Internet & Websites News - Page 40

The latest and most important Internet & Websites news - Page 40.

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Google reportedly planning monthly subscription service for YouTube

Anthony Garreffa | Apr 8, 2015 11:27 PM CDT

According to an e-mail sent out to Google partners today, the Mountain View-based search giant will soon be offering a monthly subscription service to YouTube, which would offer an ad-free experience.

The e-mail says: "Your fans want choices. Not only do they want to watch what they want, whenever they want, anywhere, and on any device they choose, they want YouTube features built specifically with their needs in mind. Over the past several months, we've taken bold new steps to bring these experiences to life. Since inviting hundreds of thousands of fans into our YouTube Music Key Beta, we've seen tremendous engagement. And we've seen an equally enthusiastic response for our new YouTube Kids app, designed to give families a simpler and safer video-viewing experience- it's already crossed 2 million installations in less than one month.

We're excited to build on this momentum by taking another big step in favor of choice: offering fans an ads-free version of YouTube for a monthly fee. By creating a new paid offering, we'll generate a new source of revenue that will supplement your fast growing advertising revenue".

Continue reading: Google reportedly planning monthly subscription service for YouTube (full post)

Netflix updates its Terms of Use, can terminate accounts that use VPNs

Anthony Garreffa | Apr 7, 2015 7:03 PM CDT

With Netflix making a very big splash Down Under, launching in Australia and New Zealand recently, it shouldn't come as a big surprise that the streaming content giant has updated its Terms of Use, adding that the use of a VPN could have your account terminated.

Redder user 'CrypticCraig' posted to /r/technology with Article 6C of Netflix's new Terms of Use, which states: "You may view a movie or TV show through the Netflix service primarily within the country in which you have established your account and only in geographic locations where we offer our service and have licensed such movie or TV show. The content that may be available to watch will vary by geographic location. Netflix will use technologies to verify your geographic location".

It continues, with Article 6H, stating: "We may terminate or restrict your use of our service, without compensation or notice if you are, or if we suspect that you are (i) in violation of any of these Terms of Use or (ii) engaged in illegal or improper use of the service". So there you have it in black and white, Netflix can and will terminate your account if you are in violation of these Terms of Use (using a VPN in short).

Continue reading: Netflix updates its Terms of Use, can terminate accounts that use VPNs (full post)

Revenge porn website owner handed 18 year sentence

Chris Smith | Apr 6, 2015 2:23 AM CDT

The words 'revenge porn' have been plastered across many online and local media outlets in recent months and the website ugotposted.com was in the center of it all.

Kevin Bollaert was this websites former operator and his business was all about hosting thousands of sexually explicit images of various women without their consent - mostly submitted by disgruntled ex-boyfriends and ex-husbands. The real cash flow for Bollaert came through the form of 'take down fees' - charging the victims hundreds of dollars to have their photos removed from the archives.

This court case conviction is the first of its kind and has seen Bollaert handed 18 years in prison (eligible for parole in 10 years) alongside a $10,000 fine for his troubles. This case also sends a clear message to any 'would-be' revenge porn participants that these types of actions are unacceptable.

Continue reading: Revenge porn website owner handed 18 year sentence (full post)

Australian politician makes harsh metadata joke attack to journalist

Chris Smith | Apr 6, 2015 2:14 AM CDT

Liberal politician, Federal Member for Mayo and Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Jamie Briggs made a joke about the wrong subject when engaging in a Twitter conversation with political journalist Bernard Keane recently, stating that he will search through Keane's private metadata in order to 'dig up some dirt'.

This incident comes soon after news that the Government will have the unwarranted right to search phone and internet records for all Australian citizens from the past two years.

Although Briggs may see this as a lighthearted joke towards a critic, many users online are furious that this joke has even taken place, further labeling it as the 'harsh reality' that our future generations will have to face.

Continue reading: Australian politician makes harsh metadata joke attack to journalist (full post)

Google removes 200 ad-injecting Chrome extensions that had malware

Anthony Garreffa | Apr 2, 2015 2:46 AM CDT

Google has kicked off April with quite a bang, announcing that it has removed almost 200 ad-injecting Chrome extensions, which were exposing users to malware, and all sorts of other nasties.

More than a third of these Chrome extensions were injecting ads that were recently classified as malware, with researchers finding 192 deceptive Chrome extensions that had affected a huge 14 million people. Google officials have removed those extensions, and pushed in new techniques that will catch any new, or updated extensions that try to abuse users.

The study also found that there is widespread use of ad injectors for other browsers, not just Chrome, on both Windows and OS X. Over 5% of people visiting Google sites have at least one ad injector installed, and within that group, half of those half two injectors installed. Scarily, nearly one-third have at least four installed.

Continue reading: Google removes 200 ad-injecting Chrome extensions that had malware (full post)

YouTube begins experimenting with 4K 60FPS video playback

Anthony Garreffa | Mar 26, 2015 11:32 PM CDT

In something that feels like the perfect evolution of Internet video, YouTube has started experimenting with 4K 60FPS video playback. But, there's only a few clips that are capable of this insane amount of bandwidth.

Most of the videos on YouTube are nowhere near this resolution and framerate, with most cameras not capable of shooting 4K 60FPS video to begin with. In order to watch the 4K 60FPS videos on YouTube you're going to of course require a 4K 60Hz capable panel, which aren't too hard to find now.

There are just six hand-picked 4K 60FPS videos on YouTube right now, with the 4K 60FPS playlist on YouTube available here.

Continue reading: YouTube begins experimenting with 4K 60FPS video playback (full post)

Facebook's News Feed will soon feature 360-degree spherical videos

Anthony Garreffa | Mar 26, 2015 5:16 AM CDT

During Facebook's F8 developer conference, CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg announced that 360-degree spherical videos will soon be on users' News Feeds.

Zuckerberg showed the audience a demonstration of the new 360-degree video, which was filmed at its Menlo Park-based HQ. The in-house footage was captured with an array of 24 camera working together, which allows a user to look freely within a virtual environment - perfect for that $2 billion acquisition of Oculus VR last year.

The best bit about the new 360-degree videos is that they don't require a VR headset like the Oculus Rift to be played back, as they'll work on normal computers, smartphones and tablets. Facebook does want to see Oculus Rift owners putting their Rift headsets on and watching the content that way, but we don't even know when the CV1 of the Rift will be made available yet. Facebook has, however, been on a .huge hiring spree leading up to the launch of the Oculus Rift CV1

Continue reading: Facebook's News Feed will soon feature 360-degree spherical videos (full post)

Facebook Messenger app has whopping 600M monthly active users

Michael Hatamoto | Mar 25, 2015 12:57 PM CDT

Facebook Messenger surpassed 500 million monthly active users four months ago, and now has more than 600 million monthly active users, CNBC reported.

Even though some users weren't happy when Facebook broke off Messenger on mobile devices, forcing users to download the Messenger app separately, it helped boost usage figures. More social networking users are migrating from PCs to smartphones and tablets, opening the door to expansive Messenger adoption.

Facebook doesn't want Messenger just to be a text and voice communication tool for users - it could embrace the Internet of Things (IoT) and be used as a platform for additional services. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to speak more about Messenger during the F8 Developer Conference.

Continue reading: Facebook Messenger app has whopping 600M monthly active users (full post)

ISIS hackers post US personnel information online, raising concerns

Michael Hatamoto | Mar 24, 2015 4:11 PM CDT

The Islamic State Hacking Division recently created waves when it posted personal information of military personnel online - and called for attacks on the soldiers and Marines.

The ISIS group posted names, photos and addresses of US military personnel, with the list reportedly collected using public databases and social media. The hacker group didn't breach any sensitive networks, according to military sources - leading officers to be careful of social media activities.

"I am sending this message as a reminder regarding vigilance while using social media," said Army Major. General Michael Garrett. "A couple months ago, we reached out to remind you of the reality that we are operating in a 'new norm' in which cyber threats are real and constant; any Centcom teammate or family member could be targeted. To that end, we all should maintain a heightened sense of vigilance whether dealing with work or home computer usage, specifically as it relates to social media."

Continue reading: ISIS hackers post US personnel information online, raising concerns (full post)

Report: Apple will launch Web TV service before end of 2015

Michael Hatamoto | Mar 17, 2015 3:30 PM CDT

Apple is currently talking with content producers to launch a streaming TV service in the fall, according to a report published in the Wall Street Journal. If everything goes according to plan, consumers can expect the new streaming offering in September.

After the service launches, around 25 channels will be included, with ABC, CBS and Fox reportedly signing on - and the service can be used by all iOS devices, such as iPhones, Apple TV set-top boxes, and iPads. The new Internet streaming platform will cost about $30 per month.

"I think when Apple TV launches it will get lots of attention," said Jeff Kagan, industry analyst. "Some will love it and others will not. I think Apple TV will start small, [and] then grow quickly. Sort of on the same track as the original iPhone seven years ago. If we look out another five or ten years I Think Apple could have a powerful position in the television marketplace if for no other reason than they already have a gazillion customers always wanting the next, big thing."

Continue reading: Report: Apple will launch Web TV service before end of 2015 (full post)