‘Halo 5’ is getting an eSports reality TV show
Microsoft really wants to make a big deal out of competitive Halo 5 gaming, and it’s taking an unusual route to get there. The company’s 343 Industries and Electronic Sports League have reached a deal with Pilgrim Media Group to create an eSports-focused reality TV series. Details of what it involves are scarce, but it will bring the “intensity and extreme competition” of Halo 5 to the TV, whatever that might mean. There’s no mention of a planned air date or even distributors, so it’s unclear when you’ll have a chance to watch. It’s safe to say that Microsoft will find some way to make the series available to Xbox One owners, though.
The show isn’t coming completely out of the blue. ESL, Pilgrim and Lionsgate announced cooperation on eSports programming back in May, and the Halo show is the first project to emerge from the team-up. It’s definitely a gamble, though. While the eSports field is growing rapidly and has had its share of TV coverage, it’s hard to say how well conventional TV viewers will respond to a serialized show about competitive video gaming… especially for a title that’s a year old before production even starts. With that said, the fictional Halo web series Forward Unto Dawn got an Emmy nomination. At this point, we wouldn’t rule out another success.
Via: Variety
Source: Pilgrim Media Group
It’s the beginning of the end for NASA’s Cassini spacecraft
Cassini is officially, irrevocably in its final year of existence. The NASA spacecraft has been capturing lovely images and collecting samples of Saturn and its orbiting objects since 2004, but today Cassini enters the final phase of its mission. Between November 30th and April 22nd, Cassini will circle Saturn’s poles, diving between its outermost rings once every seven days, a total of 20 times (as shown above).
Its final mission is also a first — Cassini will observe unexplored areas of Saturn’s rings, including the collection of small moons orbiting near their outer edges.
Additionally, Cassini will continue investigating the mysterious “propellers” discovered near Saturn’s main A ring, grabbing high-resolution images that should reveal more details about their structure. The propellers’ existence means there are unseen moonlets hanging out around Saturn, which is important because “moonlet” is a deeply adorable word.
Cassini will prepare for its descent into Saturn’s atmosphere in April, and in September, it’ll make the final, fiery plunge. NASA launched the spacecraft on October 15th, 1997.
“After nearly 20 years in space, the mission is drawing near its end because the spacecraft is running low on fuel,” NASA writes. “The Cassini team carefully designed the finale to conduct an extraordinary science investigation before sending the spacecraft into Saturn to protect its potentially habitable moons.”
Source: NASA
Apple’s renewed fight against AIDS includes new iPhone cases
Apple has made a tradition of marking World AIDS Day with a campaign to donate to the Product (RED) charity, and it’s going the extra mile for its 10th year of support. On top of the company’s existing (RED) gear (which sends a contribution to the Global Fund’s fight against AIDS), it’s launching four new accessories and devices that count toward the charity. You can get red versions of the iPhone 7 Battery Case, the leather iPhone SE case, Beats Solo 3 Wireless headphones and the Beats Pill+ wireless speaker. All of these are available today, and there are other ways to help out even if you have no intentions of buying hardware.
To begin with, purchasing anything at an Apple store (physical or online) through Apple Pay between now and December 6th will donate $1 toward (RED), up to a maximum of $1 million. Bank of America will match those donations if you buy using one of its cards. You can also buy an album from The Killers (Don’t Waste Your Wishes) on iTunes with all US proceeds heading to the fund. Beyond this, in-app purchases in 20 high-profile iOS games (including Angry Birds 2, Clash of Clans and PewDiePie’s Tuber Simulator) will contribute to the anti-AIDS campaign through December 7th.
These individual efforts may seem like drops in the bucket, but Apple has historically been one of Product (RED)’s strongest contributors — it had raised $65 million by 2013. And while a bona fide cure is still years away, the United Nations now believes that you could realistically see the end of AIDS by 2030. You may only make a small difference by yourself, but the combined effort adds up.
Source: Apple (1), (2)
America’s fourth-largest cable co. will offer 10Gbps fiber
Altice USA may not be the most recognized ISP name out there, but the country’s fourth-largest provider is about to get a big upgrade over the next five years or so. According to the company’s roadmap, Altice plans to bring high-speed, 10 Gbps fiber lines directly to its 8.3 million customers starting in 2017.
Made up of the former Cablevision and Suddenlink networks, Altice plans to accelerate their rollout by skipping the DOCSIS 3.1 system that bigger providers like Comcast have been installing for cities where they provide a gigabit connection. Rather than building another hybrid fiber and cable network, Altice is going straight to a fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) system — something even Google Fiber failed to follow through on when Alphabet paused its rollout earlier this year.
While Google Fiber has decided to explore wireless 5G options for getting high-speed connections to customers’ homes, Altice CEO Dexter Goei told the Wall Street Journal that he doesn’t believe those standards will ever match the speeds of a full fiber network. Verizon, meanwhile, gave up plans to roll out FiOS fiber-to-the-home service beyond the East Coast early last year. While those two internet giants stumbled, Altice has the advantage of building on top of its existing footprint without the need to build a new network completely from scratch.
Netflix’s offline viewing mode was inevitable
The ability to finally download Netflix videos came as a surprise this morning. After all, it’s the same company that just a few years ago said that offline support was “never going to happen.” But recently, Netflix’s tone started changing. Back in April, CEO Reed Hastings said it would “keep an open mind” about the feature. And earlier this month, chief content office Ted Sarandos noted that it might be necessary for international markets. And if you really think about it, there are plenty of reasons why Netflix couldn’t avoid offline viewing any longer.
Users genuinely need it
There’s a reason Netflix subscribers have been demanding offline support. It’s becoming all but a necessity, and that’s largely Netflix’s fault. It’s turned on-demand video into a drug, and now we need our fix wherever possible, be it on the subway or a plane. Offline support will also be useful for people who don’t have lots of mobile data to waste on streaming video.
In a strange way, it also seems like a fitting feature to debut after the “Netflix Vista” spoof ad, a Black Mirror tie-in which showed people ignoring the beauty of the world around them in favor of watching Netflix directly in their eyes. That ad tries to push people to get out and live their lives, but in reality Netflix is making it easier than ever to ignore everything so you can catch up on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (which you should totally watch).
Amazon has been doing it for years
If you’re not a media addict, you probably didn’t know that Amazon has been letting its Prime customers download streaming videos for years. At first, offline viewing was exclusive to Fire tablet owners, but last year Amazon opened it up to iOS and Android devices as well. Amazon has, for some reason, done a poor job of marketing the feature (so much so that a few of our editors didn’t even know it existed). It’s also annoying to set up if you’re on Android, since it involves downloading Amazon’s app store just to grab the Prime Video app.
If you haven’t used it, Amazon’s offline mode works a lot like Netflix’s version: There’s a choice selection of shows and films you can download, and there’s also a time limit for how long you can keep content (there still has to be a reason for you to buy them, after all). It’s a particularly great way to catch up on Amazon’s original series (check out Transparent, Bosch and Mozart in the Jungle), but you can also download some shows and films from other studios as well.
Amazon is usually tight-lipped about metrics, but analysts estimate that there are currently between 54 and 69 million Prime members in the US. They also estimate around 60 percent of those subscribers actually watch Prime Video content at least once a week. Netflix, in comparison, has 47 million members in the US and 86 million globally. With more original content and better licensing deals heading to Amazon (it’s scored plenty of new films and TV deals), Netflix can’t afford to sit back and let a major competitor outdo it feature wise, as well. It’s hard to say if Amazon’s offline support directly influenced Netflix’s decision, but I’d wager it had some weight.
It’s an easy way to entice new subscribers and boost viewership
Netflix has done a remarkable (one could describe it as frightening) job of filling up our free time at home. It helped make “binge-watching” a reality, and at this point Netflix streaming accounts for more than a third of US internet traffic during prime time. But where does it go from here? So far, its price hikes haven’t affected subscriber growth, but who knows how long that’ll last. It’s also spending even more money on original content, and subscribers continue to criticize its inadequate film library.
By offering offline support at no extra cost, Netflix has an easy way to convince even more people to sign up. And, perhaps even more importantly, it could serve as a way to keep current subscribers onboard. And depending on how much people actually use the feature, it could also lead to significant viewership growth for all of its content. That could end up being useful when it needs to woo investors or potential content partners.
And yes, it’s necessary for international expansion
Netflix has already made this point pretty clear, but it’s one worth considering further. It’s true, that as the company expands to areas where internet access is spotty, it’ll need some way to ensure people can actually watch videos without interruption. Netflix will also be competing against other services in those markets that might offer downloads and cheap bootlegs. And, as usual, Netflix will have to deal with the omnipresent specter of piracy. If it doesn’t offer its own legal downloads, the pirates win.
Apple Working to Put a Stop to iCloud Calendar Spam
Over the course of the last week, many iCloud users have been the target of spam that’s delivered in the form of an unsolicited Calendar event invitation, and now Apple is working on a way to stop it.
In a statement given to iMore’s Rene Ritchie, an Apple spokesperson said the company working to block spam invites.
We are sorry that some of our users are receiving spam calendar invitations. We are actively working to address this issue by identifying and blocking suspicious senders and spam in the invites being sent.
iCloud calendar spam isn’t new, but there’s been a serious uptick in calendar spam since last week. Because iCloud calendar invites are sent to an iCloud calendar automatically by default and there’s no easy way to ignore them, there’s no clear way to stop the spam.
Image via OS X Daily
Declining, accepting, or choosing “Maybe” on an incoming iCloud invite lets an iCloud email address is valid, so until Apple can put a stop to the spam, there are two fixes. First, by logging in to iCloud via a web browser and accessing the Calendar settings (Click the cog, go to Preferences, then choose Advanced), you can choose to receive all event invitations as email. Emails can be more easily ignored and deleted.
Second, you can create a new Calendar, name it Spam, move the spam invitation to the Spam calendar, and then delete the Calendar entirely. This method does not inform spammers that an event has been declined and does not verify an iCloud account’s validity. For more detailed instructions, make sure to check out our how to.
Both iOS users that use the default Calendar app and those who use third-party calendar apps like Fantastical are affected by the spam issue, which appears to be fairly widespread.
Discuss this article in our forums
OnePlus 3 gets its first beta Android 7.0 Nougat build
Manually jump to the latest software right now.
As we tip over to December we’re still waiting for an official OTA update to Android 7.0 Nougat on the OnePlus 3, but the most anxious among us can now be the first to see what OnePlus has done with Nougat by installing the latest Open Beta 8 software. Because of the big jump this latest beta will not arrive over the air for current Open Beta users — you’ll have to manually apply this update.
The quick changelog from OnePlus:
- Upgraded to Android 7.0 Nougat
- New Notifications Design
- New Settings Menu Design
- Multi-Window View
- Notification Direct Reply
- Custom DPI Support
- Added Status Bar Icon Options
- Added Quick Launch For 3rd Party Applications
- Improved Shelf Customization
As is always the case with beta software — particularly the first release of a new platform version — we want to give the proper amount of caution here to let you know this will be unstable and potentially have issues. OnePlus notes that right off the bat Android Pay may not work properly, and there are general stability and performance problems.
You get the latest software, but be ready for potential bugs.
More importantly for some, you won’t be able to simply downgrade back to Android Marshmallow if you’re unhappy with this beta Nougat experience. The only way to go back to Marshmallow requires a special Open Beta build (available from OnePlus customer service) that will format your device, so proceed with caution here as it’s a one-way street unless you want to lose your data.
For those who are aware of the risks and willing to give Nougat a try on their OnePlus 3, head to the OnePlus forums and grab a download of the 1.3GB .zip file containing the new update. Hook up to your computer and use the “adb sideload” command to apply the update as you would any other update, or if you are already on an Open Beta build you can simply put the file on your phone and manually update through the system settings.
OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T
- OnePlus 3 review: Finally, all grown up
- The OnePlus 3T is official
- OnePlus 3 specs
- OnePlus 3T vs. OnePlus 3: What’s the difference?
- Latest OnePlus 3 news
- Discuss OnePlus 3 in the forums
OnePlus
Moto Z may get a Google Tango Moto Mod in 2017
Let’s Tango, Moto.
Right now, Google Tango is a great idea trapped inside mediocre hardware. As we saw in Lenovo’s Phab 2 Pro, there is a lot of potential in the camera-reliant augmented reality technology, but right now there’s really no reason for a consumer to invest in it.
Motorola, Lenovo’s mobile-focused subsidiary, plans to change that in 2017 with a Google Tango Moto Mod, according to company president Aymar de Lencquesaing, speaking to a group of reporters at a meeting in Chicago. “We’re likely to to have a Tango module to basically enable the Z to have Tango functionality,” noting that “augmented reality on a phone is a technology that’s likely to stick.” There is tons of potential there, he continued. “We’ll follow, or lead, the market in this area.”
Lenovo, Motorola’s parent company, worked directly with Google on the Tango-powered Phab 2 Pro, which happens to be the first consumer product to work with the nascent technology. de Lencquesaing wouldn’t go as far as to confirm the existence of a Tango Moto Mod, but hinted that it would be a natural progression for Motorola’s modular platform, which currently works on the Moto Z, Moto Z Force and Moto Z Play.
Moto Z, Moto Z Force and Moto Z Play
- Our Moto Z review!
- Moto Z Play preview
- The Hasselblad True Zoom is a Mod to remember
- Moto Z specs
- Moto Mods custom backs
- The latest Moto Z news
- Discuss in our Moto Z forums
Motorola
Verizon
Android Pay now available in New Zealand
Android Pay has arrived in New Zealand!
New Zealand is the latest country to receive support for Android Pay. New Zealanders who bank through the Bank of New Zealand can add their Flexi Debit Visa to their phone via the Android Pay app, then pay for gas, food and more at a number of popular businesses using just their phone.
There are several New Zealand businesses that support Android Pay — whether you’re looking to grab a bite to eat at McDonald’s, Burger Fuel, or Domino’s, do some shopping at Noel Leeming or Torpedo7, or make payments at mobile carriers 2degrees or Spark.
Currently, the Bank of New Zealand is the only financial institution supported, and the BNZ Flexi Debit Visa is the only card you’re able to add. Time will tell if other New Zealand banks will hop on the Android Pay bandwagon, or whether other BNZ cards will be added to the service.
Get some cityscape on your home screen with these wallpapers
Not all of us get to zip around the world seeing amazing cities.
That doesn’t mean we can’t witness and savor the beauty of other cities and their lovely skylines around the world. Cityscapes have been popular wallpapers for a reason: they’re gorgeous, and they add sophistication to a home screen. They inspire us to expand our horizons. They let us escape our own drab little corners of the world for somewhere new, fun, and exotic. Let’s go around the world, shall we?
This wonderful view of Budapest’s Chain Bridge is all about connections, as the lights tie everything in the image together. From the cars scurrying back and forth across the bridge itself to the erratic strands of fairy light that bounce about the bridge, the rooftops, and the lampposts, this is a cityscape that beckons you the come into the light and connect to this lovely world.
Cityscape recolored by simen91
Cityscape wallpapers give us glimpses into worlds we will never see, and there are few places that is more true of than the gleaming metropolis of Doha, capital city of Qatar. The shining city gleams like a jewel as it sit upon Doha Bay, and looking like this, you would never guess this was in the Middle East rather than some bustling Asian hub. The city lights reflect on the calm waters of the bay, giving with the mesmerizing display.
Doha
Not all cityscapes are brilliant and crisp, and this rendition by VonSchlippe could tell a hundred different stories, from the sparse Christmas lights slung up between the streets and the mish-mash of architectural styles and awnings of the shops far below. This is a city bustling with life and with culture, and I can’t wait to explore it.
Cityscape by VonSclippe
This crisp, monochromatic take on a city skyline adds depth as it plays in shades of simple cerulean. It’s breathtaking, but the true brilliance comes as it mixes the minimalistic look of the cityscape with the ripples of the water and the stars above. Also, take this wallpaper, add Whicons: instant theme.
Mode 7 City Wallpaper by the Hamster Alliance
“He figured she’d gone back to Austin, ’cause she talking about it all the time…”
Blake Shelton’s dream girl in Austin has the right idea, because no matter how far you wander, there’ll always be something about Austin. SXSW. Austin City Limits. Circuit of the Americas. Austin has a bit of everything, and that includes a lot of nerds. Austin is a bit of a tech town and a bit of an arts town, but the whole town is authentically Texan and authentically AWESOME. Besides, at the end of every whirlwind trip, the important thing is to come home, and I am proud to call this city home.
Austin
AIVAnet 