HiTechEdge

Category: Tech

All news related to tech.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • BEUC File Complaint Against WhatsApp Over Privacy Update

    BEUC File Complaint Against WhatsApp Over Privacy Update

    The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) has filed a complaint over WhatsApp’s privacy update.

    Facebook and WhatsApp sparked a furor over a proposed privacy update, in which Facebook would share data from WhatsApp with other Facebook-owned companies. Initially, Facebook said users would be locked out of their accounts if they did not accept the new terms by a certain date.

    The backlash was swift and severe, with many WhatsApp users (including yours truly) closing their accounts. Signal and Telegram, in particular, saw huge increases in their user bases as a result of Facebook’s plans. Facebook postponed the cutoff deadline in response, before finally saying they would not close accounts that did not accept the new terms.

    Despite Facebook walking back its position, the BEUC has filed a complaint, according to SFGate. The BEUC has accused WhatsApp of bombarding users with prompts to accept the new terms, and says the service has not been clear or transparent regarding the terms of the new agreement.

    “WhatsApp has been bombarding users for months with aggressive and persistent pop-up messages to force them to accept its new terms of use and privacy policy,” BEUC Director General Monique Goyens said. “They’ve been telling users that their access to their app will be cut off if they do not accept the new terms. Yet consumers don’t know what they’re actually accepting.”

    The complaint is the latest setback Facebook has faced, and is further demonstration of the increasing importance of privacy to consumers.

  • iCloud Outage Impacting Users

    iCloud Outage Impacting Users

    Apple has confirmed an issue with iCloud, following reports of people not being able to log in or retrieve email.

    iCloud is Apple’s suite of cloud-based tools that includes email. Monday morning, reports of issues started spiking on Downdector.com, with users reporting issues logging into iCloud and checking email.

    Apple System Status Page

    Apple’s System Status page confirms there are issues with iCloud email, although the issues do not seem to be impacting all users. It appears mitigation efforts are already working, as Downdetector reports are also dropping.

    Downdetector iCloud Issues
  • Apple Making a Play for NFL Sunday Ticket

    Apple Making a Play for NFL Sunday Ticket

    Apple may be preparing to enter the the streaming TV big leagues, with a play for the NFL Sunday Ticket.

    In the battle for the streaming TV market, sports is one of the most important keys to success. A strong emphasis on sports has allowed fuboTV to quickly go from a small upstart to one of the major competitors at the top of the streaming food chain.

    Apple appears ready to get in on the action, and is in early talks for the rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket, according to The Information, via The Verge. The NFL Sunday Ticket would give Apple the ability to broadcast all football games not available on local stations.

    Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand says the negotiations have not officially begun, but the NFL has had preliminary talks with companies, including Apple.

    If Apple is able to secure NFL Sunday Ticket, it would be a game-changer for the company’s Apple TV+ service.

  • Google Play Services Ending Support for Android Jelly Bean

    Google Play Services Ending Support for Android Jelly Bean

    Google has announced that Google Play Services will stop supporting Android Jelly Bean after August 2021.

    Android Jelly Bean was originally released in 2012, making it some nine years old. As such, Jelly Bean only accounts for less than 1% of the installed Android user base.

    Google is now preparing to discontinue Play Services support for the older version of Android, with the last update being version 21.30.99 of the Services APK, scheduled for the end of August.

    While no one likes to see support for their OS being dropped, it’s not surprising Google is ending support for Jelly Bean after nearly a decade.