Android co-founder looks to create his own smartphone company

Chris Smith | Mobile Devices, Tablets & Phones | Dec 3, 2015 2:06 AM CST

Described as a crucial part of Android before the Google takeover, Andry Rubin was the co-founder of this brilliant technology and is now interested in working on the hardware side of things.

He's currently recruiting fellow staff for this endeavor, says The Information, but overall the information is quire vague. Reports, or Rubin himself, have not yet confirmed any substantial information, with people left to speculate if this man will be destined to fund, fun, own or operate this new company.

After leaving Google last year, Rubin has raised $300 million for 'Playground', further becoming a partner at Redpoint Ventures earlier in 2015. Some are speculating that the only gap in the market for this new brand would be high-end devices, but we will have to wait for confirmation from the man himself.

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Hollywood slightly alters its anti-piracy rules

Chris Smith | Hacking, Security & Privacy | Dec 3, 2015 12:35 AM CST

Appointed as a representative for six major Hollywood studios, The Motion Picture Association of America (The MPAA) has published new anti-piracy guidelines, addressing how they are slightly loosening the noose on cinemas and more.

Set to target those who film movies while at the cinema, The MPAA is now telling these facilities that calling the cops on recorders is now an optional endeavor, previously ordering workers to call law enforcement immediately. While this policy is targeted mostly at handy cam users looking to leak movies on torrent websites, The MPAA has included recording devices of any kind, including Google Glass.

The MPAA previously implemented a $500 'bounty' to workers who caught and apprehended pirates looking to steal content, with this also being removed in the latest update. While a bounty was a good token in the first place, the removal of a 'bonus' will possibly breed a negative culture within the cinema employees.

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Spielberg says Ford will return as 'Indiana Jones'

Ben Gourlay | Celebrities & Entertainment | Dec 2, 2015 11:48 PM CST

Pouring cold water on rumours that Chris Pratt might be looking at donning Indiana Jones trademark bull whip and fedora, co-creator and director Steven Spielberg has declared that star Harrison Ford will return as the treasure hunter - or the film won't happen at all.

Speaking to Screen Daily, Spielberg states that "I don't think anyone could replace Harrison as Indy. I don't think that's ever going to happen. It's certainly not my intention to ever have another actor step into his shoes in the way there have been many actors that have played Spider-Man or Batman. There is only going to be one actor playing Indiana Jones and that's Harrison Ford."

While that seems a pretty definitive statement on the future of the 'Indiana Jones' franchise, despite his relative health, at 73 years of age Harrison Ford can't keep doing the action required of the role forever, so they'll want to get moving on a fifth entry as soon as possible. As long as it's better than 'The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull', then I'm in. Ah, who am I kidding. I'd be in anyway.

Continue reading: Spielberg says Ford will return as 'Indiana Jones' (full post)

Uber now offers drivers car rental

Chris Smith | Software & Apps | Dec 2, 2015 11:34 PM CST

Parntered with 'Enterprise Rent-A-Car', Uber is now offering its drivers the chance to hire cars through this new project, allowing its workers to obtain a car for around $1000 per month.

This 'pay-to-work' system is nothing groundbreaking but is certainly the first of its kind for a new industry like Uber, with the first drivers in Denver being shelled out cars for $210 per week before tax and additional fees. This pilot program has been created in order to give drivers access to cars that they may not normally be able to afford, meaning they are now able to work for a new Uber overlord.

While Uber has slated this as a major positive for the working-class, there's a few of fees, catches and issues with this program. Not only is there a $500 refundable deposit to be made payable and a $40 sign-up fee, drivers travelling over 4506km per month have to cough up extra money too. If you run over your 145km-a-day cap, expect to pay $0.25 per mile in additional fees.

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3 minutes of epic 'Batman V Superman' action debuts in new trailer

Ben Gourlay | Celebrities & Entertainment | Dec 2, 2015 11:25 PM CST

It's only been a few days since Warner Bros. sent out a brutal new teaser trailer which depicted the eagerly awaited fight between Batman and Superman, and today they've followed up with an explosive new three minutes of footage from the film, which truly ratchets up the anticipation for the superhero sequel.

Featuring the first footage of Wonder Woman, along with tantalising glimpses of the epic action and a mutated Doomsday apparently created by Lex Luthor, the new trailer is a must watch for fans. But be warned - it will make the wait until March all the more harder.

'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' will be released in 3D and 2D cinemas as well as IMAX screens on March 25th 2016 worldwide.

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Ofcom says that Christmas lights may slow your Wi-Fi

Chris Smith | Networking | Dec 2, 2015 10:33 PM CST

If you're planning to get into the 'festive spirit' this holiday season, British telecommunications company Ofcom says that you should also be aware of possible home networking issues surrounding this trend.

Ofcom claims that electrical interference created by 'fairy lights', or other powered Christmas decorations, are an often-reported issue over the holiday season, with users unaware of how these products may have effect on their signals and speeds.

While this issue can occur year-round, it has been noted that the holiday season sees a massive spike in consumer related complaints, often pointed towards Christmas decorations. So when you're hanging lights this year, try to dangle them away from the antennae.

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Apple ranks as number one in Consumer Report reliability survey

Chris Smith | Laptops | Dec 2, 2015 9:32 PM CST

Described by ZDNet as "the world's largest independent, nonprofit, consumer product testing organization," Consumer Reports is a fully independent testing community free of advertising and endorsement.

In a recently run survey, this community posted findings that will likely annoy most anti-Apple fans, showcasing report on thousands of laptops over three years of ownership. Ranking in the top spot with only a 10 percent breakdown rate was the tech giant Apple, followed by 16 percent for Samsung. Bringing up the rear were systems ranking in at between 18 to 19 percent breakage rates, with these companies being Acer, Lenovo, Toshiba, HP, Dell and ASUS.

In addition, these findings also pointed out that Windows machines are used, on average, for 20 hours a week compared to Apple's 23, but these Windows products are breaking down more often. This report doesn't showcase or pinpoint that Apple products are far superior in every shape or form, it simply notes that within this community of 58,000 people, Apple products seem to break down less over long periods of time.

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The new top 10 HLTV CS:GO rankings show France on top

Chris Smith | Gaming | Dec 2, 2015 7:29 PM CST

HLTV has just released the latest edition of its top 10 CS:GO team rankings, seeing the top six remain completely unchanged. With the French team EnVyUs sitting perched squarely on top with 904 points, second place goes to TSM on 893 and the last podium finish is presented to fnatic on 847.

While the top six spots remain steady, it's a turbulent road underneath, seeing Australian organization Team Immunity kicked out of the top 20 completely and its Aussie brethren 'Renegades' creep up two spots to 15. Other large changes are the Americans in Team Liquid rising five spots to ninth position and the Canadian squad of conquest jumping up six spots, to 16, in order to make a debut in the top 20.

Another large fall is Dignitas, seeing a five place fall down to 17th. While these rankings help give a general indication of how teams are performing, it is not uncommon for all top 20 squads to defeat each other at various tournaments. What interests me the most is that the number ranked team is sitting on 904 points with 20th place having only 72.

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Rumor: Smartphones to rock up to 8GB of RAM in 2016

Starting in 2016, smartphones are rumored to double system memory from 4GB to a whopping 8GB of RAM. Jumping all the way up to 8GB will see tremendous gains for handsets everywhere, and it's all thanks to a beefier CPU.

Rumor: Smartphones to rock up to 8GB of RAM in 2016

According to Chinese analyst Pan Jiutang, Qualcomm is working on a new Snapdragon 830 processor that supports up to 8GB of RAM. Armed with the Snapdragon 830, smartphone-makers like Huawei and Oppo will be able to push the onboard system memory well past today's threshold.

"Now Huawei / OPPO / vivo flagship comes with 4GB, and next year will come out with 6GB phone with 8GB you may want to the year after, because the fire-breathing processor Qualcomm Xiaolong 830 seems to support 8GB (code 8998, made burned lifetime ah, 820 not listed)," reads a post on Weibo.

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Phanteks' new dual Enthoo Mini XL chassis houses two PC builds

Derek Strickland | Cases, Cooling & PSU | Dec 2, 2015 4:34 PM CST

If you've always wanted to combine a workstation and gaming PC in the same case, then Phanteks' latest chassis is right up your alley.

Phanteks' new dual Enthoo Mini XL chassis houses two PC builds

Phanteks has just announced the Enthoo Mini XL Dual System, its latest chassis that supports two PC builds--a MicroATX and Mini-ITX--that can "run two fully functional system independently of one another.". The Mini XL chassis comes outfitted with a pre-installed ITX upgrade kit and power splitter to ensure both independent builds can be powered by the same PSU, and mirrors the hidden Power Supply and HDD style found in the original Enthoo Mini XL design.

The case itself sports a pump bracket, PWM control hub and radiator bracket as well as dual removable HDD cages, 2 Drop-N-Lock SSD brackets, dust filters and cable ties that make for sleek cable management. The chassis is outfitted with three different fans to ensure airflow to system components. As far as aesthetics, the Enthoo Mini XL Dual System has a 10-color lighting system as well as a sandblasted aluminium faceplate with matte finish.

Continue reading: Phanteks' new dual Enthoo Mini XL chassis houses two PC builds (full post)