Compression and Chill
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| Compression and Chill | |
| Number | 2646 |
| Broadcast Date | DECEMBER 15, 2015 |
| Episode Length | 33:16 |
| Hosts | Tom Merritt |
| Guests | Todd Whitehead |
Netflix plans to reduce data consumption by up to 20% by intelligently compressing every video and maybe every scene. They say we won’t even notice. Todd Whitehead and Tom Merritt discuss.
Guest
Headlines
- Bloomberg reports Apple has opened a lab in Longtang northern Taiwan that is developing new screens for devices including OLED. If Apple designed its own screens it could go directly to smaller manufacturers like Innolux or AU Optronics and save money over big suppliers like Samsung. Meanwhile the Silicon Valley Business Journal notes Apple paid $18.2 million for a 72,000 square foot semiconductor factory in north San Jose that was advertised as "Well suited for prototype, pilot, and low-volume manufacturing.”
- Fortune reports Android Pay will now let users pay in-App. Apps that support Android Pay include Instacart, DoorDash, Lyft, and OpenTable. Google is offering $10 off a user’s first Lyft ride and $10 off DoorDash delivery. Australia was also announced as the first international market for Android Pay starting in the first half of 2016. Businesses like 7-Eleven, McDonald’s and Telstra will roll out support for the system in Australia.
- Variety reports Netflix is beginning to roll out re-encoded videos optimized to save viewers up to 20% on bandwidth. Each video, including individual TV episodes are evaluated and might have different settings. For instance animated shows are less complex and can be compressed more. Researchers at the University of Southern California, the University of Nantes and the UT Austin helped automate the process. Netflix expects to have its whole library re-encoded by the end of Q1 2016.
- Submitted by lordmelvyn
- Facebook has Yelp’s business in its sights. Search Engine Land was tipped off by Sreedev Sharma who found “Facebook Professional Services” at facebook.com/services. The page has a search box and location selector with around 85 business categories that autofill based on search terms. Searches return a list of business with a description, contact information, business hours, user ratings and reviews. The feature only works on the Web.
- CNET reports that with the ver. 1.11 Philips Hue software update non-Philips ZigBee wireless bulbs, including GE’s Link LED and Cree’s Connected LED, cannot be added to the system. 3rd-party bulbs already added to a system will continue to work. Philips cites “interoperability issues” and “confusing differences in setup and resetting” as the reason for the move. Philips is launching a “Friends of Hue” program to certify 3rd party bulbs interoperability.
- The Verge reports Pebble is rolling out Pebble Health a health-tracking system that works with all Pebble watches except the Classic and Classic Steel. Pebble Health tracks steps and sleep and can share data with Apple Health and Google Fit. Pebble’s activity tracking algorithm was developed with Stanford University’s wearable health lab and will be made public for scientific testing.
- The UK’s South East Regional Organised Crime cyber unit said in a statement on Tuesday that it had a arrested a Bracknell man on suspicion of unauthorized access to computers and data. Reuters reports the arrest of the 21-year-old man is in connection with the intrusion into the VTech Toy company’s database.
- The Verge reports that Facebook is changing the way it enforces its real name policy. The new system will require more information from anyone making a fake name complaint, like whether they think the account is for an imposter, a fictional character or an "unexpected name." The subject of the complaint will have a week to respond, and has options to report special circumstances like stalking, bullying or gender-related concerns. Facebook has added more members to the support team that deals with name issues.
- There is a very useful Chrome extension called "Force Block" which blocks pages containing spoilers about Star Wars: The Force Awakens". If you try to open a Star Wars related site, the extension loads a screen with a Star Wars joke. Although the app claims to have a smart detection pattern, The Verge reports that it mostly blocks ALL references to Star Wars but for those of you not seeing the movie for a week or more, this might be the extension you're looking for.
- Submitted by tm204
Discussion
- Inside Netflix’s Plan to Boost Streaming Quality and Unclog the Internet (Exclusive)
- Netflix is re-encoding its whole catalog for better streams that use less data
Pick of the Day
- On episode 2636 you guys were talking about the new Chrome feature that reduces traffic usage and the Opera alternative (Opera Now?).
Onavo (www.onavo.com) is an app that does that system wide. Android and iOS. It has helped me saving on roaming charges here in Europe.
HOWEVER, it must be served with a huge dose of caution (or tin foil hattage) because it works by redirecting all your traffic via a VPN. So there's that.
And apparently they've been acquired by Facebook. So there is that, too.
Over and out, - Submitted by Rico from lock-down Brussels
- On episode 2636 you guys were talking about the new Chrome feature that reduces traffic usage and the Opera alternative (Opera Now?).
YouTube
Links
| Preceded by: "Startup Wars" |
Compression and Chill |
Followed by: "Searching for 2015" |