Episode 33 – Tesla Self Driving and Nintendo New Console
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Welcome to another episode of Geek Bytes Podcast.
I’m Ramon Mejia…….and I’m Edgar Acosta
Now every podcast we bring you the roundup of the week’s best Geek and Tech news, then we discuss that news and anything else we’re interested in that week.
In Geek News this week, we’ll talk about Tesla Cars can now drive themselves, Scientist create metal so light it can balance on a dandelion , WARF versus Apple, Microsoft wants to buy your laptop,
Nintendo NX Console details, New Comic TV shows, Trailers of the Week and more
In our Discussion Section we’ll talk about some of the things we’ve been working on and interested in this week.
Now let’s Begin our show with Geek News
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Geek News
Tesla Cars can now drive themselves
The Verge reports that Tesla announced the release of version 7.0 of the Model S software, a big, widely anticipated new build that finally enables the car's self-driving features. The 7.0 release starts in the US this week and will proceed to Europe and Asia in the coming weeks pending regulatory approval; The update affects the Model S currently but the Model X shouldn't be far behind, since it has the same sensors in place.
Now, to be clear this update doesn’t make the Model S completely driverless but automates some parts of the driving experience. The primary update feature is what Tesla calls Autosteer, which keeps the car in its current lane once you're already on the road and manages speed and distance from the car ahead. Elon Musk was careful to call out Autosteer a "beta" feature — drivers are told to keep their hands on the wheel, even when the function is engaged.
Other 7.0 features include Auto Lane Change, which will automatically move to the adjacent lane by tapping the turn signal, and Autopark, which continuously scans for available parking around the car. When one is found, the car can park itself. There's also Automatic Emergency Steering and Side Collision Warning, which use the ultrasonic sensors to nudge the car away from danger and alert the driver as necessary.
An upcoming version 7.1 will add the ability to send the car off to a garage on its own and come back to pick you up, another feature teased when Musk first announced autopilot capabilities last year.
http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/14/9533539/teslas-cars-can-drive-themselves-starting-tomorrow
Scientist create metal so light it can balance on a dandelion
A few years ago, researchers created the world's lightest metal for Boeing, and now the airline has shown it off for the first time in this new video. Called microlattice, the material is 100 times lighter than styrofoam but is as rigid as metal, which means that it has some pretty exciting applications - not limited to being able to balance on top of a dandelion.
Microlattice was inspired by the structure of our bones, which are very rigid on the outside but mostly hollow on the inside, which means they can't be easily crushed, but are lightweight enough for us to carry around all day. The new Boeing metal mimics this, and despite its rigid exterior, it has a 3D open-cellular polymer structure, which means its structure is 99.99 percent air. The lattice in the metal is made up of interconnected hollow metal tubes - constructed from nickel, in the case of the prototype. Each of these tubes has a wall thickness of just 100 nanometers, which is 1,000 times thinner than human hair.
http://www.sciencealert.com/watch-this-is-the-world-s-lightest-metal
Jury says Apple could face $862 million penalty for using university's patent
A US jury has ruled that Apple used technology patented by the University of Wisconsin - Madison in creating mobile chips used in its iPhone, iPad Mini, and iPad Air — a decision that means the company could be forced to pay almost a billion dollars in damages. The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) sued Apple in February last year, claiming that A7, A8, and A8X processors used in the iPhone 5S, 6, and 6 Plus benefited from technology developed at the University and patented in 1998.
http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/14/9529271/apple-guilty-warf-iphone-chip-patent-862-million
California law now requires warrants for most electronic surveillance
California has officially passed a law requiring police to get a warrant before collecting citizens' emails, IP addresses, or other electronic information. The California Electronic Communications Privacy Act, signed by Governor Jerry Brown, has been lauded by organizations like the EFF and ACLU, with the latter calling it "a landmark win for digital privacy and all Californians." It raises the bar for just about any kind of digital surveillance, whether that involves police requesting user information from a company or collecting it themselves.
Under the new law, law enforcement will need to justify the data collection and describe its scope, getting either a search warrant or a court wiretap order. The broad rule covers requiring a service provider to give up information, as well as gathering any data "by means of physical interaction or electronic communication with the electronic device." As in most similar laws, exceptions are carved out for emergency cases.
http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/9/9486505/california-calecpa-electronic-surveillance-warrant-law
Microsoft Will Give You $200 For Your Aging Laptop—Or $300 If It's a Mac
If you’re considering buying a new Windows 10 laptop, Microsoft has just announced a promotion that might push you over the edge: when you buy a new computer, it’ll give you $200 if you hand over your current Windows laptop, or $300 if it’s a MacBook.
The deal, called Easy Trade Up, will see Microsoft hand over the cash given a few conditions. You have to buy a qualifying computer costing over $600 from the Microsoft Store before October 20th; then, the company will give you a rebate when you send your old laptop to them.
The laptop you send can’t be too bad either: it has to be under six years old, with a minimum screen size of 11.6 inches, and it also has to actually work. The offer’s available in the US, UK, Canada, India, Brazil, France, Germany, and Taiwan.
http://gizmodo.com/microsoft-will-give-you-200-for-your-aging-laptop-or-1736889039
Nintendo's Next Platform NX Combines Console And Handheld In Some Way
Kotaku reports that both the Wall Street Journal and private sources have confirmed that the next Nintendo Platform, code named NX, is going to combine a traditional console and a handheld device(s) that can be used with the console or taken on the road and used independently. Additionally the NX is to use higher end chip sets with more power among criticism about the underpowered Wii and WiiU.
http://kotaku.com/report-nintendos-next-platform-nx-is-a-console-handhel-1736904323
Two new X-Men TV Shows
The Verge reports that Marvel and Fox have come to an agreement allowing for the development of not 1, but 2 TV shows based on the X-Men world. The first TV show is Legion, to air on FX, with Fargo creator Noah Hawley writing and executive producing. It tells the story of David Haller, a diagnosed schizophrenic who, after encountering a mental patient, comes to believe that the voices in his head may actually be real. In the comics, Haller was the son of Charles Xavier.
Additionally Fox is also developing Hellfire, centered about the mysterious Hellfire Club organization that has sought to undermine the X-Men in Marvel's comic universe.
http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/14/9535533/marvel-x-men-tv-series-legion-hellfire-fox-noah-hawley
Y: The Last Man TV show
The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that after years of potential development into a movie Y: The Last Man is being developed as a TV series on FX. This transition from movie to TV development comes after the movie and film rights reverted from New Line to the original creator, Brian K. Vaughan. The highly popular comic tells the story of the last human male on earth after a devastating plague wipes out all mammals with the Y chromosome.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/y-last-man-tv-series-831981
Mark Hamill to return as the Trickster
With the anticipation of Star Wars: The Force Awakens at an all-time high, it’s good to see that Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill has not forgotten about his DC fans. The Nerdist reports that, Hamill will be reprising his role of James Jesse, a.k.a. The Trickster, on season two of The Flash.
http://nerdist.com/mark-hamill-to-return-as-the-trickster-for-the-flash-season-2/
The Hulk in new Thor movie
Rumor Alert: Very reliable site JoBlo claims that Mark Ruffalo will return in Thor: Ragnorok:
"Hot on the heels of NYCC, we’ve gotten word from our inside sources that THOR: RAGNAROK will see Chris Hemsworth’s Thor team up with none other than Mark Ruffalo’s HULK for the Odinson's third solo film, which finds the God of Thunder facing what amounts to the Norse Apocalypse. Only this time out he'll have some help from a fellow Avenger.
Mark Ruffalo joins Tom Hiddleston (also confirmed by our sources) and Jaimie Alexander in RAGNAROK, which we’ve also heard will involve a “distant planet” that is "not Asgard and not Earth." What does that mean? Certainly the theory will be made that this is where Marvel will work in the long-rumored Planet Hulk storyline, and although we can’t completely verify that, we can’t completely deny it either. I’ll leave it to you on how you want to place your bets, but I know where my money is going. Regardless, Ruffalo is on board. As to how much time he’ll spend as Hulk vs. Banner, we can’t say, only that he’s absolutely part of the supporting cast and will feature prominently."
http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/exclusive-mark-ruffalos-hulk-will-return-in-thor-ragnarok-333
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Trailers of the Week
Halo 5 Launch trailer
In the latest trailer for Halo 5 we get a glimpse at what may be the best storyline of any Halo game. One part Halo One part Borne Identity. Master Chief is on the run and being hunted by his fellow Spartans.
Batman: Bad Blood
Bruce Wayne is missing. Alfred covers for him while Nightwing and Robin patrol Gotham City in his stead. And a new player, Batwoman, investigates Batman's disappearance. In the trailer we get a look at a new villain who may be the Arkham Knight.
Shadowhunters
If you’ve seen the movie City of Bones or read the Mortal Instruments novels, this is the serialized TV version out January 2016.
Clary, a college student in NYC, learns she is a shadowhunter - a demon hunter - and an important part of the shadow world. Enter Jace, the charming and golden shadowhunter who teaches Clary about protecting humans from the vampires, fairy folk and demons.
Hail, Caesar!
Set in 1950s Hollywood, Eddie Mannix is Capital Pictures' fixer. His job is to maintain the clean reputation of the company and its stars, keeping them free from controversy. When the studios biggest star goes missing Mannix must fix the problem, while keeping the potentially studio running news out of the gossip columns. Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Jonah Hill, and more. In theaters February 5, 2016 (USA)
Race
Track-and-field superstar Jesse Owens (Stephan James) prepares to compete in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
From the same author as Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. The film is described as a horror romantic comedy and is in theaters February 5th 2016.
Bill Murray Christmas Special
"This night will go down as the greatest night in history," Murray says in the new trailer for the Sofia Coppola-directed special, which will debut Dec. 4. A Very Murray Christmas includes appearances by George Clooney, Paul Shaffer, Amy Poehler, Julie White, Michael Cera, Chris Rock, Maya Rudolph, Jason Schwartzman, Jenny Lewis, Phoenix’s Thomas Croquet, Rashida Jones, Miley Cyrus, and more.
That’s it for Geek News
If there are any news stories you want to hear us talk about you can contact us on Facebook at Geek Bytes Podcast, on Twitter @GeekBytesPod, or e-mail us at feedback@geekbytespodcast.com
Onto our Discussion section
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Discussion Section
What have you been up to?
Edgar:
Work stuff, new job,
Ramon:
Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below
The Witcher III: Wild Hunt
Rick and Morty season 2
That’s it for us this week.
For a review of the topics we covered and any of the links in show notes for this episode visit our site geekbytespodcast.com and click on our link to the podcasts.
If you like the podcast and want to support us you can find all the ways to do so by visiting geekbytespodcast.com/support
For the Geek Bytes Podcast I’m Ramon Mejia and I’m Edgar Acosta. Thanks for listening everyone. Now Go Geek out about something.
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Music Credits
"Happy Bee", "Movement Proposition", "Theme for Harold (var.3) ", "Take the Lead"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/