Netflix Offers Selectable Stream Quality on Cells; Periscope Tests Save Feature
Posted: May 5, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: #save, AT&T, Cellular, Facebook Live Video, Live Stream, Netflix, Periscope, Quality, streaming, Verizon, Vimeo, YouTube Leave a commentLast month, it was revealed that Netflix was quietly throttling video quality over Verizon and AT&T cellular systems. Since the word got out, theverge.com says Netflix has responded by offering users the choice of upping the quality and gobbling up more data…and the inevitable hit to your cell bill…or staying with a lower quality and saving a few bucks on your cell bill. You have to dig through the settings to find it, and the default is set to automatic. The app jumps back to higher quality automatically whenever you’re on Wi-Fi. It’s activated as of now.
Periscope is beta testing a feature to save your live streams. Up to now, they only save for 24 hours, but in the beta, you can save them indefinitely by putting hashtag save (#save) in the title. Up to now, you had to save the video to your camera roll, then upload it to YouTube or Vimeo. Thenextweb.com reports that the feature is partly because Facebook live saves closed streams on your timeline unless you delete them.
Amazon Prime Adding Monthly Subscriptions; GoPro Rolling Out VR Camera
Posted: April 18, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon Prime, Facebook, GoPro, GoPro Odyssey, GoPro Omni, Hero4, Monthly subscription, Netflix, Prime Video, Virtual Reality, VR Leave a commentAmazon Prime has been $99, and if you get a lot of stuff from them, it’s a bargain in just the saved shipping, let alone Prime Video. Now, gizmodo.com reports that Amazon is offering Prime for $11 a month, and you can get just Prime Video for $9 a month…undercutting Netflix by a buck. The new pricing is available now.
On the heels of Facebook’s $30,000+ insane virtual reality camera that you’ll have to make yourself, GoPro has launched one you can buy from them for $4999. GoPro’s Omni only has 6 cameras….6 Hero4’s…compared to Facebook’s 17, but GoPro says the rig will capture up to 8K video. It’s available for pre-order at their website now. They have also introduced GoPro VR a website and app for iOS and Android to show off VR content and allow for sharing it. Mashable.com says GoPro will continue to offer its high end 16 camera GoPro Odyssey model for 16 grand.
Netflix From Outside Your Country Going Away; 300 Hyatts Hit By C-Card Skimmers
Posted: January 15, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Credit card skimming, Hyatt, Netflix, Proxy, VPN Leave a commentIf you’ve been catching up on Netflix shows while traveling abroad, you’re about to get a rude surprise. 9to5mac.com reports that Netflix is going to start blocking proxies in the coming weeks. That means users tunneling in with proxy apps like VPN Unlimited will be out of luck. Netflix indicates the content owners are pressing them to do so. Many of the agreements are based on the old fashioned system where content providers sold to local TV networks, and so don’t cover other countries.
Hyatt said last year that malware had been found in its systems that could grab credit card names, numbers, verification codes, and expiration dates. This went on between August 13th and December 8th, according to engadget.com. Most of the skimming took place at restaurants in Hyatt hotels, but now we find it affected over 300 Hyatt locations! Hyatt claims it has upped security, and has the infected locations listed on its website, but check your credit card bills if you stayed at a Hyatt between August and December!
Virtual Reality Headset from Samsung & Oculus Here; Volvo & Microsoft Team for VR Car Shopping
Posted: November 20, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Hololens, Microsoft, Netflix, Oculus, Samsung, Virtual Reality, Volvo, VR Leave a commentWe’re about to get a real feel for how fast virtual reality will catch on. Samsung and Facebook’s Oculus VR division are dropping the Gear VR headset for $99.99. Cnet.com notes that it basically lets you strap a samsung smartphone to your head. It debuts with a Netflix app, and over 100 other apps and games, to offer what Oculus is calling ‘bottomless content.’ Apps on the special app store will go for $1.99 to $9.99.
In a more specialized…and maybe long term use of virtual realty…Volvo has partnered with Microsoft on a HoloLens based virtual car shopping experience. Geekwire.com reports they are testing out sitting in your living room, office, or wherever, strapping on the VR headset, and checking out and configuring car models. One touch in midair, and you change the color…another the interior, and so on. You can rotate the model on the table in front of you, then gesture and poof….it’s full size, and sitting on a rotating platform across the room. Volvo expects to have the HoloLens based system available to customers next year.
Apple Eyes Jumping into Producing Original Programming
Posted: September 1, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, Apple, Lyft, Netflix, Original programming, Sharing economy, Top Gear, TV, Uber, Unions Leave a commentAs they showed when they came out with the iPod years ago, somewhat late to the mp3 player party, only to dominate that category, and later did with smartphones, Apple is eyeing getting into producing original programming. According to bgr.com, the Cupertino colossus has held early talks with Hollywood execs. It’s not known if they are looking to do TV series, movies, or both. What is known is that they’d be muscling in on the likes of Netflix and Amazon. Apparently, Apple bid on picking up the ‘Top Gear’ stars when they left BBC, but Amazon won the day, and Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richarad Hammond will be doing an automotive show for them. Some speculate at this point that Apple may build its own content capabilities, or even buy a studio outright.
Lately, radio commercials have been promoting Uber, and have featured people who drive for them singing the virtues of the flexible working conditions offered by being a contractor. A report in geekwire.com may point to why. A Seattle council member has introduced legislation that would let Uber, Lyft, and cab drivers unionize….gasp! That thought alone has sent chills through the so-called ‘sharing economy.’ The plan would allow drivers taking part in a minimum of trips to join a driver representative organization, and negotiate to make the $15 an hour Seattle minimum wage, plus other benefits.
Netflix On Track To Be Bigger Than The Combined Broadcast Networks
Posted: June 26, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: ABC, Apple, Applecare, Battery life, Broadcast networks, CBS, FOX, NBC, Netflix, streaming Leave a commentNetflix is on a roll, and heading towards eclipsing ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox. Bgr.com reports that in the first 3 months of 2015, they added 4.9 million new subscribers, bringing the total to 62.3 million. According to a research report from FBR Capital Markets, the 10 billion hours of content streamed over Netflix right now would be like having a Nielsen 24 hour rating of 2.6…that puts Netflix on the level with ABC and NBC right now. If their growth rate continues, by next year, Netflix will pass up all the broadcast networks combined!
Apple has updated the terms of its AppleCare+ Protection Plan for iPhone, iPad, iPod and Apple Watch to cover batteries that retain less than 80% of their original capacity within the extended warranty period. Macrumors.com says before now it only covered batteries that held less than 50% of their original capacity. The change applies to AppleCare+ purchased for iPhone, iPad, iPod and all Apple Watch models on April 9th, 2015 or later.
HP Jumps In To The Giant Tablet Market
Posted: January 20, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Facebook, HP, Hulu Plus, iPad, Marriott, Messenger, Netflix, Pandora Leave a commentWith a possible giant iPad widely rumored, HP jumped in with a 12.3 inch Android tablet. The verge.com says it looks like a giant HTC One M8, but does match iPad’s screen resolution. It starts at $569, with a 7.9 inch model setting you back $449.
Marriott is testing offering Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Pandora directly through the TVs in their rooms. Androidcentral.com reports that the services will end up being tacked on as a ‘premium’ internet tier.
Gigaom.com reports that Facebook is testing voice to text in their Messenger app. Facebook is a little late to the party with this, but hopes to add features to grow its Messenger app active user base.
Privacy Based App Store Coming
Posted: December 10, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Amazon, apps, Blackphone, Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Netflix, original series, Privacy, PrivatOS, Spaces Leave a commentThe ultra-secure Blackphone is getting its own privacy-focused app marketplace. Bgr.com says it’s called Spaces, and will roll out with a major system update to the PrivatOS early next year.
People who love their Netflix and especially binge watching series will be cheered about this…the verge.com reports that over the next 5 years, the streaming content provider plans to have 20 original series running!
Amazon’s Fire TV and Fire TV Stick can now run web apps. Techcrunch.com says as an incentive to lure app developers, Amazon is allowing them to make money from their apps on Amazon.
Samsung Gear VR Virtual Reality Headset
Posted: December 8, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Encore Mini, Galaxy Gear VR, Microsoft, Netflix, Note 4, Samsung, Toshiba, Tweet, Virtual Reality Leave a commentBecause actual reality is never enough, Samsung’s Gear VR virtual reality headset is now on sale for $199. The verge.com says you can pick it up through Samsung’s US sites or AT&T. It fits around the Galaxy Note 4, making it a mobile VR display.
Microsoft is ringing in the 12 days of holiday deals with a $79 Toshiba tablet. According to CNET.com, that’s $20 off for the Encore Mini Windows 8.1 tablet…cheap enough for gifting to a youngster.
As if you weren’t addicted enough to Netflix, and binge watching, bgr.com reports that they have new features in the works. Upcoming series have a Tweet Me a Reminder button…the first one is ‘Marco Polo,’ which premieres December 12th.
clarkreid 
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