How Hundred Eyes almost made Tom like Marco Polo, Vic Mackie’s life gets even more complicated, watch Hacking the System, it rocks.
02:24 – Marco Polo
13:48 – The Shield
21:40 – Hacking the System
Today in Tech History – Jan. 28, 2015
In 1878 – The first commercial telephone exchange in the U.S. was installed at New Haven, Connecticut, and served 21 subscribers connected by a single strand of iron wire. Only two conversations could be handled simultaneously and six connections had to be made for each call.
In 1960 – The Communications Moon Relay System was inaugurated publicly when a facsimile picture of the USS Hancock was transmitted wirelessly by radio wave to Washington DC, by being bounced off the moon.
In 1986 – The Space Shuttle Challenger experienced an O-ring failure in the right solid rocket booster during flight. 73 seconds after liftoff a catastrophic explosion claimed crew and vehicle.
In 2001 – The Baltimore Ravens and the New York Giants faced off in Tampa Bay, Florida, for Super Bowl XXXV, and facial-recognition surveillance cameras pointed at tens of thousands of fans entering the game. It found 12 false positives.
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S&L Podcast – #203 – Myke Cole’s Secret Unicorn
We welcome back the amazing Myke Cole to talk about how he finds time to write great books, fight crime, and decorate his apartment with even more books. We also pressure him into a startling revelation about unicorns. And of course, talk to him about his new book, Gemini Cell: A Shadow Ops Novel which is out now!
DTNS 2416 – Don’t Drink and Drone
Patrick Beja and Justin Young are on to talk about Twitter getting group messaging, SnapChat getting news and Wickr getting cat steganography.
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Show Notes
Cordkillers 55 – People Say Things
We get a review of Sling TV from an early user, Tom reviews Vessel’s private beta and Netflix conquers the world.
CordKillers: Ep. 55 – People Say Things
Recorded: January 26, 2015
Guests: Luke Bouma, Andrew Zarian
Intro Video
Primary Target
- Dish’s Sling TV Begins Inviting Users To Test Out Its $20/Month Streaming Video Service
-SlingTV invites will start going out Tuesday at midnight to pre-registered users.
– Sent out on a rolling basis as the service scales up and prepares for a general market launch. - Hands-on review of Sling TV
-On Roku, Android and G-Box. Also new details of the upcoming sports package - Jason Kilar’s Vessel Opens An Invite-Only Beta Of Its Subscription Video Service
-Vessel opened up to Private Beta
– First month free then $2.99 a month.
– Web, iOS and Android coming soon.
– Invites to test being sent out. Gradually open to more viewers over time.
– Tom got invited into Vessel last night and played around a bit
Signal Intelligence
- Netflix gets boost from strong international growth
- How Netflix wants to end Geoblocking
- In Netflix China push, domestic tech giants, online habits block path to success
- Netflix Beats Forecast for Subscriber Growth in Quarter
- Netflix will produce four movies from the brothers behind HBO’s Togetherness
-Netflix earnings
– 2.4 million new int’l subs. 1.9 million US subs.
– Plans to complete global expansion over next two years. AUS and NZ in March
– exploring options for “small service” in China
– Expects to add 1.8 million US and 2.25 milion int’l in Q1
– Said it will get users to stop using VPNs by signing more global deals making VPN unnecessary
Gear Up
- Plex Arrives On PS4 And PS3 In The U.S And Canada Today
- The First Hobbit Fan-Edit Cuts The Trilogy In Half
Front Lines
- Will HBO on the Web Pull the Plug on Pay TV? Survey Says: Yep!
–Research firm Parks Associates surveyed Internet users and asked them if they would sign up for HBO’s Web version of the service in the US. About half of those who said yes who also had pay tv said they will cancel their pay TV subscription once they get HBO becomes over the Web. If that percentage holds that would be about 6.8 million people who say they would cancel pay TV once they can get HBO on the Net. People say a lot of things. - GoPro will deliver live, up-close brutality from the NHL
–This past weekend the partnership of GoPro and Vislink to live stream video bore fruit as GoPro became an official partner of the NHL. Players and mascots strapped GoPros to themselves during the all-star game skills competition and the game itself to stream live. GoPro will also live stream from regular season games later this year, likely from the Refs. - Marriott is reportedly testing a TV service that lets guests log in to personal Netflix, Hulu and Pandora accounts at 8 hotels.
- With Vimeo’s Publisher Network, Partners Can Embed Their Own Video Stores And Take A Cut Of Sales
–Vimeo making deals that put curated shows from their on demand store available for rent or purchase through Vimeo Publisher network partners like CBS Interactive and The Atlantic. - David Tennant Joins Marvel’s A.K.A. Jessica Jones for Netflix
–David Tennant will play the villain Kilgrave in the Netflix series “Marvel’s AKA Jessica Jones” Which premieres later this year following “Marvell’s Daredevil” Kilgrave is also called the Purple Man.
Under Surveillance
- PlayStation’s first scripted TV show, Powers, debuts on March 10th. It’s the one based on a long-running comic series by Brian Michael Bendis
- Freddie Wong’s Rocketjump studio, makers of Video Game High School is teaming up with Lionsgate to produce an original show for Hulu. 8 half-hour episodes.
- The trailer for Tina Fey’s new Netflix show ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ is out. This is Netflix’s prime time mainstream comedy.
- NBC Will Live Stream The Super Bowl For Free
–NBCUniversal has said it will offer an 11-hour free digital video stream of this year’s Super Bowl, including pre-game coverage, the halftime show, and even an episode of “The Blacklist” following the big game. The stream, which will be offered for free, will begin at noon on February 1st and then wrap up at 10 PM ET that evening. Counterprograming will include YouTube’s own half-time show hosted by Epic Meal Time’s Harley Morenstein. And the NFL launched a partnership with Google including a YouTube channel. - Brian: Hacking the System, Quick Draw, The Profit, Vice documentary, Marco Polo ep 7
- Tom: The Flash, Venture Bros., Star Wars Rebels, Hacking the System, Marco Polo (Ep. 7), Arrow. Archer, Quick Draw (s1e2), The Americans, The Shield (ep. 408)
- Andrew: Shameless, Hacking the System, Bojack Horseman
2014 Winter Movie Draft
draft.diamondclub.tv
- Brett: $596,361,413
- Brian: $445,112,651
- Scott: $442,944,952
- Tom: $371,798,900
- Justin: $270,293,833
- John: $245,165,632
Dispatches from the Front
Hi Tom and Brian,
As a daily watcher of two ESPN shows (Around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption), I’d like to chime in with my impression of Sling TV as a cord cutting alternative, given that it’s the first time I’ve been able to consider killing that cord!
I’ve tried my hardest to get excited about Sling TV, but I just can’t do it! The main problem is that if I want to watch my ESPN shows, I have no choice but to watch them live and with commercials. Sling TV has no DVR functions, and only certain channels even let you pause live TV (and ESPN isn’t included). When I saw that Sling TV would also grant access to the WatchESPN app, I briefly hoped that I’d be able to watch my shows after the fact. Not so! Apparently ESPN doesn’t put ATN or PTI on WatchESPN.
If I went over the air and signed up for Sling TV, I’d be going from $55/month for my current TV service to $20, but adding a ton of complexity, removing all convenience, and I couldn’t watch my shows (having a 5 month old in the house makes it impossible to guarantee time in front of the TV every day at exactly 5pm). I’d also have to cobble together a bunch of sources for the other cable channels I couldn’t get from Sling like Comedy Central, adding even more complexity.
Matt
Sterling, VA
Brian,
I was laughing after the last episode of Cord Killers because my Draft grades for your league were just about spot on – give or take a few million between you and Scott. https://magic.piktochart.com/output/3398775-winter-movie-draft-report-card 😛 . Also, thanks to you guys I got sucked into “The Man in the High Castle” and am mad that I have to wait for episode (rest of season)
Side question? Where can I find the rules that you guys are going by? Mainly, How long does a movie stay in the theaters before you stop counting it’s revenue?
Thanks Guys, love the show!
Mulango
p.s – you totally got my name right by the way! lol – Congrats
Hi Brian and Tom,
A couple of things have changed for me in a period of 72 hours. I’ve been a cord killer for over 14 months. Brian asked all fans of CordKillers to re-subscribe to cable to watch “Hacking the System” on NatGeo. This Friday m ISP Charter called me and offered cable for an additional $26.00 a month with my 30mbps internet. I said yes and agreed to have it installed February 5.
But then this last Saturday, I talked to my neighbors who are also with Charter and are paying for all the channels offered in their triple bundle for $200.00 a month. While they declined to cord shave on my advice,they gave me their email and password to use their subscription to view HBO and Showtime and basically every cable channel available on Roku as I have a Roku 3.
My question as I was able with their login information watch “Hacking the System”, do I still re-subscribe to cable and view the same channels with my login info? Or do I enjoy the content with my neighbors login info that they willingly gave me as a gift and cancel the install? I realize not everyone has a nice neighbor who gives out their login info, but I’m really thinking of canceling my install and use their login info for authentication.
I’d appreciate a reply from either of you on or off the show.
David from Fond Du Lac,WI asking
I have to disagree with your assessment of Marco Polo. I’ve been getting caught up (thru ep5) to watch along with you and I’m really enjoying it. The political intrigue is great. Kublai Khan and his family are fascinating and well-acted. The cinematography is beautiful. All-in-all I’m really enjoying it and looking forward to finishing the series.
One question: who’s the white guy?
Thanks for a great show! Keep it up!
Bob.
Hi Guys
As one of the many great bosses you have I think you should take a look at the DOKO .
Think Brian could find a few uses 🙂
Keep up the great work.
Gregg
Hi guys,
Just wanted to know if you guys have ever discussed two separate podcast streams for cordkillers.
One for the show and another one for Spoilerin’ Time. The reason is, I use the podcast app Stitcher and it automatically loads the latest version of the podcast. So sometimes I haven’t heard the episode and Spoiler’ Time is already in its place. So then I have to dig into the options to look for the actual episode (all while driving my car *danger* *danger!*). Also for me I only listen to Spoilerin’ Time if I’ve watched what you guys are about to Spoiler (example Game of Thones, Breaking Bad, ETC). I don’t’ listen to the “slow season” of Spoilers (Amazon Pilots, The Shield, etc). It would be nice if I can subscribe to two separate podcasts.
Let me know what you guys think and remember this is the boss talking 🙂
Keep up the great work as always.
Mike
The place I work in Alabama took an informal poll today on how our employees watch most of their TV. 46.3% said Live. 34.6 said DVR and 19.1 said online service like Netflix or Hulu. There 5190 responses. Not sure what it means, if anything, but found it interesting.
Stephen
Links
Today in Tech History – Jan. 27, 2015
In 1948 – IBM dedicated its “SSEC” in New York City. The Selective Sequence Electronic Calculator handled both data and instructions using electronic circuits made with 13,500 vacuum tubes and 21,000 relays.
In 1967 – The first US astronauts died in the line of duty. Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee were killed on the launch pad when a flash fire engulfed their command module during testing for the first Apollo-Saturn mission.
In 2006 – Western Union discontinued its Telegram and Commercial Messaging services. The company still handles money transfers.
Subscribe to the podcast. Like Tech History? Get the illustrated Year in Tech History at Merritt’s Books site.
DTNS 2415 – The Internet Finds a Way
Veronica Belmont is on the show to talk about how engineers in Havana, Cuba have created their own Internet for the city even without a direct connection to the rest of the world.
Using a Screen Reader? click here
Multiple versions (ogg, video etc.) from Archive.org.
Please SUBSCRIBE HERE.
A special thanks to all our supporters–without you, none of this would be possible.
If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting the show here or giving 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
Today’s guest: Veronica Belmont!
Headlines
GigaOm reports Cablevision is launching a WiFi only cell phone service called Freewheel next month. existing Cablevision Internet customers can add the unlimited talk, text and data for $9.95 a month. Others pay $29.95 a month. The service works with any WiFi access point but takes advantage of existing customers WiFi hotspots as well as CableWiFi participants like Comcast, Cox and TimeWarner. Only the Motorola Moto G for $99.95 will work with the service through preloaded apps.
CNET passes along the revelation of Motorola’s Douglas Woodside that the Nexus 6 would have had a fingerprint sensor on the back if Apple hadn’t bought AuthenTec in 2012. Woodside told the Telegraph in an interview that once AuthenTec was out of the marketplace other providers “weren’t there yet.”
TechCrunch reports Facebook has a launched a simplified Android app called Facebok Lite, meant for low-end devices in emerging markets. The app was made available over the weekend in Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. It’s based on the feature phone version Snaptu, but adds push notifications and camera integration among a few other features.
TechWorld notes that KGI Securities Analyst Ming Chi Kuo has issued a research note saying the Apple watch will go on sale in March and sell 5 million in Q1. Kuo also says that number you’re thinking of is 12, yes she will call back but not with the message you want, and that a favorable event will happen to scorpio if they take a great risk. Do not doubt the powers of Ming Chi Kuo. Also a 12-inch MacBook Air is coming.
In a story by Reuters according to state broadcaster TRT the Turkish court has ordered Facebook to block pages deemed offensive for allegedly insulting the Prophet Mohammad. Under threats of having the entire Facebook site blocked. The court order follows recent government efforts to crack down on material offending religious sensibilities including an inquiry into a newspaper that reprinted parts of Charlie Hebdo in the wake of attacks on the publisher in Paris.
The Verge has a story detailing efforts by Comcast to overcome opposition to its merger with Cable Giant and rival Time Warner with a ghost letter writing campaign to the FCC from politicians in the affected communities. Comcast asserts that the letters show its broad grassroots backing. The Verge says records show that a Comcast official sent the exact wording of a letter to a councilman and that finishing touches were put on the letter by a former FCC official named Rosemary Harold, who is now a partner at one of the nation’s foremost telecom law firms in Washington, DC.
The Verge reports that Oculus has revealed its Story Studio, an internal team exploring virtual reality cinema. At Sundance, they introduced the movie called Lost, a real-time computer generated VR experience for the Crescent Bay prototype. The movie is directed by Saschka Unseld, a former Pixar animator, and is about five minutes long, but could be as short as three and a half minutes or as long as ten, because it takes place in a virtual environment where the viewers actions change the pace of storytelling. The Verge article has a ton of awesome details about how the team came to be, and what the future might hold for interactive cinema.
The Verge also has the news that AT&T has closed a deal to purchase Nextel Mexico, a wireless provider with around 3 millions subscribers and a network estimated to cover 76 million people. AT&T will pay $1.875 billion for the company. You may recall that in November, AT&T reached a deal to acquire lusacell and its 9.2 million subscribers. That deal was finalized Jan. 20. Telcel still has the biggest share of Mexico’s wireless market at 70%.
News From You:
KAPT_kipper pointed out the Guardian article about Google disclosing that it had turned over email and IP addresses related to three Wikileaks staffers in response to a secret warrant served in March 2012. Google revealed the information to WikiLeaks December 24. The company stated a gag order had prevented the company from revealing the information earlier. The staffers were investigations editor Sarah Harrison; spokesperson Kristinn Hrafnsson; and senior editor Joseph Farrell. Twitter was ordered to the same in January 2011 for Icelandic MP Birgitta Jonsdottir, but alerted her sooner allowing her to fight the order, although she lost that fight.
starfuryzeta sent us the TechCrunch report that that Dish’s new streaming video subscription service SlingTV will begin rolling out to people who pre-registered tomorrow. Subscribers will get 20 live TV channels for $20 a month, that can be accessed from Android, iOS, FireTV and Roku apps. The content will include ESPN, TBS, TNS, CNN HGTV, DIY and Food Network, with the ability to add news and childrens channel packages for $5 a month.
Alexhoward submitted the AP article that concerns about navigation app Waze were raised at a meeting of the National Sheriffs Association winter conference in Washington. Of particular concern is a function that allows Waze users to note to each other where police are located. Sheriff Mike Brown of Bedford County, Va called the feature a “police stalker”. Waze spokeswoman, Julie Mossler, said the company shares information with the New York Police Department and others. Nuala O’Connor, head of the Center for Democracy and Technology says that sharing of information with law enforcement is the bigger concern. So nobody is happy. Except maybe drivers who avoided traffic jams.
Discussion Section Links: Cuba’s secret network no longer secret
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CB_CUBA_SECRET_NETWORK?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
http://mashable.com/2014/04/03/internet-freedom-cuba/
Pick of the Day:
So I’ve been enjoying this stuff for years now, but it never occurred to me (until just now) that maybe not everyone knows bands like this even exist…
!!! Video Game Music Cover Bands !!!
It’s perfect work music because there are no words, they are all songs you already know and love, and presumably they were originally written with the purpose of keeping the player motivated and alert.
There’s enough bands out there that you can find whatever genre fits the mood you are looking for, but the standouts to me are the OneUps. Really high quality lounge-y jazzy covers of everything from Battletoads to Plants v. Zombies. In my book, they are geniuses.
If you aren’t into jazz, and are looking for some more upbeat stuff, definitely check out Vomitron, Year 200x and Charlie Parra del Riego – these are more metal-y covers, but also really really well done (year 200x’s cover of Ducktales Moon theme is particularly bad ass).
OR if you are looking for LOL’s, check out Brentalfloss, a youtuber that’s since put out a couple of studio quality albums of his covers. His spin is adding literal, hilarious and often NSFW lyrics to all of the classics.
Finally of note there are quite a few full orchestral albums out there as well that y’all might find enjoyable. Just search spotify and they’ll readily come up.
Sorry this is so long, but I thought if maybe you guys hadn’t stumbled onto this stuff yet, maybe you’d get some enjoyment out of it as well!
Links:
Charlie Parra del Riego – Videogames go metal
Vomitron – No NES for the Wicked
Year 200X
Thanks for the daily awesomeness, you guys!
-Dr. Karl
Tomorrow’s guests: Patrick Beja and Justin Robert Young
Today in Tech History – Jan. 26, 2015
In 1932 – The US Patent Office received a patent application for the cyclotron by Ernest Orlando Lawrence as a “Method and Apparatus for the Acceleration of Ions.”
In 1949 – The Hale telescope at Palomar Observatory saw first light under the direction of Edwin Hubble, becoming the largest aperture optical telescope. Hubble photographed Hubble’s Variable Nebula (NGC 2261).
In 1983 – Lotus began selling its spreadsheet application for Microsoft DOS, called 1-2-3. It would quickly become the most popular spreadsheet software but not make the transition to Windows well and fall behind Excel permanently.
Subscribe to the podcast. Like Tech History? Get the illustrated Year in Tech History at Merritt’s Books site.
Today in Tech History – Jan. 25, 2015
In 1881 – Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell formed the Oriental Telephone Company in agreement with the Anglo-Indian Telephone Company Ltd. The company was licensed to sell telephones in Greece, Turkey, South Africa, India, Japan, China and several other Asian countries.
In 1915 – AT&T inaugurated transcontinental telephone service with a call made between New York City and San Francisco, Cal. The line had been completed the previous summer too early for the Panama Pacific Exposition, where it was introduced.
In 1921 – A play called Rossum’s Universal Robots (R.U.R.) by Karel Capek debuted at the National Theater in Prague. It was the first appearance of the word robot. Spoiler alert, the robots end up killing all the humans but one.
In 1979 – Robert Williams was killed on the job in a Flat Rock, Michigan, casting plant, becoming the first recorded human death by robot.
Subscribe to the podcast. Like Tech History? Get the illustrated Year in Tech History at Merritt’s Books site.
Today in Tech History – Jan. 24, 2015
In 1935 – Krueger’s Cream Ale and Krueger’s Finest Beer went on sale in Richmond, Virginia in cans, developed by the American Can Company. Cans protected beer better than translucent bottles.
In 1950 – Percy LeBaron Spencer received a patent for a “Method of Treating Foodstuffs” which we would recognize as the microwave oven. Spencer was working on an active radar set and accidentally melted a candy bar in his pocket.
In 1984 – The original Macintosh was introduced becoming the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a graphical user interface rather than a command line interface.
Subscribe to the podcast. Like Tech History? Get the illustrated Year in Tech History at Merritt’s Books site.