May 11, 2018 - The WAN Show Document

[LinusTech]

Humans don’t realize they’re talking to AI: Google Duplex

Source 1: SC2Mitch https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/924936-google-updates-its-virtual-assistant-to-make-complex-calls-for-users/

Source 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd1mEm2Fy08

 

• This week at Google’s IO conference, the company demo’d a robot calling service called Duplex that can call the hair salon or a restaurant and make appointments on your behalf.

  • In the first demo, a female voice calls a hair salon, where another woman answers the phone; the two go back and forth for approximately a minute before they figure out a time that works for a hair appointment.

  • In the second demo, also about a minute, a male voice calls a restaurant to book a reservation; the woman on the receiving end has a heavy accent and isn't offering the best information, so the caller pivots to make a new request

• The bots are dispatched through Google Assistant and activated through a back-end system

• One of the things that was missing from the demo was any sort of announcement on the part of the Google Assistant that it was, in fact, a virtual assistant and not a human.

  • Is that ethical?

  • At launch, the Assistant will “likely tell the person on the other end of the line that he or she is talking to a digital personal assistant."

• Google said it’s ensuring that one single user won’t be able to place more than a certain number of calls per day, nor will they be allowed to make several calls to the same business

• The company plans to begin testing Duplex publicly this summer

 

Nintendo Shares New Details About its Nintendo Switch Online Service

Source 1: Linus’ email

Source 2: http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/05/guide_nintendo_switch_online_faq_-_everything_we_know_so_far

 

• Launching in September, the Nintendo Switch Online service is a paid service that lets users enjoy online play for compatible Nintendo Switch games, access classic NES games with added online functionality, back up save data for most games, and additional features for the Nintendo Switch Online smartphone app that will enhance the online experience for compatible games.

• Canadian Pricing:

  • Individual memberships:

    • One month: $4.99

    • Three months: $9.99

    • 12 months: $24.99

  • Family membership (12 months): $44.99

    • up to 8 Nintendo Account holders will be able to utilize service, even on different systems

• NES games:

  • The collection will initially include 20 games, and more will be added on a regular basis.

    • Balloon Fight, Dr. Mario and Super Mario Bros. 3, Donkey Kong, Ice Climber, The Legend of Zelda, Mario Bros., Soccer, Super Mario Bros., Tennis +10 others that will be announced in the future.

  • Depending on the game, players can engage in online competitive or co-op multiplayer, or take turns controlling the action.

  • Friends can even watch each other play single-player games online, and “pass the controller” at any time.

  • Every classic NES game will support voice chat via the Nintendo Switch Online smartphone app.

  • It will also be possible to play these games offline.

• Save Data Cloud:

  • a backup of Nintendo Switch save data for most Nintendo Switch games will be stored online for easy access.

• Online Play:

  • A Nintendo Switch Online membership will be needed to participate in co-op and competitive online features for many current and upcoming Nintendo Switch games, such as Splatoon 2, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, ARMS, Mario Tennis Aces and Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido.

 

Sony+Nintendo update warranty terms in USA & Canada

Source 1: Master Disaster https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/925127-sony-updates-warranty-terms-in-usa-canada-customers-can-now-open-consoles-without-losing-any-warranty/

Source 2: https://wccftech.com/sony-playstation-4-waranty-seal/

 

• Sony and Nintendo have now updated their warranty terms since the Federal Trade Commission gave Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo 30 days to ditch repair-deterring warranty stickers on their consoles.

• Nintendo:

  • Original:

    • “This warranty shall not apply if this product: (a) is used with products not sold or licensed by Nintendo (Including but not limited to, non-licensed game enhancement and copier devices, adapters, software, and power supplies.”

  • Updated:

    • “This warranty shall not apply if this product has been damaged by products not sold or licensed by Nintendo (Including, but not limited to, adapters, software, and power supplies).”

• Sony:

  • Original:

    • Warranty does not apply if the product is used with a peripheral that is not supplied or licensed by SIE.

    • Warranty does not apply if the warranty seal on the product has been altered or removed.

  • Updated:

    • Warranty does not apply “to damage caused by” use of the product with an unlicensed peripheral.

    • Warranty does not apply “to damage caused by” opening the product or to damage caused by service performed by someone other than a representative of SIE or an SIE-authorized service provider.

• Changes only apply to US and CANADA

 

Rumour: iPhone X-Plus Screen Size

Source 1: https://www.inverse.com/article/44618-iphone-x-plus-details-rumors-screen-size-release-date-apple-2018

Source 2:

 

• Apple is expected to release a larger iPhone X this fall called the iPhone X Plus- with a 6.5 inch edge-to-edge OLED display.

• While the iPhone X gains screen real estate thanks to a lack of home button, real estate is lost at the top and bottom due to the “notch” and slide-up indicator.

• The 6.5-inch device will be around 0.2mm thicker than the iPhone 8 Plus, in part due to the use of a vertical arrangement for the rear dual camera.

  • This would bring it in line with the iPhone X, which measures 7.7mm thick.

• Apple is also expected to unveil two more phones this fall.

  • A 5.8-inch OLED model will act as an upgrade to the existing iPhone X, likely offering improvements to the A11 Bionic processor and a larger rear camera lens.

  • A 6-inch iPhone with a cheaper LCD screen, offering Face ID but ditching the second camera lens.

• Other phones:

  • Pixel 2 XL - 6”

  • S9+ - 6.2”

  • iPhone 8+ - 5.5”

  • iPhone X - 5.8”

  • LG v30 - 6”

• Note that the 5.8” X has about the same footprint as the 4.7” iPhone 8, but with 20% more space for vertical content

 

What’s Coming Out on Floatplane? Go Over Current Week.

Rapid Fire

Apple pulling apps that share location data with 3rd parties

Source 1: DrMacintosh https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/925182-apple-is-pulling-apps-that-share-location-data-with-3rd-parties/

Source 2: https://9to5mac.com/2018/05/08/apple-location-apps-third-parties/

 

• Apple has started cracking down on applications that share location data with third-parties, removing the from the applications from the App Store and informing developers that their app violates the App Store Review Guidelines

  • sections 5.1.1 and 5.1.2, which pertain to transmitting user location data and user awareness of data collection.

• In emails to the app developers, Apple explains that developers must remove any code, frameworks, or SDKs that relate to the violation before their app can be resubmitted to the App Store.

• In addition to simply asking for permission, Apple appears to want developers to explain what the data is used for and how it is shared.

• Furthermore, the company is cracking down on instances where the data is used for purposes unrelated to improving the user experience:

  • You may not use or transmit someone’s personal data without first obtaining their permission and providing access to information about how and where the data will be used.

  • Data collected from apps may not be used or shared with third parties for purposes unrelated to improving the user experience or software/hardware performance connected to the app’s functionality.

 

Rent out your graphics card for mining in exchange for free PC games

Source 1: Morgan MLGman https://www.techradar.com/news/rent-out-your-graphics-card-for-mining-and-get-free-pc-games

Source 2: https://www.gamesfromspace.com/games/

 

• A German company has announced ‘Games from Space’ which borrows your GPU for cryptocurrency mining purposes, and in return gives you free PC games.

• You pick a game you want, and watch a progress bar slowly tick up as your GPU is used for the company’s mining efforts.

  • The faster your graphics card the quicker progress you’ll make towards getting that game.

• It’s not free: mining will increase your PC’s power consumption, and have a cost on your electricity bill

• some of the games are newer big-name affairs, like PUBG or Grand Theft Auto V.

  • With a GTX1070, PUBG and GTA V will take you around 28 days of mining, according to the company.

  • you can get DiRT 3 in a day.

• you need a Windows PC with a graphics card that has at least 3GB of video RAM.

• The mining application will run at full tilt if your PC is idle,

  • it won’t interfere with the daily operation of your machine

 

Steam fixes hardware survey system; big changes to data

Source 1: GoodNytes https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/925900-steam-fixes-its-hardware-survey-system-now-shows-large-changes-in-os-cpu-and-more/

Source 2: https://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey/?

 

• The latest Steam Hardware Survey incorporates a number of fixes that address over-counting of cyber cafe customers that occurred during the prior seven months.

• Historically, the survey used a client-side method to ensure that systems were counted only once per year, in order to provide an accurate picture of the entire Steam user population.

• It turns out, however, that many cyber cafes manage their hardware in a way that was causing their customers to be over counted.

• See the resultant data changes in Source 2 table (scroll down)

 

Qualcomm is finally making a Smart Watch chip

Source 1: Eduard the weeb https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/925184-qualcomm-is-making-a-new-wear-os-chip/

Source 2: https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/5/8/17334228/qualcomm-snapdragon-wear-smartwatch-chip-coming

 

• Al Wear OS watches that come out today have little option but to use the Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 2100 from February 2016

• Some have argued that this is holding the entire Wear OS platform back.

• Qualcomm will announce updated watch-focused silicon this fall alongside a flagship device, with “several partners” set to release Wear OS watches based on the new chips by the holidays.

• The third-generation processors will be “designed from the ground up for a no-compromises smartwatch experience,” supposedly enabling smaller watches with better battery life.

• Qualcomm is apparently also designing the chips to work more effectively with always-on displays.

  • “A smartwatch is first and foremost a watch — it needs to look good, it needs to be sleek, it needs to look good when I’m looking at it or when I’m not looking at it,”

  • “It cannot be static when I’m not looking at it, it cannot be black and white when I’m not looking at it. So when we talk to Fossil consumers and Michael Kors consumers, they want a no-compromises smartwatch.”

 

Rumour: Google preparing Pixel smartwatch

Source 1: Ryz http://hexus.net/mobile/news/accessories/118088-google-said-preparing-pixel-branded-smartwatches/

Source 2: http://winfuture.de/news,103172.html

 

• The watch, or watches, will arrive alongside Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, and second-gen Pixel Buds this fall

• There are apparently 3 models, code named 'Ling', 'Triton' and 'Sardine'

  • it’s unclear whether they’re different sized versions, variants with or without LTE, or completely different devices.

• The devices will all be based on the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 platform

 

Boston Dynamics robots can run now

Source 1: SC2Mitch https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/925702-boston-dynamics-robots-are-learning-how-to-run-outside-and-navigate-autonomously-with-some-significant-improvements/

Source 2: https://www.youtube.com/user/BostonDynamics/featured

 

• This week Boston Dynamics, the one company in the world that MIGHT be cooler to work at than LMG uploaded 2 new videos:

• One shows their humanoid Atlas robot running outside

  • Atlas has no trouble keeping its balance on grass or uneven terrain.

  • At one point in the video, it encounters a log across its path but leaps over it

• One shows their quadruped Spot robot autonomously navigating around the Boston Dynamics test facility.

  • Before the test, the robot is manually driven through the space so it can build a map of the space using visual data from cameras mounted on the front, back and sides of the robot.

  • During the autonomous run, SpotMini uses data from the cameras to localize itself in the map and to detect and avoid obstacles.

  • Once the operator presses 'GO' at the beginning of the video, the robot is on its own.

  • The sensor suite includes stereo cameras, depth cameras, an IMU, and position/force sensors in the limbs. These sensors help with navigation and mobile manipulation.

• SpotMini weighs 25 kg (30 kg if you include the arm) and can go for about 90 minutes on a charge, depending on what it is doing.

 

HOLD THE PHONE, Spot Mini will be ON SALE next year?!

Source 1: https://www.cnet.com/news/boston-dynamics-spotmini-robot-dog-goes-on-sale-in-2019/

Source 2:

 

• SpotMini, will go on sale next year for companies that want a mechanical quadruped to get to places a wheeled device can't reach.

  • SpotMini robots could be useful for security patrols or for helping construction companies keep tabs on what's happening at building sites.

  • SpotMini can be customized with attachments and extra software for particular jobs

• Boston Dynamics has 10 SpotMini prototypes now and will work with manufacturing partners to build 100 this year

• Eventually, though, the company hopes to sell it for use in people's homes

 

Steam Link app will let you play your Steam games on your phone.

Source 1: Ryz https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/925229-a-steam-link-app-coming-the-week-of-may-21st-to-android-and-ios-devices-will-let-you-play-your-steam-games-on-your-phone/

Source 2: https://steamdb.info/blog/steam-link-and-video-mobile-apps/

 

• Steam is preparing to launch two new free apps:

  • the Steam Link app - week of May 21st

  • the Steam Video app - later this summer

• The Steam Link app:

  • allows gamers to experience their Steam library of games on their Android and iOS devices while connected via 5Ghz network or wired Ethernet to a host system (Mac or PC),

  • Android access initially offered in beta.

  • The app will feature support for the Steam Controller, MFI controllers, and more - across both platforms.

• The Steam Video app:

  • allowing users to enjoy the movies and shows available on Steam via their Android and iOS devices over Wi-Fi or LTE.

  • supports offline and streaming modes

 

Nine Inch Nails to fight ticket bots by not selling tickets online (lol, actually on the forum, suck it Linus!)

Source 1: WMGroomAK https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/925589-nine-inch-nails-to-fight-ticket-bots-by-not-selling-tickets-online/

Source 2: https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/10/nine-inch-nails-fall-tour-no-online-sales/

 

• Nine Inch Nails will not sell tickets online for its just-announced "Cold and Black and Infinite" theater tour this fall.

• Instead, you'll have to wait in line at the venue. Each person can buy up to four tickets, and you can’t line up before 8am.

  • “We've decided to try something different that will also likely suck, but in a different way.

  • We're hoping many of you will be happy with the results, while some may do what they always do and bitch about it."

• Other approaches to fighting ticket bots:

  • you "buy" the ticket online but you technically don't get one until you show up at the venue with printed confirmation copy, some kind of ID and the same credit card that was used to purchase the tickets.

  • “Verified Fan” tickets: Fans register via webpage, and engage with a community over time to signal they are real fans.

[Daniel644]

#InBeforeTheVideoLink

[Egg-Roll]

@James and Luke trolled the Twitch chat hard with their Ticket and Stabbing topic  That was awesome.

 

Edit:
Preserved "Just in case"

[Crunchy Dragon]

20 minutes ago, LinusTech said:

Rent out your graphics card for mining in exchange for free PC games

Source 1: Morgan MLGman https://www.techradar.com/news/rent-out-your-graphics-card-for-mining-and-get-free-pc-games

Source 2: https://www.gamesfromspace.com/games/

 

• A German company has announced ‘Games from Space’ which borrows your GPU for cryptocurrency mining purposes, and in return gives you free PC games.

• You pick a game you want, and watch a progress bar slowly tick up as your GPU is used for the company’s mining efforts.

  • The faster your graphics card the quicker progress you’ll make towards getting that game.

• It’s not free: mining will increase your PC’s power consumption, and have a cost on your electricity bill

• some of the games are newer big-name affairs, like PUBG or Grand Theft Auto V.

  • With a GTX1070, PUBG and GTA V will take you around 28 days of mining, according to the company.

  • you can get DiRT 3 in a day.

• you need a Windows PC with a graphics card that has at least 3GB of video RAM.

• The mining application will run at full tilt if your PC is idle,

  • it won’t interfere with the daily operation of your machine

See, I'd consider this if I didn't run a GTX 780.

[Daniel644]

34 minutes ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

See, I'd consider this if I didn't run a GTX 780.

time to upgrade then, 10 series cards where back in stock the other day on Nvidia's site at MSRP.

 

edit: someone forgot to come back and post the video link here

 

[Crunchy Dragon]

29 minutes ago, Daniel644 said:

time to upgrade then, 10 series cards where back in stock the other day on Nvidia's site at MSRP.

This does just about everything I need it to. Plus, it was an insanely good deal for a reference 780.

[JoostinOnline]

36 minutes ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

See, I'd consider this if I didn't run a GTX 780.

Seems like a ripoff to me. First of all, GTA5 is a relatively old game. Five years of the devs milking it doesn't somehow keep it a new release. Second, 28 days solid mining with a freaking 1070 to get it? That's a really long time. Just mow a couple lawns in an hour and you can have it now.

 

What was with those idiotic sunglasses though? For a good 15 minutes people were telling James that he looked like a total tool with them on indoors. It was annoying to see chat flooded, but I also couldn't disagree with them either.

[Crunchy Dragon]

1 minute ago, JoostinOnline said:

Seems like a ripoff to me. First of all, GTA5 is a relatively old game. Five years of the devs milking it doesn't somehow keep it a new release. Second, 28 days solid mining with a freaking 1070 to get it? That's a really long time. Just mow a couple lawns in an hour and you can have it now.

Less work, less effort. Besides, you could have it mining and working towards getting you a game while you mow lawns or whatever to bring in extra cash for other things.

[JoostinOnline]

5 minutes ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

Less work, less effort. Besides, you could have it mining and working towards getting you a game while you mow lawns or whatever to bring in extra cash for other things.

True. But you'll need to mow lawns to pay that increased electric bill lol. It won't be huge in all countries (such as the US), but in some, electricity costs a lot of money.

[killcomic]

Hey guys, just a quick question about something I heard in the show... Are you sure Mexico is in South America?

I din't realise Canada was suffering from the same map shortage the US has.

[Taf the Ghost]

Glad to see Riley in. LMG has needed another host since Luke moved to management.

[Ryz]

Dang they didnt mention the steam app streaming, was looking forward to see what Linus thought since he reviewed the steam link back in the day.

[Nicnac]

wow, whatsapp getting friggin ads did not make the news? I guess they'll get away with it like always....  

[King_of_Oz]

For the games from space thing, i have an rx 480, and i live in quebec, so electricity is cheap... is it worth it for me?

[Shreyas1]

make the tecklinked shirt Linus was wearing an actual shirt

 

 

Edit: NVM didn't watch whole show

Edited May 12, 2018 by Shreyas1

[chuiu]

At 51:11 where Luke is talking about just streaming to one person, that's exactly what Steams built in streaming thing is perfect for.  You just click on your friends name and do "Watch Game" and you can watch their gameplay.  By default I think it asks them if they want to allow it, but you can configure it to automatically allow friends to view your gameplay.  My friends and I do this all the time, its not unusual for someone to just start watching me play a game because they're curious what the game is like and want to talk to me about it while I'm playing it.

[Freeman]

Just watched the first TechLinked episode, I like it, but just hope it won't overlap with WAN show. It would suck to hear the same news twice. It's OK to have the thing still in the thread, since then it's super easy to skip, but I'm usually not at the controls when watching WAN show, so skiping there is a problem.

[DoctorWho1975]

I can't wait until pranks are done with Google Duplex.

[DoctorWho1975]

STEGMA!