BitTorrent reportedly fires its CEOs, gets out of the media game
BitTorrent has had a big interest in making it easy for creators to distribute and sell music and films, but it looks like that initiative might have just ground to a screeching halt. Variety is reporting that the company has fired its two CEOs, laid off an unknown number of staffers and is shutting down BitTorrent Now, its recently-launched ad-supported video and music streaming platform.
If this is all true, it would mark a pretty dramatic change of pace for the company, which has sought to build an identify as a champion for an open internet. Not through piracy, for which the company is still closely linked thanks to the peer-to-peer sharing technology the company developed, but through more legit means.
In addition to shuttering BitTorrent Now, the company has also reportedly closed a Los Angeles studio that served as the headquarters for the initiative. While BitTorrent Now was a bit of an update and rebrand, the company had been offering “bundles” of content from indie artists for years now. According to Variety, the company was bleeding money on the venture; one source said that spending was “out of control.” BitTorrent had also recently launched a live streaming platform, hired a news director and started its own news network. While today’s report didn’t have any details on what will happen with those initiatives, it’s not unreasonable to imagine they’re also in jeopardy.
With both CEOs Robert Delamar and Jeremy Johnson out, CFO Dipak Joshi has apparently stepped in as interim CEO. All the turmoil reportedly started a few weeks ago, with layoffs kicking off in the second half of September. We’re reaching out to BitTorrent and will update this story with more details as we learn them.
Source: Variety
‘League of Legends’ is adding post-game replays
Nailing a sweet pentakill in League of Legends is even better when you have an easy-to-share video of it for bragging rights. But what if you don’t want to resort to third-party tools to watch or create a clip? Well, according to developer Riot Games, you shouldn’t have to wait much longer. Ahead of next season, Riot announced it’s adding the highly-requested feature to the game, and replays from the current patch can be watched directly from the LoL client itself.
There’s also a new Annotated Timeline that sounds like it’ll highlight the best moments of a particular game, giving you easy access to scrub from one tower take down to the next dragon kill. You’ll be able to make your own highlight reels as well. There isn’t a definitive timeline for when this will roll out, but with season six ending next month and season seven starting near the end of January, sometime between then seems pretty likely.
Via: Rift Herald
Source: Riot Games
The FCC wants ISPs to get permission before sharing your data
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler proposed new rules on Thursday that would require internet service providers like Time Warner and Comcast to disclose how they use customers’ personal data, and ask permission before sharing this information with outside organizations. Wheeler outlined the broad strokes of this plan in March, when the FCC voted to accept public comment on the proposed rules. Six months later, the comments are in and the full Commission will review the new plan at its monthly meeting on October 27th.
Under the new rules, ISPs would be required to tell customers about the type of information they collect, how and why they share it and which companies they share it with. In general, ISPs have access to data that includes when and where customers access the internet, which sites they visit and which apps they use. ISPs would have to make this information available to new customers when they sign up for service and provide updates whenever the policies change.
Additionally, ISPs would have to obtain opt-in consent to share “sensitive” information including personal geo-location data, browsing history, app usage, social security numbers, the content of any communications, and information about children, health or finances. This means providers would need to get customers’ permission before distributing this information to outside parties. Non-sensitive data — the FCC uses “service tier information used to market an alarm system” as an example — would be opt-out, meaning it’s automatically open to sharing.
ISPs would be able to de-identify customers’ personal information and then share it outside of the rules for obtaining consent. However, the FCC says that information has to pass a three-step test to ensure it’s not re-identified, outlined as follows:
- Alter the customer information so that it can’t be reasonably linked to a specific individual or device
- Publicly commit to maintain and use information in an unidentifiable format and to not attempt to re-identify the data
- Contractually prohibit the re-identification of shared information
The new rules would also require ISPs to implement up-to-date security practices and notify customers of a breach within 30 days; companies would have to notify the FCC within seven days.
Many ISPs were not happy with Wheeler’s proposed rules in March, arguing that they gave companies like Facebook and Google, which also collect user data, an unfair advantage. These websites are overseen by the Federal Trade Commission, rather than the FCC. FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez commented on today’s announcement, saying she was pleased with the FCC’s new proposal.
“The FTC, which has protected consumers’ privacy for decades in both the online and brick-and-mortar worlds, provided formal comment to the FCC on the proposed rulemaking, and I believe that our input has helped strengthen this important initiative,” she said.
Source: FCC
Apple Music Adds Support for User-Uploaded Unofficial Remixes from Dubset
Apple Music today gained support for user-uploaded unofficial remixes, according to TechCrunch. Unofficial remixes are mixes by DJs typically uploaded by the artists themselves, but major labels choose not to upload them to music services because of rights issues. SoundCloud is one of the few services that can offer support for unofficial remixes.
In March, Apple struck a deal with Dubset, a music rights management firm that matches snippets in a DJ’s mix to a database and pays out royalties to the original rights holders. Spotify also struck a deal with Dubset, but did so in May. Spotify has also gained unofficial remixes.
The first unofficial remix is DJ Jazzy Jeff’s remix of Anderson .Paak.’s “Room in Here.” Unofficial singles are only the first step of Apple’s agreement with Dubset. TechCrunch notes that multi-song mixes that DJs use during their shows are also on the way to the service.
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Best portable projectors of 2016!
Our smartphones and tablets are fantastic devices for media consumption, but with relatively small screens, sharing content isn’t easy. That is where a nice portable projector comes in. Be it to showcase a presentation at work or school, or enjoy a movie night with friends and family, here is a roundup of some of the best portable projectors currently available!
JmGO View
The JmGO View Portable Projector first showed up on Indiegogo, with the company comfortably surpassing their $100,000 goal by raising over $256,000. The JmGO View is one of the best thought out portable projectors we’ve seen, with a design that is unlike anything else that is currently available in the market.
While its cylindrical design may seem like a bad idea at first, with it looking like it would be susceptible to rolling around, the device is paired with a magnetic stand that holds it firmly in place. The real advantage of this design is in the fact that the body of the projector unit can be tilted to any angle, allowing to find the best position for the projected image with ease. This is definitely a far better implementation than other projectors that have a set of pre-fixed angles, with the options often not exactly what you’d want.
Like the other projectors on this list, the JmGO View comes with a keystoning feature, which prevents the image from warping even when the angles aren’t perfect. However, what really makes this projector special is the fact that it is running Android 4.4.4 Kitkat. The software is heavily customized to provide a clean and simple experience when navigating through the available apps like YouTube, Netflix, and more.
Everything can be controlled with a small remote that is included, and is always a welcome addition with projectors. Videos can be loaded using a USB flash drive that can be plugged into the USB port, or via HDMI. You can also stream videos from your phone, by either using Miracast, or streaming services like Netflix.
As far as the image quality of the projector is concerned, it has been really good. It may not be the best that we’ve seen, but it certainly gets very close. It gets brighter than most portable projectors in this price range at 250 lumens, features a resolution up to 720p, and offers good color reproduction, even if the contrast could be less extreme.
A good movie watching experience is nothing without good sound, and the JmGO View is miles ahead of its competitors in this department. A large pair of speakers is found on each side of this cylindrical projector, and sound fantastic. They do not sound tinny at all, and even have a good amount of bass to them. The JmGO View is the first projector with which I haven’t found the need to plug in a pair of external speakers to have an enjoyable time, and is definitely a huge positive.
There is one final trick the JmGO View has up its sleeves, and that is its 3D video capabilities. If you have access to a 3D movie or video, you can pair the JmGO 3D glasses with the projector to enjoy an even more immersive experience.
The great picture quality, functional design, loud speakers, and 3D capabilities will come at a price though, with the JmGO View coming with a price tag of $620. If the availability of features like high-quality speakers and 3D video aren’t particularly interesting for you, there are certainly cheaper options available that offer even better picture quality. However, if these additions pique your interest, the JmGO View portable projector is worth every penny.
Sony MP-CL1
At first glance, you may mistake the Sony MP-CL1 to be a smartphone, with Sony’s classic rectangular design to be seen here. The projector is as compact as a phone, allowing you to easily slip it into your pocket. It is also quite thin and light weight, making the MP-CL1 a truly portable option.
The Sony MP-CL1 projects using laser technology, which means that it will behave a little differently. The brightness is just 32 lumens, which sounds like you would barely be able to see it. However, the human eye perceives laser projections a little brighter than your standard LED projections at the same lumen count. That being said, the projected image with the MP-CL1 is still a lot darker than the JmGO View, but bright enough to enjoy at any distance less than 40 inches away.
This projector doesn’t need to be very far away to project a huge image though, and only being 40 inches away will create a 120 inch image with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Keystoning is also available, but rather strangely, no focusing capabilities, be it automatic or via manual controls. Thanks to this being a laser based projection system however, the image always remains pretty clear, regardless of how close or far you are.
The plastic stand it comes with seems a little flimsy, but gets the job done. It can clip onto the front or back, but at a fixed position, so you may need to use some extra books or other objects to prop it up perfectly. Like most projectors, you will be able to stream media via Miracast, plug in a USB flash drive, or connect a Mini HDMI or MHL cable. There are built-in speakers available, but they are pretty weak, so you’ll be better off using the auxiliary jack to use an external pair of speakers.
There aren’t a whole lot of extras with this projector, like a remote, but if portability is key, the Sony MP-CL1 is the device for you. The price doesn’t hurt either, with the MP-CL1 currently priced at around $350.
ASUS ZenBeam E1
If a little more bang for your buck is what you’re after, the ASUS ZenBeam E1 is the portable projector for you. It is an LED based system just like the JmGO View, and even though it isn’t as bright at 150 lumens, it’s definitely much brighter than the Sony MP-CL1. The ZenBeam is compact and lightweight as well, with dimensions of 83 x 29 x 110 mm, and weighing just 307 grams. It may not be thin enough to carry around in your pocket, but is still portable enough.
There no bells and whistles here either, and it just projects an image via Miracast, HDMI, or a USB flash drive. Picture Settings are easily accessible via the menu button, and there is also a volume rocker and input selection button. There is also a physical focus dial, which is the best way to be a hundred percent accurate with the focus.
Keystoning is available as well, which is a must have feature for portable projectors, but there is no stand, making books and other objects a necessity to prop up the device to the right angle. The quality of the speakers is about the same as what you’d get with an average smartphone, but an aux port is included to let you plug in an external set of speakers.
The image quality and color reproduction are pretty nice, although darker scenes will be best viewed in a room that is pitch dark. The only problem here is that the maximum resolution is just 480p, which really limits how big the projected image will be. That is why this projector is ideally suited for activities like presentations, and watching movies isn’t going to be as enjoyable, unless you get a little closer to the wall.
This may not be the best projector out there, but given its ultra portable nature and affordable price point of just $249, the ASUS ZenBeam E1 does have its advantages.
So, there you have it for this roundup of some great portable projectors that you can get your hands on! What’s your pick from our Best portable projectors of 2016 roundup and do you plan to buy any? Let us know in the comments below!
Verizon has final say over when its Pixels get Android updates
Verizon is pretty pleased to be Google’s sole US carrier partner for the new Pixel and Pixel XL. Sure, you could order one straight from Google, but nothing sates gadget lust like being able to walk into a store and buy a thing right there. Buying a Verizon model obviously won’t be for everyone, though, and we now have a clearer understanding of how those phones will — and could — differ from the ones you can order from Google.
If you’re concerned about keeping your Pixel secure, Google has your back. A Verizon spokesperson confirmed that their Pixels will get security updates and patches at the same time as the non-Verizon versions. Not bad.
Still, it’s a little troubling that Google and Verizon have been cagey about when Verizon Pixel owners will get more substantive Android software updates. One of the best parts of using Nexus devices in the past was the understanding that they would get updates straight from Google, well before carrier-branded phones did. That practice will continue with Google’s new Pixel phones, but Verizon’s software certification process could introduce some delays into the mix. Carriers in general can take ages to test software updates, making sure they (among other things) don’t adversely affect the network. Google has pushed carriers to reduce that lag, and a Bloomberg report from earlier this year claims Verizon has trimmed its testing time by “a few weeks.”
Google has confirmed that Verizon is handling software updates for the phones it sells, so the biggest question here is one of time. Verizon wouldn’t comment on the specific update schedules for their Pixels, though a spokesperson for said the company’s goal “is to always provide software updates in a timely fashion so our customers have the best experience.” Take that however you like. Hopefully there is no gap between when Verizon and non-Verizon Pixels get those big updates, but it’s a little troubling that no one is coming out and committing to it. For now, we’ll just have to wait and hope.
At least bloatware shouldn’t be a huge issue. Verizon has said that the Pixel and Pixel XL will only have three apps — My Verizon, Verizon Messages and the Go90 streaming service — that straight-from-Google devices don’t. What’s really interesting is how they get on your phone in the first place. None of them are technically preloaded onto the phones. Instead, they’re downloaded onto the Pixels during the setup and activation process. Not at fan? You can uninstall them at will, leaving you with a mostly pure Pixel or Pixel XL to play with. That’s a surprisingly hands-off approach for a carrier that usually bars users from uninstalling Verizon apps on more heavily branded devices — the best you can typically do is disable apps you didn’t want in the first place.
Best Phone For VR
You don’t need a Vive or an Oculus Rift. A Galaxy Note 7 will do just fine.
Listen, we get it: You don’t have space for an immersive virtual reality experience like the HTC Vive, nor do you want to shell out upwards of $600 for a fancy Oculus Rift setup. Thankfully, you don’t have to—at least, not for the headset. If you’ve already got a high-end flagship in your hands from the likes of Samsung or Google, chances are it’s ready for VR.
Right now, Samsung’s Gear VR is leading the charge. It’s in households and on roller coasters. And it’s an affordable $99 for Oculus-blessed virtual reality.
Best Overall
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
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We have to pick the latest and greatest from Samsung for virtual reality. The Galaxy Note 7 launched alongside Samsung’s newly revamped Gear VR headset, which features USB-C, a responsive D-pad button on the unit, and a slightly wider field of view. The Note 7 itself comes with top of the line specifications, including a Snapdragon 820 processor and 4GB of RAM, as well as a massive 3500 mAh battery. Samsung has also been touting its Vulkan API graphics compatability precisely because it’ll make games run more smoothly, which should translate to virtual reality, too. And since it sports a giant 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display, you’ll have an easier time with a smartphone that takes up your entire field of vision. The bigger, the better!
Bottom line: If virtual reality is your main concern from your next smartphone, the Note 7 is the one to consider.
One more thing: Samsung is still in the midst of a Note 7 recall. Read up on it before hitting the buy button.
Why the Galaxy Note 7 is the best
Big, beautiful, and well-equipped for virtual reality.
The Galaxy Note 7 is the best precisely because it’s fully equipped to deal with all that virtual reality requires: a powerful processor, a capable graphics processor, and enough memory to handle rendering the visuals on screen. It’s also worth nothing that Samsung’s offers the most established virtual reality ecosystem at the moment. The company has been actively commissioning interactive games and video content for the Gear VR over the years, and it’s been pushing headsets as add-ons with every new device launch. The Gear VR will surely be around for a while, and if you’re already a Samsung user, it’s a great way to become acquainted with virtual reality.
Best battery life
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
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You need a VR machine that can keep you in the zone for a long time. The Galaxy S7 edge’s 3600 mAh battery is about two percent larger than the Note 7’s, but it lasts that much longer. Every little bit counts when you’re in a virtual reality.
Inside, the Galaxy S7 Edge is essentially the same hardware as the rest of the Galaxy family of smartphones that have launched this year. It also offers a beautiful 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display and powerful processor.
Bottom line: If you’re scared of the Note 7, try on the Galaxy S7 edge for virtual reality.
One more thing: The Galaxy S7 edge works with the second-gen Gear VR headset, too!
Best Daydream phone
Google Pixel/Pixel XL
See at Google
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We certainly couldn’t ignore the fact that Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones are the next big thing to happen to virtual reality. With its launch comes the arrival of Daydream, which is Google’s next step into virtual reality. Daydream is a comfortable alternative to Samsung’s Gear VR. It’s easy to set up, light to wear, and comes in an array of neat colors. You can read more about it here.
The Google Pixel and Pixel XL are the company’s newest smartphones. They replace the old Nexus lineup and come with some impressive specifications, including a Snapdragon 821 processor and 4GB of RAM. The biggest difference between the two are their display types. The Pixel features a 5-inch 1080p AMOLED display, while the Pixel XL comes with a 5.5-inch QuadHD AMOLED display. However, both smartphones fit inside the newly announced Daydream VR headset.
Bottom line: We haven’t reviewed them yet, but our first impressions were promising. You’d be fine if you decide to be an early adopter of Google’s new virtual reality push.
One more thing: If you’re curious to try Daydream before the Pixel lands on your doorstep, check to see if your device is already Daydream-ready.
Best Overall
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
See at AT&T
See at T-Mobile
See at Verizon
See at Sprint
See at U.S. Cellular
We have to pick the latest and greatest from Samsung for virtual reality. The Galaxy Note 7 launched alongside Samsung’s newly revamped Gear VR headset, which features USB-C, a responsive D-pad button on the unit, and a slightly wider field of view. The Note 7 itself comes with top of the line specifications, including a Snapdragon 820 processor and 4GB of RAM, as well as a massive 3500 mAh battery. Samsung has also been touting its Vulkan API graphics compatability precisely because it’ll make games run more smoothly, which should translate to virtual reality, too. And since it sports a giant 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display, you’ll have an easier time with a smartphone that takes up your entire field of vision. The bigger, the better!
Bottom line: If virtual reality is your main concern from your next smartphone, the Note 7 is the one to consider.
One more thing: Samsung is still in the midst of a Note 7 recall. Read up on it before hitting the buy button.
Best screen protectors for the Galaxy S7
What are the best screen protectors for the GS7?
The Samsung Galaxy S7 is one of the best phones of 2016. With its beautiful glass curves, you’ll want to try and protect the screen from scuffs and scratches.
Typically, we’d recommend a tempered glass screen protector — tempered glass offers the best protection for your screen. But in the case of phones like the Galaxy S7, those sexy curves cause major problems for tempered glass. The rigid glass can’t warp around the edges, meaning you’re left with less than full screen coverage, with edges that can collect dust and pocket lint. It’s just a mess you won’t want to deal with.
So instead, we’ll be recommending film screen protectors — not as tough as tempered glass, but providing much better coverage for your screen.
- Yootech Curved Edge to Edge Screen Protector 3-Pack
- Maxboost Liquid Skin Samsung Galaxy S7 Screen Protector
- IQ Shield LiQuidSkin 2-pack
Yootech Curved Edge to Edge Screen Protector 3-Pack
Yootech’s 3-pack of screen protectors provides edge-to-edge coverage for your phone with precise cutouts for the ear speaker, camera and fingerprint scanner. The kit includes everything you’ll need for installation — alcohol prep pad, squeeze card and dust removal tape.
This screen protector uses dry installation, meaning it adheres to your phone’s screen via magic! Actually, they use static electricity to cling to your phone. That means you’ll want to be quite careful during installation to be in a dust-free environment. A good tip would be to steam up your bathroom to get all the dust in the air to settle, then do the installation in there.
If you completely mess up your first installation attempt, you at least get two spares here, so you can give it another shot and still have a replacement to swap out if your first one gets too beaten up.
See at Amazon
Maxboost Liquid Skin Samsung Galaxy S7 Screen Protector
The Maxboost Liquid Skin protector includes two screen protectors for the screen — one with precise cutouts around the bits you want exposed, and the other a case-friendly option with cutouts from the edge around the top and bottom of the screen. It also includes a protector film for the back panel of your phone, because it’s made of glass to and susceptible to scratches and scuffs too!
As you may have gathered from the name, these protectors require a wet installation with the included spray bottle. You spray down the sticky side of the screen protector, place it down on your cleaned screen and adjust it until it’s just right. Then you’ll want to use the squeegee card to clear out any bubbles then leave it to dry overnight. You’ll want to be careful with it for the first few days, too, especially if you plan to slap a case on your phone too.
See at Amazon
IQ Shield LiQuidSkin 2-pack
Another wet installation option, the IQ Shield LiQuidSkin includes two screen protectors that IQ Shield claims each screen protector consists of four layers of protection. Cutting through the marketing buzzwords, these screen protectors feature a layer of TPU, will adhere well to your phone and should provide durable, transparent protection without yellowing over time.
Installation requires you to spray the adhesive side of the screen with the included spray bottle, then squeegee out the excess and any bubbles then leave it to dry for a few hours. The benefits of a wet install over a dry install include crystal clear transparency, and you’re able to adhere the protector around the curved edges better.
See at Amazon
Which screen protectors do you trust?
If the screen protector brand you use isn’t on our list, let us know in the comments!
Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge
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Really blue wallpapers for a Really Blue Pixel
Beyond silver, white, and black, we usually have few choices in phone colors.
There are golds that clash with so, so much (sorry, Jerry). There are occasionally pinks and reds that pop up months after launch. There are even sometimes greens… gorgeous, gorgeous greens. Now, blues aren’t unheard of in phone colors, but it’s rare to see one that’s this bold.
Look at that! That’s not sapphire, that’s not eggshell, that’s BLUE. Really Blue. And now, for your enjoyment and pleasure, some really blue wallpapers!
Look at this detailing! Look at the curves on this fractal! It’s clinically precise, gracefully fluid, and stunningly beautiful. Bonus: the black background of the fractal will help it pop on the Pixel’s AMOLED screen.
The Blue Flower by zmastah94
Space is really black, but this deep cerulean spacescape just makes me want to ask Google about life in the rest of the galaxy… and other galaxies. It’s frosty, it’s mysterious, it’s awesome… literally awesome.
Deep Blue by QAuZ
My Little Pony Friendship is Magic’s underappreciated Princess of the Night is a fabulous blue pony with a really blue and really sparkly mane. A guardian of dreams (and an avid gamer in fan artwork), Luna is a pony with taste and style, and she would absolutely rock the Really Blue Pixel XL, with as many games as she could load on it as possible.
The Rise of Midnight by Jamey4
Okay, Google, how many stars are in the universe?
Space is filled with stars, including a lot of blue stars, like Blue Dwarfs and Blue Giants (not to be confused with the Giants that crushed the Mets last night). While we will likely never reach out through the galaxy and see other stars and other worlds up close, that doesn’t mean we can’t reach for the stars… especially on our home screen.
Blue, Blue Sky by Esherymack
Sometimes simple really is best, and while you wait for your Really Blue Pixel to arrive, you can have a Really Blue home screen. Grab a bold icon pack and you’ve got yourself a swank little theme ready to jump to your new phone in a few weeks.
Really Blue
REVIEW: udoq corrals your gadgets with style — and a high price tag
Take it from a guy with too many phones: Finding the right charging station is well worth the effort. Striking the right mix of style and utility in a docking station can be tough — but the folks behind the cheekily-named udoq might just have found it.
It’s a machined aluminum shelf that comes in four different sizes and lets you charge smartphones, tablets, or other pocketables… and unlike much of the competition, this docking station lets you use your gadgets while they top up. But is the udoq stylish enough to justify its steep price tag?
Check out MrMobile’s udoq 400 review to find out!
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