine all the personality of your favorite smart home assistant into a cylindrical hub when she can live inside just about any microphone-enabled object you want? Such is the question Amazon Alexa users have been raising for years, and often, to pretty delightful results. Back in 2016, for example, we got to hear Alexa’s voice emanating from the Big Mouth Billy Bass, and now that it’s 2018, we’ll get to hear her coming out of a Furby.

The brainchild of a rather creative engineer, the result of the Furby and Alexa mashup is aptly named “Furlexa.” If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of a Furby, allow us to explain. This robotic toy first made its debut in 1998, and looks something like an owl but also a bit like a hamster. It’s a little bit creepy, but so are most toys that meet with incredible success (seriously, I can’t be the only person a bit alarmed by the Tickle Me Elmo). In any case, over 40 million Furbies were sold in the first three years of production, and now, at least one of those Furbies is being repurposed.

“I thought I’d make Furby a little less annoying and give him an upgrade with a real brain. Step aside, Tin Man,” explained Florida-based web developer Zach on his Howchoo page. “I give you: Furlexa,” he announced.

Making Furlexa was rather straightforward — in essence, Zach placed the open source Alexa software onto a Raspberry Pi Zero, and then added a few additional electrical gadgets and gizmos in order to splice the Raspberry Pi into the toy. But why did he choose the Furby?

“Furby is comprised of a few primary components — a microprocessor covered in black resin (to protect Tiger Electronics’ intellectual property), infrared and light sensors, microphone, speaker, and — most impressively — a single motor that uses an elaborate system of gears and cams to drive Furby’s ears, eyes, mouth and rocker,” Zach explained. “By driving the motor at varying speeds and directions and by tracking the cam position, the microprocessor can tell Furby to dance, sing, sleep, or whatever. Pretty cool.” And the only thing to make it cooler would obviously be an Alexa integration.

The entire enterprise cost somewhere in the $50 range, but if you value your time, you may not want to attempt to create Furlexa yourself. Zach said that the whole process took him a year, so unless you’ve some serious time to kill, you may want to just stick with Alexa living in your Echo.

Editors’ Recommendations

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• The best home security cameras you can buy
• Ditch your bulky commuter bike helmet and ride smarter with the foldable Lid
• What a good boy! These video games let you pet dogs — and other animals

Huawei vs. the U.S. government: Why words may not be enough

Huawei is fighting a giant: The United States government. Over the past few months, the mobile phone company has made headlines with plans to bring its products to the United States. It’s not so easy. This week, several government agencies including the CIA and the FBI alerted the citizens of this country not to buy products from Huawei. The motive? The agencies express distrust of this Chinese company, and the fact that it could “spy” on the owners of these devices and become a security risk.

But is it a real risk? In theory, the software included in a device might be able to spy on certain things — who a person calls, and when and from where, for example — but these data points could be detected by these same intelligence agencies already. And really when these statements were given, there was no evidence that any spying was happening. “Concerns” were expressed. (It should be noted that these phones are already on sale in American territory.)

However the arrival of Huawei a few months ago was abysmal. It was rumored that cell phones would be sold through one of the major mobile operators, but the agreements were cancelled at the last minute, and therefore they phones can only be purchased unlocked. It is not yet known why the negotiations failed, but some analysts indicate that political motives might have had something to do with this.

If there is a real risk, these agencies should do an investigation to convince the public that it exists. This should not be so difficult, having access to the products right here in the United States. If this does not happen, what we are seeing is more of a case of protectionism or paranoia rather than something tangible and real — and in the long run, all it does is further polarize the global political environment.

On the other hand, Huawei’s flagships have been sold for years not only in Latin American countries but also in Europe, and at no time have there been any signs of Chinese surveillance through these cell phones.

Also, let’s remember that there are other Chinese technology companies present in American territory, such as Lenovo, which bought Motorola several years ago. And since then, there has been no statement from government officials about mistrust of either of these two brands.

Huawei should demonstrate with solid evidence why, despite being located in a country that according to history does not have the best Interests of the United States in mind, American users have nothing to fear. It seems that simple statements are not enough from Huawei, even though the US government makes these kinds of statements itself.

Wait to see if the Huawei Mate 10 Pro manages to conquer the hearts of Americans in a market where the iPhone and the Galaxy are the kings of mobile telephony. But the Chinese New Year just passed — you may have wait for the next one.

Editors’ Recommendations

• ZTE and Huawei respond to intelligence agency warnings over security risks
• U.S. lawmakers reportedly pressure AT&T to completely cut ties with Huawei
• Apple vs. Qualcomm: Everything you need to know
• Huawei’s letting the $800 Mate 10 Pro speak for itself in U.S. release
• FCC to investigate Hawaii’s erroneous missile warning

The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not reflect the beliefs of Digital Trends.

Apple raked in more than half of all global smartphone revenue last quarter

Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends

Reports may suggest that Apple wasn’t all that impressed with sales of the iPhone X toward the end of last year, but in the last quarter, it hit a pretty massive milestone when it comes to smartphone sales. According to a report from Strategy Analytics, Apple raked in more than half of all smartphone market revenue.

Apple took in $61.4 billion (51 percent) of smartphone revenue, followed very distantly by Samsung. Samsung’s $18.9 billion in smartphone revenue last quarter, which ended December 31, equates to around 15.7 percent. In third place is Huawei, which made $8.4 billion (7 percent). After that, Strategy Analytics simply lists every other company as “others”; those companies account for 26.2 percent of the market.

Contrary to previous reports, and according to Strategy Analytics, the huge revenue was due to “solid demand” for the iPhone X. The average price of the iPhone went up to a hefty $796, up from $695 in the same quarter last year. That makes sense considering the $1,000 base price of the iPhone X, which is Apple’s new flagship model.

China in particular is an increasingly important market for Apple. While Android fans in China have a range of companies to choose from, those who buy iPhones in the country are generally dedicated Apple fans, according to a new report from Fast Company. Still, only 3 percent of activated iPhones in China are the iPhone X. Just 2.63 percent are the iPhone 8 Plus, and 1.36 percent are the iPhone 8. That means the vast majority of people are still using older iPhone models — though that’s to be expected.

According to a report from The Motley Fool, Strategy Analytics’ revenue forecast is slightly different from Apple’s. Strategy Analytics notes Apple made $61.4 billion, while Apple’s official figures come in at $61.6 billion — though that’s apparently because Strategy Analytics’ report doesn’t count wholesale revenues.

Other companies are still holding their ground. Motley Fool notes that Huawei is gaining steam, thanks largely to its aggressive release of low-cost devices. Of course, Huawei could be gaining even more steam if it was selling phones in the U.S. — but U.S. lawmakers and law enforcement agencies have expressed concern with Huawei phones because of Huawei’s strong relationship with the Chinese government.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Report reveals the iPhone 8 outsold the flagship iPhone X in the U.S. during Q4
• Apple beats revenue forecast in first quarter, but iPhone sales took a hit
• Apple will halve iPhone X production after limp holiday sales, report says
• Smart wearables market keeps growing as Fitbit and Xiaomi lead the way
• LG’s mobile division reports big losses in fourth quarter

Your weekend comments thread is here, so take a break and chat it up

Whether working or playing (or both), everyone can enjoy a minute or two of internet-ing with friends.

I thought I would be taking advantage of a spell of warm weather and getting outside to spend some time with my favorite hobby — fiddling around with some woodworking tools — but instead, I’m stuck inside watching it rain on this dreary Saturday afternoon. Bleh. I need to get my mind clear and I have a chess set to get done so please stop teasing me with springtime temps and take it away at the last minute, mkay?

It’s cool, though. I found another thing I need to do that’s fun while being productive and I’m going to tear my gaming PC apart and do some dust removal, then hopefully be able to put it back together a little less messy than it is right now. I’ve been swapping a second video card in and out because I love me some SLI goodness but my HTC Vive only works with a single card in place. I didn’t have this in mind when I hastily threw together the parts I scrounged up.

Dr. Frankenstien would be proud.

So my Saturday is a proper mix of fun and, well, fun. At least it’s fun if you like to touch the stuff inside a PC. What about you?

Take a minute and share whatever it is you’re doing this weekend, or just talk about anything. I like to set aside this one little spot where you can just relax and chat with some online friends without any phone arguing or shaming. We all deserve a place to relax.

The best multiplayer games on PlayStation 4

Get your party going with the best of the best

Sometimes games are that much better when you’ve got your favorite people, or even a couple of strangers online, playing with you! If you and your buds are looking for a new game to get into, these are bound to spark an interest in your heart!

This list isn’t in order of best to least because all of these titles are pretty stellar!

• Warframe
• Overwatch
• Minecraft
• Smite
• DC Universe Online
• Lego Games
• Overcooked
• Final Fantasy XIV Online
• Destiny
• 7 Days to Die

Warframe

Warframe brings an interesting switch to third-person shooters by introducing the concept of all the powers coming from specific space suits as opposed to natural talents. It brings a game within a game by having you control a boy who controls the Warframe.

In this multiplayer game, you will all allow Lotus to guide you through defeating your enemies on the opposing teams. Lose yourself in this free game in a Sci-Fi world as you shoot each other in fun obstacles that pretty much resemble capture the flag.

See on Playstation Store

Overwatch

After winning a number of awards at the Game Awards 2018, including best on-going game, Overwatch is a title you hear frequently online and amongst your friends.

The best part about this game is that it’s just as fun in story mode as it is multiplayer! Each character you can choose from has a different number of special moves, creating an interesting balance in the world between teams. So, for only $43 join the crowds of people obsessed with the game and prove to the population that, “Heros never die!”

See on Amazon

Minecraft

Since 2009 Minecraft has captivated the hearts of children and adults alike. Despite the graphics looking like they belong on a Windows XP desktop, it’s easy to lose track of hours while playing. With a PlayStation Plus account you can create a world together with your friends.

You could also set your friends on fire or push them into vats of home-made volcanos, dealers choice! For $18 on Amazon, you can create your own adventure with your friends and explore the endless possibilities of pixels.

See on Amazon

Smite

Smite has taken the concept of DOTA or League of Legends and put it into a third-person fighting game. Here you’ll choose your champion and attempt to overthrow the enemy base by destroying their beacons.

The shop combos are significantly easier to master than DOTA itself, making this game easy to learn and therefore quicker to enjoy! Just like DOTA or League of Legends, this game is also free to play!

See on PlayStation Store

DC Universe Online

It’s time to take on an apprenticeship under your favorite hero or villain. You can even choose your power pool based on your favorite archetype, and build from that! From there you get a secret base you can design as you please and take jobs from your favorite idols.

I personally combined Mr. Freezes ice powers with Poison Ivy’s natural powers and a base in Gotham City, what would you choose? DC Universe Online is free massively multiplayer online (MMO) to download from the PlayStation store, but there are in-game purchases to enhance gameplay.

See on PlayStation Store

Any of the Lego games, really

The Lego series is one you can turn off your brain to play and still have an amazing time. It brings a sarcastic and sassy sense of humor to some of our favorite titles like Batman.

The fun is great for all audiences, children and adult alike, to enjoy and laugh while solving the various puzzles. Besides, what better way to get revenge on all the Legos you have ever stepped on than to turn it into dust in this silly adventure? So grab your best friends, your children or even your little siblings and pick up a copy of any of the Lego games, ranging from $15-$40, and show those bag of blocks who’s boss!

See on Amazon

Overcooked

I was first introduced to Overcooked when some friends and I were sitting in their basement trying to decide which board game to play. One of them jokingly turned to me and asked, “Do you want to play a friendship ending game?” Thinking she was talking about Sorry or Monopoly I agreed, and then we were all handed controllers.

The next 6 hours were spent yelling orders at each other, laughing, pushing each other off edges, laughing, then screaming, “NO. THAT WAS THE WRONG INGREDIENT HELP!” and, you guessed it, laughing, Overcooked was such a “time is moving too fast” kind of game that you want to play over and over again. From the adorable graphics to the hilarious gameplay, I promise you will never get enough. Overcooked goes for $20 on Amazon, and I’ll always recommend it.

See on Amazon

Final Fantasy XIV Online

Finally, a massively multiplayer online MMO where you do not have to chose a single class and stick to it the whole game. Unlike the most common MMOs instead of having just one class and having to create character alts, in Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) you can master all the classes and play as you choose when you choose to.

The game is free to download and free to play, with in-game purchases. Or, you could buy the starter edition from the PlayStation Store to get a head start. Now we all have the change to play our favorite FF games without having to make our friends sit and watch the show. So, embark on your quest in this gorgeous world that Square Enix continues to create for us, but this time turn on your Wi-Fi and encourage your friends to join the epic battles with you.

See on PlayStation Store

Destiny

Destiny 1&2 have gathered a great following in the past few years, and it’s all due to the multiplayer option of both of the games. While story-mode is quick to master and complete, there are still battles to be completed online.

There is an ever-changing update to the types of new and improved loot you can earn by the multiplayer challenges, so the feeling of your character ever-evolving feels very real. For about $30 you too can join this beautiful Sci-Fi adventure in a galaxy overrun by different aliens and sentient computers alike.

See on Amazon

7 Days to Die

Take a moment to remember how much you loved Nazi Zombies when Call of Duty: World at War came out. Now imagine that instead of a fun side piece for a bigger game, there was an entire game built specifically for all the things you loved.

Here in 7 Days to Die you will not only survive the invasion by killing the zombies, but you will also craft your base and play everything smart. For $27 on Amazon, you can find yourself in the apocalypse and see how many days you can survive with the help of your friends. Do you have what it takes?

See on Amazon

If your favorite multiplayer game for the PlayStation 4 wasn’t mentioned, tell us what it was and why in the comments below! Better yet, share your favorite game experience with your friends below!

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