Day: November 12, 2019

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Here’s Why Netflix Is Leaving Some Roku and Samsung Devices

https://gizmodo.com/heres-why-netflix-is-leaving-some-roku-and-samsung-devi-1839782970

Netflix recently broke for a number of users, and the error message the company provided wasn’t entirely clear about why. Gizmodo spoke with the company about the incident, and Netflix offered more details about why this is happening.

Last week, multiple outlets reported that select Roku devices, as well as older Samsung or Vizio TVs, would soon lose support for Netflix beginning in December. In a note on its support page, Netflix said that affected users would begin seeing error messages about the changes. In a note—one that seems rather vague considering a total disappearance of its service from user devices—the company blamed unspecified “technical limitations.”

“We’ve notified all impacted members with more information about alternative devices we support so they can keep enjoying Netflix uninterrupted,” a Netflix spokesperson told Gizmodo by email. The spokesperson added the change would affect a “small number” of older devices. But that doesn’t really scratch the surface of why this is happening, so what gives?

The Netflix spokesperson told Gizmodo the company is constantly improving upon its product, but with respect to Roku devices in particular, the issue boils down to older devices running Windows Media DRM. Since 2010, however, Netflix has been using Microsoft PlayReady. The spokesperson said that, starting December 2, older devices that aren’t able to upgrade to PlayReady won’t be able to use the service.

A Roku spokesperson told Gizmodo that many of the affected devices are eight- to ten-years-old and noted that old hardware can’t keep up with new software forever. According to the company, Roku devices that will no longer support Netflix include: Roku SD (N1050), Roku HD-XR (N1101), Roku HD (N1100, 2000C), and Roku XD (2050X, 2050N, 2100X, 2100N). The spokesperson said the company has been communicating with its customers directly both by email as well as on-device about the change.

When reached for comment by email, Samsung also cited “technical limitations.” It said that the lack of Netflix support “will impact select 2010 and 2011 Samsung Smart TV models that were sold in the U.S. and Canada.”

Vizio, meanwhile, said that its impacted devices were sold around 2012 to 2014 and include some of its Smart TVs with VIZIO Internet Apps (V.I.A.). The company added that Netflix “continues to work smoothly on other VIZIO Smart TVs with VIZIO Internet Apps Plus (V.I.A. Plus) and SmartCast TVs/Displays. There are still over 70 apps available to consumers with V.I.A. devices.”

Watching your loved-to-death gadgets eventually go the way Dodo is rough. But hey, the good thing about Netflix is that it can be streamed just about anywhere. And its tsunami of so-so content will be waiting when you return.

via Gizmodo https://gizmodo.com

November 11, 2019 at 04:54PM

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Twitter reveals how it plans to address deepfakes

https://www.engadget.com/2019/11/11/twitter-deepfake-draft-guidelines/

Twitter said last month it was working on ways to better to handle deepfakes. It just released draft guidelines on how to address the problem and it’s looking for the public to weigh in and help shape policies on what it describes as "synthetic and manipulated media."

Twitter says it’ll define "synthetic and manipulated media as any photo, audio, or video that has been significantly altered or fabricated in a way that intends to mislead people or changes its original meaning." It noted such manipulations are often called deepfakes and shallowfakes.

As the guidelines stand, when Twitter discovers deepfakes on its service, it may:

  • place a notice next to Tweets that share synthetic or manipulated media;

  • warn people before they share or like Tweets with synthetic or manipulated media; or

  • add a link — for example, to a news article or Twitter Moment — so that people can read more about why various sources believe the media is synthetic or manipulated.

If Twitter determines a tweet that includes a deepfake or shallowfake "could threaten someone’s physical safety or lead to other serious harm," it might just remove the tweet entirely. Twitter already banned porn deepfakes last year.

The guidelines aren’t yet set in stone, and Twitter’s looking for feedback through a survey and tweets with the hashtag #TwitterPolicyFeedback. You’ll have until Wednesday, November 27th at 6:59 p.m. ET to weigh in. After reviewing and incorporating feedback, it’ll announce a formalized version of the guidelines at least 30 days before they come into force.

Not only can deepfakes be directly damaging to people, they can be used in disinformation campaigns, including ones backed by states. Twitter is one of several major tech companies exploring ways to tackle deepfakes. Amazon, for instance, recently signed up to Facebook’s Deepfake Detection Challenge, along with Microsoft, MIT and others. The group is building open-source tools to help governments and organizations identify deepfakes.

Source: Twitter

via Engadget http://www.engadget.com

November 11, 2019 at 11:42AM

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Stadia is Launching With Only 12 Games

https://www.droid-life.com/2019/11/11/stadia-is-launching-with-only-12-games/

Google Stadia Controller

As we already know, Stadia launches on November 19. Up to this point, Google and the Stadia team have had no problem in showcasing which games will be available (eventually) on the platform. Today, though, we know exactly which titles will be available on launch day and the list is incredibly short.

12 titles will be available through Stadia on November 19. Only 12. Google says that, “There’s something for everyone here: a library of superb, critically-acclaimed titles spanning multiple genres and age ratings.”

Launch Titles

  • Destiny 2: The Collection
  • Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
  • GYLT
  • Just Dance 2020
  • Kine
  • Mortal Kombat 11
  • Red Dead Redemption 2
  • Thumper
  • 3x Tomb Raider titles
  • Samurai Shodown

By the end of 2019, Google says it will add 14 more titles, bringing the total number of games on Stadia in 2019 to 26. Again, not a huge number, but it’s a start. Later this year, Stadia subscribers can look forward to Borderlands 3, Farming Simulator 19, RAGE 2, NBA 2K20, Football Manager 2020, and others.

I wouldn’t exactly say this group of titles for launch is ideal, but you do have to start somewhere. If you’re the early adoption type, streaming access to these games doesn’t exactly scream $10/month to me, but as the service grows, I could see myself taking it more seriously.

// Google

via Droid Life: A Droid Community Blog https://ift.tt/2dLq79c

November 11, 2019 at 02:53PM

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Disney+ Already Having Big Issues On Launch Day

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/disney-already-having-big-issues-on-launch-day/1100-6471368/

It’s launch day for the most-anticipated streaming service release ever. Disney+ has arrived, and there is plenty of cool stuff to check out. The only problem is that many people can’t access anything. Launch day for the streaming service is not off to a good start.

While you can download the app and even open it up, you can’t do much more than that with Disney+. Many people–including myself–are reporting error screens for Day One, and it’s been this way since the service launched around 12:30AM ET on Tuesday morning.

If you planned to take the day off to binge-watch all of Disney+’s programming or maybe you’re a journalist who started work early in order to pick through the contents of the service, you’re more than likely landing on a page that says "Unable to connect to Disney+. There seems to be an issue connecting to the Disney+ service. Please try again later if the issue persists."

And yes, this is extremely frustrating when you just want to watch The Mandalorian, which Chris E. Hayner got to review for GameSpot. In it, he said, "With its first episode, The Mandalorian has made a statement about what a live-action Star Wars TV show looks like. Now, with the remaining seven episodes in Season 1, it needs to make a statement about how a Star Wars plot should unfold over a longer form of storytelling." Thanks for rubbing it in that you got to watch it, and we didn’t.

Obviously, with any new streaming service, there are going to be speed bumps. With this many people jumping onto a service–at the same time–the servers may not be able to handle everyone. Disney is a very large company, so this problem should be worked out sooner rather than later, I hope.

While writing this up, and refreshing on more devices than I’d like to admit, I got Disney+ to work on my Fire Stick and Android phone. I’m still having issues on my PC and iOS devices though. So for now, know the problem isn’t just you, it will be resolved, and have patience.

Good luck to you on Disney+ launch day.

via GameSpot’s PC Reviews https://ift.tt/2mVXxXH

November 12, 2019 at 08:51AM