Tuesday, February 28, 2017

The Transport Guy: YouTube will now let you stream cable channels live for $35 per month

Steve Kovach February 28, 2017 at 12:47PM

Youtube logo stage

YouTube has entered the growing field of companies trying to disrupt traditional cable providers with a new paid TV service that streams over the internet.

On Tuesday, YouTube formally unveiled YouTube TV, its answer to similar services like Dish's SlingTV, AT&T's DirecTV Now, and Sony's PlayStation Vue. (Hulu is also expected to launch its own live TV service later this year.) 

It will cost $35 per month and include a virtual DVR service. YouTube also has a virtual DVR service with unlimited storage, but shows will automatically delete after nine months. YouTube TV will launch in a few months.

YouTube TV includes all four major broadcast networks, CBS, ABC, NBC, and Fox, but won't have channels from Viacom or Turner. Sorry "Walking Dead" fans, there's no AMC either. However, you will get sports networks like ESPN.

It will also give you access to YouTube's orignal programming previously available only on the company's Red subscription service and remove ads from all other YouTube videos.

Like other similar services, you'll be able to stream YouTube TV to pretty much any device with a screen and internet connection: connected TVs and set-top boxes, phones, tablets, and computers. You can also "cast" YouTube TV from your mobile device to a TV with Google Cast built in or a Chromecast plugged in. YouTube TV works with Google Home, the new connected speaker from Google, so you can use your voice to tell it what you want to watch.

And, you guessed it, YouTube TV is designed for millennials who are used to watching TV online instead of on traditional cable.

"Millennials love great tv content, but they don’t want to watch it in the traditional setting," YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki said at YouTube TV's launch event in LA Tuesday.

Interested? You can sign up at youtube.tv.com to get a notification once the service is available.

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NOW WATCH: Trump’s executive orders are being turned into hilarious memes

YouTube will now let you stream cable channels live for $35 per month from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: YouTube's cable-killing live TV streaming service is coming this week (GOOG, GOOGL)

Steve Kovach February 28, 2017 at 08:49AM

Susan Wojcicki - Sun Valley

YouTube is getting ready to take on traditional cable companies.

The online video service plans to announce Unplugged, a live TV service streamed over the internet, according to The New York Post. YouTube is holding a press event Tuesday afternoon to unveil the details.

Unplugged, which has been rumored for months, will be similar to Dish's Sling TV and AT&T's DirecTV Now, allowing you to subscribe to a so-called "skinny bundle" of popular pay TV channels. The New York Post's report says Unplugged will cost $30 to $40 per month.

A YouTube spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.

SEE ALSO: Samsung will announce the Galaxy S8 on March 29

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NOW WATCH: A father-son team is creating the next viral YouTube channel by melting things

YouTube's cable-killing live TV streaming service is coming this week (GOOG, GOOGL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: Apple is turning the iPhone into a Samsung Galaxy phone (AAPL)

Steve Kovach February 28, 2017 at 06:58AM

tim cook iphone

After years of accusing Samsung of cribbing its designs and ideas, Apple seems to be looking to its smartphone rival for inspiration for the next iPhone.

The Wall Street Journal dropped a big report Tuesday on what to expect from the next iPhone, and a lot of the new features are things that have become defining elements of a Samsung device.

Let's break it down:

A curved screen. The WSJ report says the iPhone will have a curved screen. This was a feature that Samsung first introduced in 2014 with the Galaxy Note Edge and later streamlined a few months later with the Galaxy S6. Samsung's next phone, the Galaxy S8, is also expected to only come with a curved screen. There won't be a "flat" screen option.

OLED display. The report backs up several other claims that the next iPhone will use a new type of screen technology called OLED. OLED is more power efficient and shows color better than the LCD screens Apple has used since the very first iPhone. Samsung specializes in OLED displays and has been using them for several years in its phones.

USB-C. This is the most shocking move by Apple. According to the WSJ report, Apple will ditch its proprietary Lightning connector in favor of USB-C, a new standard plug found in all kinds of devices, especially premium Android phones like the ones Samsung makes. This would be a huge reversal for Apple, which usually prefers to use its own connectors in order to keep users locked into an ecosystem of Apple-approved accessories. USB-C on the next iPhone would theoretically open the device up to a slew of other third-party accessories. This would be the most Samsung-y move Apple has ever made.

Other stuff. This wasn't in the WSJ's report, but it's been widely rumored that the next iPhone will have wireless charging, something Samsung has been pushing for years. Apple recently joined the Wireless Power Consortium, an industry group that works on wireless charging standards, which fueled the speculation that the next iPhone will be able to charge wirelessly. Apple is also said to remove the home button in favor of digital keys, something Samsung will beat Apple to with the launch of the Galaxy S8.

SEE ALSO: More iPhone 8 rumors

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NOW WATCH: How to wirelessly share photos on your iPhone

Apple is turning the iPhone into a Samsung Galaxy phone (AAPL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

Monday, February 27, 2017

The Transport Guy: Uber's SVP of engineering steps down over sexual harassment allegations at his former job at Google (GOOG, GOOGL)

Steve Kovach February 27, 2017 at 11:51AM

Amit Singhal

A top Silicon Valley engineer has stepped down from his role at Uber after it was discovered there were allegations of sexual harassment against him at his previous job at Google that he did not disclose when he was hired.

The engineer, Amit Singhal, is leaving Uber after Recode's Kara Swisher notified the company of the allegations through her reporting. Singhal was SVP of engineering at Uber.

Singhal oversaw Google's search engine for years and was considered one of the company's most powerful executives.

Uber and Google were not immediately available for comment.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: People are boycotting Budweiser because of this immigration-themed Super Bowl ad

Uber's SVP of engineering steps down over sexual harassment allegations at his former job at Google (GOOG, GOOGL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

Sunday, February 26, 2017

The Transport Guy: Samsung will announce the Galaxy S8 on March 29

Steve Kovach February 26, 2017 at 11:06AM

Samsung sent invitations Sunday for an event in New York City to announce its next major smartphone, the Galaxy S8. The event takes place March 29.

Here's a look at the invitation, which teases the new phone:

samsung galaxy s8 invitation

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Samsung will announce the Galaxy S8 on March 29 from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: Samsung is making a new Android tablet at the worst possible time (GOOG, GOOGL)

Steve Kovach February 26, 2017 at 10:00AM

samsung galaxy tab s3

The tablet market is in freefall.

They were once promised as devices to replace our laptops, but that prediction never panned out. Instead, the iPad continues to struggle and Windows 10 relies mostly on hybrid devices instead of traditional tablets.

None of that should be news to anyone who watches the industry, of course.

Android tablets have had even bigger problems, with many major manufacturers either giving up or pumping out a bunch of cheap models you get for free as a bundle with another product.

Samsung is the big exception though. It just announced the new, premium Android-powered Galaxy Tab S3, an update to the tablet it launched in 2015.

But the timing couldn't be worse. Android tablets have never proven themselves, and Google is getting ready to start over with a new operating system reportedly codenamed Andromeda that merges Chrome and Android together. In theory, this would give laptop makers an opportunity to make that dreamy all-in-one tablet/laptop hybrid that no one has quite been able to perfect yet. (Sorry, iPad Pro. And sorry, Surface Pro.)

We're already seeing hints of this shift. Last year, Google announced that Chromebooks would be able to run Android apps, setting the platform up for a major boost. Before, Chromebooks were essentially just a web browser. Soon, they'll be able to run apps just like a "normal" laptop. And because Android's Google Play Store is already full of thousands of great apps, Google won't have to persuade developers to suddenly start building for a brand new platform.

samsung chromebook

Ironically, Samsung already realized the potential with its two new touchscreen Chromebooks that also run Android apps. As my colleague Jeff Dunn wrote in his review, the software is still in beta and full of a lot of dealbreaking bugs, but you can see the promise of this new breed of laptop Google is cooking up.

That brings us back to Android.

While Android has dominated the smartphone market, it's never been able to crack tablets, and releasing an Android tablet ahead of such a big shift from Google feels like a mistake. As nice as the Galaxy Tab S3 looks, it's curious that Samsung chose now to release an Android tablet that'll likely feel obsolete in a few months. (If I had to speculate, we'll probably get our first look at Andromeda at Google's I/O developers conference in May.)

I'm much more intrigued by what Chromebooks turn into, and the recent rise of super-thin Windows 10 tablets like this one from Huawei and the other tablet Samsung announced on Sunday, the Galaxy Book.

If you want a tablet, my recommendation is to stay away from Android on tablets for now. It had its chance to prove itself, and it failed. There are a lot more exciting things coming soon.

SEE ALSO: PewDiePie taught YouTube a valuable lesson

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NOW WATCH: Here's everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy S8 — Samsung’s most important phone

Samsung is making a new Android tablet at the worst possible time (GOOG, GOOGL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

Friday, February 24, 2017

The Transport Guy: Uber shoots down Google's claims of stolen self-driving tech (GOOG, GOOGL)

Steve Kovach February 24, 2017 at 11:12AM

uber self-driving car

Uber has denied allegations in a lawsuit by Waymo that it stole some self-driving technology.

Here's the statement an Uber spokesperson sent to Business Insider Friday:

"We are incredibly proud of the progress that our team has made. We have reviewed Waymo's claims and determined them to be a baseless attempt to slow down a competitor and we look forward to vigorously defending against them in court. In the meantime, we will continue our hard work to bring self-driving benefits to the world."

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NOW WATCH: Trump’s executive orders are being turned into hilarious memes

Uber shoots down Google's claims of stolen self-driving tech (GOOG, GOOGL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

Thursday, February 23, 2017

The Transport Guy: Google Fiber's new leader resigns from CenturyLink board, avoiding a potential conflict of interest (GOOG, GOOGL)

Steve Kovach February 23, 2017 at 07:21AM

Google Fiber

Gregory McCray, the new CEO of Alphabet's Access division, has stepped down from CenturyLink's board, CenturyLink announced Thursday.

McCray was named the new leader of Access, which includes the Google Fiber internet service, last week.

Recently, The Information speculated that Alphabet may want to sell the Google Fiber business this year and floated CenturyLink as a likely buyer. McCray's position on CenturyLink's board could've been a conflict.

Google Fiber lost its CEO Craig Barratt last year and announced it no longer plans to expand to new cities. Hundreds of Fiber employees have either been laid off or reassigned to other divisions within Alphabet since then.

SEE ALSO: Google Fiber has a new boss and is losing hundreds of employees

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NOW WATCH: The meteoric rise of Google CEO Sundar Pichai

Google Fiber's new leader resigns from CenturyLink board, avoiding a potential conflict of interest (GOOG, GOOGL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

The Transport Guy: Fitbit discloses that it bought smartwatch startup Pebble for $23 million (FIT)

Steve Kovach February 22, 2017 at 02:02PM

Eric Migicovsky

Fitbit finally disclosed Wednesday that it paid $23 million to acquire assets from beleaguered smartwatch startup Pebble.

The sale price was a secret until now, and was listed in Fitbit's earnings release. When the deal was formally announced late last year, neither company would disclose how much the deal was worth. 

After the sale, Fitbit shut down Pebble and only offered jobs to about 40% of the staff, mostly those working on Pebble's software. Everyone else was laid off.

Fitbit also disclosed Wednesday that it paid $15 million for Vector Watch, another smartwatch company.

SEE ALSO: How smartwatch pioneer Pebble lost everything

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NOW WATCH: Apple was supposed to move into its new $5 billion campus in January — here's what it looks like right now

Fitbit discloses that it bought smartwatch startup Pebble for $23 million (FIT) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

The Transport Guy: Urban Outfitters is selling a T-shirt with the classic AOL logo for $45 (AOL)

Steve Kovach February 21, 2017 at 08:10AM

Want a taste of some 90's early internet nostalgia?

For $45, this T-shirt featuring AOL's classic logo can be yours, courtesy of Urban Outfitters:

urban outfitters aol t-shirt

Ted Leonsis, the former AOL exec and current owner of the Washington Capitals hockey team, even tweeted about it:

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NOW WATCH: The one mistake everyone makes when trying to clear space on their iPhone

Urban Outfitters is selling a T-shirt with the classic AOL logo for $45 (AOL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: Google agrees to let a third party audit its ad metrics (GOOG, GOOGL)

Steve Kovach February 21, 2017 at 06:35AM

Susan Wojcicki

YouTube has agreed to let a third party audit its advertising metrics amid growing concerns that platforms owned by Facebook and Google may not be reporting their data accurately.

In an announcement in The Wall Street Journal, Google, which owns YouTube, said it will allow the Media Rating Council, an ad industry group, to track ad measurements on the video network. The move will make sure YouTube is accurately reporting viewing statistics to its advertisers.

Facebook also announced it would allow the Media Rating Council to audit its ad metrics following a few recent incidents where the social network admitted it miscalculated some of its ad metrics, angering advertisers.

There hasn't been any evidence so far that Google or YouTube has miscalculated metrics, but the audit by the Media Rating Council should help alleviate concerns from advertisers.

Check out Google's announcement in the WSJ for more details >>

SEE ALSO: Google Fiber has a new boss and is losing hundreds of employees

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 7 Google Maps tricks only power users know about

Google agrees to let a third party audit its ad metrics (GOOG, GOOGL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

Saturday, February 18, 2017

The Transport Guy: PewDiePie taught YouTube a valuable lesson (GOOG, GOOGL, DIS)

Steve Kovach February 18, 2017 at 05:00AM

 Felix Kjellberg pewdiepieYouTube made a big bet in the fall of 2015: Viewers would pay a monthly fee in order to strip adds from the platform's videos and gain access to original shows starring some of the site's biggest personalities.

The idea was to leverage the massive audiences these stars draw into subscribers paying $9.99 per month for exclusive content with a service called YouTube Red.

The strategy is a stark contrast from competing services like Netflix and Amazon that produce polished original shows on par with traditional TV, such as "House of Cards" or "Transparent." If Netflix is the online version of HBO, with its high-quality, scripted programming, then YouTube Red is more like Bravo or MTV with its self-made reality stars.

But this week, YouTube's biggest star Felix Kjellberg, better known as PewDiePie to his more than 50 million subscribers, showed the dangers of YouTube's strategy and serves as proof that if YouTube wants to go against the incumbent paid streaming  services, it needs to take a more critical look at the stars it taps to help out. 

On Monday, the Wall Street Journal discovered that nine of Kjellberg's videos featured Nazi and anti-Semitic content, forcing both Disney and YouTube to cut business ties with him. YouTube canceled the second season of Kjellberg's original show on Red and removed him from Google's Preferred ad network, which runs ads alongside the free videos he posts on YouTube. And Disney-owned Maker Studios, which publishes videos from popular stars like Kjellberg, will no longer work with him.

The incident was an incredible fall from grace for the biggest star on YouTube. Kjellberg made an estimated $15 million in 2016 from his YouTube videos, a figure that'll likely drop a lot this year now that he no longer has access to higher-paying advertisers. Kjellberg responded to the controversy in an 11-minute YouTube video, blaming the media and The Wall Street Journal in particular in a Trump-like tirade.

The real story here is that Kjellberg respresents a new breed of star, one that grew up on the internet, freely posting whatever he wanted. That's fine, and it should be allowed to continue for all the obvious free speech reasons you can think of. But if YouTube wants to turn this kind of talent into something more mainstream in order to drive Red subscriptions, it should take another look at the stars it wants to bring on.

As Wired's Emma Grey Ellis pointed out this weekKjellberg has a long history of posting insensitive material in his videos, including a discussion about selling people into slavery and comparing SNL actress Leslie Jones to Harambe the gorilla. And as John Herrman of The New York Times wrote, the recent controversy has amplified Kjellberg's charged "jokes" into a rallying cry for the alt-right and other seedy corners of the internet.

It's a controversy that shouldn't have required inquiries from the WSJ for YouTube and Disney to discover. YouTube is the perfect platform for talent like Kjellberg to emerge, but it's hardly as sanitized as traditional video production. There's no writer. No producer. No agents or handlers. Just the person and their webcam. If anything, YouTube needs a better way to vet these new kinds of stars before it attempts to showcase them in a premium subscription product like Red.

In the short term, removing Kjellberg from YouTube Red will may put a slight ding in YouTube's number of subscriptions. He's the most popular star on the paid video service, but he's not the only one. And there are other advantages to Red, such as an ad-free experience on all videos and access to Google Play Music, Google's Spotify competitor.

But the lesson YouTube learned this week is that when you tap talent born on the internet, you run the risk of attracting the worst parts of the internet along with it. And that's not a great foundation to build a new business on.

SEE ALSO: YouTube's biggest star is in hot water over anti-Semitic 'jokes' — here's what's going on

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NOW WATCH: Here’s everything we know about the iPhone 8

PewDiePie taught YouTube a valuable lesson (GOOG, GOOGL, DIS) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

Thursday, February 16, 2017

The Transport Guy: AT&T announces a new unlimited data plan (T)

Steve Kovach February 16, 2017 at 01:00PM

AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson

AT&T announced Thursday that it will offer an unlimited data plan to everyone, following a similar move by Verizon earlier this week.

Previously, only DirecTV subscribers were allowed to sign up for AT&T's unlimited plan. Now anyone can.

Developing... refresh this post for the latest.

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NOW WATCH: Science says parents of unsuccessful kids could have these 6 things in common

AT&T announces a new unlimited data plan (T) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: Alphabet's internet balloons just got a big upgrade (GOOG, GOOGL)

Steve Kovach February 16, 2017 at 11:44AM

Project Loon

X, the moonshot tech division of Google's parent company Alphabet, says it's getting closer to its dream of delivering the internet to rural areas from high-altitude balloons.

X announced Thursday that Project Loon, its internet balloon project, has a new set of navigation algorithms that will allow the balloons to cluster together and beam the internet to a concentrated area in need. Before, the plan was to have Loon balloons spread across the globe, with one balloon replacing another that drifts off.

But X now says it has implemented new algorithms powered by machine learning techniques to guide the balloons into clusters, taking advantage of wind pattern data and other factors. Project Loon balloons can now be sent to an area that needs internet access within weeks instead of months, X says.

Here's how the Loon balloons used to navigate:

project loon navigation

Now, they'll navigate in clusters, which is more efficient, according to X:

project loon navigation clusters

Despite the upgrade, Project Loon is likely several years away from a commercial launch. In its announcement, X only said it was "years closer." The division is still housed within X, with the goal to spin out into its own company once it becomes clear there's a path to build a real business around it. Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving car company, is X's most recent graduate. It spun out in December.

SEE ALSO: Google Fiber has a new boss and is losing hundreds of employees

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 7 Google Maps tricks only power users know about

Alphabet's internet balloons just got a big upgrade (GOOG, GOOGL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

The Transport Guy: Google Fiber has a new boss and is losing hundreds of employees (GOOG, GOOGL)

Steve Kovach February 15, 2017 at 11:51AM

Google Fiber

Google Access, the division of Google's parent company Alphabet that includes Google Fiber, has hired a new leader, Gregory McCray, Bloomberg first reported.

Access is also losing "hundreds" of employees and moving them to positions within Google itself.

Developing... refresh this post for the latest.

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NOW WATCH: 7 hidden iPhone tricks that only power users know about

Google Fiber has a new boss and is losing hundreds of employees (GOOG, GOOGL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

The Transport Guy: YouTube cuts business ties with PewDiePie, one of its biggest stars, over anti-Semitic videos (GOOG, GOOGL)

Steve Kovach February 14, 2017 at 06:48AM

PewDiePie

YouTube is breaking up with one of its most famous stars after it was discovered that he posted videos with Nazi and anti-Semitic content in some of his videos.

YouTube has canceled its YouTube Red original show starring Felix Kjellberg, also known as PewDiePie, following a similar move by the Disney-owned online video network Maker Studios Monday. 

A YouTube spokesperson confirmed the move to The Verge. Business Insider has asked YouTube for comment. We've also reached out to Kjellberg for comment.

Disney ended its relationship after The Wall Street Journal asked the company about Kjellberg's videos. The WSJ found nine videos produced and starring PewDiePie with anti-Semitic or Nazi content.

Kjellberg's show, "Scare PewDiePie," was a YouTube original accessible through the company's subscription service YouTube Red. The show was about to have its second season premiere. YouTube is also removing Kjellberg from Google's preferred advertising program, which helps the platform's most popular personalities attract bigger advertisers.

Kjellberg's personal YouTube page remains live, but some of the controversial videos no longer have ads running against them.

This is a big blow not only to Kjellberg, but to YouTube itself as it works to drive subscriptions for YouTube Red, which costs $9.99 per month and offers an ad-free experience along with original programming. YouTube Red needs the leverage of giant stars like Kjellberg to attract more paying users.

Kjellberg is the highest-earning YouTube personality, reportedly bringing in $15 million in 2016. He has over 53 million subscribers on his YouTube page. He became famous by posting videos of himself playing video games with goofy commentary.

SEE ALSO: Apple suspends sales of its LG 5K monitorq

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NOW WATCH: Thousands of fans lined up for hours to see PewDiePie — we asked why they're so obsessed

YouTube cuts business ties with PewDiePie, one of its biggest stars, over anti-Semitic videos (GOOG, GOOGL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

Monday, February 13, 2017

The Transport Guy: Some Google self-driving car experts were paid so much that they quit (GOOG, GOOGL)

Steve Kovach February 13, 2017 at 11:21AM

Chris urmson google car

Google's parent company Alphabet lost some of its leading self-driving car experts because they were offered large payouts based on the valuation of the company's self-driving car division, according to a new Bloomberg report.

The large payouts gave the employees little incentive to stay at the company, and some left to begin their own self-driving startups and initiatives. Essentially, the staffers were paid so much that they quit, the Bloomberg report says.

To be clear, it's likely the large payouts weren't the only factor that caused the employees to quit, but it appears to be a significant reason why.

A spokesperson for Waymo, the new self-driving company that spun out of Google parent company Alphabet, declined to comment on the report.

It's unclear how much the payouts were, or who received them, but the self-driving car division has lost several key employees over the last year or so, including Chris Urmson, the former head of the division, and Bryan Salesky, who started a company called Argo AI that received a $1 billion investment from Ford last week.

Waymo was spun out of the Alphabet X subsidiary, which focuses on ambitious "moonshot" projects, in December. Waymo's goal is to partner with third-party car manufacturers to add self-driving capabilities to vehicles. It already has a partnership with Chrysler and is said to be in talks with Honda. There's also a possibility Waymo could offer a self-driving ride hailing service that competes with Uber.

SEE ALSO: As Google protests Trump on the streets, it's trying to cozy up to Republicans behind the scenes

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NOW WATCH: People are boycotting Budweiser because of this immigration-themed Super Bowl ad

Some Google self-driving car experts were paid so much that they quit (GOOG, GOOGL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: There is no such thing as an unlimited data plan, despite what carriers tell you (VZ)

Steve Kovach February 13, 2017 at 08:31AM

Verizon Lowell McAdam

Give up any hope of ever getting an unlimited data plan from your wireless carrier.

It's over. Consumers have lost, and the carriers have won. There will never be an option for you to get unlimited data like you had in the early days of the smartphone.

Yet that hasn't stopped carriers from trumpeting so-called unlimited data plans. But if a carrier says you'll get unlimited data, it's leaving out an important part of the story.

The latest example comes from Verizon, which announced its new "unlimited" plan on Sunday. The plan says it offers you unlimited data for $80 per month.

Sounds great, right?

It is. At least until you see the caveats.

Verizon says it may slow down your data speeds if you go over a 22 GB of data within a billing period. This is commonly referred to as "throttling," a term that tends to make wireless carriers cringe. Throttling significantly slows your connection down until the next billing cycle begins. If you've ever been throttled, you know it makes your phone nearly impossible to use. Verizon also limits your hotspot usage to 10 GB before slowing your connection down to 3G speeds.

But there is some good news.

Unlike T-Mobile's unlimited plan (which has even more caveats), Verizon will still let you stream video at HD quality. However, it's unclear if Verizon allows streaming at full 1080p HD or the slightly lower quality 720p HD. T-Mobile reduces the video quality below HD.

Of course, most people won't go over that 22 GB limit. And Verizon says throttling only occurs if there's a lot of traffic on the network. (However, the company isn't really clear on what that means.)

While it's technically correct that you're getting unlimited data with this plan — Verizon won't charge you extra no matter how much data you use, after all — calling it "unlimited" isn't correct in spirit. A throttled connection is essentially like having no connection at all.

I could go on and on. There are caveats to the caveats, which also have their caveats.

So instead of wasting your time, here's the TL;DR: You will always have to pay for high-speed wireless data. If you go over a certain limit, you'll have to pay more or deal with painfully slow speeds. There is and never will be such a thing as an unlimited data plan, at least until someone creates a revolutionary way for us to wirelessly connect to the internet.

Today, "unlimited" just means you won't be charged more for going over a certain data cap. It doesn't mean you're guaranteed full-speed, unlimited data.

SEE ALSO: Apple suspends sales of its LG 5K monitor due to hardware issues

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: We tried Samsung’s answer to the MacBook

There is no such thing as an unlimited data plan, despite what carriers tell you (VZ) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: Apple suspends sales of its new LG 5K monitor due to hardware issues (AAPL)

Steve Kovach February 13, 2017 at 06:33AM

apple new macbook pro lg display

Apple has suspended sales of the new LG 5K UltraFine monitor that launched last fall along with the new MacBook Pro due to hardware issues, a source familiar with the matter told Business Insider.

We were able to confirm that Apple ordered the sales suspension by calling a representative at an Apple Store in New York. The representative also confirmed there's a hardware issue with the new monitor.

Our source says Apple Store employees were instructed this weekend to continue to display the LG monitors on the show floor but not sell them if a customer wants one. Apple's online store listed the monitor as shipping within five to six weeks as of Monday morning.

Apple helped LG develop the UltraFine monitor and launch it with the new MacBook Pro. But since the monitor's launch, there have been reports of problems such as screen flickering, interference with nearby routers, and other issues. There's an entire thread of the problems documented on this MacRumors forum.

The collaboration with LG was a signal that Apple doesn't intend to make its own monitors anymore. Its last monitor was the Cinema Display, which hasn't been updated in years.

We've reached out to Apple for comment.

SEE ALSO: We're witnessing the slow-motion collapse of the smartwatch

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NOW WATCH: This woman is making a fortune selling $900 blankets she knits without needles

Apple suspends sales of its new LG 5K monitor due to hardware issues (AAPL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

Sunday, February 12, 2017

The Transport Guy: How to make buying a TV as easy as possible

Steve Kovach February 12, 2017 at 06:00AM

television TV

I've spent the last three weeks of my life agonizing over the purchase of what should be something so simple: a new TV.

I haven't bought a TV in more than five years, and a lot has changed since then. The various options are dizzying: HD; 4K; UHD; HDR; OLED; LED; Smart TVs; Web TVs; Google TV; WiFi; Apps; Remote controls that double as Android tablets; And model names that are impossible to decode. (Looking at you, Vizio P65-C1.)

TVs are no longer just dumb screens. They're giant computers for your living room. Today, they have so many features that it's easier to choose options for your Tesla than it is to find the perfect TV.

So after far too much research, I figured out a basic gameplan to make buying a TV as simple as possible. (And even then, it can still be pretty confusing.)

I've boiled it down to six key things to look for.

1.) Picture quality matters the most.

The number one thing to keep in mind is to find the TV with the best picture quality within your budget. Every other feature is secondary.

If you want the best of the best picture available, get a TV with an OLED screen. They're super expensive (usually in the $3,000 range), but boy are they pretty. LG and Samsung make the best OLED TVs in my opinion.

If that's too expensive for you, get a TV with an LED screen. The picture quality is still great, and they're significantly cheaper than OLED TVs. Price will depend on other features like 4K and HDR (more on that in a bit), but you can still get a great LED TV for a few hundred bucks. A nicer one, like this this 65-inch LED Samsung TV I bought will be in the $1,000 - $2,000 range.

After that, start looking at LCD TVs. They're still HD and still have decent picture. You can get a good one for a few hundred bucks.

ces 4ktv

2.) You don't need 4K, but you'll probably end up with it anyway.

4K TVs (sometimes called ultra HD TVs or UHD TVs) have about twice the resolution of "normal" HD TVs. But realistically, you don't need a screen that sharp. You typically sit several feet away from your TV screen, making it impossible to discern pixels or blurs on a regular HD TV.

Still, 4K is rapidly becoming the new normal, and it's going to be harder and harder to find an HD TV that isn't 4K. If the TV you like only comes in 4K, go for it.

3.) HDR is the best feature no one really talks about.

HDR is the second most important feature you should look for in a TV next to its overall display quality.

HDR stands for high dynamic range, which means the screen automatically adjusts its brightness to give you the most accurate colors possible. It makes a huge difference, and is even starting to become a big deal in console gaming thanks to the new PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One S.

If you can find a TV you like with HDR and a great picture, get it.

My colleague Jeff Dunn wrote an excellent explainer on HDR if you want to learn more.

4.) What about 3D?

Don't make me laugh.

3D TVs were a joke to begin with, and most manufacturers have given up on the category. If you still see one for sale, don't buy it.

5.) Smart TVs are pointless, but you still have to buy one.

It's nearly impossible to buy a decent TV that doesn't have some sort of built-in smarts, such as a WiFi connection and streaming apps like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, and HBO GO. So prepare to live with that.

My advice: ignore all those smart features. In fact, don't even connect your TV to the internet when you're prompted to. If you want to stream stuff to the big screen, get a Roku, Apple TV, or video game console instead. Those devices are much more user friendly and can do a lot more than the software included in your smart TV. Plus, they get updated regularly, unlike the software on most smart TVs.

6.) Time is a factor as much as cost.

I realize this is a case-by-case situation for most people. If money is no option, you should obviously go for a super expensive OLED TV. I spent a little more than I wanted to on my Samsung LED TV, but I justified the cost because it's something I'll be using every day for at least a couple hours.

Plus, I plan to keep my new TV for at least five years. If you meter the cost out over that time frame, it's not that expensive. (Less than $1 per day.) I suggest taking time into account just as much as price.

7.) Size

This is obviously a personal decision and based on how much space you have. In general, just try to get the largest TV with the best picture possible.

Conclusion

This guide is a major oversimplification of the process you go through when you buy a TV. But hopefully it helps you boil it all down to the essential features to look at. TV prices vary wildly all the time, so keep an eye out for deals and find the right combination of features and price for you.

Addendum: Sound

The built-in speakers on today's TVs are generally pretty bare-bones and definitely lack the ooomph to fill up a room with sound to match the beautiful picture. So keep in mind that you'll probably need to budget in a separate soundbar as well if sound quality really matters to you.

SEE ALSO: We're witnessing the slow-motion collapse of the smartwatch

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Science says parents of unsuccessful kids could have these 6 things in common

How to make buying a TV as easy as possible from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

The Transport Guy: We're witnessing the slow-motion collapse of the smartwatch (GOOG, GOOGL)

Steve Kovach February 08, 2017 at 12:45PM

Android Wear 3

After several months of delays, a slight overhaul of its original vision, and some wrangling of hardware partners, Google’s new smartwatch software, Android Wear 2.0, launches this week.

But it comes after several months of dour headlines for smartwatches and wearable gadgets. Tech geeks may hyperventilate over the newest wrist computer, but it’s becoming apparent that most people are increasingly skeptical of the category.

Pebble, the startup darling that was credited for popularizing the concept of a modern smartwatch, was forced to shut down after poor sales and sell itself to Fitbit at a major loss. Fitbit, despite its popularity, has had its own struggles, laying off 6% of its employees following disappointing holiday sales. Apple greatly pared back the capabilities of the Apple Watch, instead focusing the software on fitness-tracking and notifications from apps. Jawbone hasn’t released a new product in nearly two years and has stopped selling devices altogether as it prepares to release a clinical-grade health tracker.

And several of Google’s most important Android Wear partners like Samsung, Motorola, and Huawei have essentially abandoned Google’s software. (Motorola, once a marquee Android Wear partner, had the strongest opposition to the operating system, citing a lack of “broad appeal” for smartwatches.)

What you’re witnessing now is the slow-motion collapse of the smartwatch. The category will morph into something else, but it will ultimately fail to live up to the promise of a new kind of computing platform that frees us from the smartphone.

Android Wear 2.0 Watches

Android Wear 2.0, which will debut on two new smartwatches made by LG this week and roll out to a handful of existing Android watches soon, is something of a reset for Google’s smartwatch ambitions. Like we saw with the Apple Watch last year, many features have been dialed back in Android Wear to focus on a handful of activities like messaging and fitness tracking.

I’ve been testing one of those watches, the $349 LG Watch Sport. It’s a heavy and chunky monstrosity that’s tough for me to recommend to just about anyone.

But the hardware isn’t the whole story. This is a make-or-break moment for Google’s smartwatch experiment, and I’m not confident it’s going to work.

Google is making a weak case for Android Wear. It’s not building its own products, and instead relying on fashion brands like Michael Kors and Fossil to carry the torch. This is despite Google’s increased investment in excellent hardware, like the new Pixel phone and Google Home connected speaker that are designed to push the Android ecosystem forward.

A member of the Android Wear team told me last week that the reason why Google isn’t making its own smartwatch is because Google sees smartwatches as more of an open ecosystem driven by personal style, so it wants to let in as many partners as possible.

That’s one way to look at it.

The other way to look at it is Google sees the same writing on the wall many of its other partners have, and time is running out to prove Wear is a viable platform. Instead of investing the resources in building its own smartwatch, it put more of the burden on its partner LG instead. (Google did say Android Wear momentum is growing, with holiday activations up 70% from the year before, but declined to provide hard numbers. Take that stat with a healthy dose of skepticism.)

Android Wear 5

The most recent data doesn’t help either Google's case either.

According to a new report by research firm Canalys published this week, 49% of smartwatches sold in 2016 were made by Apple, followed by Fitbit at 17% and Samsung at 15%. None of Google’s Android Wear partners even made the list and were lumped into the “other” category.

I stand by what I said a few months ago: People don’t want smartwatches. They want an Apple Watch or a basic fitness tracker like a Fitbit.

After several days with the LG Watch Sport, I don’t see anything in Android Wear that could turn things around. While Android Wear has been cleaned up and streamlined quite a bit (read my colleague Avery Hartman’s review for more details), there’s no killer feature that makes me confident in the platform’s longevity. It’s just another smartwatch, the latest attempt to force a product category people don’t need or want.

The only glimmers of hope I found were the fitness app’s ability to track reps while you lift weights or perform other strength exercises like sit-ups. I haven't seen a fitness tracker do that yet, and it could turn into a killer feature for the category.

The watch also has its own 4G connection, so you can stream music directly to the device. Pair it with a set of Bluetooth headphones, and you can leave your phone at home while you work out. I have a feeling this is closer to what future wearables will be like, not a shrunken-down smartphone you wear on your wrist. If someone made a simple fitness tracker that let me stream music and nothing else, I'd buy it immediately.

But for now, I have a feeling Android Wear will continue to muddle along with the rest of the smartwatches.

SEE ALSO: As Google protests Trump on the streets, it's trying to cozy up to Republicans behind the scenes

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 5 things Google's Pixel phone can do that the iPhone can't

We're witnessing the slow-motion collapse of the smartwatch (GOOG, GOOGL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

Monday, February 6, 2017

The Transport Guy: Tech workers in California are planning to walk out and protest Trump on 'Pi Day'

Steve Kovach February 06, 2017 at 08:55AM

Google Protest

March 14, also known as Pi Day, is a special day for techies and math nerds.

(3/14, or 3.14... get it?)

This year, a group of Bay Area tech workers organizing on Facebook plans to turn the annual geek holiday into one of protest against President Donald Trump.

The group Tech Stands Up To Trump, which was spotted by Axios and other outlets, plans to walk out of their jobs on March 14 and protest at Palo Alto's city hall. The group's Facebook page says over 1,000 people plan to attend.

Brad Taylor, an engineer at Opitimizely who organized the event, told Business Insider that 389 people have signed up to help with the logistics of the protests through a public Google Doc.

The group's description says it wants to influence tech leaders to stand up to Trump, something that we're already starting to see. On Sunday, 97 tech companies filed an amicus brief against Trump's immigration ban, for example.

The movement also echoes other walkouts we've seen in response to Trump's immigration ban over the last week or so. Last week, about 2,000 Google employees walked out of their jobs in protests against Trump, and executives like CEO Sundar Pichai and co-founder Sergey Brin spoke against the ban. Comcast employees also walked out in protest last week in Philadelphia.

SEE ALSO: Uber's CEO and Trump apparently had a bad phone call

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NOW WATCH: People are boycotting Budweiser because of this immigration-themed Super Bowl ad

Tech workers in California are planning to walk out and protest Trump on 'Pi Day' from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

Sunday, February 5, 2017

The Transport Guy: How to stream the Super Bowl for free

Steve Kovach February 05, 2017 at 06:30AM

Tom Brady

Fox is doing everyone a solid and letting you stream Sunday's Super Bowl game over the internet for free. 

Just download the Fox Sports GO app for iPhone/iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, Apple TV, Roku, Xbox, Android TV, or Fire TV. You can also watch it on your computer by visiting foxsportsgo.com.

The Fox Sports GO app usually makes you log in using your cable or satellite provider's credentials, but the network is making an exception for the Super Bowl. It's totally free. No sign-in necessary. Just open the app and start watching.

The Super Bowl starts at 6:30 p.m. Eastern on Sunday February 5. Happy streaming.

SEE ALSO: What happened to virtual reality?

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: People are boycotting Budweiser because of this immigration-themed Super Bowl ad

How to stream the Super Bowl for free from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

Friday, February 3, 2017

The Transport Guy: Google is selling its $500 million satellite imaging company to a startup (GOOG, GOOGL)

Steve Kovach February 03, 2017 at 11:08AM

terra bella satellite image

Terra Bella, the satellite imaging company that Google bought about two years ago for $500 million, will be sold to mapping startup Planet, the companies announced today.

Developing... refresh this post for the latest.

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NOW WATCH: Here's how Google Maps knows when there is traffic

Google is selling its $500 million satellite imaging company to a startup (GOOG, GOOGL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: Trump White House to Uber: F--- you

Steve Kovach February 03, 2017 at 07:44AM

travis kalanick

You're either with the Trump administration or you're against it.

Following Uber CEO Travis Kalanick's decision to quit President Trump's business advisory council, the sentiment within the White House is, according to Mike Allen of Axios, as follows: "If you want to cut off access to the White House, f--- you."

That quote comes to Allen from "some in Trump's inner circle," he reported. (Allen is deeply sourced within the Trump administration.)

Kalanick announced to Uber staff in a memo Thursday that he won't be attending Trump's closed-door business advisory meeting and has quit the advisory council following pressure from employees, drivers, and the public.

"Joining the group was not meant to be an endorsement of the President or his agenda but unfortunately it has been misinterpreted to be exactly that," Kalanick wrote in the memo, which was obtained by Business Insider.

To be clear, Kalanick likely wasn't literally told "f--- you" during his call Thursday with Trump. But that is the way the White House feels about Kalanick's decision to distance himself and Uber from the administration following the reaction to Trump's executive order banning immigration from seven predominately Muslim countries.

SEE ALSO: How tech titans responded to Trump's immigration ban

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here’s how the top Silicon Valley companies are responding to Trump’s immigration ban

Trump White House to Uber: F--- you from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

Thursday, February 2, 2017

The Transport Guy: Here's a leaked photo of LG's next smartphone, the G6

Steve Kovach February 02, 2017 at 12:30PM

Want an early look at LG's next flagship phone?

Here you go:

lg g6 leaked photo

That's the near-final version of the LG G6, which is expected to launch in the coming weeks. A source sent this photo to Business Insider.

The photo backs up other claims we've heard about the G6, including the dual-camera system and fingerprint sensor on the back. It also has a shiny black finish, sort of like the Jet Black color on the iPhone 7.

The dual cameras could be used to recreate the blurry background "bokeh" effect, just like in the iPhone 7 Plus portrait mode.

SEE ALSO: Trump is still using his unsecured Android phone

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: There's a hidden map in your iPhone of everywhere you've been

Here's a leaked photo of LG's next smartphone, the G6 from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: Comcast employees are protesting Trump in the streets of Philadelphia (CMCSA)

Steve Kovach February 02, 2017 at 11:56AM

Several Comcast employees walked out of the company's Philadelphia headquarters to protest President Trump's immigration ban from seven predominately Muslim countries.

The protest echoes the one we saw from about 2,000 Google employees earlier this week.

We've reached out to Comcast for comment and more details on the protest. We'll continue to update this post as the story develops.

Meanwhile, here's what we're seeing on Twitter:

 

 

 

SEE ALSO: As Google protests Trump on the streets, it's trying to cozy up to Republicans behind the scenes

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NOW WATCH: Here's everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy S8 — Samsung’s most important phone

Comcast employees are protesting Trump in the streets of Philadelphia (CMCSA) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

The Transport Guy: Trump thanks Samsung for reportedly wanting to build some products in the US

Steve Kovach February 02, 2017 at 10:08AM

Samsung Smart Fridge

President Trump thanked Samsung in a tweet Thursday for reportedly considering building some of its products in the US.

The report came from Reuters, which said Samsung is considering building some of its appliances in the US for fear of Trump's "protectionist policies." The Trump administration has already floated the idea of tariffs on imported goods to promote more manufacturing in the US.

For example, the administration proposed a 20% tax on imports from Mexico as a way to pay for the border wall. That proposal was quickly walked back though.

Most of Samsung's products, including its profitable consumer electronics and chips, are manufactured overseas.

SEE ALSO: As Google protests Trump in the streets, it's cozying up to Republicans behind the scenes

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: We now know why Samsung Galaxy Note 7 batteries kept exploding

Trump thanks Samsung for reportedly wanting to build some products in the US from Business Insider: Steve Kovach

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

The Transport Guy: Waymo's self-driving cars are performing way better (GOOG, GOOGL)

Steve Kovach February 01, 2017 at 09:38AM

waymo google self-driving car

Waymo, the self-driving car company from Google's parent company Alphabet, showed a large improvement in its vehicle testing in 2016, according to a new report published Wednesday by the California DMV.

Waymo reported that it had 0.2 disengagements per 1,000 miles driven 2015. That's down from 0.8 disengagements per 1,000 miles in 2015.

In the self-driving car world, a "disengagement" is when a human tester has to take over from the automated driving system.

Developing... refresh this post for the latest.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Science says parents of unsuccessful kids could have these 6 things in common

Waymo's self-driving cars are performing way better (GOOG, GOOGL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach