Episode 56 –The Canceled FBI fight and the Nazi Tweetbot
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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’s canceled fight with the FBI, the new iPhone, Microsoft’s Nazi Tweetbot, the new MacGyver, the best Trailers of the Week and More…
Now let’s Begin our show with Geek News
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Geek News
Apple Vs FBI canceled due to Hacker
Remember that court case where the FBI was trying to force Apple to unlock the iPhone of the San Bernardino shooter? Well, that’s on hold for now. This Monday, the FBI filed a motion to vacate Tuesday’s hearing and issue a stay for Apple to assist the FBI. On Sunday a third party demonstrated to the FBI a method for unlocking the phone without Apple’s assistance. US Magistrate Sheri Pym canceled Tuesday’s hearing and issued a stay. The FBI asked for two weeks to test the new method. The FBI must give the judge a status report by April 5.
There are rumors that Israeli security firm, Cellebrite who specializes in recovering data from cellphones, is the company helping the FBI.
http://www.cnet.com/news/fbis-iphone-hack-help-may-come-from-israeli-security-firm/
Apple Announcements
The Verge put together a list of the most exciting Apple announcements this week. Including:
The 4-inch iPhone SE- A smaller version of the iPhone 6S. It has A9 processor and 12-megapixel rear camera for the $399 16GB model, which is alarmingly little space for a modern phone, but $499 for the more spacious 64GB one. The company will start taking pre-orders this Thursday, and the device will be available March 31st.
The 9.7-inch iPad Pro- The latest iPad has shrunk from 12.9-inch to a smaller 9.7-inch version. The specs for the machine are about the same though it does weigh under one pound now. The new iPad comes in silver, gold, space grey, and rose gold. Pricing starts at $599 for the 32GB version, but is also offered at $749 for 128GB and a 256GB model for $899
Apple Watch price cut – The $349 Apple Watch will now start at $299. Along with it, Apple announced a new lineup of watch bands with new colors.
http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/21/11255472/apple-iphone-se-ipad-pro-event-recap-highlights
Microsoft Teen Tweetbot Goes Wild
The Telegraph reported that Developers at Microsoft created 'Tay', an AI modelled to speak 'like a teen girl', in order to improve the customer service on their voice recognition software. The idea was to teach the AI about culture by having it tweet with people online. Within 24 hours however the internet taught Tay to be a Hitler-loving, sex-promoting, 'Bush did 9/11'-proclaiming robot. Microsoft has since shut down Tay.
Hulu VR
Hulu launched an app designed for the Samsung Gear VR headset available in the Gear VR Oculus Store. It includes normal content as well as 25 exclusive original VR shows and films. Those are available even if you’re not subscribed to Hulu. Hulu says it’s the first of several VR apps for different platforms.
http://techcrunch.com/2016/03/24/hulu-steps-into-virtual-reality-with-a-new-app-for-samsung-gear-vr/
VR Porn
The video site PornHub is partnering with BaDoinkVR to launch a new VR section of the PornHub website. The site is offering free cardboard VR goggle’s to its users.
http://thenextweb.com/insider/2016/03/23/pornhub-goes-long-vr-new-virtual-reality-section/
Unleash the CRACAN
John Hopkins Applied Physics Lab released a video this week showing off its latest unmanned aerial vehicle. The Corrosion Resistant Aerial Covert Unmanned Nautical System, or CRACUNS, is a submersible UAV that can be launched from a fixed position underwater. It can stay under seawater for up to two months and still launch into the air.
http://www.jhuapl.edu/newscenter/pressreleases/2016/160317.asp
Marvel Internship competition for STEM girls
Marvel is inviting girls between ages 15-18 to submit creative STEM-based projects that have the potential to make the world a better place. Five finalists will be flown to California, where they will present their project to a panel of experts and they’ll also get to walk the red carpet at the Captain America: Civil War world premiere, take a tour of the Walt Disney Studios and Dolby Laboratories, participate in a live global Broadcom Masters webinar and discuss their STEM skills, and receive a $500 Savings account from Synchrony Bank.
A grand prize winner will be selected from the five, and she will win an internship with Marvel. The deadline for entry is March 26.
https://youtu.be/3vY9GhjGq8o --Scarlet Witch and Agent 13 (Elizabeth Olsen and Emily VanCamp) Promo for Marvel STEM internship
http://geekandsundry.com/young-girls-in-stem-can-compete-to-win-an-internship-with-marvel/
HP Lovecraft Casting
Deadline reports that Ron Perlman and Christopher Plummer have been cast in the upcoming animated film Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom.
The story follows a young Howard Lovecraft who visits his estranged father in a mental institute. In the meeting, his father gives him one piece of advice, do not read the Necronomicon. Thanks to his loving mother who gives him the book as a gift, he reads it. In doing so, it sends him to a different world that he must try to survive in. During his journey, he befriends a creature that he dubs Spot and adventures ensue.
MacGyver cast in CBS Pilot
CBS has found its young MacGyver in X-Men co-star Lucas Till. The 25-year-old actor will play the title role in the CBS drama pilot MacGyver, a reimagining of the 1985 series about a resourceful and ingenious agent who improvises his way out of sticky situations using everyday items like rubber bands, chewing gum and a Swiss Army knife.
https://deadline.com/2016/03/lucas-till-cast-macgyver-cbs-pilot-x-men-1201723767/
Cartoon Network orders new FLCL episodes
This week Cartoon Network announced that they are partnering with Legendary Pictures to produce 12 new episodes for the 2001 hit anime FLCL (pronounced “Fooly Cooly") the story of how A boy's humdrum life is turned upside-down with the arrival of an alien investigator.
https://youtu.be/5tYLzFxoW2Y - Trailer for FLCL
http://renewcanceltv.com/flcl-renewed-for-seasons-2-3-by-adult-swim/
That’s it for Geek New
We’ll move on to trailers of the week.
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In our Trailers of the Week section we discuss the best trailers that came out this week. Remember you can watch the full trailers at geekbytespodcast.com; We begin this week with…
War Dogs
The true story of two young men, David Packouz and Efraim Diveroli, who won a $300 million contract from the Pentagon to arm America's allies in Afghanistan. Starring: Miles Teller and Jonah Hill
Release date: August 19, 2016 (USA)
Bridget Jones’ Baby
With two men (Colin Firth, Patrick Dempsey) in her life, a now 40 year old pregnant Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger) must figure out who's the father of her baby.
Release date: September 16, 2016 (USA)
Special Correspondents
Eric Bana is teaming up with Ricky Gervais for a Netflix original movie called Special Correspondents, in which the duo play NYC radio broadcasters who pretend to be reporting from Ecuador. When their cover is almost blown, they end up having to actually go there and really get into the action they've tried so hard to avoid.
Flash Supergirl Crossover
CBS has released the trailer for “World’s Finest,” which finds Barry Allen trapped on Supergirl’s world. The video glosses over how Barry got there and how he came to be on a first name basis with Melissa Benoist’s Kara. Instead, it jumps to instant camaraderie between the two heroes as they team up to take down Silver Banshee and Livewire. The episode airs Monday March 28th.
That’s it for us this week folks.
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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/