Netflix taps Gabriel Iglesias for comedy series and stand-up specials

Netflix has ordered multiple projects from comedian Gabriel Iglesias, according to Variety. The first is a multi-cam series called Mr. Iglesias, in which Iglesias will play a high school teacher at his alma mater. The first season will consist of ten half-hour episodes.

Iglesias will also film two stand-up specials for the streaming network. The first will occur during his current world tour. The second will happen at an unspecified future date. “When I was a kid, I wanted to be either a stand-up comedian or a teacher,” Iglesias said to Variety. “Thanks to Netflix for supporting both of my career aspirations.”

Source: Variety

MoviePass CEO is unsure if it will offer a movie-per-day plan again

MoviePass is having a rough time of it. The company’s too-good-to-be-true offer of one movie per day for $10 subscription model brought it 500,000 subscribers in one month, but MoviePass’ finances show that the startup is struggling while still being dogged by its CEO’s comments around tracking his customers. Recently, the company downgraded its available new subscriber plans to a three-month, $30 “limited time” offer that includes four movies per month and a three-month trial of iHeartRadio premium. It seems as if this offer now has no limit; CEO Mitch Lowe told The Hollywood Reporter that he was unsure if the movie-per-day plan would even return as an option.

“Do you think you will go back to a movie a day?” a THR reporter asked Lowe at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. “I don’t know,” he responded.

While this feels like a classic bait and switch move, it’s hard to credit any sort of calculation here. The MoviePass FAQ is just as conflicted. While the only MoviePass plan currently available is the “special offer” of four movies per month, other FAQ pages still contain verbiage about getting one movie per day. It’s pretty messy. For now at least, it seems that current MoviePass owners will still be able to access the service they signed up for.

Update: When reached for comment, a MoviePass spokesperson confirmed the story, adding, “We’re continually testing various promotions with different partners, and the current iHeartRadio deal is consistent with that approach. We have no further details to offer at this time.”

Via: Gizmodo

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

EU law would force Netflix, Amazon to stream more European content

European Union lawmakers have already made it so that people who travel around the EU can access their paid streaming media from the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video as if they were at home. That data portability law was just the start, however. The European Parliament, Council and Commission have all reached a preliminary agreement to revise the rules that apply to audiovisual content across the region, including online, streaming media. In addition to extending the current rules to video-sharing platforms like YouTube and Facebook, the proposal also requires that at least 30 percent of the content on Netflix, Amazon Prime and other on-demand paid services be of European origin.

Other features of this wide-ranging proposal include better protection of minors against harmful content on both broadcast and video-on-demand services, stronger rules against hate speech and public provocation to commit terrorist offenses. In addition, broadcasters will be able to show ads at more times during the day (though they’ll still be limited to 20 percent of broadcast time). The proposal also promises to reinforce the independence of audiovisual regulators as distinct and independent from regional governing bodies.

The agreement still needs to be formally approved by the EU Parliament and member states, most likely in June. “A fairer environment for all players in audiovisual sector is much needed,” said Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society Mariya Gabriel in a statement. “Moreover, our cultural sector will have a more prominent place in on-demand catalogues – a significant and positive change for European creators and authors.”

Via: Reuters

Source: European Commission

Wirecutter’s best deals: Get Samsung’s Level On wireless headphones for $50

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.

Samsung Level On Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones

Street price: $110; Deal price: $50

At $50, this is the lowest price we’ve seen on these Level On headphones, a budget noise-cancelling headphone option that comes with Bluetooth functionality, allowing you to use them wirelessly (many popular noise-cancelling headphone models are still corded). Originally $200, these headphones have seen their street price steadily drop, but still regularly see pricing between $105 and $150 in new condition. The Black Sapphire is the only available color.

The Samsung Level On Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones are a budget pick in our guide to the best noise-cancelling headphones. Geoffrey Morrison wrote, “If you still want wireless, but don’t want to spend the money on the QC35 pair, the Samsung Level On Wireless are a solid alternative. They don’t offer as much overall noise cancelling, but they offer more than most of the competition does. They were liked by our panel of testers in terms of comfort and sound quality. Like all noise-cancelling headphones, they’re not perfect, but they do a great job for a reasonable amount of money.”

Samsung 860 EVO 1TB SSD + Far Cry 5 for PC

Street price: $$335 value; Deal price: $280

Through 4/28, when you buy a Samsung 860 Evo 1TB SSD (or the 2TB or 4TB model) you get a free download code (via email post-purchase) for Far Cry 5 for PC, around a $45 value. This 1TB 860 Evo, usually $290 but presently $280, is the 2.5 Inch SATA III iteration of this drive . If you’re already in the market for storage, this is a great opportunity to pick up a nice bonus.

The Samsung 860 Evo is our runner-up pick in our guide to the best SSDs. Andrew Cunnignham wrote, “Samsung’s 860 Evo is as good as or better than the Crucial MX500 in almost every metric: It’s a little faster, it consumes less power, it has much higher endurance, it comes in 2.5-inch, mSATA, and M.2 versions, and it has the same five-year warranty and encryption support.”

Asus MG279Q 27-inch Gaming Monitor

Street price: $545; Deal price: $480

Typically $545, this gaming monitor has seen its price drop to $480 in recent days, matching the low price we’ve seen for it. The Asus MG279Q is our IPS FreeSync display (for AMD graphics card users) pick in our guide to the best gaming monitors. This is also a great option for Xbox users, since the Spring update will enable 1440p and sync fresh rates to compatible FreeSync monitors.

The Asus MG279Q 27-inch Gaming Monitor is our IPS FreeSync display (for gamers with AMD graphics cards) pick in our guide to the best gaming monitors. David Murphy wrote, “The Asus MG279Q is the best gaming monitor for people with AMD graphics cards. Like our G-Sync pick, it supports a 144 Hz refresh rate for gaming, though due to the peculiarities of FreeSync, the adaptive-synchronization technology works only between 35 Hz and 90 Hz (unless you use a third-party tool like Custom Resolution Utility to push it higher). Otherwise, this $600 display has the same 1440p resolution, 27-inch screen size, input connections, USB 3.0 support, and adjustability as our G-Sync pick; it’s about as color accurate, and it’s usually around $200 cheaper.”

Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp Cordless Electric Kettle

Street price: $80; Deal price: $70

While this isn’t the lowest price we’ve seen for this electric kettle, it’s a solid $10 off of the typical $80 street price. The Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfectTemp Cordless is a longtime favorite of our guide writers, who praise both its aesthetic and temperature accuracy. Whether you’re a tea drinker, a ramen maker, or you dabble in pour-over coffee prep, this is a nice discount for this kettle.

The Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfectTemp Cordless Electric Kettle is our top pick in our guide to the best electric kettle. Michael Sullivan, Winnie Yang, and Tim Barribeau wrote, “Our top pick for the fifth year in a row is the Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp Cordless Electric Kettle, thanks to its ease of use, speed, and accuracy. It has an intuitive interface with a keep-warm option that conveniently holds water at a set temperature. The wide handle is comfortable to hold, and the spout doesn’t cause water to dribble when pouring. Unlike many of the kettles we tested, it has a simple streamlined design, so it won’t be an eyesore if you store it on your kitchen counter.”

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.

Microsoft’s Surface revenue up 32 percent alongside its booming cloud

Perhaps the biggest surprise from Microsoft’s third quarter earnings: Its Surface business is still going strong with nearly $1.1 billion in revenue. That’s up 32 percent from last year, when sales dipped to $831 million. By this time last year, the Surface Laptop and Pro hadn’t launched yet, which didn’t leave much fresh hardware for consumers to pick up. The company’s cloud business is still ballooning, unsurprisingly — it’s now up another 17 percent from last year. Overall, Microsoft reported revenue of $26.8 billion (up 16 percent), with a net income of $7.4 billion (a 35 percent increase).

Other quarterly highlights: revenue in its “More Personal Computing” division, which includes Surface and Xbox, is up 13 percent, while “Productivity and Business Processes,” where Office and LinkedIn live, has grown by 17 percent. Aside from Surface’s recovery, and a healthy 37 percent revenue boost for LinkedIn, there weren’t many surprises for Microsoft this quarter. It’s business as usual — it just so happens things are booming.

Source: Microsoft

Citibank Now Offers Apple Pay in Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong

Citi today announced that its credit cards issued in Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong can now be used with Apple Pay, followed by Taiwan later this year.

Citi cardholders can activate Apple Pay by opening the Wallet app, tapping the plus sign in the top-right corner, tapping the continue button, and positioning the credit card into the on-screen frame or entering the card details manually.

Apple Pay is accepted at thousands of locations with contactless payment systems in each country. A compatible iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch is required.

In related news, Apple today announced that Apple Pay will soon be offered by BBVA, the second largest bank in Spain. Bankia, the fourth largest bank in Spain, also remains listed as coming soon on the localized Apple Pay page for Spain.

Related Roundup: Apple PayTags: Citi, Australia, Spain, Hong Kong
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Kuo Again Predicts No 3D Touch for 2018 6.1-Inch LCD iPhone

Apple’s upcoming 6.1-inch LCD iPhone may not feature 3D Touch due to cost constraints, according to a new note shared yesterday by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and published by Chinese site Feng.

Kuo says that the 6.1-inch iPhone will use what he calls “Cover Glass Sensor” (CGS) technology, relocating the iPhone’s touch module from the display panel (in-cell technology) to the surface glass. The CGS method reportedly results in a display that’s lighter and more shock resistant.

With this display technology, Apple will add a thin-film sensor to the touch film sensor included in the CGS, but the purpose of the new layer is unknown. It will, however, result in a 15 percent increase in the cost of the touch panel, resulting in a higher purchase price of $23 to $26.

To offset the cost of the new display it plans to use, Kuo believes Apple will remove the 3D Touch functionality on the 6.1-inch iPhone, which would be a curious move as 3D Touch is well-integrated throughout the operating system that runs on the iPhone at this point.

The other two iPhone models Apple is expected to release in 2018, the 5.8-inch OLED iPhone X successor and the 6.5-inch OLED device that can be thought of as an “iPhone X Plus,” will continue to offer 3D Touch functionality.

Because Apple plans to incorporate the CGS display technology into future iPhones, including OLED models starting in 2019, 3D Touch could potentially be removed from all future iPhones.

It’s not clear what the mystery thin-film sensor mentioned in Kuo’s note will do, but it could be some kind of 3D Touch replacement system. Apple is said to be planning to release iPhones with touchless gesture controls in the next few years, and this could be the first step towards that goal. A gesture-based system is around two years away, however, so it the film could be some other new input method to replace 3D Touch.

Kuo believes the 6.1-inch iPhone will make up 65 to 75 percent of iPhone shipments during the year, given its lower price point and its feature parity with the two OLED devices Apple plans to introduce.

While the 6.1-inch iPhone will not feature OLED technology, it is said to have an edge-to-edge screen design and support for Face ID, like the OLED phones in the 2018 iPhone lineup.

Related Roundup: 2018 iPhonesTag: Ming-Chi Kuo
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Adidas AM4NYC runners are templates for shoe design in the future

There is no such thing as the perfect shoe, but with the AM4-series, Adidas aims to get close to making one. The running shoes are all tech: digitally designed around research data, embedded with cutting-edge components, and assembled by robots — all to achieve the perfect fit. Created in Adidas’ automated Speedfactory manufacturing facilities, the AM4 shoes are anything but one-size-fits-all. In fact, these high-tech kicks are purposely designed to serve niche groups of users wearers. Its new AM4NYC, for example, which goes on sale on April 26, was designed for urban runners in New York City. So in a business where it sells to everyone globally, why would the world’s second largest maker of sportswear invest in factories that make shoes for a select few? Because for Adidas, the AM4NYC and Speedfactory aren’t just about making the perfect shoe, they are proof of concepts of how shoes in the future could be made — tailored for each individual, with precision and on-demand.

Designed by big data, made by robots

All AM4-series shoes are manufactured by robots at Adidas’ Speedfactory centers in Ansbach, Germany and Atlanta, Georgia. Each model is named after a city that it was designed for  — in the case of the Atlanta-made AM4NYC, that’s New York City. But it isn’t just a difference in styling: Before design codes are sent to the robots, Adidas spent time researching the needs of runners in each city, taking into considering not only their performance data and body measurements, but also their verbal feedback — their likes, dislikes, and suggestions.

For the AM4NYC, Adidas knew it would be making a shoe for urban running. Adidas, of course, knows how make a running shoe, but what it didn’t know was how people in a New York City ran in those shoes. So, it tapped six local athletes, measuring their foot size with precision flatbed scanners and analyzing their running style and foot-to-ground impact on a treadmill equipped with a DSLR camera. They were also strapped with body sensors — a motion-capture technology Adidas calls ARAMIS, similar to systems used in Hollywood and game development), that precisely measured their performance and created a data visualization of how they ran.

Each athlete was also given a pair of Speedfactory-made shoes to wear. The test shoes were based on the first model Adidas developed, called M.F.G., or Made for Germany, and although it was developed from running research, the athletes helped Adidas fine-tuned it for New York City running. For example, the athletes requested some sort of reflective element that could be seen by drivers in cars when they run at night. After running around Brooklyn, they realized the shoes got dirty very quickly, so an all-black color scheme was chosen. The athletes’ input, combined with the performance data, was incorporating into the design. Fed into the Speedfactory robots, and the AM4NYC was born.

The AM4NYC may look like an ordinary Adidas running shoe with a breathable mesh exterior, but it’s designed for the New York City runner. Zachary Coonrod, the senior designer on Adidas’ Futures team who was behind the development of the AM4NYC and growth of Speedfactory, told Digital Trends that, based on the data, they positioned more cushioning in areas that better supported where the runners’ feet landed. In addition, unlike the other AM4 shoes (AM4LDN for London and AM4PAR for Paris), the NYC version has an extra eyelet for the shoelace, located near the metatarsal bones of the feet. Coonrod said that as runners cinched to tighten, it adds extra protection to the metatarsal bones. And to address the runners’ request, 3M reflectors were added to the shoelaces.

All AM4 shoes feature Adidas’ Boost cushioning that provides more pushback to propel the wearer forward. They have a upper that’s digitally bonded to the sole, not glued. This allows the shoe to twist and flex — bending accordingly with the feet — which isn’t possible in shoes that use glue to “weld” the two parts together, due to the stiffness. Coonrod wouldn’t divulge the digital bonding process Adidas uses, calling it a proprietary technology. Based on what we know about Adidas’ 3D-printed shoes, we suspect it may be using a similar technology. But he said the process isn’t possible with human labor, and could only be achieved by using robotics.

For comparison, Coonrod said the London version was based on a study with a larger cross section that enjoys morning runs along the waterfront. The Paris version focused specifically on female runners, particular those who are first-timer (it’s available only in women’s sizes). Coonrod said the Parisian runners also valued style more. Next up, Speedfactory will be producing shoes for runners in Los Angeles, Shanghai, and Tokyo.

Experience the future of shoes on your feet, now

The AM4NYC launch coincides with the opening of the Speedfactory Lab Experience pop-up in the Brooklyn borough of New York City (April 26 and 27), where Adidas conducted the testing. Despite the name, it’s not a factory or retail store. Rather, it is a mobile showcase, built out of two shipping containers on wheels, that gives visitors a look into Speedfactory and explains how the shoes were developed. Inside, visitors can have their feet digitally measured so they find the most precise fit, and put the shoes to work on a treadmill — the same processes the athletes went through as part of the development.

Adidas

At $200 a pair, customers may gravitate toward something cheaper instead. But the AM4NYC is different than any plain running shoe, and Adidas is using the Lab Experience as a way to get its story across — to convince you to fork over $200. Looking at the screens with (faked) visualized data, getting your feet scanned, and running in a pair, we couldn’t help but feel like we’re wearing something special — not just shoes, but the future.

The AM4NYC is one of the first Adidas products to demonstrate what the Speedfactory is capable of. It isn’t about robots replacing human labor, Coonrod said. It’s about what shoe manufacturing could become in the future, the ability to have truly custom footwear that goes beyond colors. While the AM4NYC still isn’t everyone, it fits a specific group of runners much more precise than a standard pair that forces the wearer to adapt to it. And as technology advances and more Speedfactory locations come online, Adidas could someday tailor shoes all the way to the individual.

Imagine this: A customer walks into a store to have his feet scanned and his running pattern measured — just like in the Speedfactory Lab Experience. That data is then fed to a nearby Speedfactory that can create a personalized shoe for that individual in very little time. Rather than off the rack, he has a bespoke pair of shoes that’s designed for how he runs — the perfect shoe. And all this data is stores for future purposes

Coonrod said a Speedfactory allows for faster prototypes. And unlike a factory in Asia, particularly one where manufacturing has been outsourced, Adidas can monitor resources and be more conscious of wastes. Coonrod could control the robots in Atlanta from his office in Germany, because all the Speedfactory facilities are carbon copies. And, Coonrod said shoe are just the beginning, as a Speedfactory could churn out other types of products.

How soon will this future arrive? “There’s no timeline” is all Coonrod would say, but Adidas has said that Speedfactory is not a replacement for traditional manufacturing, but a complement. Human jobs might be safe for now, but there’s no doubt that Speedfactory  is one template of where manufacturing.

The AM4NYC goes on sale on April 26. It’s available through Adidas’ website, and select retail locations, including Adidas flagship stores in New York. Adidas also unveiled new versions of the AM4LDN and AM4PAR.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Reebok debuts the Liquid Floatride Run, its latest 3D-printed shoe
• Adidas upgrades its high-end sneaker line with a 3D-printed midsole
• The best running shoes
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• Nike’s 3D-printed uppers take weight off your feet

HoloLens virtual touchscreen is the futuristic tech we’ve been waiting for

Researchers at Microsoft Research have developed a way to give HoloLens users a virtual touchscreen through a system called MRTouch. This allows users of Microsoft’s mixed reality headset an additional way to interact while using HoloLens, complementing gesture, voice, and controller inputs, according to a Microsoft Research video demoing the use of the MRTouch prototype.

Although Microsoft Research hasn’t announced plans to bring MRTouch to the market or allow third-party developers to make use of the multi-touch interactions at this time, the good news is that it works on an unmodified Microsoft HoloLens headset. All users would need to do is use their fingers and swipe across a flat surface to create a virtual touchscreen. You can do this on a number of surfaces, including walls and tabletops. This virtual touch area could be used to display content, and you can interact with the virtual screen using multi-touch gestures, similar to how you would use a tablet.

One application for MRTouch and HoloLens is the ability to launch apps that rely on touch inputs, like a browser. This allows you to use a mixed reality device as your day-to-day computer, Microsoft said. In the photos app, Microsoft showed that you can pan and zoom using your fingers, just as you would on the Windows 10 Photos app on your touchscreen-enabled laptop or convertible. MRTouch even edges ahead of traditional touchscreens if you need to render realistic 3D content. Here, touch input could be combined with in-air gestures for specific interactions in three-dimensional space.

MRTouch essentially allows HoloLens owners to overlay a touchscreen that’s capable of displaying and rendering content on any flat surface.

MRTouch works by utilizing the short-length depth camera on the HoloLens headset for finger tracking. A reflectivity map is also captured at 25 frames per second, and the data is fed to the tracker engine, Microsoft said. Microsoft’s study tested for accuracy, and the results show that touch was detected 97.5 percent of the time with a mean distance error of 5.4mm. According to Microsoft, the accuracy rate of MRTouch is very competitive with the capacitive touchscreens today used on many modern laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Wear your keyboard like a pair of brass knuckles with Tap Strap
• Magic Leap finally unveils ‘goggles’ with wireless processing, tracking
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• HP Spectre 13 (2017) review

Samsung foresees a slowdown in premium smartphone sales

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The smartphone industry could be in for troubled times ahead, according to Samsung’s readings of its financial results from the first quarter of this year.

Despite posting solid increases in revenue and profits as a whole, the majority of Samsung’s growth at the start of this year has come from demand for its memory chips, which can power anything from servers to smartphones. Thanks to an increase in demand for these chips, Samsung has seen a rise of 20 percent in revenue and a 58-percent jump in operating profits.

However, all may not be well for the smartphone industry as a whole going forward. Despite the surge in the popularity of its chips, Samsung has seen a drop in demand in more specific components for smartphones, a trend it attributes to an industry-wide slowdown in smartphone upgrades and a rejection of more expensive and premium smartphones by consumers worldwide.

It’s a trend we’ve watched growing over the past year. Demand for the iPhone X has been reported multiple times to be below expectations, and the latest figures suggest that Apple’s greatest-ever iPhone is being outsold by three-year-old iPhones. While that’s still business for Apple, it’s not a great look for the expensive iPhone X, and Samsung would have us believe it’s a trend that will grow over the next year in the mobile industry.

Samsung has seen a specific drop in the demand for flexible OLED panels, and a rise in competition from more traditional rigid LCD panels. OLED panels, which are required for displays with curved edges, like those seen in the Samsung Galaxy S9, are generally associated with more expensive, premium smartphones, and a rise in competition from less technically advanced LCD screens signals an increase in demand for lower-priced models across the market.

As pointed out by others, innovation within the mobile market has slowed, and it’s getting harder for smartphone manufacturers to differentiate newer models from old. Add to that the general increase in quality and an increase in the lifespan of phones and it seems that most people are no longer seeing the need to upgrade as often as before. The pressure will be on companies with a large stake in the mobile business to prove why consumers need to spend their money on a new product.

As for Samsung, it seems that the electronics giant is well spread across the entire tech industry, and shouldn’t be too affected by a predicted slump in phone sales in the second quarter of the year. Still, it might be wise to expect some discounts on the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus going forward, as Samsung will likely hope to shift a few more of its newest phones.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Adidas AM4NYC runners are templates for shoe design in the future
• Samsung wants to be the world’s top camera sensor maker
• These are the best ‘Made for Samsung’ apps for your Galaxy phone
• Apple raked in more than half of all global smartphone revenue last quarter
• U.S. Galaxy S9 handsets can be forced into a reboot by a ‘complex shader’