Austin as a Service

Austin as a Service
Number	2798
Broadcast Date	JUNE 30, 2016
Episode Length	38:55
Hosts	Tom Merritt
Guests	Justin Robert Young, Brian Brushwood, Bryce Castillo

Do tech-savvy folks need Uber and Lyft? Austin’s carrying out that experiment right now. Justin Young and Tom Merritt talk with Austinites Brian Brushwood and Bryce Castillo about how their dealing with it.

Guest

• Justin Robert Young
  • The Contender
  • StickersorDIAF.com
• Brian Brushwood
  • Scam School
  • Night Attack
  • Cordkillers
• Bryce Castillo
  • ThatSounds.cool

Top Stories

• Facebook is shutting down its Paper newsreading app on July 29th

Facebook is shutting down its Paper newsreading app on July 29th. Here are the rest of the Top Stories.

• Android N’s official name is Nougat

The official Android account Tweeted today that the official name of Android N will be Nougat, The final release will come sometime during Q3.

Submitted by coolantsv

• Spotify says Apple won’t approve a new version of its app because it doesn’t want competition for Apple Music

ReCode reports Spotify general counsel Horacio Gutierrez sent a letter to Apple general counsel Bruce Sewell on May 26 accusing Apple of causing “grave harm” by blocking an update to the Spotify app. The letter says Apple turned down the update for business model rules regarding Apple’s requirement that apps use Apple’s billing system to acquire new customers. Apple takes 30% of in-app subscriptions and prevents companies from promoting alternative ways of subscribing in their iOS apps. The letter says the denial “raises serious concerns under both US and EU competition law.”

Submitted by tglass1976

• Google's giant new trans-Pacific internet cable goes online Thursday

The transpacific internet cable called Faster goes live Thursday. The cable stretches more than 9,000 kilometers, connecting Oregon to Chiba and Mie prefectures in Japan, with a top speed of 60 terabits per second. A consortium including Google, Global Transit, China Telecom Global, Singtel, China Mobile International, and KDDI funded the project, with construction and technical assistance from NEC.

Submitted by stevei0

• Microsoft Brings Its Most Powerful Surface Models to 10 New Markets

Microsoft announced the 1 TB versions of Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book, previously available only in Canada and the US, are coming to 10 new markets. Australia, Austria, China, France, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the UK can get them now, Germany and Japan will get them later this month. Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands get only the Surface Pro 4 later this summer.

• Samsung Introduces Carrier Unlocked Galaxy S7 In The US

Samsung announced that their Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge will now be available unlocked in the US. Previously the devices could only be purchased locked to a carrier, with carrier except for certain phones at Samsung Experience stores in Canada and then run across the border. The S7 and S7 Edge are available at various online retailers today for $669.99 and $769.99, respectively.

• Stream PS Vue's cord-cutting service from your Android device

Earlier this week Sony launched its PlayStation Vue TV service on the Roku and Thursday it went live on Android. Users of the service on the PlayStation got a new feature that keeps video playing in a window in the upper right corner while scrolling through viewing options. The FireTV version of PS Vue now supports 60fps video. And quick navigation overlay already used in the PS4 now comes to PS3 and Fire TV users as well.

• Kick off your summer travels with these new Google Maps features

Google Maps for Android has added the ability to do multi-stop directions. After you add your first destination you can tap the corner menu and choose "Add a stop". You can also change the order of the stops by tapping and holding the the three dot menu to the left of a field. The feature is coming soon to iOS.

Discussion

• The Toxic Force That Poisoned the Uber and Lyft Battle in Austin
• People in Austin are replacing Uber and Lyft with ... a parking app?
• Something Extra - Our Premium Services
• Another Ride Share option in Austin

Pick of the Day

• LightDims: Dim Led Lights, Halos Around Lights For Light Sensitive Eyes!

If you rarely or never use your camera and want an erratically pleasing solution, try out LightDims Blackout Edition from lightdims.com, $8 on Amazon. I use these little black stickers for their intended purpose of covering LEDs on electronics in my bedroom where I like it very dark to sleep. They also work great to cover your camera and nobody will even notice you being paranoid.

Submitted by Chris in Irvine

Messages

What do you think about the possibility of buying one of the Moto G phones from Amazon and flashing it? Do you think that Amazon has found a way to set up the phone to not allow changes?

Thank you

Sent by Alex Erickson

Your post show conversation reminded me of my late nights listening to the radio with my pillow speaker. Too bad the 9 volt batteries were so expensive. Probably bought the radio multiple times over in battery costs.

Sent by Mark from overcast Colorado Springs

In 1948 (as nearly as I can remember), my parents gave me a portable radio either for Christmas or my birthday. It was NOT transistor based, but vacuum tube based manufactured by GE.

Sent by Bill Burlingame

I had one of the early $50 models. It was my one Christmas gift because $50 was a lot back then. I also was born with a hearing loss, so I wore one of those pocket aids with a long cord. I was often asked if I was listening to a radio.

Sent by Mike

Links

• This episode on dailytechnewsshow.com
• Support DTNS on Patreon
• DTNS subreddit

Preceded by: "Secretly Listening to Dr. Demento"

Austin as a Service

Followed by: "The Tesla Model S Crash"