Episode 32 – Trump Hotels Hacked and Facebook Emojis
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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 Disney Pass Price hike, Facebook Emojis, Verizon sharing your data, Microsoft announcements, Trump Hotel Hack, the Injection to replace Spay and Neuter Pets, 3D Print jewelry, The Amazon Etsy, PS4 price cut, Marvel’s new movies, Pepsi Perfect, Harry Potter Enhanced, Trailers of the week and more
In our Discussion Section we’ll talk about our reviews of the new movies Man Up and the Martian
Now let’s Begin our show with Geek News
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Geek News
Disneyland Raises Pass Price
Disney has discontinued the Premium annual pass, which for $779 a year allowed unlimited visits to both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure as well as free parking and discounts on some food and merchandise. In its place are two more expensive options -- the Signature Plus pass, which costs $1,049 and includes all of the benefits of the Premium pass, along with parking and unlimited downloads of pictures taken through the PhotoPass program, and the Signature Pass, which costs $849 and includes all of the Signature Plus options but has about two weeks' worth of blackout days.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-disneyland-prices-20151005-htmlstory.html
Facebook adds Emojis to Like button
In September, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg hinted that his company was working on a more expressive way to comment on the things you see on your news feed besides a Like Button. Many people thought Facebook was finally going to implement the often asked for Dislike Button. Instead Facebook has announced that they are testing out “Reactions”, six new emojis that will sit beside the traditional Like button. The emojis include love, laughter, happiness, shock, sadness, and anger.
The Reactions feature is being tested out in Spain and Ireland right now but hopefully we’ll see a wider test market in a few months.
Verizon sharing user data
When Verizon purchased AOL earlier this year they got access to massive amounts of user data and the ability to implement a way to share their customer data to ad companies.
Starting in November Verizon will combine its ability to gather customer data with its supercookie and AOLs ad network. Verizon’s supercookie is a controversial, often unlockable, identifier that inserts the ability to track user’s website use. This allows Verizon to build profiles associated with their customers that indicate the products they like. Verizon can then use those profiles to sell customized ads via AOLs massive ad network.
Microsoft announcements
Early this week Microsoft held a press conference to announce some new products. We’ll take turns talking about the interesting ones and comment at the end. We begin with
· THE LUMIA 950: A WINDOWS 10 MOBILE FLAGSHIP
o The 5.2-inch Lumia 950. The Lumia 950 is a flagship phone with a Snapdragon 808 processor and, more unusually, a liquid cooling system for its components. It's also got a 20-megapixel PureView rear camera and an infrared sensor for "Windows Hello," which unlocks a user's phone by checking their face. the 950 is launching in November for $549.
· THE LUMIA 950 XL: MICROSOFT'S REALLY BIG PHONE
o The Lumia 950 XL is even larger than the 950 at 5.7-inches. Everything else is pretty much the same as the Lumia 951 and it will cost $649.
· THE LUMIA 550: IT'S VERY CHEAP
o If you’re on a budget you might consider the new Lumia 550. The 5-inch device features a quad-core processor and a 5-megapixel camera. It will be available in December for $139.
· THE SURFACE PRO 4: A NEW VOLLEY IN THE TABLET WARS
o Competing with Apple's recent iPad Pro announcement, Microsoft announces the Surface Pro 4. The tablet has a 12.3-inch display with up to 1TB of storage and 16GB of RAM. The Surface Pro 4 is available October 26th, starting at $899 but with maxed out specs at $1,499.
· THE SURFACE BOOK: AN ACTUAL LAPTOP FROM MICROSOFT
o Microsoft moves back into the laptop game with the Surface Book, a convertible laptop version of the Surface. It has a 13.5-inch display that supports both stylus and touch input, along with 12-hour battery life, a Microsoft-designed keyboard, and a glass trackpad. It also has a crazy, snaking hinge that Microsoft calls the dynamic fulcrum hinge, letting the screen flip around or be safely detached to create a standalone Surface tablet. The Surface Book is available on October 26th and starts at $1,499 but with maxed out specs it comes in at $2,699.
· HOLOLENS DEVELOPMENT KITS WILL COST $3,000
o For $3,000, developers will be able to get their own HoloLens kit in the first quarter of next year. Microsoft promises these kits will be "fully untethered" — meaning no cables or connection to a PC required once apps are loaded onto it. If you're a prospective augmented reality developer, you can put in an application starting today.
· http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/6/9460935/microsoft-event-windows-10-device-announcements
Trump Hotel- Credit Card numbers stolen
The Trump Hotel Collection has admitted this week that they were hacked and that customer credit and debit card numbers have been stolen at seven Trump hotels.
The Trump Hotel Collection said on its website that hackers gained access to its systems between May 2014 and June 2015 at the front desk of those hotels. Hotel restaurants and gift shops were also hacked.
The hotel operator said an independent forensic investigation has not found any evidence of customer's information being misused. The company is offering affected customers a year of free identity theft protection.
Trump Hotel said it is working with the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to help "catch these criminals and prosecute them to the full extent of the law."
http://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/05/data-hack-at-7-trump-hotels-confirmed.html
Injection to replace Spay and Neuter Pets
Scientists in the US have developed a single injection that offers long-term contraception to both male and female animals.
The treatment has only been tested in mice so far, but in the future it could replace the need to spay and neuter your pets .
The treatment uses a small, harmless virus known as an adeno-associated virus (AAV), which can deliver sequences of DNA to muscle cells.
In this case, the researchers used AAV to deliver a gene that caused the mouse muscle cells to produce an antibody that's known to neutralize gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).
GnRH is referred to by scientists as a "master regulator of reproduction" in vertebrates, because it stimulates the hormones that go on to promote the formation of eggs, sperm, and sex steroids. Without GnRH, animals are infertile.
In this test on mice, the injection caused infertility in around two months, and most of the mice remained infertile for the rest of their lives.
http://www.sciencealert.com/a-one-off-injection-could-replace-the-need-to-spay-and-neuter-your-pets
Print Customized jewelry with a 3D printer
Trove launched this week, and is a platform that lets users customize and buy personalized, 3D-printed jewelry. Based in NYC, the company has raised a $640k seed round from Resolute Ventures and Uprise Ventures.
Here’s how it works: A 3D printer is used to create a mold for the jewelry, which the precious metal is then poured inside of to create the piece.
Printing these one-off molds allows for some serious customization. Trove, which is launching with around 30 jewelry designs on its platform, estimates that its customization tools allow users to turn those 30 designs into hundreds of thousands of unique pieces.
http://techcrunch.com/2015/10/08/trove-lets-you-customize-gold-and-silver-jewelry-using-3d-printing/
Amazon opens marketplace for handmade items, watch out Etsy
Amazon has announced a new competitor to Etsy, Handmade an online store. The new venture has arrived in response to the success of Etsy, the artisan-goods company that just went public with a massive $3.5 billion valuation. The store is divided into seven categories, including jewelry, home decor, artwork and furniture. That'll give you a chance to find some one-of-a-kind paintings, along with items like leather magnetic cuffs, walnut rocking chairs and a beer growler holder.
Amazon has 80,000 items in the store already from artisans in over 60 countries around the world. The company told the NYT that "you can think of it as a factory-free zone... we're going to launch with an experience that's very different." The retail giant has promised that every item is genuinely handmade, and every artisan has a profile on the site so you can see how they make their items. Meanwhile, Etsy recently allowed vendors to outsource manufacturing, and has faced questions over counterfeit goods on its site.
However, artisans have expressed concerns over the higher fees that Amazon charges, and think that the corporate vibe doesn't mesh with craft culture.
http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/08/amazon-handmade-artisan-store/
Sony Price Cut for PS4
Starting October 9, the PlayStation 4 will be a little cheaper in the U.S. and Canada.
The PS4, which is currently $399.99 USD, will be marked down to $349.99 in the U.S., while in Canada, the console, which now costs $449.99 CAD, will be marked down to $429.99.
This appears to be for the 500GB HDD PlayStation 4 and follows hot on the heels of a price cut Japan got earlier this month.
http://techcrunch.com/2015/10/08/sony-cuts-price-of-playstation-4-for-the-first-time-to-349/
UBISOFT VENTURES TO THE STONE AGE WITH FAR CRY PRIMAL
The Nerdist reports that the next Far Cry game will be set in the savage world of Oros, and will take place during the brutal Stone Age — a time where the largest and strongest beasts were the conquerors of the land.
Players will assume the role of Takkar, a lone hunter who, unfortunately, becomes the last remaining member of his tribe. With no one left to stand by him in the wilderness, Takkar’s life becomes a constant struggle for survival. Far Cry Primal aims to uncover the brutality of the Stone Age and will task players with rebuilding their own tribe, developing the skills to lead them, facing off against enemy tribes, and defeating predators of all types in order to become the apex hunter.
The game series Far Cry is known for letting the player craft weapons, upgrade abilities, and customize their play style through character customization throughout the game.
http://nerdist.com/ubisoft-ventures-to-the-stone-age-with-far-cry-primal/
Paramount studios puts over 100 movies online for Free
Screen Crush reports that Paramount has launched the official Paramount Vault YouTube channel, offering 150 contemporary and classic titles to stream for free (as long as you’re in the U.S.).
Now these aren’t going to be any of their new movies but classics Masters of the Universe, American Ninja, and other older movies starring actors like John Wayne and Bing Crosby.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzMVH2jEyEwXPBvyht8xQNw
http://screencrush.com/paramount-youtube-free-vault/
Marvel announces new movies
“Ant-Man,” Scott Lang will return alongside Hope Van Dyne on July 6, 2018 with Marvel’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp.” The sequel will mark the first Marvel Studios film named after its heroine.
Additionally, Ant-Man’s second adventure will lead to a couple of other films shifting their dates, with Marvel’s “Black Panther” moving up to February 16, 2018 and Marvel’s “Captain Marvel” landing on March 8, 2019.
Finally, three untitled Marvel Studios films will premiere on May 1, 2020, July 10, 2020, and November 6, 2020.
https://marvel.com/news/movies/25244/marvel_studios_phase_3_update?linkId=17794833
Back to the Future Promos
USA Today reports that in honor of Back to the Future month, Pepsi will be releasing the famous bottle of Pepsi Marty McFly ordered in Back to the Future II, the Pepsi Perfect. Pepsi is only planning on making 6,500 bottles at $20.15 each.
Universal Studios also released the trailer for Jaws 19, the famous Jaws movie from Back to the Future II.
Jaws 19 Trailer: https://youtu.be/Pl092whRLlI
http://www.geekbytespodcast.com/news/2015/10/5/pepsi-releases-special-bottle-for-back-to-the-future-month
Harry Potter Books Enhanced versions
For the first time, Apple is now selling the Harry Potter books directly in the iBooks Store. In addition to that, Apple has worked with J.K. Rowling’s team to produce enhanced editions — you can expect new animated illustrations and exclusive author notes, custom typefaces and drop caps.
As a reminder, the Harry Potter e-books were only available in the Pottermore Shop until today. You could buy the books for $8.99 each and then send your copy to your Kindle, iPhone, iPad, Nook, Kobo and more. Pottermore sells the Harry Potter e-books in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese and Portuguese. The English edition costs $8.99 per book.
With today’s new editions, the books are available as a direct purchase in the iBooks Store in English. Available in 32 countries, the new books cost $9.99 or the local equivalent. French, German and Spanish versions will be available on November 9.
Trailers of the Week
Pan
12-year-old orphan Peter is spirited away to the magical world of Neverland, where he finds both fun and dangers, and ultimately discovers his destiny -- to become the hero who will be forever known as Peter Pan. In theaters now.
Experimenter
Famed social psychologist Stanley Milgram, in 1961 conducted a series of radical behavior experiments that tested ordinary human’s willingness to obey authority.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2final trailer
After being symbolized as the "Mockingjay", Katniss Everdeen and District 13 engage in an all-out revolution against the autocratic Capitol.
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
Man up- Jack (Simon Pegg) mistakes Nancy (Lake Bell), a 34-year-old single woman, for his 24-year-old blind date.
The Martian - When astronauts blast off from the planet Mars, they leave behind Mark Watney (Matt Damon), presumed dead after a fierce storm. With only a meager amount of supplies, the stranded visitor must utilize his wits and spirit to find a way to survive on the hostile planet. Meanwhile, back on Earth, members of NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring him home, while his crew mates hatch their own plan for a daring rescue mission.
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/