Guided tour videos
This first series of guided-tour videos explain how to receive and respond to messages, personalize the screen and share emotions with other users.
Black Rock Mountain
Hearthstone’s second expansion, named Black Rock Mountain, is released. The expansion features 17 boss cards and 31 cards and more adventures for the player to take on. One of the themes is Dragon Synergy. Game designer:
The intention at a higher design level was really that players really like dragons, so it would be awesome if they could make a dragon deck. The new Blackwing Technician card will be a good example of that. It’s a 2/4 that costs three mana, but is 3/5 if you have a dragon in your hand, which is a pretty effective card. We love the idea of people building their deck around dragons. Up until now, you could put Ysera or Alexstrasza in your deck, but we wanted to support that a bit more. We actually really like the idea of adding new cards that make you want to play the old ones again.
Experimental vaccine safe, effective
Early stage clinical trials find experimental vaccine VSV-ZEBOV is safe and promotes antibody response in all 40 adult recipients according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR). Some recipients experience fever, but except in one case, the fever abates within 24 hours of vaccination. Volunteers are being enrolled in Liberia for the second phase of the trial. Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), states
Until a safe and effective vaccine is available, the world will continue to be under-prepared for the next Ebola outbreak.
The Button
Reddit adds a countdown button as an April Fool’s joke.
The timer will count down from 60 seconds. If the button is pressed the timer will reset to 60 seconds and continue counting down. Only users logged into accounts created before 2015-04-01 can press the button. You may only press the button once. We can’t tell you what to do from here on out. The choice is yours.
The timer will count down from 60 seconds, but every time someone presses the button before it hits zero, it resets back to 60 and starts the countdown all over again. When the button is pressed, users get a badge, known as “flair,” that they can add to their profile. The flair’s color depends on how long the person waits to press the button. Those who have not pressed the button have gray flair. Those who press from 60-52 seconds get purple flair, and so on, down to red flair for those who wait longest. As of April 16, 751,354 people have pressed the button.
Funds EIR visa program
Feld announces that he and Batchelor are funding the first year of an an entrepreneur-in-residence program at Colorado University, Boulder. The EIR program is a way to help founders and entrepreneurs who aren’t US citizens get the necessary visas to stay, work, and build innovative companies in the US without having to worry about immigration issues. The program uses a loophole in immigration law that allows visas to be granted to foreign graduates working in some capacity at a local institution of higher learning, while they are also building a startup. Foreign entrepreneurs will be employed part time by CU-Boulder, making them eligible for visas sponsored by the school.
I’ve gotten worn out on the federal level immigration fight. I’m happy to continue to participate in advocacy for change around visas for entrepreneurs, but I’ve decided to focus my energy, and money, on exploring and experimenting with state-oriented solutions.
Pepperoni beer
The company introduces Pepperoni Beer
The flavor of now
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153081541297415
Dash button
The Company announces the Dash Button, for Amazon Prime customers, who can place the device on the wall and tap to automatically order or re-order more than a dozen products such as Tide detergent, Bounty paper towels, and Clorox wipes. The buttons are available to Prime customers immediately for free. Due to the timing of the launch, the company insists the product is not an April Fools’ joke:
Indeed it is real
Hunters, Behemoth released
Turtle Rock Studios releases DLC that includes four original Hunters and a monster, the Behemoth. The Hunters include Torvald, a cyborg with a mortar cannon for an arm; Crow, who comes with a pet used for tracking the monster; Slim, who appears to be part insect; and Sunny, who is armed with a mininuke grenade launcher. These Hunters are part of Evolve’s season pass, which goes for $24.99. The Hunters can also be purchased separately for $7.49 each. The Behemoth is free for those who pre-ordered Evolve and got the Monster Expansion Pack. The Behemoth can also be purchased separately for $14.99.
Tests delivery drones
With its team of roboticists, software engineers, aeronautics experts, and remote sensing experts, Amazon is testing delivery drones at a secret site in Canada. Amazon plans to fly autonomous drones ten miles or longer at 50mph while carrying payloads that weigh up to 5lbs. Amazon wants to offer customers a delivery-by-drone service, called Prime Air, that will deliver packages within thirty minutes after an order is placed.
We think that this new technology will provide huge benefits for our customers, who we think will love it, and for society more broadly.
Launch Tidal
Jay-Z launches his streaming music service TIDAL at an industry event, #TIDALforall at Skylight in Moynihan Station in New York City. He announces his partnership with 16 other artists, including Beyonce, Madonna, Usher, Rihanna, Butler and Chassagne of Arcade Fire, Jason Aldean, J. Cole, Jack Wright, Chris Martin, Daft Punk, Deadmau5, Nikki Minaj, Coldplay and Calvin Harris, who formally sign a declaration of partnership. Tidal is the first service to offer ad-free music, video and editorial content owned by the stars who actually create it. The high quality sound service is available across iOS and Android devices, as well as in Web browsers and desktop players, in the U.S. and 30 other countries. Tidal Premium is $9.99, and Tidal Hifi is $19.99. Alicia Keys:
We come to you with one voice in unity. The first ever artist owned global music and entertainment platform!
To launch own weed brand
Nelson is developing his own brand of weed called Willie’s Reserve. Bowman explains that Nelson wants Willie’s Reserve to be something that reflects his passion, that envelops his personal morals and convictions. The entire operation will be reflective of Willie’s life. Bowman reveals that Nelson’s family will open stores in states where marijuana is legal. The stores will sell both Willie’s Reserve and other brands that meet quality standards.
Unveils world’s tallest coaster
Carowinds holds a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Fury 325, the world’s tallest giga coaster. The 32-passenger train climbs to the top of a 325-foot hill, which is followed by an 81 degree drop. Reaching speeds up to 95 miles per hour, the train then travels through a series of hills, curves, and quick transitions. The ride lasts about three and a half minutes.
Cancelled
HBO cancels Looking. The series will be wrapped up with a special; however, it is unknown when this special will air. The second-season finale averaged 298,000 same-day viewers.
After two years of following Patrick and his tight-knit group of friends as they explored San Francisco in search of love and lasting relationships, HBO will present the final chapter of their journey as a special. We look forward to sharing this adventure with the shows loyal fans.
Sets up response teams
As concern increases over the security of its passengers and drivers, Uber is taking measures to address safety concerns. This includes forming round-the-clock response teams that consist of specially trained groups who will investigate safety issues. Uber is also forming a safety advisory board comprised of independent experts who will review Uber’s practices and who will advise on adding safety features. In addition, the background-check standards of Uber’s drivers are being elevated. The company has also established a new code of conduct.
Extra point changes discussed
The owners of 32 NFL teams discuss changes the extra point rule in 2015-2016 season. Among the possibilities are moving the line of scrimmage back for PAT kicks; placing the ball on the 1½-yard line for a two-point conversion; eliminating the PAT kicks entirely, requiring teams to run a play from scrimmage; and allowing the defense to score, as in college football, if the ball is turned over on a two-point try. The committee will develop alternatives and be ready for a potential vote in two months in San Francisco. Chairman McKay:
There’s a clear movement to wanting to change and change it this year.
Relaunches
After a long hiatus, two time World Fantasy Award winner, Weirdbook Magazine, is being relaunched with Issue #31. Editor:
I’m extremely excited about the opportunity to revive such a wonderful magazine. We are looking for original well-written weird stories. Our tastes are broad and we are looking for any of the following: fantasy, dark fantasy, sword and sorcery, ghost, horror, heroic fantasy, science fantasy or just plain odd.
Heretic
Hirsi Ali releases her fourth book, Heretic, a plea for a Muslim Reformation as the way to end the horrors of terrorism, sectarian warfare and the repression of women and minorities. She says that some of Islam’s key teachings are incompatible with the values of a free society and proposes five amendments to Islamic doctrine: dethroning Mohammad as an infallible prophet, and scrapping a literalist reading of the Quran; elevating the rewards of human life over those of eternal life (which delegitimizes martyrdom); replacing the most barbarous parts of Sharia with practical man-made legislation; promoting concerted action to stigmatize those tempted to take religious law into their own hands; and, last, repudiating the theological warrant for jihad.
X-Files returns to TV
The X-Files returns to Fox as a limited series consisting of six episodes. Carter, Duchovny, and Anderson are all returning as well. As of yet there isn’t a premiere date and it is unknown whether or not other cast members from the original series will be involved. Carter:
I think of it as a 13-year commercial break. The good news is the world has only gotten that much stranger, a perfect time to tell these six stories.
Fox Television Group:
We had the privilege of working with Chris on all nine seasons ofThe X-Files – one of the most rewarding creative experiences of our careers – and we couldn’t be more excited to explore that incredible world with him again. The X-Files was not only a seminal show for both the studio and the network, it was a worldwide phenomenon that shaped pop culture – yet remained a true gem for the legions of fans who embraced it from the beginning. Few shows on television have drawn such dedicated fans as The X-Files, and we’re ecstatic to give them the next thrilling chapter of Mulder and Scully they’ve been waiting for.
First DLC pack released
Dragon Age’s first downloadable content pack, Jaws of Hakkon, is released for Windows PC and Xbox One at a price of $14.99. In the content pack, players will discover the fate of the last Inquisitor and the powerful dragon he hunted as they explore a wilderness settled by ‘fiercely independent hunters.’ Players are tasked with investigating the culture of these people in order to uncover the answer to the game’s mystery.
Tweaks rule defining catch
The NFL adjusts the rule defining a catch. Rather than simply make a “football move,” a receiver must establish himself as a runner in the field of play, having control of the ball and both feet in bounds.
Once you go down that path, it becomes more subjective. What is, what isn’t a football move. We’re not talking about a lot of plays over the course of the five seasons since the Calvin Johnson play. This allows us to consistently officiate the rule.