Android 5.1 update
Spice announces Lollipop Android 5.1 update for its Android One mobile phone lineup, Spice Dream Uno H and Spice Dream Uno. Prashant Bindal, CEO, Spice Mobility:
In line with our brand promise Always the Latest, we are delighted to be the first player to release the Android Lollipop 5.1 update, exclusively for our Spice Dream Uno users in India.
Season 3 DVD announcement
Home Entertainment releases the complete third season of Longmire on DVD. The DVD contains two discs and a ten episode set. WBHEG:
With this release, fans will be able to dive even deeper into the drama of this contemporary Western’s thrilling third season.
Releasing low-fat cookbook
Deen will release a low-fat cookbook entitled Paula Deen Cuts the Fat. The book will come out September 15.
I created 200 amazing light recipes. Plus, I cut the calories from 50 of my favorite classic dishes. The best part is that the same delicious southern taste remains.
Introduces hydrogen-powered Mirai
Toyota introduces Mirai, an affordable, eco-friendly “future car,” that runs on hydrogen fuel cells, converting compressed hydrogen gas to electricity. The car’s range is 300 miles and it charges in about three minutes. The Mirai will be produced in small batches, with only 700 being split between the U.S., Europe and Japan this year, with a selling price of $45,000. Next year, approximately 2,000 will be built for distribution. With incentives of 3 million yen ($25,000) and investments in self-service hydrogen stations, Toyota reports there are already 1,500 orders for the car in Japan. The car will be available in fall 2015. The company says the car is:
an automotive history turning point.
Tackles abuse
The site makes it easier to submit abuse reports and triples its number of staff to handle the abuse reports. The Company is also improving its methods to deal with trolls, with one method rumored to be telephone number tracking of users that have earned a reputation for repeated harassment.
Suicide prevention plan
Facebook joins with Now Matters Now, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Save.org and Forefront: Innovations in Suicide Prevention to give users more options to report posts indicating the user could be thinking of self harm. Users will be able to click a small arrow at the top right of the post and click “Report Post” If Facebook feels like the post indicates distress, the person who posted it will be greeted with a pop when he or she next logs in.
Combats Superfish
Lenovo offers a six-month subscription to Intel’s McAfee LiveSafe to customers with laptops infected with pre-installed Superfish adware. Lenovo:
This should eliminate what our industry calls ‘adware’ and ‘bloatware’.
Launches ice cream brand
Nicklaus launches his own brand of ice cream. The ice cream, made by a Minnesota-based company, is available in seven different flavors.
It’s no secret that I love ice cream. Needless to say, I have never had so much fun in the research and development of a product!
Pee-wee’s Big Holiday announcement
Reubens will star in Pee-wee’s Big Holiday, the third movie of the series, which will be directed by John Lee and produced by Judd Apatow for Netflix. The plot involves Pee-wee meeting a mysterious stranger who inspires him to take his first-ever holiday. Netflix CCO Ted Sarandos:
We didn’t hesitate for a moment knowing that Pee-wee’s Big Holiday was such a passion project for Paul and Judd and we are delighted by the opportunity to introduce such a beloved character to a new generation. We are thrilled to bring our viewers around the world the wonder of Pee-wee Herman.
Reubens:
Judd and I dreamt up this movie four years ago. The world was much different back then— Netflix was waiting by the mailbox for red envelopes to arrive. I’ve changed all that. The future is here. Get used to it. Bowtie is the new black.
Postage stamp
The U.S. Postal Service recognizes Angelou with her own Forever Stamp. A first-day-of-issuance ceremony is announced for a later date. Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan:
Maya Angelou inspired our nation through a life of advocacy and through her many contributions to the written and spoken word. Her wide-ranging achievements as a playwright, poet, memoirist, educator, and advocate for justice and equality enhanced our culture.
Security measures announced
Lenovo announces future security measures after Superfish complaints.
Now, we are in the midst of developing a concrete plan to address software vulnerabilities and security with defined actions that we will share by the end of the week. What I can say about this today is that we are exploring a wide range of options that include: creating a cleaner PC image (the operating system and software that is on your device right out of the box); working directly with users, privacy/security experts and others to create the right preload strategy quickly; and soliciting and assessing the opinions of even our harshest critics in evaluating our products going-forward.
Repairs Mac Book Pro GPU
Apple launches a MacBook Pro repair extension program for out-of-warranty repairs dealing with AMD GPUs 15 & 17 inch MBPs from 2011 and both 15-inch Retina models. Affected MBPs may display distorted or scrambled video, no video on screen when the computer is on and unexpected restarting and can be brought to Apple stores or mailed in. The program will be available starting Feb 21 in the US and Canada, and will launch in other countries beginning February 27. The program is valid until February 26, 2016 or until three years from the purchase date.
Chicken Selects return
McDonald’s announces Chicken Selects are coming back to the menu in American restaurants, after having been absent for two years:
We look forward to bringing back this customer favorite made with chicken tenderloin.
Individual restaurant will determine if the Chicken Selects remain on the menu permanently:
They are limited time offer, however markets have the option to keep them if they want, so some areas may continue to sell them.
Book Launch
Solomon launches her first book, Walk On By, an erotic romance. Lady Victoria Hervey, Louis Spence and Louise Hazel attend the party.
Kids collection
Kim and her sisters share the floral and glitzy designs from their kidswear range on social media. The collection, which is an extension of Kim, Khloe and Kourtney’s Kardashian Kollection for adults, includes a soft tulle skirt with rose gold foil detailing, a woven broderie lace dress with rose gold buttons, and a zip-through bomber jacket and beaded, feathered headband. Toys R Us, which stocks the range, describe it as:
Adorable outfits for your little one in the hottest trend-setting styles
Each of the designs have all been approved by the sisters and cost, on average, around $20 per garment.
Announces Imagine Dragons Tour
Metric announces their tour with Imagine Dragons across both Canada and the U.S. Dates span from June to August in stadiums across North America.
We’re excited to try out some new songs on this opening run and prepare for our own headlining tour which will happen a few months later around the release of our new album.
What Pet Should I Get?
What Pet Should I Get, a posthumous book by Dr. Suess, is set to release in July. The book is a compilation of text and sketches found in Suess’s home office by his widow Geisel:
While undeniably special, it is not surprising to me that we found this because Ted always worked on multiple projects and started new things all the time.
SUV announcement
Rolls-Royce is building a SUV, with a delivery date in a few years, that is able to cross any terrain. Being one of world’s most expensive vehicles, it will be long and tall while keeping the Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament. CEO Torsten Muller-ÖtvosRather:
It isn’t a SUV per se and not a truck, it is a high-bodied car with an all-aluminum architecture.
One possible name is the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, though that has not been confirmed.
HBO renews show
HBO announces that Oliver’s show, Last Week Tonight, is renewed for two seasons of 35 episodes each.
Opens first store
Amazon opens its first brick-and-mortar store on the campus of Purdue University. The store allows students to pick up items they order via Amazon Student when it is convenient for them. Paul Ryder, vice president of media and student programs at Amazon:
[It is] a convenient and secure spot for them to pick up their stuff at hours that work with their schedules.