Oculus founder Palmer Luckey secretly funds pro-Trump ‘meme magic’
Just in case you were wondering what Palmer Luckey does with all that Facebook money, a The Daily Beast article reveals what he’s been up to lately. The outlet says Luckey confirmed he is behind the Reddit pseudonym “NimbleRichMan,” providing financial backing to an organization claiming it’s proven that “shitposting is powerful and meme magic is real.” The Reddit profile has been deleted, but the group’s original announcement is archived here.
Dubbed Nimble America, it’s a pro-Trump organization spreading anti-Hillary Clinton memes, calling the Democratic candidate “corrupt, a warmonger, a freedom-stripper,” claiming that people will only be offended because they hate Trump and can’t stand to see successful people. Luckey’s liaison with the organization is apparently none other than Milo Yiannopolis. He’s the individual last seen being banned from Twitter after the spate of racist harassment that targeted actress Leslie Jones, and facing accusations that his charity to send white men to college had not actually distributed any of the funds donated to it.
This is a message from @PalmerLuckey, the founder of @Oculus. pic.twitter.com/CWlAA8ugMx
— Cody Brown (@CodyBrown) September 23, 2016
Facebook/Oculus confirmed to Engadget that Luckey is still employed by Oculus, in a role that Wired UK recently called “hard to define”. NRM claimed to support Trump’s presidential ambitions for years and said he urged the the billionaire to run in the last election, which seems odd given Luckey’s age (24) and that the company’s $2 billion sale didn’t occur until 2014.
Even in the friendly arena of the r/The_Donald subreddit (described cheerfully as a “melting pot of frustration and hate”, Nimble America apparently had trouble making its pitch with Luckey playing the role of anonymous benefactor offering matching funds to spread more memes. Posters were highly skeptical of the group, calling it a “non existent PAC” that exists because Milo and his crew are greedy. Now that his support is out in the open, we’ll see if it affects the reception of his memes and his Oculus VR headset.
Source: The Daily Beast, Nimble America
‘League of Legends’ owners open up revenue streams to pro teams
“We recognize that the current ecosystem isn’t consistently profitable yet for team owners or for the league.”
That’s how Riot Games’ directors of eSports Jarred “Bradmore” Kennedy and Whalen “Magus” Rozelle laid out the studio’s plans to funnel more money to professional League of Legends teams in 2017. The changes come after four years of explosive growth across the eSports industry, with League of Legends leading the charge, but it also follows a public spat between coaches and founders about the game’s booming economy.
First, the changes: In a blog post today, Bradmore and Magus detailed plans to share revenue with players and teams, starting with changes to the in-game economy. Beginning with this year’s World Championship tournament in October, Riot will share 25 percent of the revenue it earns from selling Championship skins with the winning players, team and league. (Championship skins are in-game outfits and animations inspired by the winning team, after all). The revenue share will be valid for one year. Riot will also retroactively share revenue with previously victorious players, teams and leagues.
In 2017, teams will be able to receive more revenue from sales of in-game goods, including branded items and eSports promotions. However, to address the immediate need for more money across all 13 leagues, each league will set aside a guaranteed minimum for each of its teams in 2017.
“For example, the EU LCS will have a minimum revenue amount of €100,000 per team for the full season, of which 50 percent will go to players as supplemental income on top of their existing salaries,” the post says.
Starting now, 25 percent of the revenue from all sales of Championship skins and wards will go directly to the Worlds prize pool. The 2016 World Championship Finals’ prize pool starts at a standard $2 million, with $1 million provided to the winning team.
“For context, had this been applied last year, it would have more than doubled the prize pool,” the blog post reads. Additionally, 25 percent of Challenger skin sales will be added to the prize pool at MSI, a high-profile mid-season tournament.
These changes follow a public argument over Riot’s financial acumen and its regular release of major, game-altering updates. Andy “Reginald” Dinh, the owner of North American League of Legends team TSM, recently said in an interview with theScore esports that Riot’s habit of constantly changing the game led to player burnout and made it nearly impossible to properly train. He also noted that it was difficult to secure revenue and investors with such a chaotic foundation. Riot Games co-founder Mark “Tryndamere” Merrill answered these claims in a Reddit post that accused Reginald of mishandling his own finances, to put it lightly.
Source: League of Legends
Samsung already exchanged half of recalled Galaxy Note 7s
A lot of Note 7 owners don’t have to sleep with one eye open anymore, according to Samsung’s latest press release. The company says it has already exchanged half of the Galaxy Note 7s sold in the US that had been turned in through its voluntary recall program. Further, 90 percent of the people who went in for the recall apparently asked for replacement Note 7s, which were released on September 21st, instead of getting another model. Samsung made sure those replacement devices are safe, but if you want to know if you really got one that won’t blow up, check its battery indicator. The safe Note 7s have green battery indicators, though you might have to download a software update to change its hue.
Unfortunately, Samsung didn’t reveal the state of the recall program for other countries. While the device’s battery issue only affects a small number of phones, the recall program will have to deal with 2.5 million phones overall. It doesn’t want to hear about more cases of devices overheating and setting skin and things on fire, after all. If you haven’t exchanged your device yet, get in touch with Samsung or your carrier ASAP wherever you are in the world.
Source: Samsung
Google opens Daydream VR platform to developers
From its debut at Google I/O, Daydream seemed like a much more ambitious smartphone-based VR software platform than the earlier Cardboard system. The countdown clock for the former’s public release began after a Bloomberg article back in August hinted at its imminent launch. While we’re still waiting for the first Daydream phones to come out in fall, Google’s VR SDK version 1.0 supporting it has officially left beta and is available to download on their developer site.
If you want to get your app out on launch day, you’ll want to apply for the Daydream Access Program: It seems Google is carefully controlling what will be available when the platform goes live. The VR SDK supports both the Cardboard API and the more complex Daydream one, which includes the platform’s proprietary controller. Google partnered with Unity and Unreal to get native integration, with all the binaries and plugins available through their developer blog post.
But how, you ask, will prospective programmers be able to tinker with their apps before “Daydream-ready” phones are released in the next few months? The only one approved to handle the SDK is the Nexus 6P, but it’s not a perfect fix. Expect the device to run very hot and “thermally throttle CPU and GPU performance after a short period of use, depending on workload,” according to Google’s developer kit setup.
Source: Google VR developers blog
Japan’s LED basketball court looks like a Skrillex fever dream
Japan and high-tech go hand in hand, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that its newest basketball court follows that theme to a tee. The hardwood LED court surface is the world’s first to be used in professional league play, according to Japanese publication 47 News (Japanese). That makes it a bit different from Nike’s similar practice court in Shanghai from a few years back. As you can see from the tweets embedded below — spotted by Kotaku — the production is pretty nuts. Going all out for the halftime show might be expected, but even the pre-game run is crazy, with pyro, strobe lights and more. Good game, Yoyogi National Gymnasium.
コートがLEDになっとる！ pic.twitter.com/j9k6W06oga
— 井手康博（ニューワールド） (@yasuide) September 22, 2016
超満員のBリーグ開幕戦、演出とLEDコートがとにかくすごい。
こんな環境でバスケの試合が行われてるのを観れて嬉しい🙌#Bリーグ #開幕戦 pic.twitter.com/uFuT26bYtW— Kento (@kentobento77) September 22, 2016
LEDビジョンコートやばすぎww pic.twitter.com/OvuHwLh0FL
— しゅう (@baskeone1) September 22, 2016
Via: Kotaku
Source: 47News (Japanese)
Drone surfing is here! This drone is so powerful it tows people on water
Drone surfing is a thing now.
What’s that even mean? Well, watch the video below to see a person riding the waves while tethered to a high-powered drone from Washington-based drone manufacturer Freefly Studios. It has made an $18,000 drone that can tow people across an ocean. The company claimed its new ALTA 8 model is capable of doing up to four tows per battery pack, and each tow lasts about 30 seconds.
Freefly, which has a decade of experience in the professional cinematography industry, recently started developing innovative aerial products to meet the needs of cinema professionals, and the ALTA 8 is its latest offering. During development, the drone went through a tonne of component and system-level tests designed to make sure it passed strict quality control levels.
The ALTA 8 is water-resistant, Freefly said, as it features a lightweight molded-plastic enclosure that covers and protects the flight control and power distribution board from outdoor elements. And with impressive 18-inch props and an optimised propulsion system, the drone’s lightweight carbon fiber frame is sturdy enough to carry heavy payloads (see the chart below).
Freefly’s site has more details on the drone. If you have plenty of cash to spare, like to dabble in drone videography, and consider yourself a skilled surfer or water skier, then this is the machine for you.
New version of Minecraft that’s just for learning will launch 1 November
Minecraft isn’t just a block-based game. It’s also a learning tool.
Seriously. Educators have been using a version of Minecraft for the classroom, called MinecraftEdu, since 2011 in more than 40 countries to help teach all types of subjects, from math and physics to history and language arts. Students who use it are able to develop skills in collaboration, problem solving, communication, digital citizenship, and more.
Well, when Microsoft bought developer Mojang and Minecraft for $2.5 billion in 2014, it also acquired MinecraftEdu. The company has been retooling and rebranding MinecraftEdu and plans to officially launch it as a new title on 1 November. Called Minecraft: Education Edition, it will feature enhanced maps with a coordinate system to help teachers and students navigate together.
“We’re announcing Minecraft: Education Edition. Of course, every Minecraft player learns essential life-skills like tree-punching and good Creeper-defence but, when used in the right way, Minecraft can help people around the world to learn lots more,” explained Mojang in a blog post from earlier this year, when it first announced the title would launch in beta this summer.
After a summer of test runs, the full version of Minecraft: Education Edition is almost ready to go live. When it does, the service will cost $5 a membership per user. The beta, called Early Access edition, is still free until November. The MinecraftEdu team said over 35,000 students and teachers around the world have been testing the service sin beta since the beginning of the summer.
The official consumer release will require OS X El Capitan or Windows 10, plus a free Office 365 account to use. You can see a list of standout features from the Minecraft Education site. Also, that site offers starter worlds, tutorials, and free lesson plans in subjects.
Watch the trailer video below to see what else makes this classroom-geared version of Minecraft unique and ideal for learning. Oh, and Microsoft said all existing MinecraftEdu customers will get the first year of free of charge.
The Complete NES Bluetooth Controller Kit gives your mobile gaming a retro edge (16 per cent off)
It’s been decades since their release, and gaming on the NES is still going strong. While true gamers never outgrow the classics, Bluetooth technology has made wires obsolete.
Now, you can finally make your retro gaming wireless thanks to The Complete NES Bluetooth Controller Kit, now on sale for just £37.79 ($49.99 USD).
Here’s one big feature: use the included Xtander to connect your controller to your smartphone, and play all your mobile games with retro style. You can also plug in the included Retro Receiver into your NES console, and you’re ready to start gaming wirelessly.
On top of that, the Retro Receiver is compatible with PS3, PS4, Wiimote, and Wii U Pro, so you can utilize your controller on your favorite consoles. With wires finally out of the picture, you won’t have to waste precious time untangling your controllers from one another.
And the controller’s generous Bluetooth range, you can game without having to set your console up in front of the couch. Finally, you have a way to play through Super Mario Kart and Contra without accidentally yanking out your controller. And the controller comes with a built-in CPU and FLASH memory chip for upgradeable firmware.
The SNE/NES Bluetooth Controller & Retro Receiver Set normally retails for £44.60, but Pocket-lint readers can get it for a special discount. For a limited time, the SNE/NES Bluetooth Controller & Retro Receiver Set is on sale for only £37.79.
The CompTIA Core Certification Bundle can boost your job-hunting prospects (95 per cent off)
While experience helps, moving up in the tech world sometimes requires having a certification or two under your belt. Of course, not all certifications are created equal, and few carry as much weight as one from CompTIA.
Whether you’re looking to break into network administration or land a role in cybersecurity, the CompTIA Core Certification Bundle can get you there. On sale for only £37.02 ($49 USD), this course bundle will prepare you to ace several CompTIA certification exams in hardware, network security, and administration.
Here are some course highlights:
- CompTIA A+ Certification Prep: The A+ is a comprehensive and vendor-neutral certification that covers the most popular hardware and software used in business as well as IT infrastructures. This course will teach you how to install, maintain, and troubleshoot each of these components.
- CompTIA Security+ Study Guide: A Security+ certification demonstrates an individual’s expertise with infrastructure security, cryptography, and other elements essential to safeguarding networks from attack. If you’re looking to pursue a career in network security, this is the certification you need.
- CompTIA Network+ Study Guide: This course covers CompTIA’s Network+ N10-006 certification, an industry-leader for network administration and support. With this course, you’ll master the hardware and software critical to keeping networks up and running.
Regardless of your experience level, the CompTIA Core Certification Bundle is a solid pick for anyone looking to climb the tech career ladder. Retailing £782, this course bundle is on sale to Pocket-lint readers for only £37.02, taking over 90 per cent off its retail price.
Deezer’s family streaming plan is now available across Europe
Like most streaming services, music or otherwise, Deezer has a family plan that offers enough individual accounts to cover your whole household for a significantly discounted price. This particular subscription option, however, was previously exclusive to users in France and T-Mobile customers in the Netherlands, but as of today, it’s now available throughout Europe — apart from in Sweden, for whatever reason. For €15 or £15 per month, the family plan gets you six separate Premium+ accounts (€10/£10 on their own), each of which can be used across three devices.
Compared to Deezer’s free tier, a Premium+ account lets you listen to all of the service’s 40 million tracks in the highest quality on any device, as well as offline and without ads interrupting your session. The main benefit of the family plan, though, is that all members can build their own playlists and train Deezer’s various personalization and recommendation features without tainting each other’s accounts. That being said, subscribers do get a special “family mix” so parents can pretend they’re down with the kids, and the kids can hear what real music sounds like.
Despite Deezer recently launching in the US, finally entering the major market it had been notably absent from, the family plan isn’t available in the region yet, with no word as to when it might be.
Source: Deezer
