Tech Hangout 2.0 #2: Never Give Up, Never Surrender
Hosts
Ben @benroethig, benroethig.com
Patrice @casual_kitchen brendamour.net
Andrew @Montisaquadeis
Mikel
David @IamDavidVaughan/@vaughan_geek
Discussion
Primary host directs co-hosts to speak
Big News
Most important news stories of the week
Comcast and Time Warner call it quits?
- Comcast and Time Warner Cable launched a $45 billion merger over a year ago
- #1 and #2 Cable operators in the U.S. would have had 33 of the 50 million cable subscriptions in the U.S.
- Comcast also own content provider NBC Universal
- FCC and Justice Department reportedly are leaning to oppose merger with FCC reportedly recommending it for public hearing
- Comcast has also had several missteps in customer service since the merger
Verizon goes a la carte for FiOS TV, networks not happy about it.
- Verizon is launching custom a la carte bundles for its FiOS TV service
- new service includes broadband internet, 36 basic channels, and two of their interest based packs
- $65 bundle $10 for additional packs
- similar in a way to programming offered by Sling TV
- some networks disagree
- Disney has said that moving its ESPN sports networks to a pack is unauthorized and breaks the carriage agreement
- Verizon disagrees that it needs permission
- Fox Sports and NBC Universal also voiced objections
Apple
News about iOS, Macs, Apple TV, Apple watch, etc
Apple developers get chance for early shipped Apple Watch
- Developers given option to get Apple watch early
- Silver sport with blue watch band
- would ship April 28th
- chosen by random selection
- developers will be notified today.
App store for Apple Watch launches
- Apple Watch App store has launched
- over 3,000 apps available
- first apple watches delivered tomorrow
- many iPhone apps have been updated the last couple of weeks to work with their Apple watch counterparts
News About Google and Android
Google launches new MVNO, FI
- Google has launched its own MVNO called Project FI
- initially only for Nexus 6 owners
- works on a combination of Sprint and T-Mobile networks
- automatically connects to the fastest network be it Wi-Fi or LTE cellular
- $20 connection charge, $10 per gigabyte used.
- Google pays you back if you don’t use all your data
- user’s can sign up for access at Google’s website
Android Wear gets massive update
- Major update for Android Wear smartwatch platform
- introduces some always on apps such as Google maps with black and white mode
- can work semi-independently with new Wi-Fi mode
- flick wrist to scroll through messages
- updated emoji library
YouTube discontinued on older platforms
- Google has updated YouTube API
- means loss of support for older devices released prior to 2012
- includes iOS 6 and older, Apple TV 2, Google TV 2 and older, and some smart TVs and BluRay players
Windows Corner
News Microsoft Products
Microsoft adds killer app for Win 10, Solitaire
- Solitaire has returned in Windows 10
- important and well used productivity app
TV, Web, and Comics
If something happened in hollywood or print, talk about it here.
Galaxy Quest Returns as a TV show?
- Cult Sci-Fi comedy Galaxy Quest might be returning
- 1995 film starred Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, and Alan Rickman.
- parodied actors in a Star Trek-like program that were placed in real space aboard a replica of the ship.
- would return as a tv show based on the movie
Daredevil Renewed for second season
- Netflix series for Marvel
- well received and very popular
- Has been renewed for season
- will come out in 2016 before Iron first and the Defenders in 2017
Transportation Tech
Cars, Planes, Ships, Rockets, ETC
Japanese Maglev train sets new record
- Maglev Train (magnetic levitation)
- from Japanese central railroad
- new speed record of 366 mph
- old record of 361 set 12 years ago
- hopes for 372mph service by 2027
- twice as fast as bullet trains
Picks
Each brings an item, app, device, show, etc they want to talk about
Ben
David
Patrice
Mikel
Andrew
That’s it for this Week’s Tech Hangout. See You all next Week!