August 25, 2017 - The WAN Show Documents

[Slick]

 

 

Main News Topics

Xsplit - move to OBS

IS FLOATPLANE DYING

CrashPlan for Home says au revoir

Source 1: Linus’ Email

 

Hello,   Thank you for using CrashPlan® for Home. We hope you have enjoyed the secure backup that the free version of CrashPlan for Home has provided.   As of today, Code42 has made a decision to shift our business strategy to focus on the enterprise and small business segments. Over the next 14 months, we will be exiting the consumer market and CrashPlan for Home will no longer work after that time.   Don’t worry – anything you have backed up with CrashPlan for Home is safe until October 22, 2018, and the free version of CrashPlan for Home will continue to work until that time.

 

Samsung boss & Heir JAILED for Corruption

Source 1: posted by Master Disaster https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/826676-samsung-boss-heir-lee-jae-yong-jailed-for-corruption/

Source 2: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-41033568

 

• A court in South Korea has sentenced Samsung's billionaire heir-apparent Lee Jae-yong to five years in prison for corruption!

• The 49-year-old is accused of giving donations worth $36m to non-profit foundations operated by a friend of South Korea's former President in return for political favours.

• Prosecutors said the donations were made to win government support for a big restructuring of Samsung that would strengthen Lee's control over Samsung Electronics.

• Lee, who denied all charges, had faced a jail sentence of up to 12 years.

• Lee had been detained since February on a string of corruption charges including bribery, embezzlement and hiding assets overseas.

 

Intel’s 8th generation processors are just updated 7th generation chips

Source 1: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/08/intel-first-8th-generation-processors-are-just-updated-7th-generation-chips/

 

 

• The first "8th generation" Intel Core processors have arrived: four 15W U-series mobile processors.

• They have:

  • 4 cores/8 threads up from 2 cores/4threads

  • maximum clock speed bumped to as much as 4.2GHz,

  • Base clock speed nerfed from 2.8GHz down to 1.9GHz for the top end part

  • built on a somewhat refined new version of Intel’s  "14nm+" manufacturing process

• Although Intel is calling these parts "8th generation," their architecture, both for their CPU and their integrated GPU, is the same as "7th generation" Kaby Lake.

  • Intel calls the architecture of these chips "Kaby Lake refresh."

 

1/2 Vega shortage could last until October

Source 1: https://videocardz.com/72234/a-shortage-of-amd-vega-cards-could-last-until-october

 

• According to well-informed sources of DigiTimes you should not expect to find RX Vega in stores (at least at a normal price) until October

• While AMD promised to prepare a high volume of RX Vega graphics cards for launch, the reality was that many countries did not receive a single unit of the new flagship card.

  • Only on this Monday sales officially started in Japan.

The problem allegedly lies in the complexity of the Vega chips. Other sources claim that the issue may lie in Advanced Semiconductor Engineering packaging technology.

 

2/2 AMD trying to keep Rx Vega prices low

Source 1: posted by Coaxialgamer https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/826402-amd-rx-vega%E2%80%99s-pricing-was-%E2%80%9Cnot-just-for-launch-but-ongoing%E2%80%9D/

Source 2: https://www.pcgamesn.com/amd/amd-rx-vega-launch-price-reduction

 

• After prices of RX Vega cards inflated after launch, AMD now says it’s trying its best to “get those prices to where we suggested when we launched them.”

• AMD’s Gerald Youngblood says: “Our SEPs, and the price tag that we announced,is our full intention of where we would suggest the product be priced. Not just for launch, but ongoing.”

• AMD says the priced surged due to overwhelming demand, and that filling of retailers’ inventory is key to getting the prices of Vega down to their original pre-launch levels.

 

AMD Eypc + Threadripper design in detail

Source 1: https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/826889-amd-eypc-design-in-detail/

Source 2: http://www.tomshardware.com/news/amd-threadripper-epyc-mcm-cost,35306.html

 

• At Hot Chips 2017, AMD explained why they chose a Multi-Chip Module design rather than the traditional monolithic design

• Even though a monolithic design would have been 10% smaller, and therefore cheaper to produce, the failure rate in manufacturing monolithic chips is higher.

• AMD believes they reduced their production cost by 41% by choosing MCM.

 

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

Rapid Fire

Inno3D Warns that Mining can break Warranty on their GPUs

Source 1: posted by NvidiaIntelAMDLoveTriangle https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/826753-finally-someone-decided-to-do-something-about-miners/

Source 2: http://www.guru3d.com/news-story/inno3d-warns-that-mining-can-break-warranty-on-their-gpus.html

 

• Inno3D is the first manufacturer to warn cryptocurrency coin-miners that they are possibly voiding the warranty on their cards.

• Graphics cards are not designed to do full load 24/7/365, but that is exactly what miners are doing.

• The source speculates that RMA return rates have gone up since the mining hype started.

• If a card breaks down, how would Inno3D know it was used for mining?

 

SNES Classic sold everywhere except Quebec

Source 1: posted by GoodBytes https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/825921-snes-classic-sold-everywhere-except-in-quebec-canada/

Source 2: http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/08/snes_classic_edition_wont_be_sold_in_canadian_province_of_quebec

 

• The SNES Classic will launch next month  in Europe, Japan, Australia, and North America...just not in Quebec.

• This decision is related to the province's notoriously strict language requirements, which protect the use of French in the province and mandate that business be done in French- this includes product packaging.

• The law is meant to "protect the French language, and the Quebec culture"

• Quebec is Canada’s second most populous province with 8.215 million people

 

Android Oreo has landed!

Source 1: posted by CharminUltraStrong https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/825937-android-80-oreo-review-and-update-process/#comment-10341129

Source 2: http://www.androidauthority.com/android-8-0-review-758783/

 

• No major changes to the UI but there are a couple new features and some cool things going on in the background.

• Picture-in-picture (mode): In supported apps,

  • hitting the home button will keep your video playing in a movable window in the bottom right of the screen.

  • You can drag it around the screen and tap it to access playback controls or make it full screen.

  • you can also disable this feature on an app by app basis if you don’t like it.

• Built in support for wide color gamut apps

• High performance Bluetooth audio codecs like Sony’s LDAC

• Apps now have less freedom to work in the background, saving your battery and hot pockets.

• notification badges on the home screen

  • OEMs like Samsung have been doing this for a while, now it’s native.

• Auto-Fill Api

  • Simply grant a service like Google’s Autofill or LastPass permission to collect your passwords, credit card information and personal details and Oreo can offer to automatically complete web forms and app logins

  • Crazy that it took this long, but mobile is the new desktop so it was inevitable.

 

Amazon Prime Members to get Discounts at WholeFoods

Source 1: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-25/amazon-primes-whole-foods-for-more-visitors

Source 2: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-24/amazon-pledges-lower-prices-as-acquisition-of-whole-foods-closes

 

• There’s more reason than ever to be an Amazon Prime member: cheaper avocados.

• "Amazon and Whole Foods Market technology teams will begin to integrate Amazon Prime into the Whole Foods Market point-of-sale system, and when this work is complete, Prime members will receive special savings and in-store benefits,"

• Amazon also plans to make Prime the customer rewards program at Whole Foods.

• Products from Whole Foods' private label, 365, will also be available on Amazon.

• The company hasn't yet indicated a time frame for all the changes.

• Amazon’s press release also promises lower prices effective as soon as the merger deal closes on Monday.

  • starting with items such as chicken, eggs, avocados and organic farmed salmon

 

Apple Cuts Iran-Made Apps From AppStore Over Sanctions

Source 1: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-25/apple-cuts-iran-apps-from-store-due-to-sanctions-founders-say

 

• App developers in Iran have been waking up to find emails from Apple’s App Store Review stating that their applications have been removed due to sanctions put in place by the U.S. government.

• “We got removed from App Store overnight, without any sort of warning,” one entrepreneur said. “We had just published a new version with enormous improvements. When users woke up the next morning, they saw the app is not available anymore.”

• Users can still access the apps on their phones, but cannot download or update from the App Store.

• “Under the U.S. sanctions regulations, the App Store cannot host, distribute, or do business with apps or developers connected to certain U.S. embargoed countries,” Apple said in its email to developers. “This area of law is complex and constantly changing. If the existing restrictions shift, we encourage you to resubmit your app for inclusion on the App Store.”

• Similarly in July, Apple had to remove VPN applications from their China App Store at the request of the Chinese government.

 

Rumour: New Apple TV Coming

Source 1: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-24/apple-said-to-plan-4k-tv-box-reveal-in-renewed-living-room-push

 

• A new Apple TV will reportedly be revealed alongside the new iPhone and Apple Watch models at an event in September

• It will run a faster processor capable of streaming 4K content

• The new box will also be able to play content optimized for TVs capable of playing High Dynamic Range (HDR) video

• Apple is also testing an updated version of its TV app that can aggregate programming from apps that already offer live streaming.

• Apple has begun discussions with movie studios about supplying 4K versions of movies via iTunes, according to people familiar with the talks.

 

Rumour: Pixel 2 coming October 5th

Source 1: https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/25/googles-next-pixel-smartphone-rumored-for-october-5-debut/

 

• The last Pixel was announced on Oct 4, but some things are different this year...

• There will reportedly be both a standard Pixel and an XL version, just like there were last year, with thinner bezels up front surrounding a screen with a narrower 2:1 aspect ratio, like the one found on the new Samsung Galaxy S8 and the LG G6

• the smaller device will be more of an entry-level offering when compared to last year, where they were basically indistinguishable save for their size.

• That smaller Pixel gen 2 device will have thicker bezels than its larger sibling, and a 4.97-inch 1080p display

• It’ll also reportedly have ‘squeezable’ sides, which will activate Google Assistant when pressed.

• It might drop the headphone port which it actually highlighted as a feature differentiator vs. the iPhone last time around.

• It will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 836

• It could have front-facing speakers

 

EB Games transforms its into massive lending library

Source 1: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/08/eb-games-transforms-its-used-game-stocks-into-a-massive-lending-library/

Source 2:

 

• Under pressure from the popularity of direct downloads and other digital purchases even among console gamers, GameStop-owned EB Games Australia is conducting an experiment that essentially turns its shelves full of used games into a massive lending library for a flat, monthly fee.

• For about  $16 USD/month, the program lets you take out any used game you want, one at a time, then return it in exchange for another when you're done.

• Even new releases can be rented out as long as a used copy is available in the store, which often happens just a few days after the "initial release.

• Players can cancel any time after an initial two-month commitment.

 

SpaceX releases photos of new Spacesuit

Source 1: https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/08/elon-musk-posts-first-photo-of-spacexs-new-spacesuit/

Source 2: https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/01/boeing-releases-snazzy-new-blue-spacesuits-for-starliner-fliers/

 

• Boeing and SpaceX are in a competition to design, develop, and fly spacecraft capable of transporting astronauts to the International Space Station.

• Part of that includes the design of spacesuits:

  • Source 1: SpaceX suit

  • Source 2: Boeing Suit

• In his Instagram post, Musk added that this suit was not a mock-up but rather a fully functional unit. "Already tested to double vacuum pressure,"

  • Double vacuum pressure simply means the suit was probably inflated to twice the pressure of sea level and then put into a vacuum chamber

• These are not, strictly speaking, "space suits." Rather, they are more properly flight suits designed to be worn during the ride to space and again on the ride back down to Earth. They have a limited time in which they can operate in a full vacuum and are not intended for spacewalks.

• Both companies have expressed confidence about completing crew test flights in 2018

 

Bethesda VR games now have release dates, and they’re all in 2017

Source 1: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/08/vr-versions-of-doom-fallout-4-skyrim-now-have-release-dates-this-year/

 

• Mark your calendars:

  • Doom VFR will land on both the HTC Vive and PlayStation VR on December 1.

  • The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR will launch exclusively on PlayStation VR on November 17.

  • Fallout 4 VR will launch exclusively on the HTC Vive on December 12.

• Bethesda has not announced plans for any of those games to appear outside of their announced platforms

• None of the games will be available as a free upgrade to owners of existing non-VR versions

  • "Fallout 4 VR includes the complete core game with all-new combat, crafting, and building systems fully reimagined for virtual reality."

  • Skyrim VR will include all of that RPG's expansion pack content, at least, for its $60 price tag.

  • Doom VFR  appears to be a slimmed-down version of the Doom 2016 reboot—and is priced accordingly at $30

 

HALF LIFE 3

Source 1: https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/826649-half-life-2-episode-3-update/

Source 2: https://github.com/Jackathan/MarcLaidlaw-Epistle3/blob/master/Epistle3_Original.md

 

• Science fiction author and former Valve employee Marc Laidlaw just posted a thinly veiled conclusion to the brutally cliff-hanging Half Life series — intriguing but bittersweet news for anyone still holding out hope for another Half-Life game.

• Laidlaw’s “Epistle 3” is a letter from a fictional character named “Gertie Fremont,” who recounts her team-up with feisty partner “Alex Vaunt” (Alyx Vance) to find the “Hyperborea” (Borealis) luxury liner, which must be destroyed or captured from the evil “Disparate” (Combine) aliens

• While Laidlaw’s blog quickly faltered under the weight of traffic, someone posted the whole thing on Pastebin with the original names and genders swapped back in, resulting in a coherent and plausible plotline for Half-Life 2: Episode 3, the announced but never-released conclusion to Half-Life 2’s story arc.

• We have no way of knowing whether this was a final plotline or just some loosely developed ideas, but Laidlaw was the primary architect of Half-Life’s plot, and his departure from Valve last year was widely seen as an acknowledgment that Episode 3 was dead.

[pompom15]

Half-Life 3 is dead, get over it.

 

[Daniel644]

did you pull the video? It looked like it was just about to get to the processing stage where it would play (was able to post a comment) then it switched to Unavailable like it does when you set a video to Private.

[unijab]

Video unavailable

 

 

edit: working now

[zushiba]

Luke is leaving in 3 months ?

[razaldo]

The SoundCloud link is brokenish

It does not play any sound

[Zeus Legion]

Here's some VO to go with that Org Vlog trailer.

 

 

org_vlog_trailer_vo.mp3

[Alariel]

Wait, what? I would have liked a bit more detail on that 3 months comment...

[samcool55]

TIL Linus doesn't know the difference between French and Italian

[JoostinOnline]

Can anyone explain the #freeluke hashtag?  I missed Twitch.