Meet Simba, a german mountain dog. So majestic! #9gag
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23 Jan 17:40
The commodification and litigation of niños
by Tyler Cowen
Here is the latest:
It was not what Derek Nash expected to find in his 5-year-old’s school bag: A bill demanding a “no-show fee” for another child’s birthday party.
Nash said the bill from another parent sought 15.95 pounds ($24.00) because his son Alex had not attended the party at a ski center in Plymouth, southwest England.
Nash told the BBC on Monday he had initially accepted the party invitation, but later realized Alex was supposed to visit his grandparents that day. He said he did not have contact details to let the other family know.
The birthday boy’s mother, Julie Lawrence, told the BBC that her contact details were on the party invitation.
Nash says Lawrence has threatened him with small claims court but he has no plans so far to pay.
The link is here. And here is yet another account. I thank Drew for the pointer.
23 Jan 13:35
China (Venezuela) fact of the day
by Tyler Cowen
China started to lend massively to Venezuela in 2007. Since then it has lent more than $45bn, of which about $20bn is still outstanding.
That is from Ricardo Hausmann at the FT.
23 Jan 13:24
Is your car’s engine noise a lie?
by Tyler Cowen
Stomp on the gas in a new Ford Mustang or F-150 and you’ll hear a meaty, throaty rumble — the same style roar that Americans have associated with auto power and performance for decades.
It’s a sham. The engine growl in some of America’s best-selling cars and trucks is actually a finely tuned bit of lip-syncing, boosted through special pipes or digitally faked altogether…
Fake engine noise has become one of the auto industry’s dirty little secrets, with automakers from BMW to Volkswagen turning to a sound-boosting bag of tricks. Without them, today’s more fuel-efficient engines would sound far quieter and, automakers worry, seemingly less powerful, potentially pushing buyers away.
There is more here, from Drew Harwell.
23 Jan 13:23
A tale of two false estimates?
by Tyler Cowen
1. Toilet paper is shrinking, the size of the individual sheets that is. (That is probably the closest we will get to hyperinflation.) Does the average American really use 46 sheets a day? That sounds like an overstatement.
In contrast to this commodity, I usually want for food portion sizes — especially ice cream — to be downsized.
2. I say both men and women are understating their number of sexual partners. Contrary to what is portrayed in this chart, I postulate an American male average of about four. I do not agree with the common claim that American men will overstate their number of partners.
The pointer is via Rayman.
23 Jan 13:22
Why is deflation continuing in Europe and Japan?
by Tyler Cowen
Here is an update from Japan:
Four years after the Bank of Japan set a 2 percent inflation target, price gains may still be coming up short, according to a survey of economists by Bloomberg News.
Consumer prices will rise an average 1.4 percent the fiscal year through March 2017, after failing to reach 2 percent — stripped of fresh food and a sales-tax boost — in any of the years since the goal was set, the median of 16 estimates shows. Governor Haruhiko Kuroda wanted to get there in about two years when he unleashed his record stimulus plan in April 2013.
Here are further data points from Krugman about other locales.
I am not seeking (today) to argue about liquidity traps, credibility, and the like. Clearly the Japanese central bank can influence inflation at least somewhat, and recall the BOE helped bring inflation in at over five percent but a few years ago. The ECB really could do much more. But my view is this:
1. Most countries have labor market incumbents with sweet real wage deals, deals which could not be renegotiated anew today because the world has seen a repricing of labor downwards for the wealthy countries.
2. Higher rates of price inflation would cut into those deals and thus high rates of price inflation are unpopular. Voters don’t quite understand the monetary economics here, but they have a vague sense that “inflation screws them.”
3. We are no longer at the point where two percent inflation is easy to achieve in Europe or Japan. Central banks are doubted. To achieve two, they would have to shoot for four, and thus announce a target of four. Few voters wish to hear this, and furthermore a credible stab at four percent inflation might in fact bring three percent inflation or maybe more. A non-credible central bank can indeed still debase its currency, yet the achievable targets are given by lumpy notches, not a smooth sliding scale. In the case of the eurozone, too high an inflation target is probably illegal as well, given the sole mandate of price stability.
4. We thus end up stuck having central banks which announce a target of two percent but undershoot it.
As for Japan, here is a clue from the same article:
While Kuroda’s campaign — which has seen the BOJ’s balance sheet dwarf that of counterparts relative to the size of the economy — has spurred bank lending to the biggest jump in two decades and seen the end of outright deflation, it has yet to spark pay rises big enough to secure the 2 percent CPI target.
“It’s necessary to create an environment where wages rise sustainably,” said Kinoshita…
This also helps explain why European QE would need to be shock and awe, why it won’t be, and why it won’t help that much after all, even though it is better than doing nothing. Few governments wish to boast they are lowering the real wages of their employed middle class citizens more rapidly than would otherwise be the case. Reaping some extra votes from the marginally unemployed is not going to swing the electoral calculus on that one.
Let’s not blame the policymaker or the journalist. I blame the economists who promote the notion that higher rates of inflation will boost rather than erode real wages. That’s going to leave policymakers — and voters — waiting for a long, long time.
23 Jan 13:20
Who is moving out of the U.S. labor force?
by Tyler Cowen
Read the recent testimony of Robert E. Hall (pdf):
Most of the decline in participation occurred among teenagers and young adults. The finding that these effects tend to be larger in more prosperous families points strongly away from much of a role for rising influence of benefit programs, because these programs, especially food stamps, are only available to families with incomes well below the median.
So what is going on here? Could it be “culture”? Hall cites, suggestively, time use surveys showing that sleep and personal consumption of video are up strongly.
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23 Jan 12:12
Mentirinhas #762
by Fábio Coala
Tinha uma grama no meio do caminho…
Opa! E já tem novo sorteio (comemorando o aniversário do mentirinhas) lá no facebook CLIQUE AQUI
O post Mentirinhas #762 apareceu primeiro em Mentirinhas.
22 Jan 19:42
AEP : 20 novas séries de ficção científica, terror e fantasia que estreiam em 2015
Agent Carter
Trata-se de um spin-off de Capitão América, centrado na vida da agente secreta Penny Carter, que após a segunda Guerra Mundial se recusa a limitar-se a seu trabalho burocrático na agência e passa a combater a alta espionagem e terríveis inimigos da nação.
Quando? 6 de janeiro
Onde? ABC
12 Monkeys
Um terrível vírus dizimou a humanidade no ano de 2049. Para reverter isso, a solução é voltar no tempo e destruir a ameaça antes que ela aconteça. Baseado no filme homônimo.
Quando? 16 de janeiro
Onde? Syfy
Uma Noite Alucinante
Baseada nos filmes de terror criados por Sam Raime, a série trará de volta Bruce Campbell lutando contra uma nova horda de mortos que ameaçam o futuro da humanidade.
Quando? 2015 em data não definida
Onde? Starz
Relembre o filme que deu origem à série:
The Refugees
Em um futuro próximo, a humanidade corre o risco de extinção devido ao aparecimento de um vírus letal. Como forma de salvar, ao menos, parte da raça humana, cientistas descobrem uma maneira de enviar um grupo de volta no tempo, cerca de 1/3 da população. O problema é que o experimento somente poderá ser realizado uma vez e não há retorno. Para ser eleito, a pessoa teria que ter menos de 65 anos, ser saudável e não ter antecedentes criminais. Duas regras, porém, deveriam ser respeitadas: não procurar os parentes no passado, nem jamais falar sobre o futuro. Porém, nem todos conseguirão cumprir com esta determinação.
Quando? 2015, sem data definida.
Onde? BBC
Proof
Há vida após a morte? É a pergunta que a doutora Kathryn Russo e o milionário Ivan Turing tentarão responder, ao investigar casos de feñômenos paranormais e toda espécie de manifestação sobrenatural.
Quando? 2015 em data indefinida
Onde? TNT
Outcast
Do mesmo criador de The Walking Dead, o enredo conta a peregrinação do jovem Kyle Barnes, que desde criança sofre com uma misteriosa possessão demoníaca e decide trilhar uma jornada em busca de respostas e de uma maneira de se livrar deste fardo, mas se depara com uma trama que envolve o destino da humanidade. Será acompanhado em sua busca por um reverendo politicamente incorreto, bêbado e que crê que ele mesmo é um soldado de Deus na guerra contra o mal.
Quando? 2015 em data indefinida
Onde? Cinemax
Olympus
Série fantástica, onde um grupo de jovens é exilado no reino de Hades e convivem com deuses, semideuses e monstros mitológicos. Um deles, se tornará um líder revolucionário capaz de fazer frente aos deuses do Olimpo.
Quando? 2015 em data indefinida
Onde? Syfy
Killjoys
Ambientada em uma galáxia distante, onde os habitantes do planeta Qresh colonizaram suas três luas, criando quatro mundos diferentes com com classes sociais díspares, o que gera um grande descontentamento. Assim, um grupo de mercenários chamados Killjoys são chamados para restaurar a paz.
Quando? 2015 em data indefinida
Onde? Syfy
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
Baseado na obra homônima de Susanna Clarke, a BBC traz uma trama de época com toque de sci-fi e fantasia. Ambientada na Inglaterra do início do século 19, em um mundo em que a magia existe, mas raramente é praticada, os protagonistas vão ajudar à Inglaterra na guerra contra a França.
Quando? 2015 em data indefinida
Onde? BBC One
O Demolidor
Proveniente do universo Marvel, Daredevil, título original, narra o surgimento do herói que fica cego em um acidente envolvendo radiação, mas que percebe ter seus sentidos super ampliados e, com suas novas habilidades decide combater o crime. É uma produção exclusiva da Netflix em parceira com a Marvel Television.
Quando? 01 de maio
Onde? Netflix
No elenco de Daredevil estão 1 – Charlie Cox (Matt Murdock), 2 – Vondie Curtis-Hall (Ben Urich), 3 – Bob Gunton (Leland “O Coruja” Owlsley), 4 – Elden Henson (Franklin “Foggy” Nelson), 5 – Deborah Ann Woll (Karen Page), 6 – Toby Leonard Moore (Wesley), 7 – Ayelet Zurer (Vanessa Marianna), 8 – Rosario Dawson (Claire Temple) e 9 – Vincent D’Onofrio (como o Rei do Crime).
Elenco de O Demolidor, da Netflix
Jessica Jones
Parte do pacote de séries da parceria Netflix e Marvel, trata-se de uma heroína que faz parte do grupo Os Defensores. Após um grande trauma, Jessica Jones decide combater o crime e ajudar outros heróis do grupo. Após a exibição de todas as séries previstas na parceria (Jessica Jones, Demolidor, Luke Cage e Punho de Ferro), a Netflix apresentará uma minissérie juntando todos eles em uma aventura da liga de heróis chamada Os Defensores.
Quando? 2015 em data indefinida
Onde? Netflix
I Zombie
Todo mundo quer sua fatia no filão dos mortos-vivos, novos astros do showbiz da TV mundial. Assim, o canal CW encomendou a sua própria série de zumbis. Baseada no universo dos quadrinhos DC, a trama conta a história de uma estudante de medicina que consegue um estágio com um médico-legista como subterfúgio para se alimentar de cérebros de vítimas de crimes. Ela necessita se entregar ao prazer macabro para conseguir manter sua humanidade e não se tornar de vez uma morta-viva. Porém, à cada cérebro consumido, ela também passa a herdar suas memórias e, para compensar seu vício, ajuda a desvendar seus assassinatos.
Quando? 17 de março
Onde? CW
Humans
Inspirada em uma série sueca, classificada por muito fãs como uma das melhores do gênero Sci-fi (o que faz muita gente temer a perda de qualidade numa adaptação americana), Humans é a nova aposta da AMC, a criadora do hit The Walking Dead. Trata-se de um presente distópico em que andróides com aparência idêntica aos seres humanos são introduzidos nas famílias, criando verdadeiros dilemas morais e choques de realidade. Como não poderia ser diferente, ao adquirir consciência, um grupo destes robôs se rebela com a humanidade e deseja acabar com sua condição, considerada por eles como escravidão.
Inspirada em uma série sueca, classificada por muito fãs como uma das melhores do gênero Sci-fi (o que faz muita gente temer a perda de qualidade numa adaptação americana), Humans é a nova aposta da AMC, a criadora do hit The Walking Dead. Trata-se de um presente distópico em que andróides com aparência idêntica aos seres humanos são introduzidos nas famílias, criando verdadeiros dilemas morais e choques de realidade. Como não poderia ser diferente, ao adquirir consciência, um grupo destes robôs se rebela com a humanidade e deseja acabar com sua condição, considerada por eles como escravidão.
Quando? 2015 em data indefinida
Onde? AMC
Confira o trailer da versão original:
Heroes Reborn
Do mesmo criador da série original, a NBC encomendou um renascimento da mitologia de Heroes. Tim Kring não dá, ainda, grandes informações sobre o enredo da nova trama, mas a ideia é focar em novos personagens que, como no original, aos poucos vão se dando conta de seus poderes paranormais.
Do mesmo criador da série original, a NBC encomendou um renascimento da mitologia de Heroes. Tim Kring não dá, ainda, grandes informações sobre o enredo da nova trama, mas a ideia é focar em novos personagens que, como no original, aos poucos vão se dando conta de seus poderes paranormais.
Quando? Julho de 2015
Onde? NBC
HALO
Baseado no videogame de mesmo título, Halo conta a história da resistência humana aos Covenant, um conjunto de raças extra-terrestres que ataca as colônias humanas espalhadas pelo universo.
A série está sendo produzida por Steven Spielberg.
Baseado no videogame de mesmo título, Halo conta a história da resistência humana aos Covenant, um conjunto de raças extra-terrestres que ataca as colônias humanas espalhadas pelo universo.
A série está sendo produzida por Steven Spielberg.
Quando? 2015 em data indefinida
Onde? XBOX / Showtime
O Ministério do Tempo
Produção espanhola sobre uma equipe que trabalho no Ministério do Tempo, cuja função é viajar a diversas épocas da história da humanidade e impedir que a linha do tempo seja alterada, o que poderia provocar grandes catástrofes no futuro.
Produção espanhola sobre uma equipe que trabalho no Ministério do Tempo, cuja função é viajar a diversas épocas da história da humanidade e impedir que a linha do tempo seja alterada, o que poderia provocar grandes catástrofes no futuro.
Quando? 2015 em data indefinida
Onde? TVE
Dark Matter
Baseada na HQ homônima, cujos criadores também estão por trás desta adaptação, a trama é centrada na tripulação de uma nave abandonada à própria sorte nos confins do universo, que, ao acordar, não se recordam quem são, nem porque estão ali. As pistas de sua identidade e missão são reveladas aos poucos e uma trama de conspiração, traição e reviravoltas toma conta da nave à medida que vai se aproximando de destino.
Quando? 2015 em data indefinida
Onde? Syfy
Damien
Baseado no clássico do horror A Profecia, a minissérie terá 06 capítulos centrados na vida adulta de Damien, o garoto que protagoniza o filme original. Nesta trama, ele teria crescido sem se dar conta das forças malignas que o rodeiam. Apesar de ter havido inúmeras sequelas do filme, o canal Lifetime pretende dar um roupagem nova, com bastante suspense e um final surpreendente.
Baseado no clássico do horror A Profecia, a minissérie terá 06 capítulos centrados na vida adulta de Damien, o garoto que protagoniza o filme original. Nesta trama, ele teria crescido sem se dar conta das forças malignas que o rodeiam. Apesar de ter havido inúmeras sequelas do filme, o canal Lifetime pretende dar um roupagem nova, com bastante suspense e um final surpreendente.
Quando? 2015 em data não definida
Onde? Lifetime
O Fim da Infância
Baseado no best-seller Childhood’s End de Arthur C. Clark, o enredo gira em torno de uma invasão alienígena pacífica da Terra que ocorre durante a Guerra Fria. O planeta passa a ser governado pelos misteriosos Senhores Supremos, que conduzem a humanidade a um período de paz e prosperidade. Contudo, os invasores não permitem que ninguém os vejam e impedem a exploração espacial pela raça humana, o que gera desconfiança e focos de resistência.
Baseado no best-seller Childhood’s End de Arthur C. Clark, o enredo gira em torno de uma invasão alienígena pacífica da Terra que ocorre durante a Guerra Fria. O planeta passa a ser governado pelos misteriosos Senhores Supremos, que conduzem a humanidade a um período de paz e prosperidade. Contudo, os invasores não permitem que ninguém os vejam e impedem a exploração espacial pela raça humana, o que gera desconfiança e focos de resistência.
Quando? 2015 em data não definida
Onde? Syfy
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21 Jan 17:12
Capture Any Audio on a Mac With Audio Hijack 3 [Mac Blog]
by Juli Clover
Rogue Amoeba today announced the launch of Audio Hijack 3 for Mac, which allows users to record audio from any source, including Skype, Safari, or hardware inputs like microphones. As described by the company, "if it can be heard on Mac OS X, Audio Hijack can record it."
Audio Hijack 3 follows in the footsteps of Rogue Amoeba's Audio Hijack, which was first released in 2002, and Audio Hijack Pro, a second version that added additional features and support for various audio plugins. Version 3 of the software introduces a new look and dozens of new functions to make this the most full-featured version of Audio Hijack yet.
Audio Hijack 3 includes a new audio capture interface, which lets users see the sound as it's being captured using a pipeline-style view that organizes different types of audio into Blocks for full customization.
Dirty audio can be fixed with Denoise, Declick, and Dehum tools, and there are new preset options for saving configurations. For the first time, Audio Hijack can record in lossless FLAC format and in high-efficiency AAC.
Jason Snell of SixColors and Chris Breen of Macworld have both written detailed reviews of Audio Hijack 3 that are well worth reading to get a solid sense of what's new and how the software works.
Audio Hijack 3 is available for Macs running OS X 10.9 and up. It can be downloaded from the Rogue Amoeba website for $49. New users will need to pay the standard $49 price, but people who purchased an Audio Hijack product in the past can upgrade to Audio Hijack 3 for $25. Customers who purchased Audio Hijack Pro since February of 2014 can download the new software for free.
Audio Hijack 3 follows in the footsteps of Rogue Amoeba's Audio Hijack, which was first released in 2002, and Audio Hijack Pro, a second version that added additional features and support for various audio plugins. Version 3 of the software introduces a new look and dozens of new functions to make this the most full-featured version of Audio Hijack yet.
Audio Hijack 3 includes a new audio capture interface, which lets users see the sound as it's being captured using a pipeline-style view that organizes different types of audio into Blocks for full customization.
The most visible change is Audio Hijack's new audio capture interface. The terrific pipeline-style view of exactly how audio flows makes Audio Hijack 3 a snap to learn for veteran and rookie users alike. Different types of Blocks bring in audio from application and hardware sources (Source Blocks), adjust it with audio effects (Effects Blocks), then record it and send it out to speakers (Output Blocks). The fully customizable layout means users can configure the exact pipeline they need, to get the audio results they want.The app is organized into three sections, including Sessions, Recordings, and Schedule, and Session Templates let users complete common tasks quickly. It's possible to record multiple formats at once, or different sources in sync, and there are simple tools for accessing various audio effects.
Dirty audio can be fixed with Denoise, Declick, and Dehum tools, and there are new preset options for saving configurations. For the first time, Audio Hijack can record in lossless FLAC format and in high-efficiency AAC.
Jason Snell of SixColors and Chris Breen of Macworld have both written detailed reviews of Audio Hijack 3 that are well worth reading to get a solid sense of what's new and how the software works.
Audio Hijack 3 is available for Macs running OS X 10.9 and up. It can be downloaded from the Rogue Amoeba website for $49. New users will need to pay the standard $49 price, but people who purchased an Audio Hijack product in the past can upgrade to Audio Hijack 3 for $25. Customers who purchased Audio Hijack Pro since February of 2014 can download the new software for free.
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21 Jan 17:10
'123456' Named 2014's Worst Password of the Year
by Juli Clover
Despite the multitude of password management apps that are available, like 1Password and LastPass, many people continue to use easily guessable words and number strings to protect their sensitive information.
One of the most popular passwords in 2014, for example, was "123456," according to a list of leaked 2014 passwords gathered by SplashData (via Re/code). The second most used password was "password," followed by "12345," "12345678," and "qwerty." Both "123456" and "password" have also been popular in past years, ranking as the top two most commonly used passwords in 2013.
Similar number strings were the sixth and seventh most popular 2014 passwords, followed by the words "baseball," "football," and "dragon."
Based on the data that it gathered, SplashData recommends against using keyboard sequences like "1qaz2wsx" or "qwertyuiop," and it advises users not to use a favorite sport. Baseball and football made the top 10 list of most common passwords, while hockey, soccer, and golfer were in the top 100. Team-based passwords like Yankees, Eagles, Steelers, Rangers, and Lakers also made the top 100 list.
Birthdays and birth years are also not recommended, nor are names, with common monikers like Michael, Jennifer, Thomas, and Jordan listed within the top 50 most commonly used passwords. Swear words, phrases, hobbies, athletes, car brands, and film names were also heavily featured in SplashData's top 100 list.
Using a password management app like SplashID, 1Password, or LastPass is highly recommended, to generate random passwords that are used for a single site and that are more secure than self-generated words, numbers, and phrases.
Widely publicized data leaks across 2013 and 2014 seem to have spurred more people to choose stronger passwords, as the top 25 passwords represented just 2.2 percent of passwords exposed. Along with the well-known iCloud breach, many companies including Home Depot, Target, and Staples saw major data leaks.
One of the most popular passwords in 2014, for example, was "123456," according to a list of leaked 2014 passwords gathered by SplashData (via Re/code). The second most used password was "password," followed by "12345," "12345678," and "qwerty." Both "123456" and "password" have also been popular in past years, ranking as the top two most commonly used passwords in 2013.
Similar number strings were the sixth and seventh most popular 2014 passwords, followed by the words "baseball," "football," and "dragon."
"Passwords based on simple patterns on your keyboard remain popular despite how weak they are," said Morgan Slain, CEO of SplashData. "Any password using numbers alone should be avoided, especially sequences. As more websites require stronger passwords or combinations of letters and numbers, longer keyboard patterns are becoming common passwords, and they are still not secure."To get its list of the worst passwords in 2014, its fourth annual year of collecting password data, SplashData looked at more than 3.3 million passwords that were leaked across 2014. Passwords came primarily from users in North America and Western Europe.
Based on the data that it gathered, SplashData recommends against using keyboard sequences like "1qaz2wsx" or "qwertyuiop," and it advises users not to use a favorite sport. Baseball and football made the top 10 list of most common passwords, while hockey, soccer, and golfer were in the top 100. Team-based passwords like Yankees, Eagles, Steelers, Rangers, and Lakers also made the top 100 list.
Birthdays and birth years are also not recommended, nor are names, with common monikers like Michael, Jennifer, Thomas, and Jordan listed within the top 50 most commonly used passwords. Swear words, phrases, hobbies, athletes, car brands, and film names were also heavily featured in SplashData's top 100 list.
Using a password management app like SplashID, 1Password, or LastPass is highly recommended, to generate random passwords that are used for a single site and that are more secure than self-generated words, numbers, and phrases.
Widely publicized data leaks across 2013 and 2014 seem to have spurred more people to choose stronger passwords, as the top 25 passwords represented just 2.2 percent of passwords exposed. Along with the well-known iCloud breach, many companies including Home Depot, Target, and Staples saw major data leaks.
20 Jan 18:08
Apple Honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Its Home Page
by Kelly Hodgkins
Apple today updated its website to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a full page memorial on the company's home page. The image on the site is accompanied by a message to honor the civil rights leader and his work, “Today we reflect on the life and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the work that continues in service of the broader concerns of humanity.”
Following the rollout of the website change, Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted his own commemoration that highlighted Apple's remembrance of King's legacy.
Previously, Tim Cook has publicly expressed his admiration for Dr. King, noting in a Charlie Rose interview last year that he keeps photos of King and politician Robert Kennedy in his office at Apple.
Following the rollout of the website change, Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted his own commemoration that highlighted Apple's remembrance of King's legacy.
Honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. #MLK Apple http://t.co/ngqL0bym8y
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) January 19, 2015
Previously, Tim Cook has publicly expressed his admiration for Dr. King, noting in a Charlie Rose interview last year that he keeps photos of King and politician Robert Kennedy in his office at Apple.
"I had the — just tremendous respect for both of them, and so I do," he said. "I look at them every day because I think for people — there’s still too many cases in the world and in the United States where there’s a class kind of structure or where voting or people are trying to convince each other that this other group of people don’t deserve the same rights. And I think it’s crazy, I think it’s un-American."Besides the web page refresh, Apple reportedly also is encouraging its employees to volunteer with a donation matching program, reports 9to5Mac. Instead of a paid day off, Apple is offering to donate an additional $50 for each voluntary hour worked by employees.
20 Jan 17:04
Apple Patents Eye-Tracking Software Feature for Possible Use on Mac and iOS
by Mitchel Broussard
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today granted an Apple patent, originally filed in April of 2012, that deals with eye-tracking technology used to control a user interface on a computer or smartphone (via AppleInsider). The specific invention involves a method for ensuring users do not lose track of a cursor while controlling their devices through eye-tracking movements.
The patent, with inventor credit going to David P. Julian, describes future Mac, iPhone, and iPad devices that could include the new camera technology, allowing movements of a user's eye to translate to the movement of a cursor on screen. The patent doesn't go into deep detail describing any further practical use of the "gaze control" technology, though it does mention in passing the possible use such advancements could have in vehicles, game consoles, and entertainment systems.
The patent mostly attempts to battle the Troxler Effect, an optical effect that causes objects in the periphery to begin to disappear when a user focuses on a particular point on-screen. This is a particularly troubling issue with retina-tracking technology, which requires a user to focus on various on-screen interface prompts to properly work.
Apple's invention seeks to counteract the Troxler Effect by monitoring eye movements and blinking to estimate when a user is likely to be losing track of a mouse pointer or other cursor due to the effect. The system would automatically move the cursor to bring it back to visibility.
The patent, with inventor credit going to David P. Julian, describes future Mac, iPhone, and iPad devices that could include the new camera technology, allowing movements of a user's eye to translate to the movement of a cursor on screen. The patent doesn't go into deep detail describing any further practical use of the "gaze control" technology, though it does mention in passing the possible use such advancements could have in vehicles, game consoles, and entertainment systems.
The patent mostly attempts to battle the Troxler Effect, an optical effect that causes objects in the periphery to begin to disappear when a user focuses on a particular point on-screen. This is a particularly troubling issue with retina-tracking technology, which requires a user to focus on various on-screen interface prompts to properly work.
Apple's invention seeks to counteract the Troxler Effect by monitoring eye movements and blinking to estimate when a user is likely to be losing track of a mouse pointer or other cursor due to the effect. The system would automatically move the cursor to bring it back to visibility.
In certain configurations, the eye tracking system may persistently render the movable indicator wherever the user looks in the GUI. This rendering of the movable indicator may be accurate to the degree that the movable indicator becomes a stabilized retinal image with respect to the user's eyes. As such, the movable indicator may fade with respect to the user's perception of the GUI. In other words, the movable indicator may no longer be visible to the user. In such situations, it is desirable to restore the user's perception of the movable indicator to counteract this fading effect. Accordingly, the eye tracking system described herein may automatically alter the position, appearance, or both of the movable indicator so that it is no longer a stabilized retinal image and can be perceived by the user.A handful of older patents filed by the company have been released by the Patent and Trademark Office as of late, including a transforming home-button-to-gaming-joystick just last week. Like all other patents, the possibility of the eye-tracking tech showing up anytime soon in an Apple product is very slim, but is an interesting glimpse into the company's possible future nonetheless.
Lucioc likes this
20 Jan 17:03
On a trip to Washington, D.C. last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook met with various senators to discuss a variety of topics, and Bloomberg points to the trip as a sign of the company's increased lobbying in recent years.
Though Apple was previously known to have a very small presence in Washington under Steve Jobs, Cook has quietly stepped up those efforts since taking the reins as CEO in 2011.
Bloomberg also mentions Apple's increased hiring of staff in Washington, last year naming Amber Cottle - a Washington insider and former chief of staff for the Senate Finance Committee - as the head of its new lobbying office.
Perhaps explaining some of the increased lobbying, Cook knows the intense scrutiny the company will be under in the coming months with the upcoming launch of the Apple Watch and its various personal data-tracking applications, and government officials have no doubt been concerned over the possibility of new privacy-related issues.
Meetings in the past with the Food and Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission to discuss health and security issues related to mobile medical applications and ultimately the Apple Watch have helped the company explain its commitment to privacy and security of individual users, while also hinting at possible user-based technology the company could be focusing on in the future. Finance has also been an area of concern for government officials, with Apple Pay putting the company into the spotlight and the company's tax practices being called into question.
With the company also having faced a number of lawsuits concerning everything from e-book pricing to lackluster data storage the company is no doubt looking to increase its dialogue with government officials to address current concerns while also looking to the future.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Apple Increasing Lobbying Presence in Washington, D.C. Under Tim Cook [Mac Blog]
by Mitchel Broussard
On a trip to Washington, D.C. last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook met with various senators to discuss a variety of topics, and Bloomberg points to the trip as a sign of the company's increased lobbying in recent years. Though Apple was previously known to have a very small presence in Washington under Steve Jobs, Cook has quietly stepped up those efforts since taking the reins as CEO in 2011.
“They’ve learned what others before them have learned -- that Washington can have a great effect on their business,” said Larry Noble, senior counsel at the Campaign Legal Center, a Washington-based non-profit that scrutinizes money in politics.Even with its increased spending in Washington, Apple still trails a number of other companies in the area. According to OpenSecrets.org, a website which tracks spending, from January through September 2014, Apple's $2.9 million in lobbying expenditures was well below that of Google ($13.7 million) and Microsoft ($6 million).
Bloomberg also mentions Apple's increased hiring of staff in Washington, last year naming Amber Cottle - a Washington insider and former chief of staff for the Senate Finance Committee - as the head of its new lobbying office.
Perhaps explaining some of the increased lobbying, Cook knows the intense scrutiny the company will be under in the coming months with the upcoming launch of the Apple Watch and its various personal data-tracking applications, and government officials have no doubt been concerned over the possibility of new privacy-related issues.
Meetings in the past with the Food and Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission to discuss health and security issues related to mobile medical applications and ultimately the Apple Watch have helped the company explain its commitment to privacy and security of individual users, while also hinting at possible user-based technology the company could be focusing on in the future. Finance has also been an area of concern for government officials, with Apple Pay putting the company into the spotlight and the company's tax practices being called into question.
With the company also having faced a number of lawsuits concerning everything from e-book pricing to lackluster data storage the company is no doubt looking to increase its dialogue with government officials to address current concerns while also looking to the future.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
20 Jan 12:55
Think Tank Bias in Political Donations
by Alex Tabarrok
Tom VanAntwerp looks at political donations by the staff of the top-ten think tanks. Some findings:
Think tank employees overwhelmingly give to Democratic causes. Nearly 78% of all political contributions from think tank employees went to Democrats. 208 think tank employees gave a total of $452,589 to Democrats in 2012;
Discussions of bias via donor base don’t match actual employee partisanship.Comparing the most obviously ideological think tanks, employees of both Heritage Foundation and Center for American Progress gave vastly more to political groups than did employees of Cato Institute. While the Wikipedia discussion of Cato’s funders was over three times longer than the same discussion for either Heritage or CAP, only 3.5% of Cato’s employees made partisan donations compared to 8.7% for Heritage and 8.2% for CAP. The total amount Cato employees gave was also dwarfed by Heritage and CAP employees: $10,200 versus $76,653 and $100,747.
In another post, VanAntwerp shows that even though the staff at Cato don’t give very much to politicians and are not especially partisan by other think tank standards, media discussion’s of Cato’s funding and funders are far more common and extensive than that of any other think tank. My guess is that conservatives give Heritage a pass, liberals give Brookings, CAP, and Pew a pass but both liberals and conservatives are suspicious of Cato. Liberals think Cato is in bed with the corporations, conservatives think Cato is in bed with gays and marijuana users. Both sides think Cato is with the opposition and, as a result, Cato generates lots of media discussion about funding “bias.”
