This week Microsoft clarified who exactly free Windows 10 upgrades would be free for, Blizzard cracked down on World of Warcraft cheaters, and Apple abandoned plans to make TVs. Plus, Ray, Tom and Sean share websites through sound, discuss driver-less semi-trucks and a whole lot more. That’s this week on Deemable Tech!
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THIS WEEK’S RUN DOWN
Microsoft backtracks on free Windows 10 upgrades for pirated copies
In an update to a story we brought you back in March, Microsoft is clarifying their initial offer of free upgrades to Windows 10 to everyone currently running Windows 7 or 8.1, including those with pirated copies.
Almost immediately after Windows chief Tyler Myerson was reported to have said even pirated copies of Windows would get the upgrade, Microsoft began releasing vague clarifications about the upgrade still being free to pirates for a trial period before they would have to pay. Now, Microsoft says there will be no free upgrade – pirates will just have to pay. The company is planning some ?very attractive? offers to those with cracked copies of their operating systems, but no real details have been released.
Over 100,000 World of Warcraft cheaters detected and banned
Activision Blizzard, the company that makes the uber-popular massively multiplayer game World of Warcraft, fights an ongoing battle against cheaters. One of the major forms cheating in the game takes is the use of bots, software tools that automate tedious tasks like leveling up, collecting gold, and improving skills. This week, Blizzard dropped the hammer, banning what was reportedly over 100,000 players using such bots. The bans were not permanent, instead lasting for six months. It is estimated that they affected about 1.7% of World of Warcraft?s user base.
In a statement, Activision Blizzard said “We’ve recently taken action against a large number of World of Warcraft accounts that were found to be using third-party programs that automate gameplay, known as ‘bots’. We?re committed to providing an equal and fair playing field for everyone in World of Warcraft, and will continue to take action against those found in violation of our Terms of Use. Cheating of any form will not be tolerated.”
Apple Has Abandoned Apple TV
Remember those rumors that Apple was going to release an actual TV? Ray is pretty sure he even predicted that we would have already seen it by now in one of our prediction shows. Yeah, well according to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Apple was working on a 4K television set about a year ago. And many years ago, they were even considering a laser television set. But, as many research and development projects go, the Apple TV set has gone the way of the Microsoft Courier Tablet and the Palm Folio. It is never going to be released.
Apparently Apple realized that there is no way to make a new TV that isn’t better than all of the other TVs that are already on the market. Because, just like printers, the best TV is a dumb TV. Now if we could only convince the other TV ? and printer manufacturers ? of that, the world would be a better place.
Google experiments with using sound to share URLs with new ?Google Tone? Chrome extension
Google released a cool new experimental extension for their Chrome browser called Tone this week. This add-on lets you share URLs people nearby using SOUND.
To use it, Tone must be installed on at least two computers that are within earshot of each other, and each computer must have their volume turned up. This extension works on all operating systems. Open the tab you want to share, click the small megaphone shaped button on your Chrome toolbar, and your computer will play a series of beeps. A Chrome notification will pop up on the nearby computers with a link.
The extension was apparently developed in a single afternoon, according to Alex Kaufman and Boris Smus at the Google Research blog.
“Tone grew out of the idea that while digital communication methods like email and chat have made it infinitely easier, cheaper and faster to share things with people across the globe, they’ve actually made it more complicated to share things with the people standing right next to you,” Kauffmann and Smus write. “Tone aims to make sharing digital things with nearby people as easy as talking to them.”
Woman sues her employer for installing an app on her phone that tracks her 24/7
A California woman claims to have been fired from the firm Intermex after uninstalling an app on her smartphone which her employer was using to track her movements 24/7, including during her off time. Myrna Arias said she her boss had bragged to her that he knew how fast she was driving at specific moments ever since she had installed the app on her phone. She was required to keep her phone powered up at all times. She said that when she uninstalled the app she was ‘scolded’. She is now suing Intermex for violating her privacy, wrongful termination, and $500,000.
Apple quietly launches new MacBook Pro, 5K iMac and Lightning Dock
In other Apple news, even Apple understands that not every product launch requires U2 to perform and shove an album down your throat. This week Apple quietly announced a new 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display. It has the new “Force Touch” trackpad, like it?s 12- and 13- inch MacBook cousins. No surprise it also has more storage, longer battery life and better graphics.
Apple also released a new 27-inch iMac with a Retina 5K display, and reduced the price to $1,999. So, if you like the desktop, and you don?t want to pay a boatload on a Mac Pro, Apple finally has a good option for you.
The best news, was probably the smallest news, Apple finally released a lightning port dock that is compatible with the iPhone 6. So, if you like the nice, uncluttered look for your night stand, and you have the iPhone 6, now you can go back to your functional minimalistic life.
Nintendo of America hires Bowser
News from Nintendo this week that Bowser, Mario?s mortal enemy (and sometimes go-karting buddy), has gone straight and entered the corporate world.
Oh wait! Sorry… wrong Bowser.
Nintendo of America announced that Doug Bowser has been hired as their new vice president of sales. In a press release, Nintendo said that Bowser shares no relation to the video game character (full name King Bowser Koopa) and ?brings decades of experience, not fire breath, to the new role.?
Bowser formerly worked as an executive at video game maker Electronic Arts. He’ll apparently be relocating for the job, and will of course bring his children Larry, Morton Jr., Wendy O., Iggy, Roy, Lemmy and Ludwig von Koopa with him.
That awkward moment when you search Google maps for the n-word, and it shows you the White House
The Washington Post ran a story this week that searching Google Maps for the phrase ?n-word king? would bring up the White House as the result. It will even zoom the map in automatically! This glitch appears to be the result of user edits submitted through Google Map Maker. Google has suspended map maker indefinitely. Remember kids, algorithms aren?t racist? but the human beings they model? Definitely.
As of press time Google had removed the unfortunate map label.
Self-Driving Trucks Roll Out!
As you may have already heard, Freightliner, manufacturer of semi-truck cabs, is rolling out its first semi-autonomous truck, the shiny and futuristic Freightliner Inspiration. So how autonomous is the Freightliner Inspiration? It still requires a driver, however the vehicle is able to stay in its own lane, keep a safe braking distance from other vehicles, and slow or stop based on traffic conditions. Driver intervention is needed for merging, local roads and docking duties, and the vehicle is programmed to transfer control to the driver if there is a situation that it cannot handle.
In an article for Medium, writer Scott Stanten predicted that the fully self-driving truck could have an outsized impact on small towns. Fully autonomous trucks will have no need for truck stops, which are often a staple of small town economies. Trucks without drivers will have no need for all nite diners, coffee shops, and many other staples of the interstate support system. Of course, autonomous trucks can?t fall asleep behind the wheel, run off the road and kill people.
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