Episode 40 – Facebook Billions and Starbucks Delivery
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Welcome to another episode of Geek Bytes Podcast.
I’m Ramon Mejia…….and I’m Edgar Acosta
Before we begin we want to give our condolences to the families of the victims of the mass shooting that happened this week in San Bernadino, Ca.
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 Facebook Billions going to Charity, the NonProfit French Uber Alternative, Google’s new app turns your phone into a VR camera, Starbucks test a Delivery service, The Mystery Science Theater reboot, Trailers of the Week and More…
In our Discussion section we talk about…our impressions of the video game Transformers: Devastation
Now let’s Begin our show with Geek News
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Geek News
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan to donate 99 percent of their Facebook fortune
The Verge reports that Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have pledged to donate 99 percent of their Facebook shares to the cause of human advancement. That represents roughly $45 billion at Facebook's current valuation, making it one of the largest pledges in history. The money will go to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a company that Facebook says will "pursue its mission by funding non-profit organizations, making private investments and participating in policy debates, in each case with the goal of generating positive impact in areas of great need."
http://www.theverge.com/2015/12/1/9831554/mark-zuckerberg-charity-45-billion
Bill Gates has teamed up with Mark Zuckerberg to form multi-billion-dollar clean energy fund
Bill Gates has launched a multi-billion-dollar initiative to fund new clean energy technologies, with the likes of Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, Alibaba CEO Jack Ma, and Virgin Group's Richard Branson among the band of almost 30 high-profile early investors who are committed to taking clean-energy ideas out of the lab and into the marketplace to cut the cost of sustainable energy once and for all.
Angry French Uber drivers have created their own Uber
Frustrated with Uber's recent decision to cut fares across Paris, some French drivers have staged protests, formed unions, and even created their own competing services. Last month, a group of Uber chauffeurs launched their own Uber-like smartphone app, which they hope will lure drivers away from the American platform and ultimately give them greater control over their business. Its founder envisions it as a "Made in France" alternative to Uber.
The app, called VTC Cab, takes a 20 percent commission for every trip in Paris, VTC Cab charges its drivers a monthly fee of €250, and allows them to keep all of what they earn. Radi, the add developer, says the fee will go toward maintaining the app and staffing the association. Radi adds that VTC Cab will offer a customer service phone line that users can call, rather than Uber's email-based system.
http://www.theverge.com/2015/12/3/9841562/french-uber-drivers-launch-app-vtc-cab
Google's latest app can turn Android phones into VR cameras
Available only on Android, the new Google Cardboard Camera app essentially lets you take 360-degree photos, but with a twist. You tap the camera button and turn around in a full circle just like you would capture a panorama. But once you put the phone into Cardboard, those photos will magically transform into something Google calls "VR photos." The images are suddenly three-dimensional; objects in the distance are far away while close-up items seem so close you can touch them. What's more, you can also choose to record surrounding audio as you're capturing the panorama. And then when you're playing it back, the sound makes the 360-degree three-dimensional imagery feel even more immersive.
Any modern Android smartphone should be compatible. The Cardboard Camera app is available starting today on the Google Play store in 17 languages.
http://www.engadget.com/2015/12/03/google-cardboard-camera/
Starbucks tests delivery service in Seattle
The coffee giant Starbucks launched a limited pilot delivery service this week in several neighborhoods in Central Seattle, enabling Apple-device users to order on a Starbucks app. The company has partnered with Postmates, an Uber-like delivery service that relies on freelancers. The service guarantees to deliver your Starbucks beverage of choice within 30 minutes with an added cost of $5.99 per delivery.
http://www.seattletimes.com/business/starbucks/starbucks-tests-delivery-service-in-seattle/
Turkish Court to Decide if ‘Lord of The Rings” Gollum Insults Country’s President
The Wrap reports that a Turkish court will have to decide whether or not “Lord of the Rings” character Gollum is truly good or bad.
The bizarre decision is part of a case involving Turkish man named Bilgin Ciftci, who faces up to two years in prison after he juxtaposed a picture of the character with a picture of Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ciftci’s lawyer Hicran Danisman told the Associated Press on Wednesday that she was forced to argue that Gollum is not a bad character after her initial freedom of expression defense fell flat.
According to Danisman, the argument prompted the judge in the case to rule that a panel of psychologists and film experts should provide a detailed assessment of the character.
http://www.thewrap.com/turkish-court-to-decide-if-lord-of-rings-gollum-insults-countrys-president/
Dark Souls 3 gets release date
PC gamer reports that Dark Souls 3 just announced their release date of April 12th 2016 for most of the world. If you happen to live in Japan though you can start dying in the game on March 24. Dark Souls 3 will be available for PC, PS4, and XboxOne.
http://www.pcgamer.com/dark-souls-3-gets-a-release-date/
Telltale Games Announces New Batman Series
At the Game Awards this week Telltale games announced a new series focused on DC Entertainment's Batman.
That's right, the studio behind the massively successful Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead series of games is taking on the caped crusader.
Telltale games says that “This iteration of Batman will give fans a first-hand opportunity to dive deeper into the complex life and mind of Bruce Wayne, the duality of his own identity, and the struggle of responsibility in saving a city overcome with corruption and villainy.”
http://comicbook.com/2015/12/04/telltale-games-announces-new-batman-series/
Samurai Jack is Back
This week Cartoon Network announced that JACK IS BACK. Creator and executive producer Genndy Tartakovsky continues the epic story of Samurai Jack with a new season that will premiere on Adult Swim’s Toonami block in 2016.
The new season is currently in production in Los Angeles at Cartoon Network Studios.
Rambo Tv series in the works
A Rambo TV series is now in the works at Fox, where a deal was closed to develop Rambo: New Blood.
It's unclear whether Stallone will reprise his titular role in the series but he is onboard to executive produce, however, plot details suggest New Blood will follow Rambo and his son and Stallone is expected to appear but there is no confirmation just yet.
http://comicbook.com/2015/12/01/rambo-tv-series-in-works-with-sylvester-stallone-involved/
Mystery Science Theater 3000 reboot
The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Kickstarter has passed its stretch goal of $3.3 million to guarantee a six-episode season.
MST3K creator Joel Hodgson has announced that Patton Oswalt is joining the cast of the new series as TV’s Son of TV’s Frank. As his intentionally awkward character name implies, Oswalt will play the son of TV’s Frank, the iconic henchman portrayed by Frank Conniff in the original Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Patton Oswalts will join cast members Felicia Day, the new mad scientist Kinga Forrester, and The Nerdist Podcast co-host Jonah Ray as the new host of MST3K
The next major stretch goal for the MST3K Kickstarter is $5.5 million, which will ensure a 12-episode season. The Kickstarter campaign will run until Friday, December 11.
http://nerdist.com/patton-oswalt-is-the-new-henchman-on-mystery-science-theater-3000/
Mark Hamill Goes Undercover as a Stormtrooper on Hollywood Blvd
The cast & filmmakers of Star Wars: The Force Awakens have teamed up with Omaze to benefit some incredible charities.
Mark Hamill took to the streets to spread the news for the project called Force for Change, as a storm trooper. Every $10 donation gets you a chance to attend the film's premiere here: http://bit.ly/MarkHamillUndercover
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7BwIyNN9rs
That’s it for Geek News
We’ll move on to trailers of the week.
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Trailers of the Week
Every week we bring you the best trailers that came out this week. We play you clips and talk about them. We’ll start with…
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
The latest trailer for this March blockbuster gives a ton of spoilers for Dawn of Justice. It reveals the big villain, and shows off the major players in the film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvP4RIqSbiw
I Saw the Light
Singer and songwriter Hank Williams (Tom Hiddleston) rises to fame in the 1940s, but alcohol abuse and infidelity take a toll on his career and marriage to fellow musician Audrey Mae Williams (Elizabeth Olsen).
That’s it for Trailers of the Week
Now onto our Discussion section
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In our discussion section we talk about anything we’re interested in this week, and this week we’ll begin our discussion with…
Our review of Transformers: Devastation
Edgar will be at the Claremont Packing House in southern Ca. on Sunday 6th till 5pm selling figures, comics, original art work by Jamie Sullivan.
https://www.facebook.com/ClaremontPackingHouseComicBookShow/
That’s it for us this week. Thanks for listening.
For the Geek Bytes Podcast I’m Ramon Mejia and I’m Edgar Acosta. 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/