RIP GigaOm

RIP GigaOm
Number	2446
Broadcast Date	MARCH 10, 2015
Episode Length	41:52
Hosts	Tom Merritt
Guests	Patrick Beja

Patrick Beja is in today. First the Web now mobile. In light of the shut down of GigaOm, can journalism survive continued disruption?

Guest

• Patrick Beja
  • Patrick's Patreon

Headlines

• The Apple Watch Battery Is Replaceable

TechCrunch reports an Apple Spokesman confirmed the Apple Watch battery is replaceable and the lifecycle is about three years. The Next Web has a good breakdown of the way Apple calculates battery life. The 18 hours of typical use means 90 time checks, 5 per hour, 90 notifications, 45 minutes total app use and a 30-minute workout with Bluetooth. Other estimates are that total talk time is 3 hours. Total music over Bluetooth is 6.5 hours. Heart rate sensor use runs 7 hours. And if you do nothing but check the time you should get 48 hours. Charging up from empty takes 1.5 hours to 80% and 2.5 hours to full.

• THE CIA CAMPAIGN TO STEAL APPLE’S SECRETS

The Intercept reports on documents leaked by Edward Snowden from a security gathering called the “jamboree” sponsored by the CIA’s Information Operations Center and held on a Lockheed campus in Northern Virginia. Researchers from Sandia National Laboratories discussed a modified Xcode that put secret backdoors into apps— a modified OS X updater that could install a keylogger— and attempts to break encryption on iOS firmware. Attacks against Microsoft devices were also discussed.

• Wikimedia Foundation sues NSA to challenge mass surveillance

The Next Web reports that The Wikimedia Foundation is joining Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and 6 other organizations to sue the National Security Agency and the US Department of Justice over the NSA’s mass surveillance program. Wikimedia says that the intelligence agency’s methods captures communications by its users and staff, thereby violating their privacy and threatening intellectual freedom.

• Pioneering Tech Blog GigaOm Is Shutting Down

Yesterday the tech news blog GigaOm came to a sudden halt. A post on the site said GigaOm was unable to pay its creditors and had ceased operations. Founder Om Malik, who is no longer working on the site, expressed regret and thanked its workers and readers. The company does not intend to file for bankruptcy but it’s eventual fate is unclear.

• Android Wear will get Wi-Fi support, gesture control in next software release

The Verge reports a “source knowledgeable with Android Wear’s product road map” says the next software release will add WiFi support, gesture support like flicking the wrist to scroll, and easier access to apps and contact.

• The long-delayed PlayStation 4 will arrive in China March 20th

The Verge has the news that the Playstation 4 and PlayStation Vita are going on sale in China on March 20th. The PS4 will code 2,889 yuan (about $464) and the Vita will sell for 1,299 yuan ($207). Chinese officials banned foreign game consoles in 2000, driving most gamers to PCs or mobile devices. The prohibition was lifted in 2013, and Microsoft launched the Xbox One in September 2014.

• U.K. Parliament says banning Tor is unacceptable and impossible

The Daily Dot reports the UK’s Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology issued a briefing saying a ban on data encryption and online anonymity is neither acceptable nor feasible. Earlier this year UK Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to ban encryption on the web and end online anonymity to combat terrorism and child pornography. The briefing specifically mentioned TOR as a tool used to bypass censors and the difficulty foreign censors have had in blocking it. Furthermore it noted that 1,624 domains were found to have child abuse material on the open Web, while 36 were found on the Dark Net.

• Yik Yak Quietly Dropped From Google Play Charts In October

TechCrunch reports the app Yik Yak seems to have been delisted from the Google Play store. The anonymous localized chat app can be found in search but is not listed on any charts. Yik Yak is listed as #20 in social on iOS. Several college campuses in the US have banned the app recently because of the offensive and abusive nature of some postings.

News From You

• Former Google exec Lee confirmed to lead U.S. patent office

The US Senate has confirmed former Google Inc executive Michelle Lee as the head of the US Patent and Trademark office. Reuters reports that the position had been vacant for more than two years with Lee as acting director. Lee had been head of patents and patent strategy at Google and joined the USPTO in 2012.

Submitted by tninja3000 and starfuryzeta

• Sky Broadband ordered to hand over customer data to trolls for movie piracy case

The Next Web reports that Sky Broadband has been ordered to hand over customer data to copyright enforcement company TCYK by a UK court. Sky has sent letters to subscribers explaining the situation and that they should examine any correspondence from TCYK carefully. Sky subscribers who receive a letter from TCYK can contact the Citizens Advice Bureau for guidance.

Submitted by the_corey

Discussion

• Pioneering Tech Blog GigaOm Is Shutting Down
• ad spending media - Google Search
• Digital to Overtake TV Ad Spending in Two Years, Says Forrester
• Ad Spend Tool
• 2015 Ad Spend Rises To $187B, Digital Inches Closer To One Third Of It

Pick of the Day

• Synergy Project

My pick is Synergy Project.

It is a pretty cool and very useful software for a sharing a single keyboard and mouse across multiple computers without any additional hardware.

It costs 10$ and works on all operating systems. It is worth every penny.

Submitted by Satya

Links

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

Preceded by: "Taptic Chafing"

RIP GigaOm

Followed by: "What the Puck Is Up With Sports Streaming!?"