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Google Play is letting gamers earn in-app items if they watch ads

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This practice is already a common way for developers to profit when gamers don’t want to pay real cash, but as an official Google Play offering, Rewarded Products should make life easier for developers. It’s also a way for Google to compete with similar third-party tools. It’s available now in beta, and it can be added to any app using the Google Play Billing Library or Android Interface Definitions Library (AIDL).

For gamers, this means you might be prompted more frequently to take “monetizable action” — though to start, the only action Rewarded Products supports is watching ad videos. As TechCrunch pointed out, even with the free perks, some might balk at ad videos taking over their whole screen. But with mobile app store revenues projected to reach $71.7 billion by 2020, developers are just looking to make their cut.

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Huawei is suing the US government

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Huawei

It also accused the US government of hacking its servers and stealing emails, while smearing the company without any evidence, and blocking its ability to compete in 5G technology around the world. Huawei’s ire is focused on Section 889 of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). That section targeted it by name to block federal agencies from working with the company, which it believes is illegal without a fair trial.

John Suffolk, Global Cyber Security & Privacy Officer said, “Now that’s not to say that we are perfect. It’s not to say that we always produce perfect code. It’s not to say that we always execute every process first time correctly. No organization in the world can say that. But what we can say is this: We will continue to make multi-billion dollar investments into our R&D and our security.”

Chief Legal Officer Dr. Song Liuping said that “Huawei is not owned, controlled or influenced by the Chinese government. Moreover, Huawei has an excellent security record and program.” Huawei maintains that it’s willing to work with the US government to resolve any security concerns, although that seems unlikely in the near future.

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Nintendo next Labo kit is all about virtual reality

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The line of cardboard DIY kits Nintendo offers for its Switch console keep expanding, and the latest one is Labo VR. It will go on sale April 12th in a few different packages: a $40 Starter Set + Blaster that can be grow with two $20 Expansion sets adding either a Camera & Elephant or Bird & Wind Petal, or as a complete $80 VR Kit with everything included from the start.

Nintendo claims that by eliminating the head strap of most VR wearables and opting for devices that players hold up to their faces, it will make for a more social experience. While we’re waiting to find out exactly how quickly our arms get tired, another fascinating question will be how engrossing an experience be with the Toy-Con VR goggles pressed up against the Switch’s 720p, 60 fps display.

Most VR headsets on the market feature much higher refresh rates and pixel density to enhance realism, so we’ll need to go face-on with one to see how it fares. However, the addition of a tactile system with most of the projects could enhance the experience considerably, moving beyond the simple handheld controllers connected to other systems. So far the Labo toys have been a rewarding — if time consuming — investment, and it will be interesting to see if the trend continues next month.

Nintendo Labo: VR Kit will launch in retail stores with two primary configurations, one that includes all Toy-Con creations and one that includes a smaller selection of projects to get started:

  • Nintendo Labo: VR Kit: Available at a suggested retail price of $79.99, the complete Nintendo Labo: VR Kit includes the Nintendo Switch software and materials to build all six Toy-Con projects – the Toy-Con VR Goggles, Toy-Con Blaster, Toy-Con Camera, Toy-Con Bird, Toy-Con Wind Pedal and Toy-Con Elephant – as well as a Screen Holder and Safety Cap. It’s a good option for kids and families who want to dive in to the full experience.
  • Nintendo Labo: VR Kit – Starter Set + Blaster: Available at a suggested retail price of only $39.99, the Starter Set includes the Nintendo Switch software, plus all the components to build the Toy-Con VR Goggles and Toy-Con Blaster, as well as the Screen Holder and Safety Cap. The Starter Set is a great entry point into the world of Nintendo Labo VR.

Players that own the Starter Set can purchase the following optional expansion sets to expand their experience:

  • Nintendo Labo: VR Kit – Expansion Set 1**: Available at a suggested retail price of $19.99, Expansion Set 1 includes the Toy-Con Elephant and Toy-Con Camera.
  • Nintendo Labo: VR Kit – Expansion Set 2**: Available at a suggested retail price of $19.99, Expansion Set 2 includes the Toy-Con Wind Pedal and Toy-Con Bird.

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Apple will add 1,200 jobs in Qualcomm’s hometown

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It’s still early — Apple hasn’t even decided on a location for an eventual campus. Nearly 200 of the planned employees will be working in San Diego before the end of the year, though.

While Apple hasn’t signaled just what its new San Diego hires will produce, they might focus on modems. The firm has been hiring for dozens of jobs relating to cellular modems and application processors, while Reuters recently claimed that Apple promoted its modem chip team from the supply chain division to its internal hardware technology group. It could use the San Diego recruiting drive to attract veterans from Qualcomm and other nearby companies, helping it jumpstart its wireless chip efforts while draining the competition.



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Harley’s LiveWire electric motorcycle will go farther than we thought

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Previously, the company claimed the bike would have a city range of 110 miles. Now, Harley says, it’s good for 140, and it’ll have a mixed range rating of 88 miles, for those who occasionally zip onto the highway. While those numbers don’t beat Harley’s main competition yet, they’re still a welcome improvement.

Harley’s first electric bike will be faster than we thought, too. We knew the bike could accelerate from 0-60 mph in three seconds, but now, Elektrek reports the jump from 60 to 80 mph will take less than two seconds. You won’t have to wait long for a charge, either. The battery will go from zero to 100 percent in 60 minutes, thanks to Level 3 DC fast charging — and according to Elektrek, all Harley dealers who carry LiveWire will have Level 3 chargers on site.

The LiveWire will still run you close to $30,000, though, but for anyone who’s been tracking this, that’s not a surprise. If it’s not in your budget, Harley also has an electric scooter and dirt bike in the works, and those will presumably be easier on the pocket.

Even with these new numbers, LiveWire doesn’t quite keep pace with its most high-profile competitor, Zero. Also announced at the Geneva Motor Show, Zero’s new SR/F electric motorcycle boasts a range of 161 miles and comparable charging time. Plus, the price tag is $10,000 lower. Still, Harley is Harley, and it will undoubtedly have a loyal fan base, even if it built its reputation on loud, greasy machines.

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US Army email mistake puts hundreds of immigrant recruits at risk

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The Army sent out the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI) recruit data “at least” three times between July 2017 and January 2018. Chinese recruits have already used the list to support their asylum claims, warning that they might face retaliation if they’re sent back to their country of origin. Some recruits have been waiting long enough for acceptance into the program that their visas have expired, and they may have to claim refugee status using the data mistake as part of their justification.

The Army hasn’t commented on the mistake. However, it underscores ongoing data privacy problems in the US military, including the exposure of military contractor files and a Pentagon breach affecting as many as 30,000 workers. As much as officials have done to improve security, there are still gaps — and it can be hard to completely prevent people from accidentally sharing data.

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‘H1Z1’ has a new name and old mechanics

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The update seeks to “bring back the game that so many of you fell in love with in the classic ‘King of the Kill’ era,” said Z1BR general manager Anthony Castoro. The NantG development team has overhauled the user interface with an updated menu system and kill feed among other tweaks. In an attempt to bring the game back to its roots and restore an “arcade feel,” the developers reverted to classic versions of some mechanics. They updated movement and animations, textures and lighting, weapon mechanics, loot distribution and vehicles.

There’s now a missions system that provides optional tasks for you to complete during a game. If you’re successful, you’ll earn credits, crates or fragments, which you can also collect in-game from dead rivals’ loot bags and exchange for credits or a crate.

The first competitive season since November is also kicking off. NantG has made changes to the scoring system for standard and ranked pro play, with more emphasis on kills than higher match placements in the latter.

Rebranding the game with “Battle Royale” in the title isn’t a bad idea, as it may help snag some newcomers who literally search for that term on Steam or the PlayStation Store. Trying to restore aspects of the game to how they were in the early days could bring back some lapsed players too. More updates are on the way, including to weapon models and the UI, as NantG tries to pull Z1BR back into the public consciousness.

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Mark Zuckerberg outlines a ‘privacy-focused’ revamp of Facebook

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Zuckerberg saw WhatsApp as the template for these changes. It’s a secure messaging platform first, and includes features built on top of that foundation. The executive suggested that it ultimately represented the “future of communication,” where you can be sure that whatever you say is both protected and impermanent.

He also acknowledged the skepticism surrounding any privacy-oriented approaches at Facebook, noting that many wouldn’t believe that it would want to reform its services. “Frankly we don’t currently have a strong reputation for building privacy protective services,” Zuckerberg said. However, he stressed that Facebook has “repeatedly” evolved to create features people would want, and that the new privacy push would be open and collaborative.

This could include some tough decisions, too. Zuckerberg acknowledged that refusing to store sensitive data in countries with poor human rights records could lead to being blocked or excluded. It’s a “tradeoff we’re willing to make,” he said. In short, don’t expect Facebook to honor Russia’s insistence on storing data inside the country.

Provided the strategy works as promised, it’s a significant shift in strategy for a company virtually synonymous with data gathering and sharing. To some extent, though, this is as much about Facebook’s long-term survival as anything else. The company apologizes for privacy issues on an all-too-frequent basis, and its already bruised reputation has taken a beating. If Facebook doesn’t put a greater emphasis on privacy, it risks falling out of favor with the public or having to abide by strict regulations. A move now could save it plenty of pain later on.

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Google’s Duplex AI now makes reservations in 43 states

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If a restaurant you’d like to dine at uses an online booking service that’s partnered with Google, the AI will try to book a table for you that way. Otherwise, it’ll call the restaurant to see if the maître d’ can fit in your party. Assistant will then send you a phone notification, email and calendar invite with the details. If you don’t have a Pixel phone, you might get to try out Duplex soon too, as Google plans to expand the restaurant-booking feature to more Android and iOS devices in the coming weeks.

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Samsung Galaxy S10 teardown shows what’s behind the hole-punch display

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The dissection also shows the stealthily integrated ultrasonic fingerprint reader, although it might be too well-integrated for DIY repair fans when you’ll likely have to replace the main display at the same time. And as clever as the hole-punch display may be, it’s relatively straightforward underneath.

Not surprisingly, the S10 isn’t what you’d call an easily fixable phone. In addition to that display, you’ll find a tough-to-remove battery and a USB-C port that’s no longer modular. If that doesn’t rub you the wrong way, though, you might appreciate the sheer amount of engineering involved in fitting everything into such a tight space.

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