AT&T Says There Are Nearly 800,000 DirecTV Now Streaming Subscribers

For years, the growing number of video streaming services available to TV viewers has eaten away at the subscriber base for pay-TV services. Traditional cable providers have avoided disaster thus far because even if customers cancel their TV package they still need to purchase their internet access from somebody (and many of us don’t have a choice about where to buy it). But satellite providers like DirecTV and Dish face the looming threat of cord-cutting without anything to offer cord-cutters other than ugly roof decor.

That’s why Dish and DirecTV each now offer so-called “over the top” (OTT) streaming video services that provide live TV feeds over the internet. Dish was first to launch with Sling TV in early 2015 while DirecTV’s DirecTV Now service didn’t come out until the end of 2016.

As we’ve covered before, there are a number of obstacles in the way of these services reaching mass adoption, like the fact that they may be a little too much like traditional cable for those cord-cutters who truly only want to pay for the channels they watch.

While it will take some time to see if OTT platforms are really what people want (but just don’t know yet) or just an evolutionary phase in video entertainment, the latest numbers from AT&T give us some idea of whether or not these streaming services are helping to make up for satellite companies’ cord-cutting losses.

According to DirecTV’s parent company AT&T, it added 296,000 DirecTV Now subscribers in its most recent quarter, pushing the total number of subscribers to the OTT service to just shy of 800,000.

At the same time, AT&T and DirecTV lost 385,000 traditional pay-TV customers. The report doesn’t break out satellite losses versus those who canceled their more traditional AT&T U-Verse service, but given that DirecTV has the overwhelming bulk of the company’s approximately 25 million pay-TV customers, we can probably assume that most of these cancelations were satellite.

The gains and losses still come out to a net decline of 85,000 pay-TV customers for AT&T, and DirecTV Now packages — which start at $35/month — are likely bringing in less revenue than the satellite and cable customers that were lost. However, there is also less overhead involved with DirecTV Now: no installation; no buying, leasing, repairing, shipping, receiving equipment; no having to send someone out to repair a knocked-over dish. And even the biggest DirecTV Now plan has fewer channels than your typical DirecTV video plan, which likely means fewer carriage fees for AT&T to pay.

The question for AT&T is going to be if it can continue to grow DirecTV Now at a rate that not only balances out the hemorrhaged pay-TV customers but ultimately results in a net positive gain for the company. Dish has been at this for two years, and its Sling TV gains do not appear to have reached that point.

Dish doesn’t provide specific numbers on its Sling TV subscribers. Instead, this figure is wrapped into Dish’s overall pay-TV customer base. However, analysts have estimated that — as of mid-summer 2017 — Sling had about 2 million paying customers.

In the first quarter of 2015, when Dish launched Sling, it had a total of 13.844 million subscribers. According to its most recent financials, the company now has 13.332 million subscribers. That means that, even with the infusion of 2 million Sling customers, Dish still has seen a net loss of more than 500,000 subscribers over the course of 10 quarters.

Sling is still the most popular of the OTT streaming services, but it was also the first and most heavily publicized. It also offers packages that start at only $20 a month.

While DirecTV and Sling are attempting to curb their losses by offering OTT video services, they have a growing number of competitors in this market.

Sony’s PlayStation Vue which was hampered at launch by requiring that subscribers have a PlayStation gaming console. YouTube TV launched earlier this year, but in limited markets, and without some of the premium add-ons offered by its competition. The YouTube TV app has been downloaded a few million times, but that has no correlation to actual subscriber numbers. Hulu also recently began offering live-TV access an add-on option to its streaming on-demand service.

by Chris Morran via Consumerist

Canon EOS 6D Mark II Tutorials: Built-in GPS

This video explains how to use the EOS 6D Mark II camera’s built-in GPS functionality, which lets you tag images inside the camera with location data, as you shoot; and the logging function, which can track the camera’s path during a 24-hour period.
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Canon EOS 6D Mark II Tutorials: AF Custom Functions: AF Point Management

This tutorial is all about Managing your focus points with the EOS 6D Mark II. Learn the options you have to change the size of a focusing point, and to move it quickly from one location to another.
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Canon EOS 6D Mark II Tutorials: Maximize Image Quality

In this tutorial video on the EOS 6D Mark II camera, you will learn how working with Picture Style settings can help you control elements of image quality such as contrast, tonal range, color, detail and sharpening.
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Canon EOS 6D Mark II Tutorials: Video AF

Learn about the EOS 6D Mark II camera’s Autofocus features and capabilities during video recording, including continuous focus with Movie Servo AF , Face Detect + Tracking, and touchscreen operation.
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Canon EOS 6D Mark II Tutorials: Auto ISO

Find out how the EOS 6D Mark II camera can make it easier to work with light that is changing quickly by using the Auto ISO feature.
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Canon EOS 6D Mark II Tutorials: AF Custom Functions: Viewfinder Display

This EOS 6D Mark II video demonstrates how to customize the way that Autofocus points will appear in the viewfinder display inside the camera while you are shooting.
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Canon EOS 6D Mark II Tutorials: Video Features

The final video in this EOS 6D Mark II series covers video features and capabilities such as: Picture Style for improved image quality; HDR (High Dynamic Range) video; using Video Snapshot to create a “self-edited” video; time lapse; movie digital IS for smoother and steadier footage; and remote control operations.
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Canon EOS 6D Mark II Tutorials: AF Custom Functions: AI Servo AF Control

In this video on the EOS 6D Mark II camera, you will learn how to customize Autofocus options for dealing with moving subjects. We also discuss the AF-Assist beam when using a Speedlite; and Lens AF Drive options during focusing.
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Despite New Safety Rules, Family Says Two Of Its Hoverboards Caught On Fire

While the craze surrounding hoverboards may have died down, that doesn’t mean the self-balancing scooters are any safer. To that end, a Wisconsin family says they recently experienced not one, but two hoverboards that caught on fire.

Fox6Now reports that the Consumer Product Safety Commission has opened an investigation after the family says that two hoverboards they received from an eBay seller recently caught fire.

The Tale Of Two Hoverboards

The father says that his family ended up with two dangerous hoverboards after he purchased one from a seller on eBay.

While the seller had a 100% feedback rating, the man says that the first board he received contained a technical glitch. As a result, the seller replaced the board with a new one.

Shortly after receiving the replacement hoverboard, the family set it up to charge in the living room when it started to smoke.

“I picked it up with my hands, burned my hand a bit, just as I walked out the door,” the man tells Fox6Now, adding that flames from the machine eventually reached five feet in the air. “It exploded in my hands, and I threw it to the ground.”

Following the incident, the father says he decided to re-examine the original hoverboard. He took the device to the front yard and turned it on. A few seconds later, that scooter too started to smoke.

Looking Into It

Fox6News reached out to eBay about the incidents, and the company noted that all hoverboards sold on the site must meet safety standards set by Underwriter’s Laboratories.

“Consumer safety is important to eBay and we work closely with a variety of regulatory authorities to respond to product safety concerns,” the company said in a statement.

In reviewing the listing for the seller, eBay notes that it found that this information was not included.

Fox6News reports that the hoverboards could be linked to thousands of counterfeit devices that were seized in California last month.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission tells Fox6Now that it is investigating the incident, and currently trying to determine who manufactured the hoverboards in question.

Another Reminder

Issues with the boards began around the 2015 holiday season when many who received the devices as gifts reported they had caught fire or exploded while being plugged in to charge.

In Jan. 2016, the agency announced it was investigating 13 hoverboard companies. Engineers with the agency tested hoverboards – both new models and those involved in fire incidents – at its National Product Testing and Evaluation Center.

A month later, the agency said that over a two-month period it had received reports from consumers in 24 states of self-balancing scooter fires, including the destruction of two homes and an automobile.

In July 2016, the CPSC recalled more than 500,000 hoverboard scooters from eight manufacturers over fire hazards posed by the devices’ lithium-ion battery packs.

“Let me be clear about this — all of the hoverboard models included in this recall were made with fundamental design flaws that put people at real risk,” now-former CPSC chair Elliot Kaye said in a statement in July 2016. “My message to the public was clear in February and continues to be clear today: Do not use a hoverboard that does not meet UL’s electrical safety requirements for these products.”

More recently, in March, two people died after a charging overboard caught fire at a Harrisburg, PA, home. The CPSC said at the time that it was investigating the incident.

by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

Beware Scammers Spoofing Number For FTC’s Consumer Response Center

The Federal Trade Commission is one of the agencies consumers are supposed to turn to when they’ve been defrauded by scam phone calls, so it — sadly — makes sense that some fraudsters have decided that the best way to con victims is to pretend they are calling from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center.

In a new blog post, the FTC say it’s received reports of scammers spoofing the Center’s toll-free number (877-382-4357) in order to trick people into thinking the call is coming from a trustworthy source.

But if you get a call from that number, don’t answer it. And if you do answer it, just hang up. Because even though the FTC does sometimes call consumers who have submitted a report or request to the Response Center, it doesn’t use that 877 number to make outgoing calls.

In addition, the FTC will never ask for money or for sensitive information such as Social Security number, date of birth, or bank account information.

“But don’t let that stop you from reporting scammers — it’s still safe to call the Consumer Response Center” at that number, the FTC points out. You can also report scammers online.

The agency also offers up a few helpful tips to help folks spot phone scams:

• If you get a strange call from a government phone number, hang up. Visit the official (.gov) website for correct contact information.

• Don’t give out — or confirm — your personal or financial information to someone who calls.

• Don’t wire money or send money using a reloadable card. To that end, you should never pay someone who calls unexpectedly, despite what the caller ID says.

• Feeling pressured to act immediately? Hang up.

• If you’ve gotten a call from a scammer report it to the FTC.

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

25 States Urge Betsy DeVos To Not Let Student Loan Companies Sidestep The Law

Since Betsy DeVos took over as Secretary, the Department of Education has been — to put it mildly — generous to the student loan industry. Through DeVos, the Trump administration has stopped cooperating with federal financial regulators to rein in unscrupulous loan servicers, and announced its plan to put all federal student loan accounts into the hands of a single company. But several states are letting it be known that they will not go easy on student lenders and servicers, even if they ask nicely.

This morning, a coalition of 25 state attorneys general urged DeVos and the Department of Education to reject a recent campaign by student loan servicers and debt collectors calling for the government to stymie state oversight of the industry.

In a letter [PDF], the coalition called on DeVos not to give into the efforts of two student loan servicing industry associations to relieve themselves from oversight by state regulators, claiming that the Dept. of Education lacks the authority to make such a declaration.

The AGs note that preempting state laws would “defy the well-established role of states in protecting their residents from fraudulent and abusive practices, plainly exceed the scope of the Department’s lawful administrative authority, and would needlessly harm the students and borrowers at the core of the Department’s mission.”

To that end, the Dept. “should reject the Industry Requests in full-and resume the long tradition of federal-state cooperation in protecting students and borrowers from unfair and deceptive practices,” the letter states.

Looking For Fewer Rules

The coalition’s plea comes just months after two industry groups called on the Dept. of Education to block or “preempt” state-led efforts to combat potential and ongoing abuses by student loan servicers.

In a June letter [PDF] to DeVos, the Education Finance Council claimed it was concerned with the “growing tendency of state entities to seek to impose state-level laws and regulations” on student loan servicers contracted by the federal government.

“If left unchecked, these state efforts will continue to add an unnecessary web of regulations which are both duplicative of and potentially contradictory to existing federal regulations and policies,” the group claims.

To that end, it asked DeVos to publicly state that these agencies must follow the Department’s rules and regulations, and that these rules “hold preeminence in regulating the activities of contractors.”

This sentiment was echoed in a July letter [PDF] to Acting Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education Kathleen Smith by the National Council of Higher Education Resources.

The group urged the Dept. to issue the same “regulatory guidance,” claiming that it would be too difficult and costly to follow both federal guidelines and those implemented by states.

What Does This Mean?

Essentially, the groups are asking the Dept. to clearly state that federal laws are the only ones that a company who is contracted to provide federal student loan servicing must follow.

This would mean that if a company services student loans on behalf of the federal government — i.e. the Dept. of Education — they wouldn’t have to follow state laws.

Both associations contend that they are already “highly‐supervised and regulated, both by the Department and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.”

However, it should be noted that since the letters were written, the Dept. of Education has taken steps to weaken the oversight of student loan servicers, namely in ending a relationship with the CFPB over such matters.

In recent years several states have either enacted or proposed laws that dictate what constitutes a servicer, requires companies to obtain licenses to service education loans to borrowers residing in their state, and otherwise follow regulations intended to protect borrowers and weed out bad players.

The Need For Laws

While the associations claim state laws provide “additional regulatory burden” on them, states note that the rules have already helped borrowers.

“State enforcement agencies have long been at the frontlines in protecting their citizens from fraud, deceptive conduct; and unfair business practices, including by financial service companies, debt collectors, and others,” the AGs wrote to DeVos.

Recent state enforcement actions (this is not a complete list) include:

• January 2017:  The CFPB, along with Washington and Illinois, sued Navient claiming the company cheated borrowers out of repayment rights.

• July 2017: New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office opened an inquiry into the business practices of National Collegiate Student Loan Trust following reports that the company often files collection lawsuits against defaulted borrowers without proper or correct paper.

• Aug. 2017: Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey filed a lawsuit [PDF] accusing the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) — doing business as FedLoan Servicing — of harming borrowers by improperly servicing their accounts as part of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program.

• Aug. 2017: A group of 13 state attorneys general and the CFPB reached a $183.3 million settlement with Aequitas Capital Management, the issuer of private student loans for now-defunct for-profit educator Corinthian Colleges.

“We cannot allow student loan servicers to sidestep state law and oversight and deny students and borrowers these vital protections from student loan abuses,” New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement.

The letter to DeVos was signed by the AG from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, and the District of the Columbia.

by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

Press for Success: Meeting the In-Plant Job Submission Challenge with Canon

Sending an e-mail is often viewed as a fast, easy way to communicate. Attaching a file is seen as a quick and convenient way to convey something of greater substance, such as a document or image. But using e-mail to send print files to the In-plant printing facility or Corporate Reprographics Department (CRD) of an organization is far from efficient. In fact, it can sometimes create more problems than it solves. Establishing an automated and secure Web-enabled entry point to your In-plant Print Center workflow lets you transform your business from being a commodity supplier to a solutions provider. Streamlined job submission enables smooth and accurate file transfer, tracking, collaboration, proofing, and delivery, along with a host of business-level benefits, like increased efficiency, improved cost control, and greater competitiveness. See how we break the job submission traffic jam for the In-Plant Print Job Submission Challenge using Canon's PRISMA Workflow Solutions.             To learn more about Canon's PRISMA Workflow Solutions, visit http://Canon.us/dy42p Download the Press for Success "Meeting the In-Plant Print Job Submission Challenge" Guide at: http://ift.tt/2zNbQ7X
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Google's Pixel phones making noises, have screen problems | Engadget Today

Oy Google. Just oy. The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are Google's best-rated smartphones yet, but early quality-control and testing problems could ruin the sales party. On top of display color and burn-in issues that have prompted some to advise against buying the device for now, users are also reporting sound problems. According to around 100 buyers on Google's Pixel product forum, the Pixel 2, and to a lesser extent, Pixel 2 XL are emitting clicking and/or high frequency sounds from the call speaker. Subscribe to Engadget on YouTube: http://engt.co/subscribe Get More Engadget: • Like us on Facebook: http://ift.tt/1k1iCZT • Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/engadget • Follow us on Instagram: http://ift.tt/1k1iCZV • Add us on Snapchat: http://ift.tt/1UqS18a • Read more: http://www.engadget.com Engadget is the definitive guide to this connected life.
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How Malls & Big Box Stores Are Using Real Estate Contracts To Stall Amazon’s Whole Foods Expansion

While many Americans know the Whole Foods brand, there are only about 450 locations nationwide, a fraction of the number of stores held by national retailers like Walmart, Kroger, or Target. Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods is expected to help grow the supermarket chain’s footprint — which would help Amazon’s food delivery business — but some competitors have realized they can use the fine print in their real estate contracts to undercut Amazon’s Whole Foods hopes.

When some major retailers sign commercial leases with malls and shopping centers, they include conditions in their contract that restrict that landlord’s ability to rent to businesses that compete with the retailer.

We’ve seen this before with chains like Starbucks and McDonald’s using their leases to block similar stores from competing in the same shopping buildings. Now, Reuters reports that Amazon’s competitors are looking through their real estate contracts to see if they can do anything to spoil the Whole Foods plan.

For instance, now that Whole Foods stores are selling and marketing Amazon electronics like Kindles and Echos, a Best Buy store could try to exercise its contractual right to restrict a neighboring Whole Foods from selling these devices.

Reuters reviewed leases for Target stores in two states that allow the discount chain to prevent Whole Foods from installing Amazon lockers. Another Target at a mall in California is fighting the planned opening of a Whole Foods store, seeking concessions like a ban on Amazon lockers for packages.

Restrictions on neighbors in malls are very common, but this is a new concept for Amazon, whose in-person retail experience has been limited to small bookstores and seasonal pop-up stores before acquiring Whole Foods.

A spokesperson for Target told Reuters that the chain is focused on its physical stores and on “what’s best for the company and delivering on the reasons our guests love Target.” That means defending its stores, since the chain’s survival and growth plans depend on drawing customers to those stores.

Amazon declined to comment to Reuters on how neighboring stores’ restrictions might affect its expansion plans that include Whole Foods.

by Laura Northrup via Consumerist

SmartThings Link for Nvidia Shield

SmartThings Link connects with Nvidia Shield for the simplest and cheapest smart home hub we've seen yet. Subscribe to CNET: http://cnet.co/2heRhep Check out our playlists: http://cnet.co/2g8kcf4 Download the new CNET app: http://ift.tt/2fmiQ6l Like us on Facebook: http://ift.tt/1930vfU Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/cnet Follow us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/2icCYYm
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Auriculares Bluetooth H10 , Phaint y H20 Inalámbricos, Lifestyle y Gamers

Conseguilo ya mismo en : https://goo.gl/FZk5w5 Video review hecho por Overcluster! Inalámbricos!
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Production Delays Mean People May Need To Line Up To Get An iPhone X

Apple’s most expensive phone, the iPhone X is coming out soon, but it may be more difficult than usual for iPhone aficionados to get their hands on one when the device launches. Not because everyone is clamoring for the iPhone X, but because Apple’s manufacturer is reportedly having trouble meeting its looming deadline.

Apple confirmed this morning that iPhone X preorders will begin at 12:01 a.m. PT on Friday, Oct. 27 on apple.com and through the Apple Store app. The company tells BuzzFeed that the app is probably going to be the fastest way to place a preorder.

The device will actually be released in stores on Nov. 3 at 8 a.m. local time. But will there be enough of the iPhone X to go around?

Start Your Engines

Apple is encouraging iPhone fans to “arrive early” if they want to make sure they get an iPhone X.

As for how early that is, that’s up to you — but we wouldn’t be surprised if there are people camping out for days in advance: While lines for new Apple phones have decreased over the last few years, hardcore Aple fans who didn’t line up last month for the iPhone 8 may have been saving their camping energy for the X.

Another factor that could make lines longer in the days leading up to the release? Rumored supply issues that could mean fewer phones are available.

Limited Supply?

According to Nikkei, the company has had to settle for half its planned iPhone X shipments this year after issues with its facial recognition technology put a kink in production.

To that end, Apple will only be able to make 20 million iPhone X devices this year, about half what it planned to manufacture.

And a report from KGI Securities predicted that the company will only ship two to three million iPhone X units by the Nov. 3 launch, MacRumors noted recently.

When asked in an interview with BuzzFeed about these kinds of reports, Apple CEO Tim Cook said “We’ll see what happens.”

“But we’ll be working as hard as possible to make as many as possible,” he added.

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

How Digital Avatars Could Be the Future of Fake News | WIRED

Digital avatars may be how we all soon communicate with tools like Apple's new Animoji and Facebook's Spaces. But the technology that makes it possible could have profound implications for the spread of fake news. Still haven’t subscribed to WIRED on YouTube? ►► http://wrd.cm/15fP7B7 CONNECT WITH WIRED Web: http://wired.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/WIRED Facebook: http://ift.tt/1dBz3Oa Pinterest: http://ift.tt/1JeJD7O Google+: http://ift.tt/1Ch4gR7 Instagram: http://ift.tt/1lUgynY Tumblr: http://WIRED.tumblr.com Want even more? Subscribe to The Scene: http://bit.ly/subthescene ABOUT WIRED WIRED is where tomorrow is realized. Through thought-provoking stories and videos, WIRED explores the future of business, innovation, and culture. How Digital Avatars Could Be the Future of Fake News | WIRED
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Sony Thinks It May Be Time To Get Back Into The Robot Dog Business

It’s been nearly 20 years since Sony first introduced its AIBO robot “dog” (pictured above) and more than a decade since it stopped making new ones, sending AIBO off to live at the grandparents’ robot farm upstate. But the dream of a mechanized, artificially intelligent canine-ish companion has apparently not died, with a new report claiming that Sony is looking to unleash a new robotic puppy on the world as soon as this coming spring.

Sources familiar with the matter tell The Wall Street Journal that — just like parents replacing a dead dog with a lookalike one — the new robo-pup will resemble AIBO, though this one will come with a new ability to control other appliances in your home.

Why? Why not?

Last year, the company’s CEO Kazuo Hirai said Sony was working on “a robot capable of forming an emotional bond with customers, and able to grow to inspire love and affection,” the WSJ notes.

The company is reportedly going to unveil the robot dog at an event in November, but it’s unclear if it’ll call it Aibo again or dub it something else. Robo Rover? Smart Spot?

Or maybe just Robo Puppy would do:

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

McDonald’s Gets A Boost From Cheap Drinks, McPick Menu

All of those $1 drinks from McDonald’s continue to add up, boosting the fast food giant’s bottomline for a second quarter in a row. 

McDonald’s posted a same-store sales gain of 4.1% for the third quarter of 2017, buoyed by its continued $1 beverage deal and continuously changing McPick 2 value promotions.

But it wasn’t just lower-cost deals that helped the Golden Arches bring in cash; the company also notes that its pricier Signature Crafted premium sandwiches helped to increase sales.

Despite the increases, McDonald’s total revenue came to $5.75 billion for the third quarter, a 10% decline from the same time in 2016.

Of course, a year ago, the company was still riding the monetary waves of launching all-day breakfast.

“We are serving more customers, more often by offering great tasting food at a good value with the quick service and friendly hospitality they expect from McDonald’s,” President and CEO Steve Easterbrook, said in a statement.

The Money Adds Up

McDonald’s began offering cheaper drink back in February as a way to lure in customers. Through the ongoing promotion, customers can order $1 sodas in any size and $2 McCafe speciality drinks.

The lower-cost drinks are a companion to chain’s other cheap meal options, namely its McPick menu.

McPick 2, which launched as a replacement for the long-running dollar menu in Nov. 2015, has gone through several variations, as it allowed franchisees and operators to customize the deals to their regions.

However, each of the promotions followed the same general idea: Offer customer two or more items for between $2 and $5.

Offsetting these lower-priced promotions was McDonald’s more costly Signature Crafted burger and sandwich menu, where items sold for $5 to $7.

by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

FCC Votes To Let Phone Companies, Cops Identify Anonymous Callers Behind Bomb Threats

There are many legitimate reasons to hide or mask your Caller ID information but there are an increasing number of people who abuse this ability, not just for prank calls or telemarketing, but to phone in bomb threats or make other menacing calls — particularly to schools and religious centers. In an effort to make it easier for law enforcement respond to these threats, the Federal Communications Commission has approved a proposal that will allow phone companies to share certain Caller ID information with the police.

In a rare show of unity, all five FCC Commissioners voted today in favor of a rule to let phone companies share hidden Caller ID information with law enforcement in order to track down threats.

The Threats

In the midst of all the other political and cultural chaos at hand, this year kicked off with a wave of anti-Semitism: There were more than 100 serious threats made to Jewish community centers, schools, and synagogues during the just first two months of 2017.

The caller or callers phoning in the threats did as you might expect, and tried to cover their tracks. On the receiving end, the numbers displayed as unavailable, unidentified, private, or as a fake, spoofed number.

Private and spoofed numbers are both legal, often for good reason — for example, a shelter for survivors of domestic violence needs to be able to conceal its location and contact information, for its residents’ safety. But they present an obstacle to law enforcement trying to investigate a case.

In February, New York Senator Chuck Schumer asked the FCC to grant an emergency waiver permitting telecom carriers that serve the targeted centers to share Caller ID information from harassing and threatening calls.

The FCC granted that waiver on March 3, noting that the Commission does so “rarely.”

The Rule

The Commission today basically took action to make that temporary waiver a piece of permanent regulation that more folks who are threatened with violence have access to.

The new rule [PDF] basically creates an exemption in the law that prohibits telecom carriers from sharing blocked Caller ID information, and permits carriers to share information with law enforcement.

The exemption only applies “under specific circumstances,” the FCC writes, but if those circumstances are met then organizations that have been threatened will no longer need to apply and wait for case-by-case waivers in order for their phone companies to share information.

“The FCC continues to take seriously the privacy of law-abiding consumers,” the Commission hurries to add. Only law enforcement personnel and “others responsible for the safety and security of the threatened party” will be permitted to access blocked Caller ID information.

“By limiting the disclosure to law enforcement or security personnel for the purposes of investigating a threat,” the rule says, “we seek to prevent exploitations of the amended rule.”

The update also includes a waiver for private emergency services — like a private ambulance company — to be able to access blocked Caller ID information from callers requesting help. Public emergency services already have that waiver, the FCC notes.

by Kate Cox via Consumerist

The Modobag Suitcase Is My New Hot Ride

The Modobag motorized suitcase was created by inventor Kevin O’Donnell after seeing his kid riding on the suitcase he was pulling through the airport. Full Article: http://ift.tt/2gHdNOz Video Credits Written by: Tito Hamze Hosted by: Tito Hamze Filmed by: Gregory Manalo Edited by: Gregory Manalo
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Does the new Amazon Fire TV BURN the competition? (The 3:59, Ep. 304)

Starts @ 2:30 before the edit We talk with special guest David Katzmaier about the best streaming options, and explain the beef between Kaspersky and the US Government. *After the show Katzmaier went back and tested YouTube voice commands to find cat videos with Fire TV. His initial response indicated that they worked to a certain extent, but in fact they basically failed. A Google Home in conjunction with Chromecast is much better for YouTube searches via voice. Amazon Fire TV: http://cnet.co/2zAKzVe Kaspersky: http://cnet.co/2lc6zTU Good morning from CNET NY Studios while we record the daily news-bite podcast: The 3:59. Hangout while we cover a multitude of stories from around the tech world and then David Katzmaier, Alfred Ng and Roger Cheng will take your questions and comments in the chat. Watch more episodes of 3:59 on Youtube: http://bit.ly/29LVP7F Livestream: http://ift.tt/2jPXbF8... Periscope: http://ift.tt/2qU1nTf Subscribe to the audio podcast: iTunes: http://apple.co/29T3fbf Google Play: http://bit.ly/2hkXp5P Feedburner: http://bit.ly/2tVTkqw Soundcloud: http://bit.ly/2hlanQK TuneIn: http://bit.ly/2uVg9vN Stitcher: http://bit.ly/2vfeHXE Cnet: http://bit.ly/2veEfEw Subscribe to CNET: http://bit.ly/17qqqCs Watch more CNET videos: http://bit.ly/1BQxrGw Follow CNET on Twitter: http://twitter.com/CNET Follow CNET on Facebook: http://ift.tt/UQQ9wc Follow CNET on Instagram: http://ift.tt/1YieDuO Subscribe to CNET: http://bit.ly/17qqqCs Watch more CNET videos: http://ift.tt/1Lg5Xzr Follow CNET on Twitter: http://twitter.com/CNET Follow CNET on Facebook: http://ift.tt/UQQ9wc Follow CNET on Instagram: http://ift.tt/1YieDuO Follow CNET on Snapchat: CNETsnap
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How to edit Portrait Lighting effects on iPhone 8 Plus — Apple

Now you can easily change the Portrait Lighting effects in Portrait mode shots taken with iPhone 8 Plus. Discover more tips for shooting with iPhone at http://apple.co/2y0rtLS
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How to shoot with Portrait Lighting on iPhone 8 Plus — Apple

Portrait Lighting on iPhone 8 Plus makes it easy to add artistic studio lighting effects to your portraits. Discover more tips for shooting with iPhone at http://apple.co/2xhYI9c
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Hordes Of Bargain-Hunters Destroy Liquidating Sears Canada Stores

Savvy shoppers know that the deals available at store-closing and liquidation sales are generally terrible, but that didn’t stop everyone else from raiding Sears Canada stores over the weekend, strewing boxes and merchandise across the floors. Shoppers described the scene as “apocalyptic,” which sounds about right.

Sears Canada filed for bankruptcy last month, planning to sell itself or sort out a financing deal to stay in business. That didn’t work out, and liquidation sales at the department store chain’s remaining 74 stores began last week.

Outside liquidators, which include the familiar names Hilco Global, Gordon Brothers, Tiger Capital Group, and Great American Group, came in to run the sales, which proceeded in the traditional fashion.

All merchandise was marked back up to its original price, then slowly marked down. Stores put up signs advertising discounts of 20%-50%, but the upper end of that range is largely theoretical.

Even the Sears Canada Twitter account has been explaining this over and over to customers, pointing out that the liquidators now own all merchandise and are in charge of setting prices.

Hello: All the stock is owned by the Liquidators who set prices. Hope this clarifies. Sincerely

— Sears Canada Assist (@SearsAssist) October 19, 2017

“The only sign that had 50% off were the ads on the windows…inside every sale sign was 20%,” one shopper observed over the weekend.

Maybe customers were looking for items discounted to 50% and throwing everything else on the floor. That’s certainly what it looked like in images that shoppers have posted on social media since liquidation sales began on Oct. 19.

I was gonna get some cute fall booties today at #Sears but it looks like a tornado hit the entire store so nvm. The deals weren't even good. http://pic.twitter.com/2LWVxdKrKA

— Melinda Phuong (@melliejulie) October 22, 2017

@SearsCA u raise it to 7.97 to then do 20 percent off do we look like fools #SearsCanada http://pic.twitter.com/nX403gXKDL

— LL (@LogozzoLiz) October 19, 2017

Here’s a one-minute video that a shopper took over the weekend. (Do not watch this video if you’re prone to motion sickness, since the footage is very wobbly and very fast.)

Here’s a steadier video of a similar shoe department scene:

(Some links via BlogTO and Buzzfeed Canada)

by Laura Northrup via Consumerist

Walmart Looking Into Incident After Video Shows Brawl Between Walmart Worker, Customer

Sometimes shopping can be frustrating, but that’s no reason to let an in-store experience come to blows. That’s why Walmart is promising to look into what led to a physical altercation between a customer and a store employee in Tennessee.

Just like everything else that happens these days, the brawl was caught on film and posted on Facebook, reports WREG, and seems to support a police report detailing the encounter.

According to a manager who had been stacking merchandise at the time, he heard a commotion and then saw the woman fighting with one of his workers.

He says he was told the customer had approached the employee to ask for a rolling cart, to which the worker had replied that perhaps all the carts were taken by others if there none available.

That’s apparently didn’t go over well with the customer, who allegedly asked for a manager and then threw a punch at the employee. The worker reportedly confirmed that she responded in kind.

Video footage begins after that point and shows the customer getting to her feet and heading for the employee, while another worker appears to try to intervene.

The video also shows the customer crawling on the floor and crying as the officer arrive. According to the police report, she had several bruises and was taken to the hospital for treatment.

The employees are not pressing charges.

“We work to provide a safe and secure environment for everyone in our stores,” Walmart said in a statement to WREG. “What is seen in this video is disturbing, and we are reviewing the situation to fully understand what happened.”

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

Facebook Tests Limiting News Feed Access To Advertisers

While lots of people still get their news by regularly reading certain sites, doing searches to find stories of interest, or through any of the countless aggregating platforms, Facebook has increasingly become many content producers’ most important source of traffic. And while some sites pay to have their stories inserted into Facebook users’ news feeds, others are reaping the benefit of social sharing without paying Facebook a dime. In a move ostensibly intended to declutter users’ feeds, but seen by some as a way to strong-arm content companies into advertising, Facebook is now looking to possibly limit primary news feed access only to those sites that pay to be there. 

Instead, according to tests begun last week in Sri Lanka, Bolivia, Slovakia, Serbia, Guatemala, and Cambodia, posts from “Pages” — meaning anything from your local deli’s Facebook page to an international news-gathering organization — will be shunted off into a secondary feed dubbed “Explore.” Users in test areas will still see these items, but only if they look at this secondary feed.

Facebook claims the dual feed system was created after the company heard from users who wanted an easier way to see posts from friends and family.

“The goal of this test is to understand if people prefer to have separate places for personal and public content,” Adam Mosseri, Head of News Feed for Facebook, wrote in a blog post Monday after concerns about the new feed came to light.

The company plans to listen to feedback to “understand if it’s an idea worth pursuing any further.”

“As with all tests we run, we may learn new things that lead to additional tests in the coming months so we can better understand what works best for people and publishers,” the post states.

Advertisers Only

What Facebook glosses over is that — at least according to reports from areas where these tests are being run — sites that pay for advertising will still have their sponsored posts showing up in the main news feed.

Analysts tell The Guardian that they aren’t surprised by the move.

“The classic Facebook playbook: First give lots of organic reach to one content type, then they have to pay for reach, then they can only get through to anyone by paying,” Matti Littunen, a senior research analyst at Enders Analysis, told the publication.

However, hearing those concerns, Facebook on Monday reiterated that the new feed is just a test.

“There is no current plan to roll this out beyond these test countries or to charge pages on Facebook to pay for all their distribution in News Feed or Explore,” Mosseri wrote.

Drop In Views

Shortly after Facebook launched the dual feed test on Thursday, many companies noted that after the feed was launched their Page traffic declined, The Guardian reports, adding that user engagement with Facebook publishers’ Pages dropped 60% to 80%.

For instance, Slovakian newspaper Dennik N reported a “dramatic” drop in organic reach after the test began in the country.

“Pages are seeing dramatic drops in organic reach,” journalist Filip Struhárik told The Guardian. “The reach of several Facebook pages fell on Thursday and Friday by two-thirds compared to previous days.”

Those drops were common for the 60 largest Facebook pages in Slovakia, The Guardian reports, citing Facebook owned analytics company CrowdTangle.

In addition to concerns of dropping traffic, many companies have expressed worries that the new system, if rolled out more widely, would require Pages to pay in order for their content to be seen.

 

 

by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

New York State Bans E-Cigarettes From Public Indoor Spaces

In a move that will push e-cigarettes outside with regular cigarettes, New York has banned vaping in any public indoor space that already prohibits traditional smoking.

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill [PDF] this week that adds electronic cigarettes to the Clean Indoor Act, citing the potential health risks associated with the products. This means no vaping in restaurants, bars, offices, stores, public transit, hospitals, and on public and private subways, buses, taxis, youth centers, child care facilities, dorms and residence halls on college campuses, and hospitals, among others.

Though some counties already ban vaping in public places, the law will now be consistent throughout New York.

RELATED: Surgeon General: E-Cigarette Use By Young Consumers Is A “Major Public Health Threat”

This has been true in New York City since 2013: The city includes e-cigarettes in its Smoke-Free Air Act: That means no gaping in places where smoking is illegal, like bars, restaurants, offices, parks, and beaches. Retailers also can’t sell e-cigarettes or tobacco products to anyone under 21.

“These products are marketed as a healthier alternative to cigarettes, but the reality is they also carry long-term risks to the health of users and those around them,” Cuomo said in a statement. “This measure closes another dangerous loophole in the law, creating a stronger, healthier New York for all.”

In July, New York also banned vaping and e-cigarettes from public and private school grounds.

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

Digital Avatars and the Future of Fake News

Digital avatars may be how we all soon communicate with tools like Apple's new Animoji and Facebook's Spaces. But the technology that makes it possible could have profound implications for the spread of fake news. Still haven’t subscribed to WIRED on YouTube? ►► http://wrd.cm/15fP7B7 CONNECT WITH WIRED Web: http://wired.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/WIRED Facebook: http://ift.tt/1dBz3Oa Pinterest: http://ift.tt/1JeJD7O Google+: http://ift.tt/1Ch4gR7 Instagram: http://ift.tt/1lUgynY Tumblr: http://WIRED.tumblr.com Want even more? Subscribe to The Scene: http://bit.ly/subthescene ABOUT WIRED WIRED is where tomorrow is realized. Through thought-provoking stories and videos, WIRED explores the future of business, innovation, and culture. Digital Avatars and the Future of Fake News
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Amazon Wine Marketplace Closing Dec. 31

If you buy wine through the Amazon Wine marketplace, you might want to stock up: The e-commerce giant will close its online wine store Dec. 31. 

TechCrunch reports that Amazon notified wine sellers of the impending closure in emails this week, noting that it will shutter the platform and final orders must be placed by Dec. 31.

The demise of Amazon Wine came after the retailer faced issues related to how alcohol is sold and marketed.

Since launching Amazon Wine in 2012, Amazon has increased its focus on the beverage: First by selling it through its Amazon Fresh grocery delivery service, and then by ferrying it to homes in just a few hours with Prime Now.

More recently, the company acquired Whole Foods, and along with it, the grocery chain’s wine sales.

As a result, it became difficult for the company to both sell its own drinks as a retailer and operate a separate wine marketplace online for third-parties, TechCrunch reports.

In the end, the company had to decide where to put its focus, and naturally, its wine business won out.

Despite closing Amazon Wine, the company will continue to offer wine through its Prime Now and Amazon Fresh services.

Amazon Wine was launched with the intention of providing customers with curated wines for any occasion. The platform offered a plethora of wines from around the U.S. ranging from $10 to $100 per bottle, with shipping up to six bottles for a flat fee of $9.99.

by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

MFCJ775DW or MFCJ775DWXL USB installation - Macintosh® Version

Learn how to set up your Brother MFC-J775DW or MFC-J775DW XL inkjet all-in-one printer with a USB connection. Models covered: Brother MFCJ775DW Brother MFCJ775DW XL This video is for Macintosh users, for the Windows version click: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkSVwCv2Bvc For more videos, tutorials, and FAQs visit our support site at: http://ift.tt/KVp7Rt Quick Links / Table of Contents: Models covered 00:09 Connect the cable 00:19 Download the software 00:30 Enter your password 01:19 CUPS driver 01:50 Transcript: Welcome. Today we’re going to learn how to install your Brother MFC-J775DW on a USB connected computer. This video will cover multiple models and operating systems. Even though your machine may not match the model on the screen, the overall process will be the same. (Covers MFC-J775DW XL usb setup too.) We will begin by connecting by connecting your machine to your computer with a USB cable. Cable lengths of over 6 feet are not recommended. Verify that your machine is powered on. Download the full driver and software package from www.brother-usa.com. --Click here for more information on downloading drivers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-NJQFbbyKs Navigate to your installation file and double click to begin installation. Double-click on the brother icon on the desktop Double click on the Driver Download or Start Here icon Select Local Connection and then click “Next” When the driver installer window opens, click “Continue” Familiarize yourself with the environmental impacts of your Brother machine and click “Continue” Click “Continue” Click “Agree” to accept the license agreement Click “Install” If prompted, enter your password and click “Install Software” Click “Open” Click on “Close” Select your Brother machine from the list and click “Next.” Click “Add Printer.” Choose your machine from the list. From the "Use" dropdown, choose the Brother CUPS driver for full printing capabilities. Click “Add.” Click “Continue” Click “Next.” If prompted, click Presto! PageManager and follow the onscreen instructions to install. You will only be prompted to install if your machine supports scanning. Once installation ends click “Next” Now click “Close” Your installation is now complete For more Tutorials, FAQ's and Videos, visit us at www.brother-usa.com Thank you for choosing Brother Customers also searched: Brother MFC J775DW usb Brother MFC J775DW XL usb
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Support: Accessing the battery compartment on a BMW Nav V/VI

Learn how to open and what can be done inside the battery compartment of your BMW Nav V or BMW Nav VI device. For more help, visit http://ift.tt/2b4gG6V
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MFCJ775DW or MFCJ775DWXL USB installation - Windows® Version

Learn how to set up your Brother MFC-J775DW or MFC-J775DW XL inkjet all-in-one printer with a USB connection. Models covered: Brother MFCJ775DW Brother MFCJ775DW XL This video is for Windows users, for the Macintosh version click: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jhg9357Qkg For more videos, tutorials, and FAQs visit our support site at: http://ift.tt/KVp7Rt Quick Links / Table of Contents: Models covered 00:09 Insert or Download the software 00:19 Running the Installer software 00:31 Connect the USB cable 00:50 Register your machine 01:24 Transcript: Welcome. Today we’re going to learn how to install your Brother MFC-J775DW on a USB connected computer. This video will cover multiple models and operating systems. Even though your machine may not match the model on the screen, the overall process will be the same. (Covers MFC-J775DW XL USB setup too.) Download the full driver and software package from www.brother-usa.com. --Click here for more information on downloading drivers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-NJQFbbyKs Navigate to your installer file and double-click to begin installation. When the device installation window opens choose your language and click "Next." Accept the license agreement and then click "Next." Select Local Connection and click "Next." When prompted, connect your machine to your computer with a USB cable. Cable lengths of over 6 feet are not recommended. Verify that your machine is powered on. Then Click “Next” Select Standard installation and click "Next." If your model supports scanning you will be prompted to install PaperPort. Click "Install" Once Paperport is installed click "Next" Click "Next" Click on Brother registration to register your machine at this time, otherwise click "Finish" Your installation is now complete For more Tutorials, FAQ's and Videos, visit us at www.brother-usa.com Thank you for choosing Brother Customers also searched: Brother MFC J775DW usb Brother MFC J775DW XL usb
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AT&T And Time Warner Extend Deadline For $85.4B Merger, Promise It’s Still Happening

Just over a year ago, AT&T and Time Warner proposed one of the biggest mergers of all time, a $85.4 billion deal that would bring together the owners of CNN, HBO, and DirecTV in a single company. The merger had a deadline of Oct. 22, which the companies have extended for an unspecified “short period of time” to gain regulatory approval in the United States.

The companies filed a document with the Securities and Exchange Commission that extends the merger deadline to an unspecified future date “to facilitate obtaining final regulatory approval required to close the merger.” Last week, the betrothed companies announced that they had regulatory approval in Brazil, meaning that approval in the United States is the last hurdle.

AT&T says that it hopes to have that regulatory approval by the end of 2017, with AT&T CEO Randall “Darth Randy” Stephenson making the rounds to assure the Trump administration and consumers that the deal will mean lower prices for consumers due to targeted advertising and the elimination of traditional all-in-one cable bundles.

They’ve even given customers a taste of what the future could be like, giving free HBO subscriptions to AT&T Wireless customers with unlimited plans.

If completed, the merger would put together the largest satellite TV provider in the country, the second-largest mobile carrier, and a large number of cable networks, including HBO, TBS, TNT, CNN, and HLN.

Time Warner is not to be confused with its former subsidiary, Time Warner Cable, which was acquired by competitor Charter in 2016 and now sells it services to customers under the brand Spectrum.

by Laura Northrup via Consumerist

How to clean your dryer vent

Help your dryer run faster and safer by cleaning its vent. Subscribe to CNET: http://cnet.co/2heRhep Check out our playlists: http://cnet.co/2g8kcf4 Download the new CNET app: http://ift.tt/2fmiQ6l Like us on Facebook: http://ift.tt/1930vfU Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/cnet Follow us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/2icCYYm
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