Tech Hangout 2.0 #7: Are you TWiTing me?
Tech Hangout 2.0 Runsheet
Introduction
Ben or Replacement Primary host introduces the show
Additional Co-Hosts
Hosts
Ben Roethig
@benroethig
www.benroethig.com
Patrice Brend’Amour
@casual_kitchen
brendammour.net
Mikel Potts
Paul Gans
Classified
Big News
Most important news stories of the week
Charter to merge with TWC, promises net neutrality
Additional Coverage
– Charter has announced a merger with Time Warner Cable
– $78.7 billion valuation or $195 a share
– Charter also announced the purchase of Brighthouse Networks for $10.4 billion
– TWC just came from a failed merger attempt with Comcast
– will still require a FCC review
– Charter has vowed to avoid data throttling or data caps
– FCC chairman Tom Wheeler says that there is no merger ban and the merger will be judged on its own merit
– Combined Charter/ TWC/ Brighthouse will be called the new Charter
– will be 2nd largest cable company with 23 million customers behind Comcast’s 27 million
Verge parent Vox Media buys Re/Code
- Vox Media is buying Recode
- Vox’s flagship site is the Verge
- Verge will focus on consumer tech while Recode will continue on with business news
- Recode’s review arm will become part of the Verge
- Walt Mossberg will also contribute to the Verge in addition to recode
TWiT to discontinue chat and behind the scenes coverage
Additional Coverage
– TWiT will make changes to its chat and live programming
– Will discontinue IRC chat June 1st
– Due to threats from troll activity
– will look for a more secure and manageable chat service
– will now run Pre-recorded version of most shows, but will still live stream some
– will continue live coverage of major events
– Live New Years Eve will not be continued
Streaming services like Netflix and HBO Increasing data traffic, Torrents down
- Netflix traffic up from 34.9% of web traffic in 2014 to 36.4
- HBO Now and Go account for 4.1% of web traffic
- up 300%
- File sharing like Bittorrent traffic down
Apple
News about iOS, Macs, Apple TV, Apple watch, etc
Jony Ive promoted to chief design officer
- Jony Ive promoted to Chief Design Officer
- will be responsible for all design from devices to interface to stores
- will hand off management responsibilities to top lieutenants
- Richard Howarth will become VP of Industrial design
- 20 year Apple design veteran
- Alan Dye VP of User Interface Design
- 9 year Apple employee
- key part of team for iOS 7, iOS8, and Apple Watch
News About Google and Android
Google i/O Keynote
- Announced Android M
- No version number available
- iOS like individual permissions and OS-Wide fingerprint scanner support
- USB-C recommendation for devices with bi-directional power capability
- Doze power mode almost doubles battery life
-
Android Pay
- Works pretty much exactly like Apple pay in form and function.
- virtual account numbers
- both in-app and in-store support
- support of all 4 credit credit card issuers
- works in store with most Apple pay stores
-
also works with Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile
-
Project Brillo
- stripped down Android for internet of things
- Weave communication protocol for Brillo devices
-
cross-platform
-
Google Photos
- new stand alone web service and apps
- stores unlimited photos up to 16mp and 1080
- can edit photos with apps
- advanced facial recognition
- coming to the web, Android, and iOS today
Periscope shows up on Android
- Periscope has come to Android
- App has new features like return to broadcast after phone call
- Designed by Sara Heider who was previously working on Vine
- will work with Android KitKat and above
Windows Corner
News Microsoft Products
MS to offer Cortana apps and integration with Windows 10 for iPhone and Android
- Windows 10 companion for windows 10
- Connects to MS services apps on your phones
- Cortana app for iOS and Android
- will interface with cortana notebook on other devices
- not all the functionality of Windows version
- new xbox music app with free playback of your files and syncing with OneDrive
Transportation Tech
Cars, Planes, Ships, Rockets, ETC
Guy takes drone hoverboard to new record
- Catalin Alexandre Duru of Montreal broke the hoverboard distance record
- flew 905ft 2in
- 5 times longer than previous record
- 15ft of height above Lake Ouareau in Quebec
Picks
Each brings an item, app, device, show, etc they want to talk about