Episode 53 – Our Podiversary
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Welcome to another episode of Geek Bytes Podcast.
I’m Ramon Mejia…….and I’m Edgar Acosta
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 Apple and the FBI report to Congress, New York Judge rules against FBI, HaloLens Pre-Orders Open, Google Car’s 1st Accident, Facebook VP jailed in Brazil, Disney Infinity Next , the Fantastic Beast Trilogy, Trailers of the Week and More…
In our Discussion section we talk about…the new TV shows we’re watching: The Expanse, Second Chance, Love, Fuller House, 11.22.63
Now let’s Begin our show with Geek News
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Geek News
Apple and the FBI report to Congress
This week Apple and the FBI have presented its case for maintaining the strength of its encryption to an audience that may ultimately have the final say: Congress. 9 to 5 Mac summarized the main points from each side during the 5 hours of testimony.
FBI #1: ‘Warrant-proof spaces’
The FBI asked whether it is reasonable that Apple be allowed to create environments that cannot be penetrated by the government even when it comes armed with a search warrant.
FBI #2: Costs to society
The FBI points out that allowing a cooperation to decide something like this would come at a cost to society.
FBI #3: Ancient law still valid today
Even though the All Writs Act is old the Constitution is older, and it’s still a pretty good document.
FBI #4: No other way to get the data
The FBI denied that the government possessed the means to access the iPhone without Apple’s help.
FBI #5: Apple hasn’t suggested a way forward
A member of the congressional committee, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, noted that while Apple has agreed there is a balance to be struck here between privacy and law enforcement, the company hasn’t put forward any suggestion as to how this balance might best be achieved.
Apple #1: This could never be undone
Apple legal counsel hammered home the point that this is a one-way street – once the tool has been invented, it cannot be uninvented.
Apple #2: It wouldn’t just affect older iPhones
The tool Apple’s being asked to create will work on any iPhone in use today.
Apple #3: The tool could fall into the wrong hands
Once the tool exists, there is always the risk that it would get into the wrong hands
All it takes for things to go badly wrong is a bit of neglect in the process or the collaboration of a rogue employee.
Apple #4: We all have legitimate things to hide
The Apple legal team demolished the suggestion that only criminals and terrorists with things to hide have anything to fear.
They pointed out that smartphones are increasingly becoming like wallets, providing access to accounts (not only financial, but also various online accounts, such as Dropbox), and storing emails and notes, including ones from meetings or design drawings and the like.
Apple #5: Repressive regimes will want it too
Once the U.S. government has been given access to a master key, other governments around the world will demand the same.
Apple #6: The FBI doesn’t need Apple’s help in such cases
Apple pointed out that it wasn’t true that the government had no way to access the iPhone without Apple’s help. They described the chip de-capping technique pointed to by Edward Snowden, and that the NSA may have capabilities the FBI doesn’t.
Apple #7: This would breach both First and Fifth Amendments
Compelling Apple to write code against its will was a violation of both First and Fifth Amendments. The Supreme Court has already recognized computer code as protected speech under the First Amendment, and the Fifth Amendment protects Apple against coercion.
http://www.wired.com/2016/03/apple-and-fbi-iphone-hacking-fight-congressional-hearing/
http://9to5mac.com/2016/03/02/apple-fbi-congress-hearing/
New York Judge rules against FBI
The Magistrate Judge Orenstein of the US Court for the Eastern District of New York ruled Monday afternoon that the All Writs Act could not be used to justify a government request to compel Apple to assist accessing data on an iPhone running iOS7.
It is important to note this is NOT the high-profile San Beranardino case, but a drug case where the defendant has already settled but is awaiting sentencing.
http://www.theverge.com/2016/2/29/11135986/new-york-apple-fbi-iphone-encryption-ruling
Microsoft takes orders for HaloLens
Microsoft began taking orders Monday for its $3,000 HoloLens Development Edition which launches March 30th in the US and Canada to approved developers. Hardware includes the headset, a charger, a Bluetooth 4.1 controller, carrying case, a microfiber cloth, and replacement nose pieces. Software included will be HoloStudio, an enhanced Skype, and HoloTour for 360-degree displays.
Meta Augments Reality Pre-Orders
Meta started taking pre-orders for its Meta 2 Augmented Reality headset. The Meta 2 offers 88-degree field of view and a 2560x1440 display. Meta is targeting business uses. You can preorder it for $949.
Google Car’s 1st Accident
The Verge passes along a report from Economist writer Mark Harris, that one of Google’s Self-driving Lexuses had a low-speed collision with a bus in Mountain View, California. For the first time Google does not claim it is not at fault. The car was moving at about 2 miles per hour from the right-turn lane to the center lane in order to go around some sand bags in the road. It made contact with the side of the bus which was traveling at 15 mph and did not slow. That damaged the Google car’s left front fender, left front wheel and one driver’s side sensor. No injuries were reported.
http://www.theverge.com/2016/2/29/11134344/google-self-driving-car-crash-report
Facebook VP jailed in Brazil
This week Brazil’s Federal Police arrested Facebook’s vice President for Latin America Diego Dzodan while he was on his way to work in São Paulo.
Facebook is accused of disobeying a court order to assist investigators in a drug case involving a WhatsApp user.
WhatsApp says it has cooperated, “to the full extent of our ability,” and can’t give law enforcement information it does not have.
The next day Judge Ruy Pinheiro ordered the VP released calling his imprisonment an “extreme and disproportionate measure” and “unlawful coercion”.
http://fortune.com/2016/03/01/brazil-facebook-arrest/
http://news.yahoo.com/brazil-judge-orders-release-facebook-executive-130638549.html
Phantom 4 released
DJI introduced its latest drone the Phantom 4 that can see and avoid obstacles with 4 cameras and 2 ultrasonic sensors plus flight software. It also includes a 4K main camera with a new lens, ActiveTrack that automatically tracks camera subjects, Sport mode that boosts the drone’s speed from 35 to 65 mph, and a larger 5350 mAh battery that allows 28 minutes of power on a single charge. The Phantom is available today on DJI.com and Apple.com for $1399 and in DJI’s store in Shenzhen and Apple Stores around the world March 15th.
Amazon adds the $130 Tap and the $90 Dot to the Echo family
The Echo has received more than 33,000 Amazon reviews at a nearly five-star rating since launching in late 2014 and was one of the best-selling items going for more than $100 over the holidays.
Amazon is now introducing two new members to the Echo family with slightly different uses in hopes of achieving a similar reaction: Amazon Tap ($130) is a portable version of the original Echo, and Echo Dot ($90) is a tiny, hockey-puck-sized version that includes a built-in line-out connector to hook into your choice of speaker.
Disney Infinity Next
Disney released a video this week outlining their plans for the upcoming expansion of the Disney Infinity 3.0 line.
Disney plans to release four new Play Sets that are compatible with Disney Infinity 3.0 in 2016 – including Zootopia, and The Jungle Book.
Disney introduced three new characters: Black Panther, Ant-Man and Vision.
Disney is also introducing four-player local co-op gameplay to Disney Infinity called Marvel Battlegrounds. The system will also support all the Disney 2.0 characters.
https://infinity.disney.com/news/4468/disney-infinity-next-spring
No Man’s Sky gets release date
No Man’s Sky, the highly anticipated procedurally generated space game will be released for PS4 consoles on June 21, 2016
http://nerdist.com/no-mans-sky-7-things-you-didnt-know/
Fuller House gets 2nd season order
Variety reports that Netflix has ordered a 2nd season for the Netflix original series Fuller House. The show has been only been available for a little over 2 weeks but seems to have proved popular enough to get the green light on season 2.
https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/fuller-house-renewed-season-2-netflix-1201720261/
J.K. Rowling Confirms Harry Potter Spinoff 'Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them' Will Be A Trilogy
Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them is coming this November, but Warner Bros. hasn't revealed much details about the upcoming pre-Harry Potter film. Now, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who is making her screenwriting debut in the film, has officially confirmed via Twitter that Fantastic Beasts will be a trilogy.
That’s it for Geek New
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. This week we begin with…
Ghostbusters
With paranormal activity on the rise, a Columbia University academic, her ghost-chasing friend, the friend's business partner, and an MTA employee join forces to bust ghosts and save New York. In theaters July 15, 2016
Finding Dory
The sequel to Finding Nemo finally has a trailer. Join Dory on her search for her family June 17, 2016.
Kill Command
Set in a near future, technology-reliant society that pits man against killing machines. Release date May 13 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPLEjs7im9c
The Man Who Knew Infinity
Growing up poor in Madras, India, Srinivasa Ramanujan Iyengar earns admittance to Cambridge University during WWI, where he becomes a pioneer in mathematical theories with the guidance of his professor, G.H. Hardy.
In theaters September 17, 2015
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…
Some new TV shows we’ve been watching
· The Expanse
· Second Chance
· Love
· Fuller House
· 11.22.63
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