Test your hostage negotiation skills in ‘Detroit: Become Human’ demo

Detroit: Become Human is out at the end of next month, but you can get a taste of it today. The PlayStation 4 exclusive has a demo out today on the PlayStation Network Store (where else would it be?). It might look a little familiar if you’ve been paying attention to the game, too, centering on the hostage negotiation scene from the game’s E3 debut two years ago. Last year, press at the show got to go hands on with this section, searching a glitzy Motor City high-rise apartment for clues and evidence before dealing with a rogue robot nanny holding a gun to his charge’s head.

The file is just under 3GB according to the PSN Store listing, and exploring every nook and cranny can take over an hour. If you just finished God of War and are looking for something a little less intense as a palette cleanser, this could be right up your alley.

Via: Eurogamer

Source: PlayStation, PlayStation Blog

Instagram Stories now allows multiple photo and video uploads at once

Instagram will now let users upload multiple pictures and videos to their Stories at once. When uploading media, you’ll now see an icon at the top right corner of your screen and tapping it will allow you to select up to ten photos or videos at a time. They’ll upload in the order in which you select them and you can edit each one individually. Additionally, when sharing a photo, even if you’re not in the area where you took it, Instagram’s location sticker will suggest places near the spot where you snapped the photo.

Recently, Instagram also introduced the capability to take a portrait-like photo with a new Focus mode and began testing its version of Snapchat’s Snapcodes that let users follow someone else by scanning a custom tag rather than inputting their info.

The new bulk upload feature is rolling out now to Android users now. It will launch on iOS in the coming weeks.

Source: Instagram

Discord comes to Xbox for integrated chats

Discord added an SDK to make it easier for friends to jump into each other’s games and even added Spotify integration, but the service has stood on its own as a scrappy alternative to much bigger fish like Xbox Live. Which is what makes the company’s new collaboration with Microsoft so interesting: Now you can link your Discord profile to your Xbox account, allowing players on Xbox One and PC to share their activity with friends and join games.

For console owners, Xbox Insiders will be able to link their Discord account to their Xbox Live account first before it rolls out to the greater community soon. Navigate to ‘Account Settings’ in the service’s menu and pick ‘Linked social accounts,’ where you’ll find the option to link to Discord.

PC owners will get to join the fun ‘in the coming weeks,’ but they’ll link up through the Discord app. An Xbox Live option will appear in the Connections tab under User Settings for users to link to their Xbox account. After either method, friends in the same Discord servers will be able to see what you’re playing on Xbox Live.

Via: Polygon

Source: Xbox Wire

The 65th anniversary Corvette is a performance beast for data nerds

The Corvette is 65 years old. Take a moment to let that sink in. Typically, in your sixties, you slow down. You relax and if you’re lucky, settle into a nice long retirement. The 2018 Z06 Carbon 65 convertible is doing none of those things.

If anything, Chevrolet has produced one of the best Corvettes ever. It’s fast (duh), but thanks to lightweight materials and an onboard data tracking system, the Vette is ready for the new generation of drivers to take the wheel. Just be ready to drop a lot of cash. Like, all your cash.

At $111,000 the Carbon 65 special edition Corvette will drain your savings. But, if you do cash out your 401k for the special edition convertible, you’ll join a special group of owners. Chevrolet is only building 650 of these, and I got a chance to spend time in number 140.

When you sit in the Z06 it’s immediately apparent that it’s made for weekends at the track. With 650 horsepower and 650 pounds of torque and a zero to 60 time of 2.9 seconds, it’s unlikely you’re going to get the full experience of the car (unless your cool with collecting tickets like they’re Pokemon). You need a road without other drivers and the cops. And Chevy is practically encouraging that with new features.

For drivers that want to go faster than the law allows while simultaneously learning how to be better behind the wheel, the automaker has introduced the Performance Data Recorder (PDR). The onboard computer tracks 34 channels of performance while recording video. It replaces the aftermarket GoPro mounted to the windshield and performance tracking systems drivers place in their track cars with an easy to understand and use the system.

The recorder fires up directly from the infotainment system with only two taps. It’s so simple, on the first try I thought I missed a few steps. Sure, it said it was recording, but was it really? To my delight after pushing the stop button and parking the car, I was able to watch back my drive right there with data overlays of my speed, tachometer, which gear I was in, and what g-force I was pulling around corners. It’s super nerdy, yet simultaneously helpful.

For example, you might be that person that veers out of their lane while cornering but don’t really notice. With evidence right there in front of you, you’ll start to make a conscious effort of staying in your lane on switchbacks. The rest of us on the road will also appreciate it.

The teaching tool only gets better when you transfer the video (stored on an SD card in the glove compartment) to the Cosworth application (Windows only). The app displays your drive on a map along with an incredible amount of detail, such as steering angle or pressure applied to the brakes and accelerator. It’s an extravaganza of data that should appease both data nerds and car nuts.

My biggest fault with the system is that the videos are only 720p. They’re good enough for Twitter and Facebook sharing, but if you watch them on your TV, the quality is disappointing.

Sure, with all that power, you might be tempted drift your way around every corner, and thankfully the steering feels precise. The result is that I always felt completely in control of the situation. Plus, the car feels lighter than previous generation Corvettes thanks to an aluminum frame and carbon fiber everywhere.

The interior is pure sports car. The racing seats keep you from sliding around the cabin during your recreations of the Fast and Furious. But after three or four hours they do start to wear on your body especially if you happen to skip cardio days at the gym. The steering wheel is wrapped in carbon fiber and suede. The latter for better grip. Everything in the car is driver-centric — the center dash is pointed so far away from the passenger their climate controls are mounted on to the very right below the vent.

The infotainment system suffered just a hint of latency. I hoped Chevrolet would update it for the 65th anniversary Vette. Alas, it’s adequate and with Android Auto and CarPlay support, you’ll likely only use it for the PDR. The dash cluster, on the other hand, is a wealth of knowledge from the typical speed limits and tire pressure to a timer that tracks your zero to 60 runs (and tells you how warm your tires are).

Then there’s the secret compartment. Well, it’s not really a secret, there’s a big button that says “screen” next to it. When you push that, the 8-inch display lowers to reveal an additional storage area revealing enough room for my phone, wallet and sunglasses. When friends would get in the car expecting me to do donuts at every intersection (I didn’t), instead I’d show them the compartment. In a car which has a trunk that’s capable of transporting two pieces of carry-on luggage and not much else, any additional storage is welcome.

That little storage area is like the rest of the Corvette. Fun but completely impractical — which is what a sports car should be. It’s something you drive to go fast even though 80 percent of the time, you’re not going to use more than 10 percent of it’s potential.

But the potential to do easily do donuts in abandoned parking lots is there and when you do find a stretch of empty road in the desert or make it to the track, the car delivers. That said, you really don’t have to drop over $100,000 to put a Corvette in your garage.

Let’s take a quick look at that $111,000 price point of the Carbon 65 version. Again Chevy will only make 650 of these so you’re probably not going to get one anyway. Plus, there’s a Z06 Corvette with a manual transmission (you should only buy this car with manual transmission) starting at about $80,000. That’s still a lot of money but for the power and features you’re getting, it’s a steal compared to offerings from Porsche, Ferrari, Audi and other automakers.

Plus it’s just a fun car to be in. Of course, once you’re over the age of 40 everyone thinks you’re having a mid-life crisis (and maybe you are) when you’re seen in the vehicle. And again it’s one of the least practical cars you can purchase. But who cares, it’s a Corvette and after 65 years it still quickens the pulse and with the PDR system, you can note the exact moment that happened.

What’s left of Yahoo slapped with $35 million fine over 2014 data breach

In 2014, Yahoo suffered a breach that exposed personal data for 500 million users — but they refused to tell anyone and the news didn’t break until late 2016. For failing to disclose the incident and inform anyone affected, the company formerly known as Yahoo! (now Altaba, consisting of the parts that didn’t merge with Verizon to become Oath) has agreed to pay the SEC a $35 million fine.

Yahoo’s information security team found out that Russian hackers had made off with personal data days after the December 2014 breach. The thieves made off with usernames, email addresses, phone numbers, birthdates, encrypted passwords and security questions, according to the SEC’s order. Despite having that information, Yahoo’s senior management didn’t properly investigate the incident or disclose it to investors and affected users. In fact, the breach was only made public two years later when the corporation was in the process of closing an acquisition deal with Verizon.

But Yahoo wasn’t primarily fined for misleading affected users, however — it’s for the two years of quarterly and annual reports the company filed that didn’t confess the breach or its business and legal implications. Yahoo even hid the incident from auditors and outside counsel that would have told the company whether it was obligated to include the intrusion in its filings to begin with. Whatever the case, this settlement closes the door on one of the largest consumer data breaches in history.

Source: SEC

Facebook continues to limit access to user data for third-party apps

In the wake of all the trouble from Cambridge Analytica’s access and misuse of data, Facebook continues to update its policies around third-party access to user data. At the beginning of April, Instagram announced that it would be limiting third-party apps’ ability to pull data from the photo-sharing company’s API. Now, parent company Facebook has released more product and policy changes of its own to protect the privacy of its users (and totally save face). The changes include provisions around the transfer of data outside the Facebook app, the use of service providers, data processing by technology partners and how Facebook monitors compliance with its own terms.

Many APIs will be deprecated, making it so they no longer work for developers of third-party apps. The Events API will no longer allow apps to RSVP to events for you, and two analytics tools will no longer offer app event metrics or exports from the analytics app. Third-party apps will also no longer be able to publish posts to Facebook for you via the Facebook Login API. Apps that currently have those permissions will only be able to do so until August 1st. Additionally, developers won’t be able to use the Graph API to pull the name and bio of users that comment on posts on Instagram anymore; usernames and comments will remain, however.

Apps that publish to Pages via the Live API will be restricted to approved partners only. Developers have until the 1st of August to apply to the approved partner system. This will be required to keep publishing live and video on demand to Pages. Apps in development mode will have their call limits set to 200/page/app/hour, as well. Development apps will also only have access to info on admin, developer or tester users. Organic targeting, based on gender and language will also be deprecated for posts made with a third-party app. Some age-gating will still be allowed in a limited way. Apps won’t be able to attach their name or logo to images in Messenger. Developers will also no longer be able to call for information on where photos were tagged, effective immediately.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Facebook

Senate bill would require clearly worded terms for online data privacy

Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Kennedy (R-LA) have introduced a new bill aimed at protecting consumers’ online data privacy. They announced plans for such a bill earlier this month after Mark Zuckerberg testified before Congress. “Every day companies profit off of the data they’re collecting from Americans, yet leave consumers completely in the dark about how their personal information, online behavior, and private messages are being used,” Senator Klobuchar said in a statement. “Consumers should have the right to control their personal data and that means allowing them to opt out of having their data collected and tracked and alerting them within 72 hours when a privacy violation occurs and their personal information may be compromised. The digital space can’t keep operating like the Wild West at the expense of our privacy.”

The Social Media Privacy and Consumer Rights Act of 2018 would require terms of service agreements to be written in plain language and would ensure consumers have the ability to see what data of theirs has been collected and shared. It would also grant users the right to opt out of data tracking and collection and give them more access and control over their online information. When a privacy violation occurs, companies would have to notify the affected users within 72 hours and online platforms would be required to have a privacy program.

Senators Edward Markey (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have introduced legislation as well. The CONSENT Act would also require opt-in consent, data security parameters and more transparency regarding data collection and sharing. Other Congressional leaders have called for tech companies to get involved in the design of more stringent data privacy regulations.

“I don’t want to hurt Facebook, and I don’t want to regulate them half to death, either. But I have a job to do, and that’s protecting the rights and privacy of our citizens,” Senator Kennedy said. “Our bill gives consumers more control over their private data, requires user agreements to be written in plain English and requires companies to notify users of privacy violations. These are just simple steps that online platforms should have implemented in the first place.”

Via: Phys.org

Source: Senate

Hobbyist builds the first Sony E-Mount film camera

Sony is the one major imaging company that has never built a film camera, having leaped straight into DSLRs in 2006 after buying Minolta. A hobbyist named Alexander Gee has just pulled off a neat trick then, by creating what might be the world’s first Sony E-Mount 35 mm film camera. Called the LEX, it’s the result of a year’s worth of work, and when it’s finished, you might be able to buy one and even build it yourself.

Gee started working on the LEX over a year ago, using the shutter mechanism from a Sony A7. Since then, he’s done a lot of prototyping, electronics work, design and 3D printing to create the mockup you see above (and prototype below), detailing his development on the LEX website.

“After doing some research it became obvious the 18mm flange focal distance which makes E-Mount amazing for building compact cameras like the Sony A6500 was going to rule out adapting any existing film body I could find,” Gee told Sony Alpha Rumors. “The easiest approach was to start at the beginning and make a whole system from scratch.”

He now has a working prototype that looks rougher than the mockup, but it does work, as Gee has used it to take some sample photos, as shown in a gallery here. Going forward, he plans to release open source plans “so simple, that with a 3D printer and a soldering iron you can build it yourself.” If you’d rather just do the photography part, “we may crowdfund a small batch of devices before opening the design files up,” he said.

Via: Sony Alpha Rumors

Source: Lex Optical

‘Sense8’ finale will debut on Netflix June 8th

We’re still wondering what happened to Wolfgang on head-scratcher sci-fi series Sense8, and it sounds like our answers might arrive sooner than expected. Netflix today announced that the wrap-up movie for the Wachowskis-created show will premiere on June 8th. If you’ll remember, the series was unceremoniously cancelled last June.

The streaming service never said why outright, but when the wrap-up movie was announced, Lana Wachowski hinted that it wasn’t living up to expectations in terms of viewership. With the way Netflix is flooding the service with originals this year, one has to wonder if a show or movie amassing an audience and positive reception still matters.

The @sense8 finale arrives June 8! Tell your cluster. pic.twitter.com/FlDwnKzOYW

— Netflix US (@netflix) April 24, 2018

Source: Netflix (Twitter)

‘Destiny 2’ Warmind add-on puts a horde event on arctic Mars

Bungie had teased that the second DLC for its sci-fi shooter Destiny 2, named Warmind after the game’s humanity-defending mega-AI, would come out May 8th. In a livestream today, the company finally released details. In addition to a brand-new area in Helles Basin, Mars, players get a new public event and tweaks to almost every exotic in the game, plus a slew of other changes.

Unlike the Martian desert in the original Destiny, Helles Basin is an arctic region where players will fight the frozen Hive faction Grasp of Nokris on the way to confront Rasputin, the rogue Warmind. The region will host a new horde-like public event called Escalation Protocol where groups of Guardians face seven waves of Hive capped by a unique boss — one of five that will rotate every week. The elite foe drops custom gear so folks will have to wait over a month to collect them all; Since players activate the event, at least it won’t be random.

PvP is getting two ranked modes, one for casual (Valor) and competitive (Glory), though the latter will move players up and down the rank ladder as they win and lose games. Every season will introduce a new gun exclusive to PvP for players to earn.

Fans already knew that tweaks were coming for their favorite exotic guns, including Sturm/Drang, Graviton Lance, Skyburner’s Oath and Rat King, but the stream also showed off changes to Fighting Lion, Riskrunner, Crimson and the infamous Hard Light.

There will be two new strikes, Strange Terrain and Will of the Thousands, and one coming exclusively for PS4 players: The Insight Terminus. The Leviathan raid will get a second lair called Spire of the Stars, which will arrive after Warmind launches. Finally, the prestige version of Curse of Osiris’ raid, Eater of Worlds, will arrive when the game’s third season starts.

Source: Twitch