Dec 29, 2017 - The WAN Show Document

[LinusTech]

 

 

 

Main News Topics

Apple Responds to iPhone Slow-Down Fiasco

Source 1: posted by DrMacintosh https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/878739-apple-apologizes-over-battery-fisasco-will-offer-29-battery-replacements-for-1-year/

Source 2: https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/28/16827248/apple-iphone-battery-replacement-price-slow-down-apology

Source 3: https://www.apple.com/iphone-battery-and-performance/

 

• Following its recent admission that it was in fact slowing down older iPhones in order to compensate for degrading battery, Apple has now published an apology letter to its customer.

• Starting in late January, Apple is offering anyone with an iPhone 6 or later a battery replacement for $29 — a discount of $50 from the usual replacement cost.

  • The offer will continue through December 2018

• They will also issue an iOS software update “Early in 2018” that gives users more visibility into the health of their iPhone’s battery, so they can see for themselves if its condition is affecting performance.

• Apple says in its letter that batteries are “consumable components,” which is in stark contrast to how Apple spoke about batteries before:

  • IN 2007 Apple marketing vice president Greg Joswiak said “Most iPhone users will realize, as most iPod customers realized, that they never needed to replace their batteries”

• And here’s what Apple said in order to cover their butts about knowing the phones were slow:

  • Over the course of this fall, we began to receive feedback from some users who were seeing slower performance in certain situations. Based on our experience, we initially thought this was due to a combination of two factors:

    • a normal, temporary performance impact when upgrading the operating system as iPhone installs new software and updates apps,

    • and minor bugs in the initial release which have since been fixed.

  • We now believe that another contributor to these user experiences is the continued chemical aging of the batteries in older iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s devices, many of which are still running on their original batteries.

 

iFixit drops its iPhone battery replacement to $29

Source 1: https://techcrunch.com/2017/12/29/ifixit-drops-its-iphone-battery-replacement-to-29-matching-apples-apology-price/

 

 

• iFixit has dropped the price of its battery replacement kits to $29 — matching the cost of out-of-warranty battery replacements being offered by Apple.

• Using iFixit’s method isn’t any cheaper, but it means

  • not having to wait in line at the Genius Bar

  • Not dealing with whatever turnaround time might be involved.

  • those with older phones can get a deal:

    • iFixit has batteries for models note covered by the aforementioned deal, many of which are even cheaper.

 

Apple could be subject to criminal charges in France over phone slowdowns

Source 1: posted by johnbanks https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/879051-apple-could-be-subject-to-criminal-charges-in-france-over-phone-slowdowns/

Source 2: http://mashable.com/2017/12/28/apple-iphone-criminal-charges-france/#3ajQ.ESwPaqN

 

• A group in France called ‘Stop Planned Obsolescence’ has filed a criminal complaint in a French court alleging that Apple has violated France’s “energy transition” law.

• The group believes the law on the energy transition of 2015 prohibits

  • "the practice of planned obsolescence, which is defined by the use of techniques by which the person responsible for the marketing of a product aims to deliberately reduce lifespan in order to increase the replacement rate. The complaint is therefore criminal; the law provides for a maximum sentence of two years in prison and up to 300,000 euros in fines and 5% of the annual turnover.”

• This is the first criminal charge against Apple related to this dispute.

 

China investigates NAND price-fixing among the large suppliers

Source 1: posted by Tabs https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/878804-china-to-look-into-potential-price-fixing-from-major-nand-suppliers/

Source 2: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201712/27/WS5a42db7ca31008cf16da39a2.html

 

• China's top economic regulator is paying close attention to the factors surrounding a surge in the price of mobile phone storage chips, following complaints issued by mobile phone makers.

• The average spot price for mainstream DRAM chips has surged by more than 50% over the past year, while prices for NAND flash chips have risen 32%

• The explanation so far:

  • the technology transfer needed for firms to produce 3D NAND chips is taking longer than expected.

  • Compounded by demand from fast-growing Chinese smartphone makers such as Xiaomi and Oppo

• The Chinese government is now investigating another cause: price fixing.

  • definition: coordinated action taken by a number of companies to push the price of a product as high as possible for maximum profits.

• The only company that we know has been contacted by the regulator so far is Samsung. Any action taken would likely be in the form of fines:

  • In 2005, the US Department of Justice fined Samsung $300 million for participating in an international effort to fix prices in the market.

  • The highest antitrust fine issued by the Chinese commission was the $975 million penalty imposed on Qualcomm in 2015.

 

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

Rapid Fire

Proposed DMCA exemption to resurrect dead online multiplayer games

Source 1: posted by timourf https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/879211-proposed-dmca-exemption-that-could-allow-resurrection-of-dead-online-multiplayer-games/

Source 2: https://www.techspot.com/news/72437-renewed-proposal-seeks-dmca-exemption-abandoned-online-games.html

 

• The US Copyright Office is considering a DMCA exception proposal for allowing museums, libraries and archives to circumvent the DRM on abandoned online games

  • The proposal was initiated by The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment a non-profit that houses over 5,300 playable games.”

• The museum is concerned that certain games that require a server to run will be lost if exemptions are not made to the DMCA.

  • It is not looking to circumvent current games but instead is looking to preserve titles that have already been shut down by the producer

  • The exemptions would apply to any abandoned games that require an online server to operate.

• Why do games go offline?

  • It’s not financially feasible for game companies to operate a server after a game exceeds its lifespan

    • According to the Electronic Arts “Online Services Shutdown” list, more than 300 titles and servers dropped out of service just in the last four years.

  • Individuals who try running independent servers for such games are often served cease and desist notices from the copyright holder.

• This isn’t the first time this exemption has been considered:

  • In 2015, a similar request was struck down because the specific games mentioned in the proposal could still be played on local area networks.

  • The current request argues, “Local multiplayer options are increasingly rare, and many games no longer support LAN connected multiplayer capability. More troubling still to archivists, many video games rely on server connectivity to function in single-player mode and become unplayable when servers shut down.”

• The decision will be made some time after march 2018

 

John McAfee’s Twitter hacked

Source 1: SC2Mitch https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/878803-founder-of-mcafees-twitter-account-gets-breached-and-the-hilarity-that-ensued/

Source 2: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-42502770

Source 3: https://twitter.com/officialmcafee/status/946154726307127298

 

• John McAfee claims his Twitter account was hacked and used to promote lesser-known crypto-currencies.

• McAfee has used twitter in the past to highlight “coins of the day”- cryptocurrencies he believes others should invest in.

  • These tweets often result in a spike in the coin’s value.

• It’s thought that the hackers were attempting to raise the value of coins that they have (had) a large stake in.

 

Denmark gets a Green Christmas

Source 1: posted by Akyhne https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/877132-a-true-green-christmas-in-denmark/

 

• Not only did it not snow, but high winds allowed the nation’s many coastal wind turbines produce enough energy for the entire country.

 

Asus Changes ROG Strix GTX 1080 Ti PCB Design

Source 1: posted by XenosTech https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/877945-buyers-beware-asus-changes-rog-strix-gtx-1080-ti-pcb-design/

Source 2: http://www.tomshardware.com/news/asus-rog-strix-gtx-1080-ti-pcb,36181.html

 

• Asus has changed the PCB design of their ROG Strix GTX 1080 Ti significantly enough that it is no longer compatible with several EK Water Blocks SKUs.

  • EK-MLC Phoenix GPU Module FC1080 GTX Ti with both nickel and acetal and nickel finishes

  • EK-FC1080 GTX Ti water block, also in nickel and nickel/acetal.

• Cards manufactured before November 2017 are still compatible with EKWB’s purpose-built GPU waterblocks.

• Asus didn’t disclose the specific changes to the PCB

 

Netflix adds HDR Streaming to Windows 10... but there's a catch

Source 1: posted by AluminiumTech Netflix adds HDR Streaming to Windows 10 UWP App and Microsoft Edge but there's a catch

 

• Windows 10 users can now stream Netflix in HDR...provided they have all the prerequisites:

  • A premium Netflix plan

  • Microsoft Edge or the Universal Windows app

  • Windows 10 with Fall Creators Update

  • An HDR display

  • Intel 7th gen or newer CPU - AMD not supported

  • Integrated graphics or a GTX 10 series with 3GB of VRAM - AMD not supported

 

"Gaming Disorder" is a mental condition according to WHO

Source 1: posted by hey_yo_ https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/877707-now-its-official-gaming-disorder-is-a-mental-condition-according-to-who/

 

Source 2: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2017/12/24/do-you-have-video-gaming-disorder-a-newly-recognized-mental-health-condition/#58a51dc7316d

 

• The beta draft of the WHO's forthcoming 11th update of the International Classification of Diseases now includes "gaming disorder" along with the following description:

  • Gaming disorder is characterized by a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour (‘digital gaming’ or ‘video-gaming’), which may be online (i.e., over the internet) or offline, manifested by:

    • 1) impaired control over gaming (e.g., onset, frequency, intensity, duration, termination, context);

    • 2) increasing priority given to gaming to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other life interests and daily activities; and

    • 3) continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.

  • The behaviour pattern is of sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning.

  • The pattern of gaming behaviour may be continuous or episodic and recurrent.

  • The gaming behaviour and other features are normally evident over a period of at least 12 months in order for a diagnosis to be assigned, although the required duration may be shortened if all diagnostic requirements are met and symptoms are severe.

• The inclusion will mean that it will officially become a health condition, a diagnosis that can be used by doctors, other health care workers, and insurance companies.

 

Breaking News: Police kill Kansas man while responding to an alleged 'swatting'

Source 1: http://www.pcgamer.com/police-kill-kansas-man-while-responding-to-an-alleged-swatting/?utm_content=buffer6b6c9&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=buffer-pcgamertw

 

• 28-year-old Andrew Finch of Wichita, Kansas, was killed last night by police in what appears to have been an incident of "swatting."

• Swatting is a "prank" in which an aggrieved gamer calls in a false police report, accusing a rival of violent crimes serious enough to trigger a heavily-armed response.

• In this case one gamer essentially dared the other to swat him, but provided an address that wasn’t his own, but was nearby.

• Police believed they were responding to a report of a murder and hostage situation at Finch's home when Andrew Finch, came to the front door and was shot and killed.

 

NVIDIA Forbids GeForce Driver Deployment in Data Centers

Source 1: posted by Raxzzer https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/877920-nvidia-forbids-deployment-of-geforce-drivers-in-data-centers/

Source 2: https://www.techpowerup.com/239994/nvidia-forbids-geforce-driver-deployment-in-data-centers

Source 3: http://www.nvidia.com/content/DriverDownload-March2009/licence.php?lang=us&type=GeForce

 

• NVIDIA recently updated the end-user license agreement (EULA) for their GeForce Software, including one interesting limitation:

  • ”No Datacenter Deployment. The SOFTWARE is not licensed for datacenter deployment, except that blockchain processing in a datacenter is permitted.”

• They don’t want data centers to utilize GeForce and TITAN graphics cards instead of the more expensive Quadro or Tesla cards.

• With this prohibition in place, data centers are forced to either invest in NVIDIA's pricier offerings or completely switch over to AMD.

• Exception: Data centers that are using GeForce products for cryptocoin mining are unaffected by this change in the EULA.

 

GDDR6 Internal Qualification Completed

Source 1: posted by AluminiumTech https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/877609-gddr6-internal-qualification-completed-mass-production-to-commence-in-h12018/

Source 2: https://www.anandtech.com/show/12186/micron-finishes-gddr6-internal-qualification

 

• Micron has released a blog post then revealing that they have finished the design and internal qualification of their 12Gbps and 14Gbps GDDR6 chips

• the company is already sampling the chips, and should reach mass production of GDDR6 in the first half of 2018

• GDD5 is likely to remain the standard for mainstream consumers for some time.

 

 

Man dies while playing VR

Source 1:  posted by NumLock21 https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/877755-man-dies-while-playing-vr-game/

Source 2: https://www.trymodern.com/2905/man-accidentally-kills-himself-playing-vr-video-game

 

• A 44 year old Russian man was playing a Star Wars VR game, when he fell and hit his head on a glass table.

• based on the medical examiner’s report, the man continued playing the game instead of seeking immediate medical attention, and lost of lot of blood in the process. He eventually succumbed to his injuries.

• there was no toxicology information at the time to know if he was under the influence, possibly explaining why he didn’t realize he was losing so much blood or feeling any pain.

• His mother discovered his body on Thursday when she came to visit him.

 

Google head-hunting Apple chip designers

Source 1: posted by hey_yo_ https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/877610-google-brings-on-former-apple-chip-designer/

Source 2: https://www.engadget.com/2017/12/23/google-poaches-a-key-apple-chip-designer/

 

• Google has been hiring veteran chip designers:

  • Manu Gulati, who was a key part of Apple’s efforts to build custom chipsets for its iPhones and iPads, is now Lead SOC Architect at Google

  • John Bruno, whose Linkedin now lists him as a “system architect’, was the designer who founded and ran Apple's silicon competitive analysis group.

• Presumably the new talent (which also includes veterans from Qualcomm) will be used to expand Google's variety of custom processors.

  • Right now, its only in-house silicon is the Pixel Visual Core imaging chip inside the Pixel 2.

 

Apple’s Tim Cook Gets 74% Bonus

Source 1: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-27/apple-ceo-cook-gets-74-bonus-boost-after-sales-profit-rebound

 

• Apple. CEO Tim Cook received a 74%increase in his annual bonus for fiscal 2017

  • Cook’s incentive pay totaled $9.33 million for the year ended Sept. 30

  • He also took home $3.06 million in salary

  • and a previously disclosed equity award of $89.2 million,

  • bringing his total payout for the year to about $102 million.

• His top five lieutenants each got bonuses of $3.11 million, bringing their total compensation to about $24.2 million each, including salaries and stock awards.

• Cook’s travel expenses totalled $93,109 since the Apple board stipulated this year that for security reasons the CEO should use private planes for business and personal travel

• Cook’s personal security costs were calculated at $224,216.

 

Apple Store derps in Winter

Source 1: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/12/apple-store-designers-appear-to-have-forgotten-about-chicago-winters/

 

• Apple’s new store on the Chicago riverfront, though beautiful, is ill-equipped for the city’s winters.

• The lack of gutters on the roof has forced Apple to close off the plaza surrounding the store.

• Not only is there a risk of snow falling off the sloped roof, there are some nasty-looking icicles hanging there as well.

 

[rcmaehl]

I'll be glad when the NAND prices go down for sure

 

[Daniel644]

professional tip, when posting thread for video include the video.

[captain_to_fire]

How about that WAN show audio problems @LinusTech? Even though it was a bit louder, it still sounds muted compared to the past episodes. Sad. 

[Tsuki]

missed it again this week sadly.

i had a feeling ram prices were at least partially caused by price fixing, i dont think anybody is really that surprised.

[Daniel644]

 

still no WAN Show

 

 

Edit: but seriously guys it's been like 4 hours won't Youtube's algorithm wreck your Saturday video views if you don't get this up now? @LinusTech @CPotter @nicklmg

[porina]

Worst sound ever. At least I found this thread, downloaded the mp3 from soundcloud, and applied a TON of gain with a hint of compression for peaks, just so I can hear something. The youtube version I can't get loud enough even if I max out my system, and at those settings any normal sound from anything else would blow my ears off. This is beyond a bit bad, but it is getting to the difference between were if it were anyone else, I'd just not watch it than this messing around.

[Master Disaster]

On the server resurrection topic, it's not copyright that's the issue, it's trademark.

 

A trademark owner must do everything they can to defend it otherwise they can lose their right to it and the mark will become public domain.

 

http://ingenuitylaw.com/intellectual-property/understanding-trademark-duration/

[ahuckphin]

 

24:46 - Linus, you can test your theory. Buy a new 6S from Apple, obtain a heavily used 6S that hasn't had it's battery replaced and compare performance with a newer new iPhone model. 

[Hunter259]

3 hours ago, bindydad123 said:

 

24:46 - Linus, you can test your theory. Buy a new 6S from Apple, obtain a heavily used 6S that hasn't had it's battery replaced and compare performance with a newer new iPhone model. 

It was proven in the original post about this that the performance does go back to it's original status when a battery that can provide the correct amperage is found to be in the device. Why Linus and Luke forgot about that pretty big detail is a little strange but they have a lot of work to do so I'll give them a pass. Also @LinusTech My iPhone 6 is very bent but I have replaced the battery one after it was physically damaged on accident. As long as the screen is still snapping into place then it's silly easy to replace the battery.

[JoostinOnline]

Who else is sick of them dedicating half of every WAN Show to discuss Floatplane? I like watching on Twitch so I can join in the conversation, but it's become a 20-30 minute advertisement (usually either followed or preceded by sponsors). I'm considering just watching on YouTube so I can skip it. 

[William Payne]

23 minutes ago, JoostinOnline said:

Who else is sick of them dedicating half of every WAN Show to discuss Floatplane? I like watching on Twitch so I can join in the conversation, but it's become a 20-30 minute advertisement (usually either followed or preceded by sponsors). I'm considering just watching on YouTube so I can skip it. 

 

I can't say it bothers me. The thing I like about podcasts is less the news and more just listening to people talk and joke and laugh for an hour or more and whatever topic they are talking about. 

 

 

 

 

[JoostinOnline]

2 hours ago, William Payne said:

 

I can't say it bothers me. The thing I like about podcasts is less the news and more just listening to people talk and joke and laugh for an hour or more and whatever topic they are talking about. 

 

 

 

 

Ah.  I like news.  Or at least for them to not talk about the same damn thing every week.

[ttam]

5 hours ago, JoostinOnline said:

Who else is sick of them dedicating half of every WAN Show to discuss Floatplane? I like watching on Twitch so I can join in the conversation, but it's become a 20-30 minute advertisement (usually either followed or preceded by sponsors). I'm considering just watching on YouTube so I can skip it. 

What happens when you take a channel that was once about tech and basically sell out. It's more a Linus Media Group $$$ than a Linus Tech Tip channel.

 

Even with that $9000 streaming setup they posted, they still cant get their streams right =P

[Ringthane]

7 minutes ago, ttam said:

What happens when you take a channel that was once about tech and basically sell out. It's more a Linus Media Group $$$ than a Linus Tech Tip channel.

 

Even with that $9000 streaming setup they posted, they still cant get their streams right =P

Thank you.  At least someone had the guts to say it.  

[WereCatf]

I tried to watch the latest WAN-show on Youtube and I just groaned and closed it because it's uselessly quiet. What kinda baffles me is that they don't seem to do any sort of audio-check before firing up the show; AFAIK it shouldn't be too much work to play a test sound and check the decibel-levels on the output, so you can always target a certain level every time.

[Canada EH]

Been not watching LTT for a long while. Gotta be in a certain mood to watch his videos, too much energy for me.

WAN show is informative but random topics of the week, with the typical Linus energy.

[DoctorWho1975]

Luke has a disorder.. thats why Linus is firing him!

[jackieAZ]

6 minutes ago, DoctorWho1975 said:

Luke has a disorder.. thats why Linus is firing him!

He can't be fired if he quits first! (also no severance)

[DoctorWho1975]

2 minutes ago, WubGuy said:

He can't be fired if he quits first! (also no severance)

Linus made the working conditions so awful by not letting Luke game he couldn't handle his disorder so he was quit fired.

[DoctorWho1975]

Just an FYI.. this continuing to push floatpane is getting tiresome, especially to a non-working platform. I won't be subscribing to floatplane just because of it.. at least not until a Beta finished product is actually well, finished. I really don't want to see the damned thing.. because that may not be the user experience. 

[Prevo]

4 hours ago, DoctorWho1975 said:

Just an FYI.. this continuing to push floatpane is getting tiresome, especially to a non-working platform. I won't be subscribing to floatplane just because of it.. at least not until a Beta finished product is actually well, finished. I really don't want to see the damned thing.. because that may not be the user experience. 

   
   Hmmm yeah, i got here to try and sub. to FP but you have avalid point there DoctorWho1975 , i too want to wait to at least some point of semi-finished product and experience like open beta or better BC it yould ruin my perception of the platform alltogether , i could sub. to FP and go there and if i would not be informed like its HEAVY in bad shape and its nothing to a inished product why would i ? (i mean ofc if am not an heavy LTT supporter etc) , it could quite well damage my perception of the product and i would unsub. and maybe never come back, bc the hype only live once.... 

   Its the same as the thiing with Casey Neistat mobile app for sharing videos- he hyped it so much and released and not even an halfbacked (not in tech IT standpoint but in user interface standpoint) product , and people that were not like aware that this will be changing and the user interface that sucked will be better and better but only SLOWLY....they just left , and never come back, cause when you one delete the app from your device you will not in most cases donwl. it back i think. And remember the hype can only live once...so i hope this will not be the same case.
Am starting to think they should not promote it so much just test run it and not talk about it so much till it would be a decent product and not call there so much creators to choose FP. OR- they should made it -free beta- for the time beeing - compensate a little the creators or just have there volunteering crators and WHEN it would be at least someone finished THEN put it on for money sub. 

   Thanks for that though ,i will just wait, till its "finished", not that the sub is too much for me now but i just dont want to ruin my first inmpression and be dissapinted.
Prevo aka tomas

[DoctorWho1975]

Yeah, especially when the guy who you are firing not firing has been like no... its not even alpha... no, don't show it.. no....its f-ing old. I understand excitement but be excited when you have something that is ready to be released, don't be going all Radeon Technology Group on us and shit.

[William Payne]

Hype is something I worry about regarding Floatplane as a user. Not my expectations but what I feel may be others expectations. I worry people may get or already have this idea that Floatplane is going to be like this "YouTube killer" and be this big massive thing. I think people's expectations may be more grander then reality. 

[Prevo]

33 minutes ago, William Payne said:

Hype is something I worry about regarding Floatplane as a user. Not my expectations but what I feel may be others expectations. I worry people may get or already have this idea that Floatplane is going to be like this "YouTube killer" and be this big massive thing. I think people's expectations may be more grander then reality. 

hi
   yes that too  William Payne , first i was like ok it will be something at least to compete with youtube , and am not THAT not ehm "stupid" person to get that  it was just the first impression and the way they handled the infromation aroud it, and the thing Linus told that he wants to get creators from youtube to publish on FP at least first or even exclus. that wasnt helping that case cause from that idea you are like, yeah it has to be something BIG and GREAT to pull creators from YT , but yeah now i get it will maybe be something i dont know even  alongside youtube since adpocalypse3.562837.0   to ensure that they get some money for the content + Patreon etc....

    Buuuut what if, (big IF) youtube in year or two will get better, much better to produce on, will FP survive and not be just a small bunch of core creators and few hounded views of audience? to have a project like this you NEED to be BIG in the long run otherwise i thing its really hard to develop the platform further in the timeline to be able to pay the people to maintain AND develop it ? you need a good stream of money i think its not easy.

    but just for the love of LT and this idea and that its from canada  i would love and will supporting it and bc of the creators, but they should have put it out and advert. it like this AFTER is semi done i think.  
  I get they need some testers , but for that just run it on the forums for the CORE people that will HELP out dont yeah advert it and HYPE it so much, maybe put for the people want info separate for the FPP and QA videos every week or two separate ftom WanShow....but just an idea...  

bb Prevo aka tomas