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HP’s new ultrawide monitor can show two device’s screens at once

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The files will be sent to the respective devices via their USB-C connections to the display, which runs at a 4K (3,840 x 1,200) resolution and 60 Hz refresh rate. It can display up to 99 percent of the sRGB color spectrum, and reaches a brightness of 350 nits. There’s also an anti-glare finish that makes the screen easier to look at under harsh lights.

The S430c also comes with a pop-up IR camera that enables Windows Hello logins, as well as two USB C and four USB A ports. There’s also an HDMI socket, DisplayPort and an audio jack. Like most modern displays, the S430c can be tilted at a variety of angles, specifically between -5 and 20 degrees.

What truly stands out about the S430c is the file transfer tool and its ability to drive two devices at once, as long as they’re running Windows, MacOS, Linux or Android. Sounds like support for iOS isn’t available, and neither is the display compliant with HDR. If your workspace often requires you to work on two machines at once and this sounds like a compelling way to manage them from one place, you can get the S430c for $999 from November 4th.

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Chinese retailers abruptly stop selling Juul e-cigarettes

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It’s safe to say, however, the setback comes at a time when Juul faces uncertain prospects in the US. Last week, the Trump administration announced it may ban the sale of most flavored e-cigarettes. Two states, New York and Michigan, have already enacted their own bans. At the same time, the company is the target of separate investigations by the House, Senate and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Without access to the Chinese market, the company is likely to have a more difficult time weathering new restrictions in its home country.

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Short-form streaming remake of ‘The Fugitive’ stars Kiefer Sutherland

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The show is one of dozens of projects in production at Quibi, the short-form mobile video platform founded by former Walt Disney Studios chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg. Quibi, which is set to launch in April 2020, will feature the likes of a horror series by Steven Spielberg, a thriller series starring Sophie Turner and a remake of MTV’s Punk’d. Other shows in the works will feature Tyra Banks, Chrissy Teigen, Don Cheadle and Idris Elba. The service has drawn the attention of other top-tier Hollywood talent, with partners such as Guillermo del Toro, Antoine Fuqua, Sam Raimi, Jason Blum, Steven Soderbergh, Catherine Hardwick, Anna Kendrick, Doug Liman, Laurence Fishburne and Stephen Curry’s Unanimous Media.

The platform is expected to be priced at either $5 a month or $8 for an ad-free version and is intended to target millennial audiences. It will join the litany of other streaming services set to debut over the next few months, including Apple TV+, Disney+ and HBO Max.

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Popular podcast app Pocket Casts is now available for free

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Starting today, the mobile app will be free, and its premium features will still be available. The company says the change makes the software “more closely aligned with the open-access model of its public media ownership.” If you’ll recall, a group of public radio powerhouses teamed up to buy the app last year — a collaborative effort that includes prolific podcast producers NPR, This American Life, WNYC Studios and WBEZ Chicago.

Soon after that announcement, developer Shifty Jelly released a massive update to Pocket Casts that introduced features like episode search and the ability to listen to a podcast without having to subscribe first. Both of those tools are still available on the new free version alongside things like custom filters, automated file downloads, dark mode, cross-platform sync and audio effects that let you adjust playback speed and trim silence. An new update introduces the option of playing local audio and video files with the app.

If you need access to Pocket Casts on the desktop, a new Pocket Casts Plus subscription offers just that. For 99¢/month or $10/year, you’ll get access to the podcast app on macOS, Windows and the web. Before now, desktop access required a one-time fee of $9 on top of the cost of the mobile version. In addition to being able to use it on the desktop, Pocket Casts Plus also offers cloud storage for audio and video files as well as “exclusive app icons and themes.”

If you’ve already paid for Pocket Casts, you’ll transition to the free version automatically. If you splurged for desktop access, you’ll get three years of Pocket Casts Plus for free. When that three years is up, you’ll have to commit to the new subscription to keep using it on desktop.

“Everyone who has used the app up until this point has paid the one-time fee for it,” Pocket Casts CEO Owen Grover explained. “We recognize the one-time download fee is antiquated, so we’re dropping that. Not because we’re trying to move users to Plus, but rather so we can align with the open-access philosophy of our public media ownership. In fact, we think only a small percentage of power users will opt for Pocket Casts Plus.”

Grover also reiterated that regular users won’t get a “hobbled or limited version of the app.”

“We’re not taking any features away from any of the mobile users,” he said. “In fact, quite the opposite — we’ve added features and functionality every step of the way, including with this release.”

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Snapchat may add a dedicated news tab

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Snap has declined to comment.

The company hasn’t been shy about wanting to revamp Discover. Even chief exec Evan Spiegel told investors in a recent earnings call that the current approach is like going into a “supermarket without the aisles labeled.” You may see serious news from outlets like the Washington Post sitting next to fluffy celebrity gossip. A dedicated section would not only make it easier to find news in Snapchat, but might reel in publishers who were skittish about participating before.

Snap could use the extra support. While it appears to be returning to growth (including Discover), it’s still losing money and pales in size compared to Instagram. An appealing news tab might keep more people using Snapchat and attract newcomers who want some information alongside their friends’ 3D-enhanced selfies.

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Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ series will shoot in New Zealand

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Amazon Studios’ Lord of the Ring series will be filmed in the lush green forests of none other than New Zealand. The streaming platform announced today that production on the series will begin in Auckland in the coming months. Few details have been revealed about the high-budget project, other than the events it depicts will likely take place during the Second Age, long before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings novels.

“As we searched for the location in which we could bring to life the primordial beauty of the Second Age of Middle-earth, we knew we needed to find somewhere majestic, with pristine coasts, forests, and mountains, that also is a home to world-class sets, studios, and highly skilled and experienced craftspeople and other staff. And we’re happy that we are now able to officially confirm New Zealand as our home for our series based on stories from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings,” said showrunners and executive producers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay in a statement.

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Uber starts mapping Dallas roads to aid its self-driving efforts

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The company was quick to caution that this might not be the immediate precursor to self-driving vehicles. Uber wants any data gathering to contribute “meaningfully” to autonomous driving work, the company’s Austin Geidt said. If it is confident enough to test real self-driving cars, it aims to “work closely” with both city- and state-level officials.

That kind of progress is far from certain. Uber remains cautious following the fatal collision in 2018, and has yet to resume testing on the level seen in Arizona before the incident. If you’re going to see truly self-driving Uber cars on Dallas streets, it likely won’t happen until the company is virtually certain that its machines can handle dangerous situations.

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Google WiFi successor could include Assistant-enabled beacons

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Alongside the new beacons, Google will also have a redesigned main router. Moreover, both the router and beacons will be available in three new colours, and Google plans to rebrand the entire system to “Nest Wifi.” When it comes to speaker performance, the new beacons reportedly perform similarly to the second-generation Nest-branded Home Mini Google plans to launch on October 15th as well. As part of the update, Google also plans to add new router-related commands to Assistant. For example, you’ll be able to ask the Assistant to pause the internet in a select room.

One thing that’s not clear is whether the new main router will also double as a smart speaker. It’s also unclear whether one of the new beacons will cost less than the current price of a single Google WiFi router; any cost savings could be wiped out by the addition of microphones and speaker components. Google currently sells a single Google WiFi for $99 and a three-pack for $259. The good news, however, is that you’ll be able to add the new components to an existing Google WiFi network. One thing to note is Google’s new Nest WiFi won’t be the first router to feature audio capabilities. Back when it made WiFi equipment, Apple’s AirPort Express included a headphone jack.

In a separate tweet, Hall predicted we could also see Google announce a new pair of Pixel Buds, suggesting there’s still more to come out of the company’s upcoming fall event. All in all, it looks like there’s a lot to look forward to next month.



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Facebook’s new content oversight board can overrule Mark Zuckerberg

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The board will be chosen from qualified and vetted candidates “outside of our normal channels,” including through a recommendation portal that will let anyone suggest candidates. There will also be an in-between trust that oversees pay and other day-to-day operations. You’ll see at least 11 members (Facebook wants 40) with each serving a maximum of three terms of three years apiece. They’ll be chosen on a range of criteria that includes not just relevant experience, but open-mindedness and impartiality. It wants people from a wide range of cultural, political and religious backgrounds.

The board will have a specific process for handling cases. A rotating case selection committee will choose cases to recommend, with at least one of them from the region where the complaint came from. The board will choose the cases themselves, but general staff will choose the panel and case manager. It’ll be up to the board and its staff to determine if more research is needed. Facebook will just be there to supply information when requested. Draft decisions from the panel will be circulated to the whole board, which can call for a fresh review if a majority objects to the outcome.

All decisions will go into a database that will serve as precedent for future decisions, much like traditional court systems.

The oversight board won’t hear cases until the first half of 2020, although you should hear about its first members before 2019 is over.

If all goes according to plan, the board should help Facebook settle disputes over controversial decisions in a more educated and objective fashion. As TechCrunch mentioned, though, this could also help Facebook’s leadership wash its hands of responsibility if a decision proves unpopular or leads to regulatory trouble — don’t blame us, it’s the board’s fault. Facebook can also decide just how broadly to apply the precedents set by case decisions, so the outcome may not always sync with expectations. Even so, it’s a start that could help it address the many, many disputes that have come up over the years.

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Tinder’s first TV show will make you swipe to advance the story

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It sounds a little too on the nose, but the talent behind the production raises some hope. The as-yet untitled show was reportedly directed by Karena Evans. She’s a relative newcomer, but has also directed Drake music videos like “In My Feelings” and “Nice For What.”

This would also be more than just a promo piece. Tinder apparently wants to use an algorithm that matches you with others based on choices in the series. You might not want to explore “what if” scenarios, then, lest you be paired with someone you’d never date in a million years.

Tinder has declined to comment. It’s not certain if this is just the start of a larger initiative or just a one-off, although that could depend on the early reception. If it is a success, we wouldn’t be surprised if Tinder made a habit of producing videos. While it’s not about to take on the likes of Amazon, Apple or Netflix, it doesn’t have to — it just needs a reason for you to come back besides the usual queue of would-be partners.

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