Month: October 2015

Der Hersteller Weenect bietet einen neuen GPS-Tracker für Katzen an - mit einer ungewöhnlichen Zusatzfunktion: Dank eingebautem Mikrofon und Lautsprecher lässt sich die Mieze auch anrufen. Was zunächst komisch klingt, könnte im Ernstfall Hinweise auf den Verbleib der Katze liefern. (GPS)

Eine der spannendsten Neuerungen von DirectX 12 ist die Option, dedizierte Grafikkarten unterschiedlicher Hersteller zu koppeln oder mit einer integrierten Grafikeinheit zu verbinden. Ein erster Test zeigt, dass das prinzipiell klappt - einige Fragen aber bleiben offen. (DirectX-12, DirectX)

Mitte November 2015 will Microsoft das neue, technisch auf Windows 10 basierende Dashboard für die Xbox One inklusive der Abwärtskompatibilität zur Vorgängerkonsole veröffentlichen. Neuerungen wie Cortana und DirectX-12 folgen erst 2016. (Xbox One, Xbox 360)

Two prominent filmmaker groups are urging the US government to criminalize streaming piracy, which they say will "level the playing field" when it comes to piracy.

Under current laws, those who upload copyrighted content for illegal streaming online, and those who offer the same content for downloading or file sharing are treated different. The former is considered as a form of "public performance", while the latter is considered distribution.

As a result, the penalties for both types of offences differ, with distribution treated as a felony, while streaming is only a misdemeanor.

This, the Directors Guild of America, Inc. (DGA) and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) say, is hampering efforts to curb online piracy.

"While illegal downloading of our members’ creative works remains the best known method of Internet theft, illegal Internet streaming has actually become the preferred viewing and listening experience," the groups write in their submission to the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator, who is currently seeking public consultation on a new Intellectual Property Enforcement plan.

"Unfortunately, the law has not kept pace with these new consumer habits. While illegal downloading and distribution is a felony, the illegal, willful, and commercial streaming of films, TV programs, and music remains only a misdemeanor."

If the DGA and IATSE get their way, those who upload videos to YouTube and either deliberately or inadvertently include copyrighted content could find themselves committing a felony, and be subject to prosecution from the Department of Justice. While this is an extreme case that's unlikely to occur, with the DoJ most likely devoting their resources to going after bigger targets. 

It is also worth noting that even with current laws, the DoJ have the power to seize domain names and seek other legal measures against the operators of streaming sites.

Sprachassistenten sollen das Autofahren sicherer machen, doch beim Test eines US-Automobilclubs zeigte sich, dass die Lösungen von Google, Apple und Microsoft auch ablenken. Besonders negativ haben sich Cortana und Siri auf die Konzentration ausgewirkt. (Auto, Technologie)

Der iOS-Entwickler Simon Goldman hat die 3D-Touch-Funktion des neuen iPhone 6S dazu genutzt, Gegenstände auf dem Touchscreen des iPhones zu wiegen. Seine App ist derzeit nur bei iPhones mit Jailbreak nutzbar. Eine Grammzahl nennt die App noch nicht. (iPhone 6S, Smartphone)

Apple droht in den USA eine Sammelklage mit einem millionenschweren Streitwert, weil die Funktion WLAN Assist in iOS 9 das mobile Datenvolumen der Nutzer nutzt, wenn die WLAN-Verbindung zu schlecht ist. Die Funktion ist standardmäßig aktiv. (iOS 9, WLAN)

Smartphone makers are starting to add pressure-sensitive touchscreens to their devices, allowing the phones to tell the difference between hard and soft presses. Apple calls this 3D Touch, while most others call it Force Touch. Either way, if you don’t have a phone with a Force Touch display, you can’t use Force Touch features, right? Maybe […]

Who needs Force Touch when you’ve got a barometer? is a post from: Liliputing

Xiaomi’s smartphones have made a big splash in China in recent years, and the company recently announced that it’s sold 3 million phones in India since entering that market a little over a year ago. Now it looks like there’s a chance Xiaomi may finally be preparing to bring some of its smartphones to the […]

Xiaomi Redmi 2 Pro smartphones hits the FCC is a post from: Liliputing

There’s been a resurgence of small, low-cost laptops in the past few years. The term “netbook” may have died around the turn of the decade, but low-cost Chromebooks continue to grow in popularity, and in recent years Acer, Asus, HP, and Lenovo have all introduced small Windows notebooks with price tags in the $200 to […]

Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 11 review: A Windows 10 notebook for under $200… but it comes at a cost is a post from: Liliputing