Indholdsfortegnelse for #383 i AppleMagazine

SAMSUNG, HUAWEI AND OTHER MAJOR NAMES SHOW THEIR HANDS Let’s take a guess at the above question – it sounds cool, but you probably can’t see the benefit yet, right? The fact that this was the general public perception before many of humankind’s most influential technological innovations gives you an idea of just how big foldable smartphones could be. From the idea of early mobile phones themselves to the concept of the World Wide Web, the “cool, but…” mindset has predated countless technological revolutions. However, the same could be said for the famously ill-fated Sega Dreamcast, 3D TV, and Airbus A380 too, so it’s not an exact scientific formula for predicting success. So, great numbers of us – especially those with $1,980 to spare – will be wondering which way…

Google’s plan to build a $600 million wind-powered data center in central Minnesota could hinge on the tech giant’s request for officials to waive 20 years’ worth of future taxes. Google has asked Sherburne County and the city of Becker for property tax breaks that would save the company up to $15 million, Minnesota Public Radio News reported. The tax abatement request is part of the tech company’s proposal to build a 375,000-square-foot (35,000-square-meter) data center in Becker on about 300 acres (120 hectares) owned by Xcel Energy, which would dedicate two new wind farms to power the facility. The land is located next to the Sherburne County Generating Station, a large, coal-fired plant where the Minneapolis-based utility plans to retire most of its generators. The project would bring an…

American companies want negotiations with Beijing to win them better access to its state-dominated economy, not just a smaller Chinese trade surplus, with Washington’s punitive tariffs kept in place while talks proceed, a business group said this week. Companies that responded to a questionnaire last week want an end to Chinese pressure to hand over technology, unequal enforcement of laws and other chronic problems, said Tim Stratford, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China. If not, he said, their losses in a tariff war “will be a tremendous waste.” The comments appear to reflect support for President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials including Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer who want changes in industrial policy Beijing’s trading partners say violate its free-trade obligations. Others worry China might be allowed…

Now there is one more place where cameras could start watching you — from 30,000 feet. Newer seat-back entertainment systems on some airplanes operated by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Singapore Airlines have cameras, and it’s likely they are also on planes used by other carriers. All four airlines said that they have never activated the cameras and have no plans to use them. However, companies that make the entertainment systems are installing cameras to offer future options such as seat-to-seat video conferencing, according to an American Airlines spokesman. A passenger on a Singapore flight posted a photo of the seat-back display last week, and the tweet was shared several hundred times and drew media notice. Buzzfeed first reported that the cameras are also on some American…

Harverd Dropout Lil Pump This typo-intentional title is the first of many precisely placed messages in the Miami MC’s second studio album. The self-titled “most lyrical rapper of all time” is back, flaunting the success he’s achieved in the last three years with this catchy collection of pop-driven hip-hop. FIVE FACTS: 1. Lil Pump was born to Colombian parents. His real name is Gazzy Garcia. 2. He rose to fame by releasing his early tracks online, and is one of the most prominent artists to come from the ‘SoundCloud rap’ scene. 3. His early tracks on SoundCloud included “Lil Pump”, “Elementary”, “Ignorant”, “Gang Shit” and “Drum$tick”. 4. He was arrested by Danish police after a performance at Vega, Copenhagen, and subsequently banned from entering the country for two years. 5.…

A federal appeals court upheld AT&T’s $81 billion takeover of Time Warner, approving one of the biggest media deals on record in the face of opposition from the Trump administration. The combination of one of the country’s largest wireless carriers and TV providers with a major TV and movie company has already reshaped the media landscape. A look back at the deal, the pushback from the government and its future implications: WHAT PROMPTED THE DEAL? Traditional, live TV is shrinking in importance. Streaming video like Netflix has exploded in popularity. And AT&T, which has its cellphone business and also owns DirecTV, wanted to marry popular video with its ability to deliver to homes and phones. Time Warner, now known as WarnerMedia, owns popular channels including HBO, CNN, TNT and TBS,…

If there is a high point to Netflix’s status as the “cool kids” taking over television, it may be remembered as an emotional Chuck Lorre accepting a best comedy Golden Globe last month for “The Kominsky Method,” his show on the streaming service. Lorre is one of the most successful comedy producers in TV history, with an estimated net worth of more than $600 million after producing shows including “The Big Bang Theory,”“Two and a Half Men” and “Mom” for CBS. Yet he’d never won an Emmy or Golden Globe, and odds are he still wouldn’t if “The Kominsky Method” had been on broadcast TV and with a more mundane actor than Michael Douglas. Despite the humbling moment, leaders of traditional TV networks insist they’re fighting back, and may even…

Companies behind some of the best-known consumer products — from soaps to sodas — are beginning to factor climate change into their business equation, according to a report published this week. The survey of 16 major corporations by nonprofit group CDP found that many are working to lower their carbon emissions, prepare for the effects of global warming on their supply chain and respond to growing environmental consciousness among customers. Examples include brewer AB InBev’s efforts to develop a variety of barley that needs less water and Unilever adjusting its detergent formulas so they work at the lower “eco” temperature settings on modern washing machines, the London-based group said. “We were surprised how much these companies were aligning themselves with changes in consumer preferences,” said Carole Ferguson, the report’s lead…

China’s Huawei unveiled a new folding-screen phone last Sunday, joining the latest trend for bendable devices as it challenges the global smartphone market’s dominant players, Apple and Samsung. Huawei revealed its Mate X phone on the eve of MWC Barcelona, a four-day showcase of mobile devices, as the company battles U.S. allegations it is a cybersecurity risk. The device can be used on superfast next-generation mobile networks that are due to come online in the coming years. Device makers are looking to folding screens as the industry’s next big thing to help them break out of an innovation malaise, although most analysts think the market is limited, at least in the early days. The Mate X is the answer to a question Huawei faced as it sought to satisfy smartphone…

With movie admissions in the US at a ten-year low, we take a closer look at how technology is transforming the way we consume Box Office content, from the Big Screen to the Small Screen in our pockets, explore how Netflix is changing the game with multi-million dollar film productions, and consider the impact of Apple’s upcoming streaming service on the sector… THE BOX OFFICE Whilst, on the surface, it may appear as though consumers are spending less time and money at their local movie theatres, the American film industry generated $32 billion in revenue last year, increasing around 2 percent year on year. According to research firm IBISWorld, the industry has “grown sluggishly in recent years and movie theater growth has increasingly come from ancillary concessions,” although demand is…

A movie a day in theaters for $10 a month seemed too good to be true. And it was. MoviePass, which tried to bring Netflix-like subscriptions to the movie theater, pulled back on its deal last summer. MoviePass was a consumer success, but a financial disaster. MoviePass had to pay theaters the full price of most tickets, which quickly exceeded $10 each month. This week, MoviePass chugs along with an offer for three movies a month starting at the same $10 fee. But it faces competition from theater chains and a Turkish startup that brought back a movie a day, at least temporarily — this time for $20 a month. Here’s a look at the major subscription offerings for theaters in the US: MOVIEPASS You get a debit card that…

For as long as Epiephanie LaBoy can remember, she’s wanted to know what makes things work. When she was younger, the eighth-grader at the all-girls Grace Academy in Hartford would methodically disassemble her older sister’s cellphones whenever she replaced them and marvel at the complex circuitry within. “She would give them to me, and I’d break them apart to see what was inside,” LaBoy, 13, said. “I’d look at the motherboard and all the pieces and say, ‘This is mine now.’” Those early experiments fueled a curiosity that led LaBoy to specialize her studies in technology and science, and to join the recently formed robotics team at Grace, which she now heads as captain. But LaBoy also recognizes that she’s something of an exception in a field largely dominated by…

Back in 1997, then-up-and-coming actor Michael Imperioli was mulling two work offers: a cable TV show pilot and a small role in a Woody Allen film. The script for the TV show didn’t initially seem so special to him. “I was not blown away by the pilot,” he admitted. On the other hand, he had long admired Allen and was being offered a spot in his movie “Celebrity.” Imperioli couldn’t do both and was leaning toward doing the film. “That would have been the dumbest mistake of my life,” he says now with a laugh. The reason was simple: The TV show was “The Sopranos,” which this year is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its premiere on HBO. The six-season show would win 21 Emmys and become the first cable…

The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes is no longer allowing the public to post reviews of a movie prior to its theatrical release. The move is partly to push back against the influence of online trolls. The company said that it is one of a series of changes, including making the “want to see” score a raw number instead of a percentage. Previously anyone could leave written comments or reviews for a movie before its release. Occasionally this would result in an onslaught of negativity from people who had yet to see a film. “Captain Marvel,” out next week, was the most recent example. This function will now only be open once a movie hits theaters. Eventually, Rotten Tomatoes says audience reviews will be synched up with verified ticket purchases.…

The operator of a video-sharing app popular with teenagers is agreeing to pay $5.7 million to settle federal allegations it illegally collected personal information from children. The Federal Trade Commission says the Wednesday penalty against lip-syncing app Musical.ly, now known as TikTok, is the largest ever obtained in a children’s privacy case. The FTC says the app violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, which requires kid-oriented websites to get parents’ consent before collecting personal information from children under 13. TikTok says it’s starting a separate, more restrictive app for younger U.S. users. FTC Chairman Joe Simons says Musical.ly knew many younger children were using the app and collecting names, email addresses and other personal information without parental consent. Musical.ly merged last year into China-based TikTok.…

The first astronaut from the United Arab Emirates will blast off into space on Sept. 25 on a trip to the International Space Station, authorities announced this week. Either military pilot Hazza al-Mansoori or engineer Sultan al-Neyadi will be the first Emirati in space, part of an ambitious space program for this Gulf Arab nation home to the world’s tallest building and the busiest airport for international travel. But the two men, selected from over 4,000 applicants, say they aren’t worried after the recent failure of another Russian rocket carrying astronauts to the space station. “After the incident we were more confident with the preparedness of the mission,” al-Mansoori told The Associated Press. “In case of any failure there is equipment onboard the rocket to ensure the safety of the…

Stock market regulators are asking a federal court to hold Tesla CEO Elon Musk in contempt for violating an agreement requiring him to have his tweets about key company information reviewed for potentially misleading claims. The request made Monday in New York resurrects a dispute between the Securities and Exchange Commission and Musk that was supposed to have been resolved with a settlement reached five months ago. The SEC had sued Musk for using his Twitter account to announce he had secured financing for a potential buyout of Tesla, something regulators alleged wasn’t true. Musk agreed to having future tweets that could affect Tesla’s stock be pre-approved. But the SEC contends Musk didn’t do that in a Feb. 19 tweet projecting the number of cars Tesla will make this year.…

Sure, it’s easy to Netflix and chill these days. Or Prime and recline. Or Hulu and ... well, whatever. But if you really want to savor a film, there’s still no substitute for a classic movie theater. Turns out that there are few better ways to rediscover the joy of heading to the theater than a year of free movie tickets, courtesy of MoviePass. Among the greatest attractions: no distractions from Facebook, online chats, household chores and what not. I was a regular moviegoer until ticket prices rocketed past $10 several years ago. In New York, $15 is now common; some theaters can charge $18 or $19, even before 3D and other surcharges. Streaming at home became far more affordable — and convenient. Who has time to go to the…

Several phone apps are sending sensitive user data, including health information, to Facebook without users’ consent, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. An analytics tool called “App Events” allows app developers to record user activity and report it back to Facebook, even if the user isn’t on Facebook, according to the report. One example detailed by the Journal shows how a woman would track her period and ovulation using an app from Flo Health. After she enters when she last had her period, Facebook software in the app would send along data, such as whether the user may be ovulating. The Journal’s testing found that the data was sent with an advertising ID that can be matched to a device or profile. Although Facebook’s terms instruct app…

Green Book It is 1962, and African-American pianist Dr. Don Shirley is due to embark on a concert tour from Manhattan to the Deep South. Requiring not only a driver but also protection, he hires Tony “Lip” Vallelonga. Together, the men confront the racism and danger of an era of segregation. FIVE FACTS: 1. The movie won the prestigious Academy Award for Best Picture. 2. Green Book is inspired by the true story of black pianist Don Shirley and his bouncer Tony Lip. Shirley employed Lip in 1962 during an eight-week tour of the Deep South. 3. The film is dedicated to ‘Larry the Crow’. The bird hung around the shooting location , and Viggo Mortensen – who played Tony Lip – cared for it after it was hit by…

The 1969 mission to the moon has been seen in many phases before but never with the shining, crystal-clear fullness of Todd Douglas Miller’s extraordinary “Apollo 11,” a documentary culled from archival footage and audio recordings that in heart-stopping, minute-by-minute detail, recaptures the propulsive force of man’s most glorious feat, giving new resonance to those beautiful, headlong Mission Control words: “We Are Go.” Timed to the upcoming 50th anniversary of the lunar landing, “Apollo 11” was compiled partly from a previously forgotten trove of 70mm film that includes footage from the launch, the Cape Canaveral crowds watching outside J.C. Penny’s and along motel balconies, and the astronauts’ recovery. It features no talking heads or narration, just audio from some 11,000 hours of NASA audio recordings and, occasionally, the sonorous gravity…

A Louisiana sheriff’s office has started giving deputies a new handheld mobile policing device intended to ease many of their day-today duties and streamline technology tools such as surveillance videos and GPS data. The Advocate reports that the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office is the first agency to purchase and implement the device, which is called a “Gismo.”The sheriff’s office rolled out the first five Gismos last week and plans to add 15 more in the coming weeks. Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Casey Rayborn Hicks says the smartphone-like technology integrates a variety of law enforcement technology, including camera feeds and dispatch information. It’s also capable of license plate scans and fingerprinting, among other things. The Gismo was developed by a Baton Rouge company and costs around $2,680 each.…

China has unveiled draft regulations on gene editing and other potentially risky biomedical technologies after a Chinese scientist’s claim of helping to create gene-edited babies roiled the global science community. Under the proposed measures released this week, technology involving gene editing, gene transfer and gene regulation would be categorized as “high-risk” and managed by the health department of the State Council, China’s Cabinet. The measures follow assertions in November from scientist He Jiankui that he altered the DNA of twin girls born that month using a powerful new tool. The technology, called CRISPRcas9, makes it possible to operate on DNA to supply a needed gene or disable one that’s causing problems. The revelation that it may have been used to conceive children elicited widespread outcry over the procedure’s ethical implications.…