Tag - Internet
FCC net neutrality regs survive court challenge
A challenge to the sweeping "net neutrality" rules issued by the FCC in 2015 has been rejected by the Washington, DC US Circuit Court of Appeals. The court, which had previously rejected some of the FCC's earlier net neutrality proposals in a 2-1 ruling that forces AT&T and a national ISP industry group, which brought the challenge, to obey federal regulations that prevent the extortionate practice of blocking or slowing some internet traffic and prioritizing those that agree to pay the providers a fee.
Pointers: hotel Wi-Fi tips
You do have to pity hotels: they spent all that money fitting Ethernet to their rooms, and then nobody used it because Wi-Fi came along. Mind you, your pity may get a little tempered by how the hotel often charges you for that Wi-Fi hand over fist. We'd rather not pay excessively for Internet access, but our concern today is less about price, and more about privacy. Hotel Wi-Fi can save your bacon on a trip -- but it can also be how nefarious people in the next room get your bank details.
FCC rolls out new broadband service consumer label format
In the 2015 Open Internet Order (also referred to as the net neutrality order) the Commission enhanced the rule governing broadband providers' disclosure of commercial terms, network performance, and network management practices. During the debate and framing of the regulation, the US Federal Communications Commission found that consumers needed an easy way to understand specifics of broadband offerings, and required that providers convey the required information in a simple format that would enable consumers to easily compare services of different broadband providers. In a press conference earlier today, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler rolled out the new labels in conjunction with Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray.
Amazon starts selling Comcast Internet, cable TV subcriptions
Amazon customers in the United States are now able to order cable service from the retailer's online store for the first time. The Amazon Cable Store is offering a number of Comcast products and services that customers can subscribe to, including ordering an Internet connection, setting up a pay-TV package, and even ordering a "triple play" bundle combining Internet and TV with a phone line, all without leaving the Amazon marketplace.
Living with: Kaspersky Internet Security
Listen, the Living With articles have become a staple of MacNN, and in every single case they are articles about what we've learned using hardware and software over an extended period, instead of solely in the initial testing. In some cases, they are apps or products that we loved, and that instantly became part of our working life, and sometimes we didn't really appreciate them until many months down the line, when they've somehow become indispensable. This is the first and hopefully last Living With where it isn't our choice: we have been trying to get rid of Kaspersky Internet Security from the day we finished testing it.
Google Fiber heads to San Francisco, will use existing fiber networks
Google is bringing its high-speed Internet service to San Francisco, but it will be taking a different strategy to create its network compared to earlier buildouts. Rather than constructing its own city-wide infrastructure, the gigabit Internet service will instead take advantage of existing fiber installations, a move which will severely limit the reach of Google Fiber to a number of areas that already have fiber running to buildings.
American Airlines sues Gogo, wants to change in-flight Wi-Fi provider
American Airlines has filed a lawsuit against in-flight Internet provider Gogo, attempting to get out of its contract so the airline can use a competitor. The suit, filed on Friday, claims ViaSat is offering a faster service to competing airlines, including Virgin America, Jet Blue, and United Airlines, which American Airlines believes allows it to break the contract agreement and switch providers, so it can provide in-air connections to passengers on a par with its opposition.
Hands On: Internet 1.0 (OS X)
Maybe every app is really someone's personal preferences made flesh, or at least made pixels, and a hit is just when their needs match up with those of many customers. Internet 1.0 is its own developer's idea of the perfect web browser, and there's a chance it's going to be yours too -- but, unfortunately, not a very great chance.
Cable lobbyists write FCC, seek limited Internet privacy regulation
An assortment of special interest groups are petitioning US Federal Communications Commission head Tom Wheeler to limit privacy protections offered to Internet users, under the guise of hampering innovation and harming consumers. Among the petitioners are cable and broadcast industry advocacy groups The American Cable Association, U.S. Telecom Association, Consumer Technology Association, National Cable & Telecommunications Association, and others.
Facebook 'Free Basics' service banned by Indian regulator
Facebook's project to provide people in developing countries access to essential websites has come under fire in India, with the local telecommunications regulator banning free mobile data programs that appear to go against net neutrality principles. Free Basics, the Facebook-created service is no longer allowed to operate in the country, after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) instituted new regulations effectively forbidding it.
Now AAPL Stock: 150.27 ( -0.07 )
Cirrus creates Lightning-headphone dev kit
Apple supplier Cirrus Logic has introduced a MFi-compliant new development kit for companies interested in using Cirrus' chips to create Lightning-based headphones, which -- regardless of whether rumors about Apple dropping the analog headphone jack in its iPhone this fall -- can offer advantages to music-loving iOS device users. The kit mentions some of the advantages of an all-digital headset or headphone connector, including higher-bitrate support, a more customizable experience, and support for power and data transfer into headphone hardware. Several companies already make Lightning headphones, and Apple has supported the concept since June 2014. http://bit.ly/29giiZj
Apple Store app offers Procreate Pocket
The Apple Store app for iPhone, which periodically rewards users with free app gifts, is now offering the iPhone "Pocket" version of drawing app Procreate for those who have the free Apple Store app until July 28. Users who have redeemed the offer by navigating to the "Stores" tab of the app and swiping past the "iPhone Upgrade Program" banner to the "Procreate" banner have noted that only the limited Pocket (iPhone) version of the app is available free, even if the Apple Store app is installed and the offer redeemed on an iPad. The Pocket version currently sells for $3 on the iOS App Store. [32.4MB]
Porsche adds CarPlay to 2017 Panamera
Porsche has added a fifth model of vehicle to its CarPlay-supported lineup, announcing that the 2017 Panamera -- which will arrive in the US in January -- will include Apple's infotainment technology, and be seen on a giant 12.3-inch touchscreen as part of an all-new Porsche Communication Management system. The luxury sedan starts at $99,900 for the 4S model, and scales up to the Panamera Turbo, which sells for $146,900. Other vehicles that currently support CarPlay include the 2016 911 and the 2017 models of Macan, 718 Boxster, and 718 Cayman. The company did not mention support for Google's corresponding Android Auto in its announcement. http://bit.ly/295ZQ94
Apple employees testing wheelchair features
New features included in the forthcoming watchOS 3 are being tested by Apple retail store employees, including a new activity-tracking feature that has been designed with wheelchair users in mind. The move is slightly unusual in that, while retail employees have previously been used to test pre-release versions of OS X and iOS, this marks the first time they've been included in the otherwise developer-only watchOS betas. The company is said to have gone to great lengths to modify the activity tracker for wheelchair users, including changing the "time to stand" notification to "time to roll" and including two wheelchair-centric workout apps. http://bit.ly/2955JDa
SanDisk reveals two 256GB microSDXC cards
SanDisk has introduced two 256GB microSDXC cards. Arriving in August for $150, the Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Premium Edition card offers transfer speeds of up to 95MB/s for reading data. The Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card can read at a fast 100MB/s and write at up to 90MB/s, and will be shipping sometime in the fourth quarter for $200. http://bit.ly/294Q1If
Apple's third-quarter results due July 26
Apple has advised it will be issuing its third-quarter results on July 26, with a conference call to answer investor and analyst queries about the earnings set to take place later that day. The stream of the call will go live at 2pm PT (5pm ET) via Apple's investor site, with the results themselves expected to be released roughly 30 minutes before the call commences. Apple's guidance for the quarter put revenue at between $41 billion and $43 billion. http://apple.co/1oi1Pbm
Twitter stickers slowly roll out to users
Twitter has introduced "stickers," allowing users to add extra graphical elements to their photos before uploading them to the micro-blogging service. A library of hundreds of accessories, props, and emoji will be available to use as stickers, which can be resized, rotated, and placed anywhere on the photograph. Images with stickers will also become searchable with viewers able to select a sticker to see how others use the same graphic in their own posts. Twitter advises stickers will be rolling out to users over the next few weeks, and will work on both the mobile apps and through the browser. http://bit.ly/29bbwUE
