Indigogo campaign starts
SkunkLock launches an Indiegogo campaign for SkunkLock, a U-shaped lock that prevents bicycle theft by releasing a non-lethal chemical gas that induces vomiting and shortness of breath when tampered with. Skunklock says the gas is perfectly safe and can only be released by trying to cut through it with an angle grinder, and that it penetrates high-end gas masks – though most thieves are unlikely to go to such lengths. Some states have limitations on shipping chemical compounds like pepper spray, so Skunklock has an alternative formula ready for some customers.
Our formula irreversibly ruins the clothes worn by the thief or any of the protection they may be wearing.
Teases Mac Life Training System
In a Twitter post, McGregor teases the Mac Life training system.
With the Mac Life training system I am going to change your life. #ComingSoon pic.twitter.com/dyprAIAw4Q
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 3, 2016
Will star in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Activision announces that McGregor will star in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare.
It was an honour to team up with the juggernaut Call of Duty franchise on this amazing, mind blowing new project they are about to unleash on the gaming world! Prepare to be blown away!
Automates trending news
Facebook changes its trending news feature to an automated solution, which the company says will eliminate bias caused by human curation.
Our goal is to enable Trending for as many people as possible, which would be hard to do if we relied solely on summarizing topics by hand. A more algorithmically driven process allows us to scale Trending to cover more topics and make it available to more people globally over time. This is something we always hoped to do but we are making these changes sooner given the feedback we got from the Facebook community earlier this year. the potential for bias, the Company says it will no longer rely on editors to write descriptions for the topics and would instead show users the topic and how many people are discussing it.
WhatsApp, Facebook to share data
Facebook announces that WhatsApp will start sharing users phone numbers with Facebook. The company says the change will allow for more relevant advertisements and friend recommendations. It is WhatsApp’s first update to its privacy policy since it was acquired by Facebook. WhatsApp will also explore ways for businesses to send messages using its platform over the next several months.
Will sell refurbished smartphones
Samsung plans to launch a program to sell refurbished used versions of its premium smartphones as early as next year. The company will refurbish high-end phones returned to the company by users who signed up for one-year upgrade program in markets such as South Korea and the United States.
World´s largest indoor theme park to open
IMG will open the world’s largest indoor theme park in Dubai this month. IMG Worlds of Adventure‘s boxy exterior belies a 140,000-square meter air-conditioned interior teeming with animatronic dinosaurs, roller coasters, Marvel superheroes and Cartoon Network characters.
‘Night tube’ trains start running
The Underground starts all-night Friday and Saturday services. The Central & lines will run trains through to 0530 in the morning, with others due to follow. Mayor Khan:
It will support thousands of workers who have to travel to or from work at night, it will provide huge economic benefits to our vital night-time economy and it will help Londoner’s get home quickly and safely after a night out.
https://youtu.be/yLyU4wBm3Ag
Launches Lifestage
Facebook releases an iPhone app, called Lifestage, that allows teens to watch clips about the lives of their classmates. Anyone can download the app, although seeing profiles of other users is reserved for those 21 years of age or younger. The social network allows users to make video clips to describe likes, peeves, dance styles, and other aspects of their character. The app is designed by Facebook product manager Michael Sayman, who is 19 years old.
Back in 2004, Facebook was all about ‘who I am’. I could post my relationship status. I could share what my favourite music was. And it was all about expressing myself. Today as Facebook has grown into so much more, we see the opportunity to explore that concept of ‘who I am’ once again, but for Generation Z in 2016.
VR: The Game Collectors Edition
Milestone releases a collector’s edition of Valentino Rossi: The Game. In addition to the game purchasers receive a VR46 Bracelet, VR46 Flag, MotoGP Cap and a small box with sand from the Valentino Ranch. The edition is sold out on Amazon Italy, Spain and France but is currently available for preorder on Amazon UK for £99.99.
New helmet design
Following tradition, Rossi wears a new helmet design for the Italian GP.
Drugmakers announce virus efforts
Sanofi announces that it has launched a project to develop a vaccine against the virus, the most decisive commitment yet by a major vaccine maker. The company says its Sanofi Pasteur vaccines division would use its expertise in developing vaccines for similar viruses such as yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and dengue. The University of South Australia also says it is working on a Zika vaccine with Australian biotech Sementis Ltd. U.S. drug developer NewLink Genetics Corp said it has started a project to develop Zika treatment options.
Rossi, Lorenzo unveil 2016 Yamaha MotoGP colors
Yamaha Racing release images of Rossi and Lorenzo in new team livery. The design is almost identical to last season (barring a few stickers), with 2016 the third year of title sponsorship by Movistar.
Closing U.S. channel
Al Jazeera America will shut down its cable news channel in April. While the Qatar-based news network has spent heavily to break into the U. S. market, the company says that their business model is not sustainable in light of economic challenges.
The Name of God is Mercy
Pope Francis publishes The Name of God is Mercy. The book makes no new leaps of doctrine, but uses a “conversational” style to discuss the Pope’s reasons for proclaiming a Holy Year of Mercy. The Pope takes particular issue with those who cast stones at others’ sins. When asked about a particular lifestyle considered sinful:
Who am I to judge? Before all else comes the individual person, in his wholeness and dignity.
Casting call for New Edition mini-series
BET announces auditions for the cast of a mini-series about New Edition. Auditions will take place on Saturday, January 16 in Allston. Interested parties should bear a close resemblance to a member of the band.
Re-Airs first Super Bowl
The NFL Network will replay the first Super Bowl ever played on Friday, January 15. The original network tapes of the broadcast were lost, and the NFL has re-created footage over several months in order to be able to build a broadcast to share. The broadcast will show the first Super Bowl game in its entirety, carefully re-constructed from piecemeal footage, with modern enhancements to color and audio. The original audio from the NBC broadcast has been found and will be layered over the film.
Anti-Education new translation
The New York Review of Books publishes a translation of Nietzsche’s Anti-Education. Translated by Searls, the book consists of five lectures given by Nietzsche to the Basel Museum in 1872. Searls seeks to strip away the revisionism of Nietzsche’s works imposed by his virulently anti-Semitic sister, Elisabeth Förster-Nietzche, who had custody of him during the later years of his life. In On Education, Nietzsche argues that the educational system of his time does not instruct students in independent thinking but resorts to “the ubiquitous encouragement of everyone’s so-called ‘individual personality.” The editors go on to describe Nietzsche as the “anti-academic.”
Character limit change
Dorsey says Twitter is considering to expand the character limit of tweets from 140 characters to 10 000.
https://twitter.com/jack/status/684496529621557248/photo/1
Catalog available on streaming
The Beatles catalogue becomes available on nine streaming services: Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, Amazon Prime Music, Tidal, Deezer, Microsoft Groove, Napster/Rhapsody and Slacker Radio.
