Twitch picks up ‘ChefShock,’ a daily live cooking show
Twitch, the Amazon-owned game streaming network, is branching out to appeal to the foodies of the world with a new daily show. Variety is reporting that the service has signed a deal with Justin Warner, former winner of Food Network Star, to front a cooking show called ChefShock. The show will air between Monday and Friday at 8pm ET / 5pm PT starting Monday, October 31st and will feature Warner preparing a meal. Users will be encouraged to order the ingredients in advance of each episode and then follow along with him as he teaches them how to be a better gourmand.
Twitch became a household name by streaming games, but it looks as if the company has found a ceiling relating to how big its audience can go. That would explain why it’s spent the last year or so broadening its appeal with various non-gaming initiatives. For instance, the outfit purchased the rights to broadcast Bob Ross’ The Joy of Painting and followed that up with a Food channel that showed re-runs of Julia Child’s The French Chef. Given how YouTube and Facebook Live are also eagerly attempting to woo younger viewers, we can expect to see plenty more moves like this from the service.
Source: Variety
Delta’s RFID luggage tracking system now includes a map view
Delta’s new RFID luggage tags rolled out earlier this year, making it harder for at least one airline to lose your bags. Now, just in time for the holiday travel rush, Delta has already upgraded their baggage tracking system to include a up-to-the-minute map view of a bag’s journey.
84 of Delta’s largest destinations in the US already have RFID tracking installed and the airline says all domestic stations will now be able update the “first-of-its-kind” map view in its Fly Delta mobile app. Because the tracking is based on RFID tags and scanner checkpoints placed throughout each airport, travelers won’t actually see the bag’s exact location, but they will get a map pin for each checkpoint the bag has passed, plus the last time it was tagged by the system. Tapping each pin will bring up even more information about each location the bag has passed. While it is not exactly a realtime GPS view, it’s still a big improvement over the old system: staring out the window, watching the baggage handlers and wondering if your bag made that tight connection.
According to Delta, push notifications for luggage will also be coming to the app later this year, so users won’t even need to open it to check on their bag’s status. The Fly Delta app is currently available for iOS and Android.
Source: Delta News Hub
Google to ‘pause’ its Fiber rollout
Google announced on Tuesday that it plans to “pause” the planned expansion of its Fiber high-speed internet service in the 10 cities it had been looking into and will eliminate a number of positions in those cities — 9 percent of the division’s total number of employees, according to Ars Technica.
This decision will not affect customers in the eight metro areas where Fiber is already installed, only those where the company was considering expanding into. Nor will it impact places where the company has already confirmed Fiber’s rollout — including San Francisco, Irvine, Huntsville and San Antonio. Cities like Chicago, Dallas, Portland, Tampa and San Diego, however, will not be so lucky.
The company cites a need to “stay ahead of the curve ” in providing gigabit internet service as the reason for its pivot. Fiber has reportedly failed to hit its subscriber goals while Google recently purchased high-speed wireless ISP, Webpass. The two factors together may have influenced the company’s decision to stop installing physical fiber lines. Still, these layoffs aren’t nearly as bad as what The Information reported was coming in August — their sources claimed that CEO Larry Page had ordered the 1,000 person division to cut its worker count by half.
Via: Ars Technica
Source: Google Fiber Blog
Facebook teases an app that makes live video look like fine art
In an interview at WSJD Live, Facebook’s Chief Product Officer Chris Cox showed off an interesting AI-powered app that makes live video look like the work of famous artists like Monet or Van Gogh. Cox called it a “style transfer” app, that essentially transfers the style of a particular painter to any moving image. From the on-stage demo, it looks a lot like Prisma, an app that adds art filters to your photos and videos. But while you have to wait several seconds for Prisma to work, the demo filter was applied live on camera through augmented reality.
Indeed, as Cox moved the phone around the room, the Van Gogh filter was applied in real-time in the app. “We’re making the camera a really nice creative tool, and that’s the kind of thing we’re very invested in right now,” he said. The filters are still in the prototype stages, and he wouldn’t say if these filters would just be for Facebook Live, but it does look like that’s the direction the company is heading. According to Cox, 70 percent of all global internet traffic will be video in the next few years. “We’re going from the voice call to the video call,” he said.
At the same time, Cox and Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg wanted to emphasize that Facebook is a tech company, not a media company. Cox says that media is about stories, while tech is about products. At the same time though, Facebook does have content policies that are constantly evolving. For example, at first its algorithm banned the iconic “napalm girl” photo because it depicts child nudity. But it decided to allow it due to its historical significance and for the benefit of “newsworthiness.” The same goes to the live video of the Falcon Heights shooting; Facebook’s system automatically removed it, but the company then reinstated it.
“I think the really big question is how do we make sure that people have free expression on Facebook,” said Sandberg, adding that someone’s free expression can be another person’s hate. She admits that the company is still evolving its policies and is seeking advice from the likes of publishers and law enforcement. “We’re proud of the role we play in helping people witness,” said Sandberg.
Rockstar liquidates cheaters’ ‘GTA Online’ bank accounts
Not long after it launched in October 2013, Grand Theft Auto Online cheaters began artificially creating gobs of in-game money. The plague of illicitly-gained cash proliferated while Rockstar continued releasing its expansions — until today. Players who had cheated, modded, hacked or even gotten money through glitches woke up to a message from Rockstar this morning telling them yes, they’d been found out, and the studio had eliminated their ill-gotten dough. For some players, this wiped out their in-game cash reserves to an ignominious $0.
That includes money made by exploiting glitches. Players who made lower amounts of illegitimate cash seem less likely to be affected, though the bans are apparently coming in waves, so safe now doesn’t guarantee modders and cheaters won’t have their game finances reset. It’s unclear whether players who picked up money generated by others’ mods will see it stripped away, according to Ars Technica.
In an FAQ post, Rockstar explained that they wiped all the falsely-generated money in order to keep the gameplay environment fair. This comes alongside the game’s new suspension policy, updated today: A player’s first temporary ban will wipe all character progress, inventory and property, while a second will result in permanent expulsion. Both motions seem drastic, but understandable given how prevalent cheating has remained in the three-year-old game. Still, there’s a word for drastically stripping cheating players’ gains in a game that’s all about making money by breaking laws, but I can’t put my finger on it.
Via: Ars Technica
Source: Rockstar support forums
Tim Cook Comments on Apple Car Rumors, Says There are Technologies That Will ‘Revolutionize’ Car Industry
Apple held its fourth quarter 2016 earnings call this afternoon, where Apple CEO Tim Cook was asked about the Apple Car by Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster.
Cook didn’t comment on Apple’s plans, of course, and said there’s “nothing to announce today,” but he did give some insight into how Apple approaches new technologies and new product categories and said the car space is “interesting” because of the potential for new technologies.
I can’t speak about rumors, but as you know, we look for ways we can improve the experience and the customer’s experience on different sets of products. We’re always looking at new things and the car space is an area where it’s clear there are a lot of technologies that will become available… or will be able to revolutionize the car experience. It’s interesting from that point of view. But certainly nothing to announce today.
Cook was also questioned about Apple’s R&D spending, which has accelerated in recent quarters and has sparked speculation that it’s evidence a major car project is in the works. On the subject of R&D, Cook said Apple is “confidently investing in the future” and that’s the reason for the increase in R&D spending.
Recent rumors have suggested Apple has refocused its car project. The company has shelved plans to build a an electric car for now, and is instead working to build a self-driving software platform.
Related Roundup: Apple Car
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Tim Cook: ‘We Don’t Buy’ the Need to Give Up Privacy for AI
During today’s fourth quarter 2016 earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook was asked about Siri, artificial intelligence, home assistants vs. mobile assistants, and balancing AI with security, which led to some interesting new insights into Siri’s popularity and Apple’s privacy stance.
According to Cook, Apple is now getting more than 2 billion Siri requests per week. “It’s very large,” he said, “and to the best of our knowledge, we’ve shipped more assistant enabled devices than anyone out there.” He went on to highlight Apple’s efforts to deliver a great Siri experience around the world. While most AI services are limited to the United States, Siri is available in many countries. “We put a lot of energy into that,” Cook said.
Cook also said that he believes there’s more value in having a phone with a personal assistant built in, like Siri, than a home device. “We live in a mobile society,” he said. “People are constantly moving from home to work and to other things they may be doing. And so the advantage of having an assistant on your phone is that it’s with you all the time.” He went on to say that there’s still a market for a home assistant like the Amazon Echo, but that usage on a phone “will likely be much greater.”
On security, Cook said that Apple does not believe there’s a need to compromise security for the sake of artificial intelligence.
In terms of the balance of privacy and AI, this is a long conversation, but at a high level, this is a false tradeoff. People would like you to believe you have to give up privacy to have AI do something for you, but we don’t buy that. It might take more work, it might take more thinking, but I don’t think we should throw our privacy away. It’s sort of like the age old argument between privacy and security. You should have both. You shouldn’t have to make a choice.
In the past, rumors have suggested that Apple’s staunch dedication to privacy has held back the development of Siri. Apple is said to employ “policy czars” that make sure Apple services are not collecting customer data, something that has restricted the way Siri can be used.
Apple has, however, made some important steps forward with Siri in recent years through the use of machine learning and a neural network, advancements Cook highlighted earlier in the call. Just this year, Apple was able to open up Siri to third-party developers, and the company is said to be hard at work on some major improvements that will allow Siri to do more and to be built into products like a rumored Echo-like smart home device.
Tags: Siri, artificial intelligence
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Google Jamboard: What is it and is it cheaper than Microsoft Surface Hub?
Google has introduced a new product called Jamboard.
You probably won’t need this thing unless you’re a teacher or a company executive, because it’s a powerful collaboration tool used to enhance meetings or presentations. It provides a whiteboard experience, but it’s all about “moving the whiteboard to the cloud”, according to Google.
Here’s everything you need to know about Google Jamboard.
What is Google Jamboard?
Google Jamboard is a whiteboard you can use for meetings and presentation purposes. Turn it on, draw on it, flip through slides on it, whatever. Google plans to make Jamboard part of its G Suite, so users will be able to directly access and edit Docs, Sheets, Slides, and photos stored in Drive. There are no plans to make these apps run natively right now, as they’ll use companion apps that let you and your teammates “jam”.
When you “jam” with your teammates, whether that includes sketching, adding images, writing notes, pulling from the web, etc, your work lives in the cloud in Google Drive, where you can easily share what you’ve created or edit it at anytime. You can work with teammates from across the world using Google Hangouts and Google Cast for setting up broadcasts and collaborations, or you can work remotely using the companion app.
What does Google Jamboard feature?
The Jamboard has a “plug-and-play” design with no batteries or charging. It features a 55-inch 60Hz Ultra HD 4K touch display (supports passive stylus and finger recognition, with 16-touch points), a built-in wide-angle HD camera, mic, speakers, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB Type C, HDMI 2.0, Bluetooth, NFC, and Wi-Fi. It also runs a variant of Android Marshmallow. Google has not yet disclosed which processor is inside.
How is Jamboard different from Surface Hub?
Microsoft
Microsoft unveiled a similar product, called Surface Hub, in 2015 and began shipping it in 2016. The 55-inch Surface Hub model starts at $9,000. In October, Microsoft said it shipped Surface Hubs to 600 customers worldwide. The device runs a custom version of Windows 10, offers custom versions of OneNote, Skype for Business, and Microsoft’s Office apps, and can download custom apps from the Windows Store for Business.
The Surface Hub also comes in an 84-inch model. While the 55-inch model features an Intel Core i5 processor, the larger model has an i7 processor. Both models offer a display with 100 multi-touch points. Other Surface Hub specs include two wide-angle cameras, mics, speakers, Wi-Fi, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, Ethernet 1000 Base T, 128GB of storage with 8GB RAM, and two powered pens.
Unlike Surface Hub, you can’t install any third-party apps on the Google Jamboard. But it does come with a companion app, which will be available for Android and iOS, allowing users to work on the whiteboard in real-time. The Surface Hub doesn’t have companion apps, but you can collaborate on via Skype for Business. Surface Hub is positioned as a standalone touch-computing device, while Jamboard is a touch display.
When will Google Jamboard be available?
Google opened applications for Early Adopter versions of Jamboard on 25 October, allowing select applicants to receive Jamboards by late October/early November. Google’s estimated ship target for Jamboard is the first half of 2017.
How much does Google Jamboard cost?
Google said Jamboard will be “competitively priced” at under $6,000 USD. Surface Hub starts at $9,000 and goes up to $21,999.
Why the fashion world won’t let Amazon in
There’s no doubt Amazon has already mastered the art of selling groceries and other essential goods online. But the company aims to be more than that. It’s also focusing on streaming technologies, with services like Prime Video and Music Unlimited, a rival to Spotify and Apple Music. Then there’s fashion retail, a space that may be the hardest (though, not impossible) to conquer. While Amazon isn’t new to selling clothes, the company sees high-fashion retail as its next holy grail. It wants to be the place where you can have a $12 Hanes hoodie and a $1,500 Louis Vuitton in the same cart.
Over the past few months, the company has been ramping up efforts in fashion, starting with the quiet launch of seven in-house brands in February. By introducing Franklin & Freeman, Franklin Tailored, James & Erin, Lark & Ro, Society New York, North Eleven and Scout + Ro, Amazon was able to start covering its bases. More specifically, it meant not having to rely solely on products from third-party brands. The lines, which are designed to be affordable, offer close to 2,000 clothing pieces for men, women and children.
What’s more, the retailer shut down its Gilt competitor MyHabit, a site where it sold name-brand apparel at deep discounts, last May in order to send that traffic to its main site. Much to their surprise, MyHabit users were told to begin shopping on the fashion section of Amazon.com. The company, which declined to comment for this story, told WWD in April the decision was meant to “simplify” its offering, noting that fashion is one of its “fastest-growing” categories.
Actress Vanessa Hudgens at Amazon’s MyHabit launch party. (Associated Press)
Of course, it makes sense for Amazon to reap the benefits of its more than 300 million active users. That number is especially notable since 63 million are paid Prime members, meaning they’re likely to spend money on the site regularly.
The problem is, as Amazon’s plans get more ambitious — like trying to become the online destination for couture — there’s bound to be some pushback from established players in fashion. Earlier this month, Amazon kicked off a $15 million advertising campaign in an attempt to brand itself as high-fashion retailer. As part of this strategy, it introduced a new TV spot in Europe titled “Delivering Fashion,” showing what appear to be supermodels delivering Prime boxes to different places. It’s a small taste of what Amazon Fashion aims to be.
At the same time though, LVMH, which owns Celine, Dior, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton and several other luxury labels, recently said that it won’t be working with Amazon anytime soon. “We believe the business of Amazon does not fit with LVMH full stop and it does not fit with our brands,” Jean-Jacques Guiony, LVMH’s chief financial officer, said to investors during an earnings call last week. “There is no way we can do business with them for the time being.”
We believe the business of Amazon does not fit with LVMH full stop and it does not fit with our brands.
Jean-Jacques Guiony
As it stands, LVMH, which told Engadget it had no further comment, relies solely on its own distribution channels. With Louis Vuitton, for example, the company only sells products at namesake stores around the world as well as its website. And even when it works with retailers like Neiman Marcus on shop-in-shop experiences, those are always staffed by LVMH employees. For luxury brands, having full control of the retail experience is paramount. So, Guiony’s statements aren’t shocking, but they’re definitely not what Amazon wants to hear.
The perspective from industry insiders is that LVMH, and other luxury goods makers, are wary of Amazon because they don’t want to devalue their brands. That’s an understandable concern when you consider that a piece of expensive clothing would be sold alongside toilet paper, food and other conventional goods.
As we saw several years ago when Louis Vuitton began producing some bags in larger quantities and offering lower priced options,” says Julie Zerbo, founder and editor in chief of The Fashion Law, “demand and sales dropped off quite significantly.” That’s the reason it doesn’t do it anymore. She adds that, because what companies like LVMH sell is priced highly and thrive on the notion of exclusivity, something as “seemingly insignificant as selling on Amazon could be hugely detrimental.”
Not all is lost for Amazon, however. Marc Jacobs (owned by LVMH), BCBGeneration, Rachel Zoe and Tommy Hilfiger are respectable fashion brands with a presence on the platform. These may not be as luxurious as Louis Vuitton, Dior or Givenchy, but they help Amazon Fashion have a more robust catalogue. Meanwhile, others such as Michael Kors (which isn’t considered high-fashion by most in the industry) have certain limits. The brand doesn’t sell clothes on Amazon, instead it only lists jewelry, watches (including smart ones) and fitness trackers.
Michael Kors declined our request for an interview, but a spokesperson told Engadget that the company doesn’t officially sell any other categories through Amazon “at this time.” So, if you’ve ever bought Michael Kors clothing on Amazon, there’s a chance it could be a counterfeit. Earlier this year, upscale footwear designer Birkenstock said it would stop doing business with Amazon, citing an increase of counterfeit goods on the site and “a constant stream of unidentifiable unauthorized resellers.”
In an email to retail partners about the decision, Birkenstock CEO David Kahan wrote, “Policing this activity internally and in partnership with Amazon.com has proven impossible.” Kirthi Kalyanam, director of Santa Clara University’s Retail Management Institute, says Amazon has a “presentation problem.” He notes that the brand experience is off, given that Amazon allows third-party resellers on the platform who might sell unauthorized products from a luxury fashion house. “Until the proper marketplace reseller arrangements are in place,” he says, “luxury brands will be cautious.”
Designers show their collection at Amazon India Fashion Week India. (AFP/Getty Images)
You don’t have to go far back in time to know this as a major issue for Amazon. Just last week, Apple filed a lawsuit claiming most Lightning cables and chargers sold on Amazon are fake. The suit claims these accessories are “poorly constructed” and “pose an immediate threat to consumer safety.” Although the products being sold were “Fulfilled by Amazon,” third-party sellers are core to Amazon’s e-commerce business.
“For luxury brands, controlling the chains of sellers is extremely important for maintaining brand image and exclusivity,” says Zerbo. “But they also need to ensure authenticity and quality, both in terms of the products themselves and the customer experience.”
What helps Amazon Fashion is the fact it’s still a work in progress, and it can use cases like Birkenstock’s to improve the platform for both labels and buyers. But, the retail giant will need a lot more than a $15 million ad campaign to appeal the LVMHs of the world and, most importantly, the people who want to that type of merchandise without questioning their authenticity. Amazon can start by cracking down on dubious third-party sellers, though even that may not be enough to make buying Louis Vuitton bags on Amazon a reality.
Apple Signals Return to Growth This Holiday Season After 9-Month Slide
Apple today forecasted between $76 billion and $78 billion in revenue for the first quarter of the 2017 fiscal year, reflecting a three-month period between September and December, signaling the company’s return to growth in the upcoming holiday shopping season.
Apple’s lower-end guidance of $76 billion would be enough to eclipse the $75.9 billion in revenue it reported in the year-ago period, putting an end to the company’s downturn after its first annual revenue decline since 2001 and three consecutive quarters of negative growth.
Apple’s decline through the first nine months of 2016 was in line with the iPhone’s first-ever drop in sales, while iPad and Mac sales also shrunk during the year. However, the strength of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, alongside Apple’s growing services category, should help reverse that trend over the next three months. In the quarter just ended, Apple’s revenue from services like the App Store, Apple Music, and iCloud grew 24% to an all-time record of $6.3 billion.
Tag: earnings
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