ProtonMail brings encrypted contacts to its mobile email app

ProtonMail’s encrypted contacts are now readily available beyond the web — the company has updated its Android and iOS email apps to add the privacy-minded contacts manager. It uses zero-access encryption to prevent everyone but you (yes, including ProtonMail) from seeing anything besides a name and email address, and includes digital signatures to check for signs of tampering. It’s pitched as ideal for journalists who may need to protect their contacts, but it could be just as important to you if you’re worried that a thief might use your contacts as a burglary hit list.

Notably, this is also the first time the mobile app has had a full contacts manager. The upgrade makes ProtonMail a more practical option if you spend most of your computing time on smartphones than PCs. You’ll still want to be extra-cautious even with encrypted contacts in place, but this will at least help you rest a little easier.

Via: VentureBeat

Source: ProtonMail

Lindsay Lohan’s ‘Grand Theft Auto’ suit is on the road to nowhere

Lindsay Lohan has lost the appeal for her lawsuit against Take-Two Interactive, which alleged that the company’s studio Rockstar Games used her likeness without permission for a character in Grand Theft Auto V. The case was originally dismissed back in 2016 because, well, it’s legal to parody people in video games.

By unanimous vote, a New York state court of appeals said the game’s depictions were “nothing more than cultural comment” and declared that Take-Two didn’t owe Lohan damages. Judge Eugene Fahey said the character in question, Lacey Jones, depicted a generic twenty-something woman that wasn’t specifically referencing the actress.

“We conclude that the amended complaint was properly dismissed because the artistic renderings are indistinct, satirical representations of the style, look, and persona of a modern, beach-going young woman that are not reasonably identifiable as plaintiff,” Fahey wrote in the court’s decision (PDF).

In a separate ruling (PDF), the court also dismissed similar claims against Take-Two from Karen Gravano, star of the reality TV show Mob Wives, who had alleged that her likeness had been used for another character.

Via: Reuters

Source: Lindsay Lohan v. Take-Two Interactive Software (PDF), Karen Gravano v. Take-Two Interactive Software (PDF)

US visa applications may soon require five years of social media info

The State Department wants to require all US visa applicants, both immigrant and non, disclose their social media handles to the US government, CNN reports. In documents that the department will file to the Federal Register tomorrow, it proposes that nearly every individual applying for a US visa be required to hand over any social media handles used on certain platforms in the past five years as well as submit any telephone numbers and email addresses used during that same time period.

Previously, this information was only requested from visa applicants who required more rigorous scrutiny — such as those who had traveled to regions with notable terrorist activity. But once enacted, these rule changes will require nearly all applicants submit this information, with the only potential exceptions being those applying for diplomatic and official visas. However, even they may have to provide their social media info, as the State Department’s documents only say “most” won’t be “routinely” asked for it.

Last year, the Department of Homeland Security introduced a new rule that allows social media information to be included in immigrants’ official records. But the move to incorporate social media handles and searches into visa application protocols precedes the Trump administration.

The State Department’s proposed changes also include questions about immigrants’ travel, whether they’ve been deported or removed from another country and if any of their relatives have been associated with terrorist activities. Applicants will also have the option to disclose social media handles used on platforms not listed on the questionnaire. Approximately 15 million visa applicants stand to be affected by the change.

Once the planned rule change is filed to the Federal Register on Friday, the public will have 60 days to comment on it.

Via: CNN

Source: State Department (1), (2)

Hulu live TV brings CW broadcasts to select cities

You’ve been able to watch CW shows like Jane The Virgin, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Supergirl, Arrow and The Flash on-demand via Hulu for a while now. Last year, the streaming company promised to bring the CW network to its live TV service, but it’s taken until now to make that a reality. The company announced that it’s rolling live CW service out to eight cities, with more coming “soon.”

Hulu subscribers in Philadelphia, San Francisco, Atlanta, Tampa, Detroit, Seattle, Sacramento and Pittsburgh can now tune in to CW television as it airs on broadcast TV. You can enter your zip code here to find out if you can watch Riverdale and Supernatural live in your area.

Spike Lee’s ‘Pass Over’ brings the drama of live theater to Amazon Prime

Despite Spike Lee going over to Netflix to reimagine his classic film She’s Gotta Have It as a series, the cinema auteur has deep ties with Amazon. He created its first original film, the musical Chi-Raq, and has another project debuting on the streaming provider later next month: Pass Over, a film-play hybrid.

My new film @PassOverMovie is coming to @PrimeVideo on April 20. Check out the official trailer.pic.twitter.com/PMyjhyHL6n

— Spike Lee (@SpikeLee) March 29, 2018

Lee filmed a 2017 performance of the play Pass Over during the its run at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater. The production takes Waiting For Godot’s two-person existentialist setup and stages it in a city, besetting the pair of black leads with a predatory cop and clueless white bystander. It’s a recording of a play before an audience, but this isn’t local Shakespeare on public access: Lee brings all his deft cinematic flair to frame powerful performances by actors Jon Michael Hill and Julian Parker. The filmed play comes to Amazon Video on April 20th.

Via: Birth Movies Death

Source: YouTube

FCC approves SpaceX plan for satellite-provided internet

The SpaceX plan for a global wireless internet network provided by 4,425 satellites has been approved by the FCC. The $10 billion Starlink proposal calls for the satellites to launch in two phases between 2019 and 2024, then fly between 714 and 823 miles above the Earth providing a 1 Gbps connection. Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve, with the plan following similar requests by OneWeb, Space Norway, and Telesat.

In a statement, SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell said: “Although we still have much to do with this complex undertaking, this is an important step toward SpaceX building a next-generation satellite network that can link the globe with reliable and affordable broadband service, especially reaching those who are not yet connected.”

There are still some issues to figure out, like the exact process for dealing with space debris, interference with radio telescopes and managing the distance between all of these proposed networks. You can read through the entire opinion here (PDF), or just wait for more launches of internet satellites starting next year.

Source: FCC

MyFitnessPal Data Breach Impacts 150 Million User Accounts

MyFitnessPal parent company Under Armour today announced that MyFitnessPal has been the victim of a hacking incident, which has seen personal details of approximately 150 million user accounts accessed in a data breach.

MyFitnessPal is a popular health and fitness iOS app and website that’s used by many iPhone and iPad owners, and it is consistently among the top Health and Fitness apps in the App Store.

The breach, which happened in late February, included usernames, emails, and encrypted passwords. Social security numbers, driver license numbers, and credit/debit card information were not accessed.

Under Armor has already been sending emails and in-app messages to its customers who were affected by the breach. The company says it is working with “leading data security firms” to assist in its investigation.

MyFitnessPal users will be required to change their passwords.
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Apple Releases macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 With eGPU Support, Business Chat in Messages, and More

Apple today released macOS High Sierra 10.13.4, the fourth major update to the macOS High Sierra operating system available on Apple’s Macs. macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 comes more than two months after the release of macOS High Sierra 10.13.3, which brought fixes for the Spectre vulnerability.

macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 can be downloaded directly from the Mac App Store or through the Software Update function in the Mac App Store on all compatible Macs that are already running macOS High Sierra.

macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 introduces bug fixes and performance improvements for issues that have been discovered since the release of macOS High Sierra 10.13.3. The update brings support for Business Chat, which will allow you to interface with businesses like Wells Fargo and Lowe’s right in the Messages app, and it includes official support for external graphics processors (eGPUs).

There are also several other small bug fixes and tweaks, as listed in the release notes:

The macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 update improves the stability, performance, and security of your Mac, and it is recommended for all users. This update:

– Adds support for Business Chat conversations in Messages in the US
– Adds support for external graphics processors (eGPUs)
– Fixes graphics corruption issues affecting certain apps on iMac Pro
– Allows jumping to the right-most open tab using Command+9 in Safari
– Enables sorting Safari bookmarks by name or URL by right clicking and choosing “Sort by…”
– Fixes an issue that may prevent web link previews from appearing in Messages
– Helps protect privacy by only AutoFilling usernames and passwords after selecting them in a web form field in Safari
– Displays warnings in the Safari Smart Search Field when interacting with password or credit card forms on non-encrypted web pages
– Displays privacy icons and links to explain how your data will be used and protected when Apple features ask to use your personal information

For more detailed information about this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208533
For more detailed information about the security content of this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201222

The update also introduces the smoke cloud wallpaper that was previously only available on the iMac Pro and it introduces a warning when opening up a 32-bit app as part of an effort to phase them out.

In the future, Apple plans to phase out 32-bit Mac apps, just like it did with 32-bit iOS apps. Apple says macOS High Sierra is the last version of macOS that will support 32-bit apps “without compromises.”

Related Roundup: macOS High Sierra
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5 Minute Yoga will limber you up, for a price (review)

There are plenty of Android fitness apps available to you nowadays. Amongst the plethora of fitness apps out there in the Play Store market is 5 Minute Yoga, from developer Olson Applications, Ltd. Olson also offers other “5-minute”-style apps, including meditation and relaxation versions. While 5 Minute Yoga is marketed as a free app, it’s more what I’d call a “limited-free” app….I’ll explain shortly.

Setup

Setup is pretty minimal; simply download from the Play Store and open it up. Upon opening, you have a pretty simple main page. You can choose to dive in right away, or you can go to the Settings menu.

Within Settings, you can:

• Go directly to your favorite workout.*
• Select your background music.*
• Set reminders for your workouts, choosing the interval (in days) and time of day for your reminder.

Set a reminder to practice..

Pick your day….

App Experience

Once you dive into 5 Minute Yoga, the simplicity of the interface continues, in a good way. Starting on your Day 1 workout and going forward, you are provided five yoga poses to perform in sequence. Obviously, these start out with pretty simplistic moves, to get you used to it.

Moves such as “Big Toe” and “Bound Angle” get you going, giving you a 40-second countdown timer for you to hold the pose. For the less-flexible of us (including me), the app provides an illustrated example the of the pose you’re trying for.
When your timer reaches zero, the screen switches to the next pose, waiting for you to push “play” for the next round. You get five total poses, and the total time spent in your workout is a little less than 5 minutes. Then the next day, you’re on to the next set of five poses.

If you noticed some asterisks above, it has to do with the *free part of the app. While the app is indeed free to download and try your first day’s set of poses, after that it is a different story.
5 Minute Yoga allows the second day of poses, but only if you first tell it where you discovered the app via multiple choice, and post a starred review.

Beyond the second day, you can only enjoy 5 Minutes Yoga by being a paying customer. You are given a couple of choices to pay, either by a single lump sum of $8.49, or via a subscription; at $1.99 per month or $5.99 per year. Now granted, there are a year’s worth (365 days) of workouts available; you won’t get bored with the variety anytime soon.
So if you’re not totally convinced about the value in the app, for a minimal cost you can explore further.

Wrap-Up

If you’re looking for an easy intro to some daily yoga practice, with no-to-minimal investment in both time and money, then 5 Minute Yoga could be the ideal app for you to try. It’s simple, attractive, and offers a lot of variety for you and your family.

Download 5 Minute Yoga from the Play Store here.

Wirecutter’s best deals: Save $70 on an Amazon Echo Show

This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. 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.

Echo Show

Street price: $230; Deal price: $160

We’ve seen the Echo Show as low as $150 on one rare occasion, but this drop to $160 is still a very nice discount from the typical $230 street price. We saw a similar deal last week and it’s good to see it back, confirming a trend that has seen the Show drop below $200 with greater frequency this year. Both the black and white colors are on sale.

The Echo Show is our video chat Echo pick in our Alexa speaker guide. Grant Clauser wrote, “The Echo Show may appeal to people who like the idea of video chatting with friends or relatives, but who don’t like using a phone’s small screen for it. The Show’s built-in 7-inch display makes it look like an old Mitsubishi rear-projection TV for a dollhouse. In addition to the display screen, there’s a small camera you can use for taking selfies, but the camera’s primary purpose is for free video chats. The display also works with a few Wi-Fi security cameras and Amazon’s new Cloud Cam.”

AmazonBasics Single Monitor Display Mounting Arm

Street price: $100; Deal price: $81

The AmazonBasics Single Monitor Display Mounting Arm, our top monitor arm pick, is down to $81. This beats a previous deal we saw last week and is nearly $20 less than the typical street price. Deals on this product are usually short-lived, and while we’ve seen them more consistently lately, this monitor arm is worth grabbing at this price before it goes back up.

The AmazonBasics Single Monitor Display Mounting Arm is our top pick in our guide to the best monitor arms. Anna Perling wrote, “The AmazonBasics Single Monitor Display Mounting Arm is the monitor arm we recommend for most people because it’s the most adjustable, the easiest to set up, and the sturdiest arm for the price.”

Perling continues, “The AmazonBasics is one of the most agile monitor arms we found, with more vertical range than most of the models we considered. With 13 inches of height adjustment, the AmazonBasics will help most people find the proper ergonomic position for their monitor. (If you’re over 6 feet tall and you need a few extra inches, we have a pick for you, too.) It can extend outward up to 25 inches to move your monitor from side to side, and it can tilt your monitor at an angle up to 70 degrees back and 5 degrees forward. The arm can pan 360 degrees and can rotate a full 360 degrees for vertical alignment, too.”

Nespresso Essenza Mini

Street price: $120; Deal price: $81

This is one of the lowest prices we’ve seen for the Nespresso Essenza Mini, available in black for $76 + $5 shipping. Prime members get that $5 shipping fee waived, increasing the savings even further. The Essenza Mini, available for this price in black only, is our fully automatic espresso machine pick. It includes a 90 day Woot warranty.

The Nespresso Essenza Mini is our fully automatic pick in our guide to the best espresso machine, grinder, and accessories for beginners. Cale Guthrie Weissman wrote, “If you want a decent espresso drink at home, but don’t have the time or patience to practice and learn the ins and outs of making espresso, try Nespresso. Machines start at just over $100 and you can pay more for features like faster preheating, and built-in milk frothing—but they all share the same brewing mechanism and produce the same decent-tasting coffee. The coffee pods themselves cost about 70¢ a shot (it works out to about $50/pound), which isn’t bad for a consistently decent espresso (with crema!) that tastes as good (or better than) Starbucks, yet requires almost no effort on your part. Just fill the water reservoir and pop in a pod. And unlike some other single-serving coffee systems, Nespresso has a prepaid pod-recycling program in place already. To be clear, Nespresso makes decent coffee every time, but even a beginner working with a cheap espresso machine can achieve better results with just a bit of practice. Nespresso is just a whole lot easier.”

Apple Watch Series 1 38mm

Street price: $250; Deal price: $150

If you’re seeking an Apple Watch and don’t need integrated cellular connectivity, the Series 1, still our top pick in our guide to the best smartwatch for iPhone users, is discounted again, and at $150 this is the lowest price we’ve seen for it. While only the 38mm Space Gray model is available at this price, it’s a tremendous value at this new low.

The Apple Watch Series 1 is our top pick in our Apple Watch guide. Nick Guy and Dan Frakes wrote, “Though not as fast as the Series 3, the Series 1 is still snappy (and much faster than the original Apple Watch), and has all of the same features that make the Apple Watch appealing to those who want to look at their phones less and view (and respond to) notifications more quickly. The Series 1 does a good job tracking most kinds of workouts, and looks a whole lot better than most fitness trackers—and with two size options, the Apple Watch is one of the few smartwatches that looks good on even the smallest wrists. (We talk below about which size to get.) Apple Watch apps are more capable than those of its competitors, and hundreds of swappable bands, from Apple and others, let you customize the appearance of an Apple Watch more easily than any other smartwatch.”

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 here.