Christopher Klimovski
Articles by Christopher Klimovski
Netflix will produce original Bollywood and anime programs
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings announced the service will offer more original content in 2016, including Bollywood and anime programming. During his talk with New York Times journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin at the DealBook conference, he said that the company is always looking at new ways to introduce unique shows that other streaming services don't have. Next year Netflix is looking to spend around $5 billion on content alone and since it launched in Japan on September 2, there's never been a better time to broaden the scope of programming with an international focus. What type of Bollywood or anime programs will Netflix release? Hastings didn't mention specifically, only noting that it has taken risks before and they've paid off (like Narcos, for example). Get ready for longer bouts of aimless scrolling on nights you're feeling indecisive.
Polaroid sues GoPro for copying a design patent
C&A Marketing Inc., the company that produces the Polaroid Cube, has filed a lawsuit against GoPro for releasing the Hero4 Session camera. On what grounds? Well, the two cameras look almost identical. Both are shaped like a cube with rounded edges, and even though the Session is able to shoot better quality video and is slightly larger than the 1.4-cubic-inch Cube, C&A is insisting that GoPro has infringed on the design patent that it received in May this year, preventing any other camera from copying the Cube's unique look. GoPro had filed a patent related to its square camera's design in March, but that specifically covered the camera's housing.
Sundance and Jaunt are looking for VR filmmaking visionaries
Sundance Film Institute has announced a six-month residency aimed at helping budding virtual reality filmmakers turn their ideas into dynamic projects. To make this a reality, the institute has teamed up with VR firm Jaunt, most likely because of the company's "cinematic VR" platform which consists of a 360-degree camera and specialized tools for editing VR experiences. "We hope their unique voices, diverse perspectives and creativity will help define the potential of this new medium," said Sundance Institute executive director Keri Putnam. This isn't the first experience Sundance has had with VR, some directors have already shown completed projects to festival-goers. After giving rise to revolutionary filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and Ava DuVernay, the institute is now looking to produce stories that are complex, visually stunning and also totally immersive.
Comcast to offer unlimited data for an extra $35 a month
As the world's attention shifts from typical cable services towards streaming alternatives, Comcast is trying its very hardest to keep people interested in its products. The company recently announced that it was bringing a ton of new content to the X1 and now, in what seems to be a complement this, it has rolled out an unlimited Internet plan for an extra $35 a month. The add-on gets rid of the pesky 300-gigabyte monthly data cap that has been put in place in Atlanta, Miami and Nashville. If enough people in these cities opt to get rid of the bandwidth cap then the offer could potentially see a bandwidth cap placed on all data plans across the country, encouraging heavy users to opt for an unlimited plan. It's a clever way to recoup lost revenue because if, for example, 100,000 people pay for the service it can generate an additional half-million dollars for Comcast every month. The company conducted a survey and found that users would be more than willing to pay a flat fee to get rid of their data cap and make sure they weren't stung with overuse fees. I mean, I know I would.
Adware found in MacUpdate's Skype Installer package
Long-trusted software site MacUpdate has apparently gone the way of its competitors: It has been tainted by adware. A Twitter user tried to download a Skype Installer package from the site and discovered that all was not as it appeared. The file looks normal at first and when opened you're prompted with a user agreement that people generally just click past, but it's here that gives the installer the right to change browser settings and add a "search-assist" browser extension. This type of software-trickery is identical to those used by InstallCore adware and as soon as the Skype agreement is confirmed, an InstallCore browser is added to Safari. It's usually wise to download software from the developer's site but the appeal of MacUpdate was that it acted like a one-stop-shop of sorts, carrying with it a strong reputation for reliable downloads. Now, with this news coming to light, maybe it will have to be added to the boycott list right under Download.com and Softonic.
Scientists map world first 3D image of cancer-spreading protein
Scientists at Griffith University's Institute for Glycomics released the world's first 3-D image of a protein that is linked to the spread of cancer. Where before scientists had to guess what the structure looked like, now they have a clear 3-D model meaning they can see how it works and develop targeted medicines to stop it before the protein can make matters worse. It was mapped using a technique called X-Ray crystallography and the team, lead by the institute's Director Professor Mark von Itzstein, notes that the image is so well defined that it shows both the structure of the overall protein as well as atomic-level details.
Best Buy hopes same-day delivery will fend off Amazon
Online retailers like Amazon are putting the pressure on brick-and-mortar retail spaces by offering cheap and speedy delivery of goods, with same-day -- and in some cases one-hour -- deliveries to metro areas around the country. In a bid to keep up with the competition, Best Buy is testing a same-day delivery service with the help of delivery service Deliv. Currently being tested in San Francisco, same-day delivery will cost Best Buy customers the same amount as one-day business express shipping. The company is marketing the service to online shoppers as an alternative to its in-store pickup option. It will be interesting to see whether people in San Fransico will continue to collect their goods from a physical store when they can now opt to get it delivered to them -- probably as they stream Amazon Prime Video from the comfort of their sofa.
Pornhub streamlines revenge porn reporting process
Pornhub has introduced a new online form (NSFW) that will help identify and remove nonconsensual revenge porn from the site. In the past, victims could only send through removal requests via email, but the new process hopes to cut out all the red tape people had to go through in the past. The company's vice president Corey Price said: "It is vital that we continue to make our community feel safe. We want all Pornhub users to know that this new reporting process is for their security and peace of mind first and foremost." Most US states have already set laws against this type of porn, with California being the first state to convict someone running a revenge porn site. The essence of the online form is to act quickly before the video goes viral, because once that happens, it's nearly impossible to remove all traces of it. [Image credit: Getty creative]
MIT's online master's courses sound like an incredible deal
Move over University of Phoenix, MIT has announced that you can now obtain a highly-regarded Masters degree in Supply Chain Management (mainly) online. The new 14-week credential is called a MicroMaster's and will be open to anyone and once completed students can get a verified certificate documenting their hard work for a small fee. Undertaken via edX, it is the first MITx course that can be put towards the full masters program, meaning the remainder of the course is only one on-campus semester. "The new combination of online courses and one residential semester will open the SCM program to many more learners," said Professor Yossi Sheffi who runs the SCM program and its online components. By making it open to anyone for free the college is recruiting those who are determined and driven, but aren't sure they can afford a traditional Master's program.
DoubleTwist's CloudPlayer can stream to Android Wear and Auto
DoubleTwist's CloudPlayer can already pull and stream media from Dropbox, OneDrive and Google Drive accounts, but now it works on AllPlay speakers, Android smartwatches and Auto. Yep, you'll be able to stream your tunes in your car, on your wrist and in your home or office... depending on where you store your non-smartphone Android hardware. With AllPlay support it also means you can now use CloudPlayer on Chromecast Audio, Apple TV or an AllPlay speaker. These are all great reasons to give doubleTwist's media player a shot -- unless you're already busy with one of the (many) other options available.
Key and Peele pen TV deal with Vine's King Bach
When it was announced that Key & Peele were going to wrap up production this year on their self-titled sketch show, comedy fans all around the world were pretty bummed about it. But now Deadline has reported that the two comedy stars will write and produce a new comedy starring Vine's Andrew "KingBach" Bachelor. The man who has mastered the social media platform and perfected the six-second loop is no stranger to comedy shows, having already starred in recurring roles in The Mindy Project, House Of Lies and Black Jesus. With the help of Key & Peele writer Alex Rubens, the new show will be loosely based around one of Bachelor's online personas and follow an undercover cop who goes back to his hometown in order to take out the bad guys who bullied him while growing up.
Get ready for more videos (and ads) in your Twitter timeline
Along with becoming more user friendly, Twitter's next big change is focusing on videos and ads. Now, instead of being limited to the mobile app, users can upload video from their desktop computers straight to the website. In turn, Twitter is cranking up its advertising initiative 'Amplify' for more YouTube-like pre-roll ads on premium videos from partners like the ones shown above. At a conference held in New York today, Twitter also announced that it will add a GIF generator and allow Periscope to play within the timeline. So if you're wondering why you're seeing a whole lot of moving content in your feed, it's because publishers are now able to easily monetize their work.
Nanowire technology will improve brain-stimulating implants
Scientists at Lund University have published a paper about a new nanowire thread (only 80 nanometres in diameter) that will work to strengthen brain implants. Neuro-prostheses are currently used to stimulate and collect information from the brain of those with Parkinson's disease, along with other illnesses. However, one of the biggest problems that current tech faces is that the brain identifies the implant as a foreign object and uses cellular material to surround the electrode, resulting in a loss of signal. With the newly developed technology, this will (hopefully) no longer be the case.
Nobel Prize for Physics awarded to neutrino 'flavor' change
The Nobel Prize for Physics has previously been awarded to scientists for things like the study of the Higgs Boson particle and for complicated work that deals with graphene. This year is no different with Takaaki Kajita and Arthur B. McDonald coming across a discovery that has the power to change our current understanding of the universe. The two scientists are being awarded the prize for working out that neutrinos have mass. In case you're not down with physics-lingo, a neutrino is a subatomic particle that travels at (almost) the speed of light and passes through almost anything without effect. In fact, billions of neutrinos are passing through your body as you read this.
UV-light enabled catheter fixes heart defects without surgery
Advances in medicine are treating patients in ways that were never thought possible. The latest breakthrough comes from a team of scientists in Boston who have developed a way to fix holes in the heart without the need for invasive surgery. They created a ground-breaking catheter, biodegradable glue and patch that fit inside the patient's veins and are guided directly into the heart. Once there, it uses a reflective balloon and UV light to apply the patch and activate its adhesive coating.
Introducing Nokia... wait, Best Buy... no, PlayStation Theatre
With a revolving door of owners, the Best Buy Theatre in Times Square (previously the Nokia Theatre) has been taken over by Sony Computer Entertainment. The newly branded PlayStation Theatre is set to offer live performances and hold events showcasing the latest products on offer. Vice president of marketing John Koller noted "We are looking forward to exploring significant cultural moments at PlayStation Theater." Let's hope this one sticks.
Japan Display crammed 8K into a 17-inch LCD
In 2015, we want our displays to be sharper, brighter and even wrapped around the edges of our smartphones (maybe). Now, Japan Display has pushed the limits of screen resolution yet again by announcing a 17.3-inch 8K LCD module capable of running at a smooth frame rate of 120Hz. If you're trying to get your head around how many pixels that involves, JD is way ahead of you: it's 510 pixels per inch. The manufacturer says that the high resolution will offer an element of depth to images, and that it could be ideal for video-editing, medical displays and even as gaming screens. Unfortunately, that's all we know for now, but the LCD will be at CEATEC 2015 with all its millions of pixels on show.
Minecraft's story mode means more action, less dirt farming
Back in December, Telltale Games hinted that there was a narrative-driven installment of the Minecraft franchise on the way. Now in the newly released trailer, we get to see the story behind the first episode dubbed "The Order of the Stone." Players will assume control of Jesse (who can be either a man or woman, kudos for the gender-neutral name Mojang) who takes a group of friends to a fan convention that celebrates a group of lauded warriors called -- obviously enough -- 'The Order of the Stone.' Obvious trouble brews and it is up to Jesse and his square-pals to track down the Order, consisting of Warrior, Redstone Engineer, Griefer, and Architect, to restore peace and justice to the Minecraft universe.
BBM app lands on Apple Watch before WhatsApp
Apps are continuing to trickle into Apple's wearable, with recent standouts including Airbnb, Google and...BlackBerry? The company once called RIM has announced Apple Watch support for its messaging service, BBM. When reading the product description on the iTunes store, you find that the companion app will allow you to share photos and voice notes, see when people are responding to your messages, and even offer groundbreaking features like delivered and read receipts. There isn't a wide variety of alternatives available on the Apple Watch at the moment -- with WhatsApp and Facebook messanger still missing from the app store -- but maybe there's a reason for that. What's your PIN? Let's discuss this some more through our wearables. [Thanks, Sterling Jordan!]
Serial's real-crime podcast has inspired a TV show
If you asked me yesterday what Serial was, I would describe the podcast as a mystery investigation TV show specially tailored for your ears. The first season chronicled a murder over the course of 12 episodes, with an investigative dialogue driving the show forward. However, an announcement made today by Deadline will see the podcast turn into a TV series produced by Fox 21 Television Studios. Co-created and co-produced by This American Life's Sarah Koenig and Julie Snyder, the series will be developed with Chris Miller and Phil Lord of The Lego Movie fame. The show is set to go behind the scenes of the podcast, however just like the cases it investigates, the exact details are unclear.