Summer Movie Draft, Mr. Robot (209-210), Justified (308).
00:41 – Summer Movie Draft
03:48 – Mr. Robot (209-210)
25:27 – Justified (308)
Today in Tech History – September 14, 2016
1959 – After 33.5 hours of flight, Luna 2 became the first human-made object to strike the moon.
2000 – Microsoft released Windows ME. The ME stood for Millenium Edition but deserving or not, would eventually become code for a bad or unnecessary OS update.
2001 – The Nintendo GameCube went on sale in Japan. It was the first Nintendo game console that did not use cartridges.
2015 – The Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory, LIGO, detected gravitational waves of two merging black holes. It was the first direct observation of gravitational waves.
Read Tom’s science fiction and other fiction books at Merritt’s Books site.
DTNS 2855 – Project Fi’s Big In Japan
iOS 10 arrives, Samsung solves its battery problem, and Tom Merritt talks with Patrick Beja about his experience roaming on T-Mobile and Project Fi while in Japan and Korea.
Using a Screen Reader? Click here
Multiple versions (ogg, video etc.) from Archive.org.
Please SUBSCRIBE HERE.
Follow us on Soundcloud.
A special thanks to all our supporters–without you, none of this would be possible.
If you are willing to support the show or give as little as 5 cents a day on Patreon. Thank you!
Big thanks to Dan Lueders for the headlines music and Martin Bell for the opening theme!
Big thanks to Mustafa A. from thepolarcat.com for the logo!
Thanks to our mods, Kylde, TomGehrke, sebgonz and scottierowland on the subreddit
Show Notes
To read the show notes in a separate page click here!
Daily Tech Headlines – September 13, 2016
iPhone 7 bats records, Twitter ads exemptions to 140 character limit, Netflix fights data caps.
Please SUBSCRIBE HERE.
Follow us on Soundcloud.
A special thanks to all our supporters–without you, none of this would be possible.
If you are willing to support the show or give as little as 5 cents a day on Patreon. Thank you!
Big thanks to Dan Lueders for the theme music.
Big thanks to Mustafa A. from thepolarcat.com for the logo!
Thanks to our mods, Kylde, TomGehrke, sebgonz and scottierowland on the subreddit
Show Notes
To read the show notes in a separate page click here!
Your Private Driver: The Perfect Pickup
This is a weekly column that offers news, insights, analysis, and user tips for rideshare platforms like Uber and Lyft. Look for it every Monday after the live show, right here on dailytechnewsshow.com.
Since there’s no real Uber news this week and I haven’t talked to anyone who’s taken a ride in one of those fancy self-driving cars yet, I’m switching back from commentary and analysis to more tips for a better rideshare experience. One of the biggest sources of complaints for riders and anxiety for drivers is the initial pickup, the part where your driver has to find exactly where you are to get you into the car. I frequently hear complaints from riders about drivers who claim to show up and then cancel without ever being seen, and vice versa from drivers who complain that their passengers that keep them waiting around without ever making themselves known. Hopefully the advice in this article will reduce the number of these situations.
Don’t rely on the pin
Rideshare apps unfortunately make it way too easy to incorrectly enter your pickup location. An errant thumb can throw your location off by several blocks, or a mis-calibrated GPS in your phone can also cause errors. What to do?
The best solution is to manually type in your address. If you’re not sure of your exact address, you can type in the name of the store or business you’re patronizing. As long as you have the city and street right, the apps will take care of the rest.
If that doesn’t work and you just have to rely on the pin, zoom in a little on the map to make sure you’ve placed it as close to your actual location as possible. Seriously, in a busy area just having the pin on the right side of the street can make a huge difference.
Finally, it never hurts to call or text your driver to let him or her know exactly where you are, just in case. This avoids issues such as navigation apps routing drivers into back alleys when you’re at the front door, as well as other problems which I’ll get into later.
Be on time
When a driver arrives at a pickup location, a rider has five minutes to get into the vehicle (two minutes for UberPool and Lyft Line) before they risk being charged a cancellation fee. The drivers’ cut of this fee makes them significantly more money than waiting a few extra minutes for you to come to the car would, which is why many drivers will cancel and drive off instead of starting the “meter” early. The only real way to avoid this is not requesting a ride until you’re sure you can be ready to walk out the door in five minutes or less.
Special situations
Busy streets: Your driver should not have to block traffic and risk getting a ticket to pick you up. Find a safe place where your driver can at the very least pull out of the way of thru traffic. Bus stops do not count as safe places; bus drivers can be driven to irrational levels of anger by rideshare vehicles in their way.
Gated communities and apartment complexes: You’re responsible for telling your driver how to get through the gates, whether it be a key code to dial or just a message to the security guard. Failure to do this is a good way to rack up cancellation fees. Sure, some drivers will call you first and ask for instructions on how to get to you, but all of them won’t. (An example, I actually had one passenger complain about drivers constantly pulling up to her complex’s unmanned gate and cancelling after two minutes. She would text drivers that she was past the gate at the end of the street, but left no instructions on actually how anyone was supposed to get to the end of the street! I only managed to get past the gate because I lucked out and followed another resident in. Otherwise, I would’ve cancelled the ride as well.)
Shopping malls and other large places: Text your driver to let them know what store or entrance you’re waiting outside of. This could save you a long walk to the other side of the mall to find your ride. Same principle goes for beaches, parks, stadiums, arenas, and the like. Oh, and speaking of stadiums and arenas….
Special events: Taking an Uber or Lyft to sporting events and concerts is usually pretty simple, but getting back can be quite the headache if you’re not prepared. First, make sure you know where the designated rideshare pickup location is. Every venue handles this differently, so you’ll have to check with their website or social media accounts to find out this information. Secondly, BE PATIENT! Traffic at these events is always a nightmare, and your driver isn’t going to be able to get through the sea of cars that quickly. Allow some extra time for your driver to arrive. If you’re really impatient you can walk to someplace off-site and away from traffic and request a ride from there. This will not only get you a quicker ride, but may also have the benefit of avoiding some of the surge pricing that inevitably shows up at the end of just about any major event.
Sekani Wright is an experienced Uber driver working in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. If you have any questions you would like answered for this column, you can contact him at djsekani at gmail dot com, or on twitter and reddit at the username djsekani. Have a safe trip!
Today in Tech History – September 13, 2016
1983 – Osborne Computer declared bankruptcy in Oakland, California federal bankruptcy court, listing assets of $40 million, liabilities of $45 million, and 600 creditors. Two years earlier, Osborne had produced the first portable computer, the 24-pound Osborne I.
1985 – Nintendo released Super Mario Brothers in Japan. It became the best selling video game for 20 years until it was surpassed by Wii Sports.
2000 – The public beta of Apple’s Mac OS X, code named Kodiak, was released. Users had to pay $29.95 for the beta.
Read Tom’s science fiction and other fiction books at Merritt’s Books site.
Cordkillers 136 – Netflerks w/ Dan Benjamin
Netflix asks FCC to crack down on data caps, CBS All Access adds a commercial free tier, and do you still care about a new TiVo model? With special guest Dan Benjamin.
CordKillers: Ep. 136 – Netflerks
Recorded: September 12 2016
Guest: Dan Benjamin
Intro Video
Primary Target
- Netflix asks FCC to review data caps
– Netflix has filed a request with the FCC to add data caps to its annual review of telecommunications deployment (usually focuses on availability and speed)
– Netflix: “the Commission should hold that data caps on fixed-line networks and low data caps on mobile networks may unreasonably limit Internet television viewing and are inconsistent with Section 706.” - FCC changes cable box rules to please industry, gets blowback anyway
- Comcast to FCC: Your set-top box plan is illegal
– FCC modified cable set-top box rules adopting most of the suggestions from Cable industry
– original plan allowed third-party software
– Industry proposed provider-made software for linear and on-demand content only in HTML5
– FCC changed to provider software but requires recording functionality and support of non-HTML5 if used by a “widely deployed platforms, such as Roku, Apple iOS, Windows and Android.”
– operators with more than 1 million subs must comply within two years. 400K- 1 million 4 years. below 400K exempt.
– Standard license for software to be used by all operators
– Comcast to Ars: “empowers the Commission to hand over to a third party [pay-TV companies’] rights to the proprietary technologies and service that make up their apps,”
– Wheeler also wrote that all copyright and licensing agreements will remain intact, since “the delivery of pay-TV programming will continue to be overseen by pay-TV providers from end-to-end.”
– NCTA: ” “Programmers today do not pool and offer uniform rights across all platforms and uses.”
– Final vote scheduled for September 29
– SUMMARY UPSHOT: FCC will let cable companies write the software apps but require DVR functions and a single license for the software. Cablecos. are upset most about the license because they think it will threaten licensing deals for shows.”
Signal Intelligence
- CBS All Access commercial-free option costs $4 more a month
– CBS All Access – exclusive future home of Star Trek: Discovery in the US — will offer a commercial free version of the service for $10 a month
– Current offer is $6 a month
– Also coming to Xbox One
– SUMMARY UPSHOT: CBS first big service after Hulu to offer a commercial-free tier.
Gear Up
- New TiVo Bolt+
- TiVo’s new interface will cut down on channel surfing
- TiVo is working on a network DVR that’ll broadcast to your non-TVs
– Rovi completed takeover of TiVo
– New TiVo interface
– Centered around surfacing what you want to watch rather than just showing everything that’s on.
– FCC filing from TiVo describes a networked OTA DVR similar to Tablo or simple.tv (codenamed Mantis)
– HOWEVER – Today TiVo announced an update to the Bolt, called the Bolt+ for $499 (+$200 over orig)
– Can record up to 6 channels at once (2 more than orig)
– 3TB hard drive (vs. 1 TB orig)
– Glossy black
– No HDR yet could come in update. (does do 4K just like original Bolt)
– On sale Thursday Sept. 15
Under Surveillance
- Ron Howard Puts a Family on Mars in First Trailer
– A trailer is out for a NatGeo series called Mars from Ron Howard and Brian Grazer. The six-part series weaves a scripted drama about the first Mars mission in 2033 with doc-style interviews about the reality of such a mission. Mars premieres in 171 countries in November. (Thx Kristi Kates!) - Trailer for Netlix’s sci-fi movie, ARQ
– And a Trailer out for Netflix SciFi movie ARQ about a man who gets shot and wakes up remembering the future. Very Edge of Tomorrow.Coming September 16. - HBO has plotted out at least five seasons for its sci-fi drama Westworld
– HBO’s Westworld halted production last fall because they wanted the writers to lay out at least five seasons worth of episodes. Westwolrd Premiers October 2 - Justin Timberlake’s concert film debuts on Netflix October 12th
– Justin Timberlake’s concert film debuts on Netflix October 12th. Justin Timberlake and The Tennessee Kids, the title is the performance from the Las Vegas stop of the singer’s 20/20 Experience Tour. - Netflix confirms Stranger Things season two for 2017
- Netflix confirms new ‘Narcos’ seasons
- Netflix orders a series from ‘Mythbusters’ veterans
– Netflix has ordered White Rabbit Project from former Mythbusters Kari Byron, Grant Imahara and Tory Belleci who will investigate strange topics using science. Coming December 9th. - Hulu’s ‘Future Man’ is a gamer’s dream-turned TV show
– Hulu has a 13-episode comedy series called Future Man starring Josh Hutcherson (Peeta in Hunger Games) as janitor/dejected gamer recruited by mysterious visitors to save humanity. Includes Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg as producers. Coming in 2017 - Bill Nye is getting a talk show on Netflix
– Netflix will launch a talk show called Bill Nye Saves the World next year. “Each episode will tackle a topic from a scientific point of view, dispelling myths, and refuting anti-scientific claims.” Tonight Show’s Mike Drucker is head writer and Phil Plait is head science writer. - Brian: Mr. Robot (209, 210), Justified (308 only), Narcos 201-205
- Tom: Justified (308, 309), Mr. Robot (209, 210), X-Men Apocalypse, Hitchcock
- Dan: Netflix Chef’s Table, The Good Wife, Mr. Robot
- On the Lookout: Expedition Overland
Front Lines
- Amazon Said to Seek Sports Video Rights From Tennis to Rugby
– Bloomberg’s sources tell it Amazon is looking into buying the rights to live sporting events. Tennis, rugby, golf, soccer and auto racing are among the sports named. They might also look to add sports networks as add-ons. Amazon hired a former Sports Illustrated exec James DeLorenzo and former YouTube exec Charlie Neiman to build partnerships with sports companies. - Time Inc. readies streaming TV network
– Time Inc. will launch its first streaming network Tuesday called People/Entertainment Weekly Network or PEN. The free ad-supported network will launch on Roku, Amazon, Fire TV, Apple TV and Chromecast with 50 hours of existing programming and 15 original series coming in the year. - PlayStation 4 will play Netflix and YouTube videos in HDR
– Sony announced new PlayStation models last week. The new PS Pro will be able to play 4K videos from Netflix and all PS4 models will get an update to allow HDR videos from the services. - Sony Bravia TVs to lose YouTube access
– After September 30, Sony Bravia TVs from before 2012 will no longer be able to play YouTube. According to Sony, YouTube is exceeding the capability of the older hardware, likely a reference to encrypted connections. - Sling TV’s streaming service for cord cutters hits Windows 10
– Sling TV added the Pac-12 network to its sports package and Starz as a $9 a month add-on. Sling TV also launched a Winodws 10 app. - Fire TV and Fire TV Stick updated with better voice search, personalized recommendations from HBO & Netflix
– The latest Fire TV update integrates search across 75 apps. Roku claims 25 and Apple says 30. So the race for cross-app search continues.
Dispatches from the Front
Hey guys,
Just listened to this past week’s show and wanted to add some points about your experiences with NBCs coverage of the Olympics.
Admittingly, I tend to live in the NBCSN app for most of the year because they have exclusive rights to English Premier League soccer, but I found that the NBCSN app did most of the things you were saying they should for the Olympics.
The app on my phone updated and added the Olympic rings in the icon. When I opened it, it gave me the chance to select Olympic events, athletes and/or countries I wanted to track.
Then I would receive live notifications each day telling me when an important event was about to start and give me the option to just click on it to go to the live stream and watch.
I would get what seemed like at least a dozen notifications a day that included my preferences and other random events it considered note worthy (so for example “Watch the world’s fastest man Usain Bolt run in the 200m semi.” And so on)
One complaint though is that most events tended to be a raw feed. If it made the primetime broadcast, that would be when you would get the actual commentary or special athlete profile segments. During the day, if it was not something broadcast on live TV it was just the event with sounds from the venue.
Aside from the Olympic stuff…wanted to offer a tip for Premier League fans. All games are broadcast on TV, but depending on the cable company some games are in SD. However in the app, all games are HD. There is also a RedZone like, app only channel called Goal Rush. This shows the game of the day live and cuts to big plays and goals in all of the games. Definitely great if you have a fantasy team.
Cheers!
– Byron NYC
Hey Tom and Brian,
Wanted to throw a quick comment (non-advertising related) regarding your discussion on The Departed. The movie, despite being often as “original” or a “masterpiece”, is not original. The movie itself is a remake of the 2002 award-winning film “Infernal Affairs” from Hong Kong (the true “original” has a prequel and sequel as well, of which portions were incorporated in the American remake). I don’t believe it’s on Netflix though it’s available for rent and purchase on Amazon.
Best,
– Derrick
Hey Cord Killers,
What would be the best way to watch The CW without cable? I’ve used the Xbox app but it’s not that great, & the app has adds. Would you recommend buying an HD antenna, or buying season passes for the DC TV shows on Amazon?
If antenna is the better route, what brand would you recommend?
Thanks,
– Zach
Hey guys,
You keep saying that Netflix has the new star trek discovery show for everywhere but the US…well you forgot about Canada. Bell Media outbid Netflix, will air the premiere on CTV and then the rest on the SPACE channel. Which you need cable for!!
They say it may be available “later” for streaming. Space also got the entire star trek back catalogue that will just air…on cable…not streaming
Man…Bell sucks.
– Joel
Hey Brian and Tom,
On your recent discussion of how to retain your in country Netflix experience while traveling, my solution has been to use a VPN tied to my home router. I run Tomato on my Asus router (because I’m a geek) but I’m wondering if the router vendors are starting to include VPN software as well. I had no issues traveling to Europe or South America and keeping my home version of Netflix.
Granted, roll your own VPN is probably more complicated than most are interested messing with, but the router vendors might have an opportunity to differentiate their product for the globetrotting public.
– Bryan
Links
DTNS 2854 – Samsung Is On The Note-Fly List
The XOXO conference won’t be coming back next year. Veronica Belmont attended and talks with Tom Merritt about what makes it special and how its independent Web spirit can live on.
Using a Screen Reader? Click here
Multiple versions (ogg, video etc.) from Archive.org.
Please SUBSCRIBE HERE.
Follow us on Soundcloud.
A special thanks to all our supporters–without you, none of this would be possible.
If you are willing to support the show or give as little as 5 cents a day on Patreon. Thank you!
Big thanks to Dan Lueders for the headlines music and Martin Bell for the opening theme!
Big thanks to Mustafa A. from thepolarcat.com for the logo!
Thanks to our mods, Kylde, TomGehrke, sebgonz and scottierowland on the subreddit
Show Notes
To read the show notes in a separate page click here!
Daily Tech Headlines – September 12, 2016
Ford buys Chariot, Amazon wants to stream sports, and vDOS goes dark.
Please SUBSCRIBE HERE.
Follow us on Soundcloud.
A special thanks to all our supporters–without you, none of this would be possible.
If you are willing to support the show or give as little as 5 cents a day on Patreon. Thank you!
Big thanks to Dan Lueders for the theme music.
Big thanks to Mustafa A. from thepolarcat.com for the logo!
Thanks to our mods, Kylde, TomGehrke, sebgonz and scottierowland on the subreddit
Show Notes
To read the show notes in a separate page click here!
Today in Tech History – September 12, 2016
1962 – US President John F. Kennedy delivered a speech at the stadium of Rice University, declaring “We choose to go to the moon.” Many consider the speech the beginning of the space race.
1985 – Steve Jobs announced to the Apple board that he would resign. Jobs said, “I’ve been thinking a lot, and it’s time for me to get on with my life. It’s obvious that I’ve got to do something. I’m 30 years old.”
1994 – Mosaic Communications introduced its first software, the Mosaic NetScape network navigator and the Mosaic Netsite server line.
Read Tom’s science fiction and other fiction books at Merritt’s Books site.