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  • Valve Unveils Steam Deck Gaming Console

    Valve Unveils Steam Deck Gaming Console

    Valve has unveiled Steam Deck, a Nintendo Switch-like gaming console capable of running the latest AAA games.

    Valve was rumored to be working on a Switch competitor in May, one that would have a wider profile than the Switch and be based on Linux. The company has delivered, with the Steam Deck.

    The Steam Deck runs SteamOS 3.0, based on Arch Linux. Basing the device on Linux is a smart choice, as it allows Valve to keep the cost down and gives them more control.

    The device includes game controllers, gyro control, the ability to connect it to a TV, as well as use it as a PC. The Steam Deck also boasts easy setup, just requiring a Steam account to immediately access all your games and content. 

    The new devices start at $399 and will ship December 2021.

    Steam Deck – Credit Valve
  • Apple Risks Angering Users With Push Notifications About Emmys

    Apple Risks Angering Users With Push Notifications About Emmys

    Apple has risked drawing the ire of some users with unsolicited push notifications regarding the Emmys.

    Ted Lasso, an Apple TV+ exclusive, has racked up an impressive number of Emmy nominations. Not surprisingly, Apple wants people to know and issued a press release for that purpose.

    As AppleInsider points out, however, the company followed that up a day later with push notifications alerting users. The notifications included invitations “to see why Ted Lasso and more Apple Originals are up for awards.”

    Given Apple’s focus on privacy and protecting user rights, it’s not a good look for the company to send unsolicited, and potentially unwanted, push notifications — even for the purpose of celebrating a major accomplishment.

  • TikTok Reaches 3 Billion Downloads, the First Non-Facebook App to Do So

    TikTok Reaches 3 Billion Downloads, the First Non-Facebook App to Do So

    TikTok has hit a major milestone, becoming the first mobile app outside of Facebook’s ecosystem to reach 3 billion downloads.

    TikTok has been one of the fastest growing social media platforms, despite ongoing privacy concerns. The service has now become the first non-Facebook app to cross 3 billion downloads, according to SensorTower.

    “With the 3 billion install milestone, TikTok is the fifth non-game app to join a tier that’s historically been the exclusive domain of Facebook,” writes Stephanie Chan, SensorTower Mobile Insights Strategist. “Based on worldwide installs from the App Store and Google Play and excluding pre-installed apps, the four other apps that have accrued more than 3 billion installs since January 2014 include WhatsApp, Messenger, Facebook, and Instagram.”

    The milestone is even more impressive when considering the pressure TikTok has been under, being banned in India and narrowly surviving a US attempt to ban it.

  • Dogecoin Creator Slams His Own Creation

    Dogecoin Creator Slams His Own Creation

    Dogecoin co-creator Jackson Palmer has slammed the cryptocurrency market, dashing hopes he might one day return to it.

    Palmer co-created Dogecoin as a meme, although the currency has since gone on to become a major force in the crypto market. In fact, at one point Dogecoin was the fourth most valuable cryptocurrency.

    Despite its success, and despite crypto’s reputation as a decentralized currency, Palmer has no intention of returning to the market and is now slamming it.

    https://twitter.com/ummjackson/status/1415353984617914370?s=20

    Palmer says the crypto market, rather than being decentralized, is actually controlled by a wealthy few.

    https://twitter.com/ummjackson/status/1415353986392072196?s=20
    https://twitter.com/ummjackson/status/1415353987503583236?s=20

    Palmer’s commentary is likely to anger some and validate others, but is nonetheless a fascinating take on the crypto industry.

  • Netflix Hires Former EA Exec Mike Verdu to Lead Gaming Venture

    Netflix Hires Former EA Exec Mike Verdu to Lead Gaming Venture

    Netflix is looking to expand beyond TV and movies, hiring former Electronic Arts executive Mike Verdu to lead its video gaming endeavor.

    Streaming platforms are increasingly looking for ways to expand their offerings and increase customer engagement. fuboTV is preparing to offer sports betting and Netflix is looking to expand into video gaming. 

    To help it break into the highly competitive market, Netflix is hiring Mike Verdu as Vice President of Game Development, according to Bloomberg. In addition to EA, Verdu also worked as a vice president at Facebook, helping developers bring their gams to the company’s Oculus VR system.

    Verdu should bring valuable insights and expertise to Netflix, giving it a major leg up in its efforts to break into the market.

  • Clubhouse Branching Out Into Direct Messaging

    Clubhouse Branching Out Into Direct Messaging

    Clubhouse is adding a much-requested feature, giving users the ability to direct message each other.

    Clubhouse is the popular, invitation-only, audio-only social media platform. The app has gained users at a phenomenal rate, and has been a popular option among many tech icons.

    The platform is now adding direct messaging, according to TechCrunch. The new feature, called Backchannel, allows users to send one-on-one messages, as well as group messages.

    The feature is currently live on both iOS and Android.

  • Apple Increasing 2021 iPhone Production by 20%

    Apple Increasing 2021 iPhone Production by 20%

    Apple appears to be gearing up for a significant increase in iPhone sales, raising its 2021 production by 20%.

    According to Bloomberg, Apple has been fairly steady in recent years, ordering 75 million units a year for the period between a launch and the end of the year. With its next phone, however, the company is asking suppliers to build an initial run of up to 90 million.

    The next version of the iPhone is not expected to be a revolutionary upgrade, but a rather modest evolutionary improvement. Nonetheless, Bloomberg reports that Apple expect post-pandemic demand to drive increased sales.

    Apple is notoriously cautious about estimates and projections, and demand often outstrips supply. For the company to order 90 million units is a testament to how popular Apple expects the next iPhone to be.

  • Facebook Groups Will Be Able to Assign “Experts” to Combat Misinformation

    Facebook Groups Will Be Able to Assign “Experts” to Combat Misinformation

    Facebook is taking another major step in its battle to combat misinformation, allowing groups to assign “experts.”

    Misinformation has become one of the biggest challenges facing social media platforms. From elections to vaccines to current events, misinformation runs rampant on social media. Facebook, in particular, has faced accusations of not doing enough to combat it.

    The company is adding a major new feature that will allow groups to appoint experts, according to CNET. The experts will have a badge next to their name, which will inform other users of their expertise.

    Facebook hopes having experts in groups will help combat misinformation, providing a bit more accountability within groups, rather than them being a complete free-for-all.

  • Ring Rolls Out Video End-to-End Encryption

    Ring Rolls Out Video End-to-End Encryption

    Ring has announced end-to-end encryption is now available to customers internationally.

    Ring made headlines in late 2019 with a string of security issues, including devices being hacked and giving outsiders the ability to watch and communicate with a home’s occupants. VICE reviewed Ring’s security and found it was abysmal, not doing nearly enough to protect user privacy. Ultimately, the issues led to a lawsuit over Amazon and Ring’s failure to protect users.

    Ring has now announced end-to-end encryption for its products, with a goal to protecting user privacy.

    “We believe that our customers should control who sees their videos,” writes Ring’s Josh Roth. “By default, Ring already encrypts customer videos when they are uploaded to the cloud (in transit) and stored on Ring’s servers (at rest). Now, customers around the world, with eligible Ring devices, can opt into video End-to-End Encryption, to add an extra layer of security that only allows their videos to be viewed on their enrolled mobile device. This advanced security option is simple to set up via the Control Center in the Ring App, and offers additional peace of mind and protection.”

    While Ring is to be commended for finally adding end-to-end encryption, it’s puzzling why the company has made it opt-in instead of opt-out. Given the issues Ring has already experienced, one would think the company would take every measure possible to protect users, while giving them the ability to opt-out.

  • Android 12 Supports Google Play Instant

    Android 12 Supports Google Play Instant

    Google has announced that Android 12 now supports Google Play Instant, a feature that allows users to run apps before they’ve finished downloading.

    Virtually every mobile user has experienced trying to downloading a large app or game and having to wait on a slow data connection before running it. Google hopes to address that with Google Play Instant, a new feature that lets apps and games run before they’re completely downloaded.

    Developers can start implementing the feature immediately, as long as they’re using the Android Studio 3.3 beta release.

    With Google Play Instant, people can use an app or game without installing it first. Increase engagement with your Android app or gain more installs by surfacing your instant app across the Play Store and Google Play Games app.

    Developers can get started here.