Life and Stuff: October 2016

Monday, October 31, 2016

All of London's black cabs now accept contactless payments

All 22,500 London black cabs now carry contactless compatible card readers as part of a modernisation of the service

By: James Temperton

CRTC to review pricing on internet data

Regulator launches hearing to define what differential pricing should look

Would you drink exhaust water? WIRED puts Toyota's zero-emission claims to the test

By: Jeremy White

Specialty streaming service Shudder launches in Canada

AMC-owned horror subscription video service offers more than 200 titles

Antarctica's Ross Sea is now the world's largest marine protected area

By: Amelia Heathman

Kia's COO stars in an ad to drive home an important message

Auto exec appears in Astral program to put spotlight on Community Living

Quantum computing is poised to transform our lives. Meet the man leading Google's charge

By: Kathryn Nave

Relive the 80s with Sony's weirdly retro advert for the upcoming PS4 Pro

By: Matt Kamen

Hello Games tweets No Man's Sky was a mistake, claims it was hacked

Was it a moment of clarity, a disgruntled employee, or a hack? No matter what the answer is, it doesn't bode well for the company.

The post Hello Games tweets No Man's Sky was a mistake, claims it was hacked appeared first on ExtremeTech.

How Google's AI taught itself to create its own encryption

By: Matt Burgess

Using hardware queues to break the multi-core CPU bottleneck

One of the major problems with multicore scaling is the communications bottleneck associated with cache coherency. These issues may be addressable -- and if they are, it could significantly improve multi-core scaling in the future.

The post Using hardware queues to break the multi-core CPU bottleneck appeared first on ExtremeTech.

Spotify CMO Seth Farbman finds inspiration in your playlists

Marketers need to reduce consumer fear and make their lives better, he says

New images from NASA show the final resting place of Europe's ExoMars lander

Schiaparelli_Lander_Model_at_ESOC_feature

High-res photos from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shed some light on Schiaparelli's last moments, while raising questions at the same time.

The post New images from NASA show the final resting place of Europe's ExoMars lander appeared first on ExtremeTech.

Eerie Short Film Celebrates the Beauty of Simplicity

There's not much to Universal Everything's Closer, but it will still make you feel things The post Eerie Short Film Celebrates the Beauty of Simplicity appeared first on WIRED.

How to hygge: the latest lifestyle craze coming from Denmark

By: Claire Thomson

How brands should market cars in a world without drivers

A Cheil Canada VP tries to help the industry stay one step ahead of a paradigm shift

Windows Update is a mess: 3 things Microsoft should do to fix it

Microsoft has over-reached with its big-brother policies that inflict the worst parts of Windows Update on every Windows 10 user -- like it or not. Here's how it could fix that.

The post Windows Update is a mess: 3 things Microsoft should do to fix it appeared first on ExtremeTech.

Nintendo Switch may support VR (but won't replace 3DS)

By: Matt Kamen

ET deals: Get an online course from Udemy for just $10

If you love to learn, check out the outstanding classes at Udemy. Thousands of online courses are being discounted right now, so you can invest in a new skill -- even if you're on a budget. Whether you want to learn how to design a business logo or how to speak Arabic, there's something here for just about every area of interest. And if you're trying to brush up on your development skills, here are some top-notch recommendations.

The post ET deals: Get an online course from Udemy for just $10 appeared first on ExtremeTech.

The real target in the Facebook ethnic affinities debate

Brands should be wary of how consumers perceive their use of digital tools

Climate change is a huge opportunity: Bertrand Piccard on fairytale flights and Earth's future

By: James Temperton

What's Next For VR Investing In 2017

Tipatat Chennavasin is more than just co-founder and general partner of The Venture Reality Fund, or The VR Fund, an early-stage VC that focuses only on AR and VR startups, though that in itself is impressive. The Stanford alum is also an experienced 3D artist, interaction designer, storyteller and developer, [...]

It's time to pardon Edward Snowden, and defuse Putin's increasingly dangerous weapon

A pardon for Snowden isn't just good policy, it's a move to neutralize a looming threat from an ever-more aggressive Moscow state department.

The post It's time to pardon Edward Snowden, and defuse Putin's increasingly dangerous weapon appeared first on ExtremeTech.

30 Under 30 2016: Party photos

This year's honourees celebrate at the Thompson Toronto

Infoporn: where to mine asteroids to get the deep-space dollars

By: Matthew Reynolds

You can now play Windows Store games offline in Windows 10, but not without jumping through some hoops

Windows 10: One product family, one platform, one store

The Windows 10 Store now supports offline gameplay, but Microsoft has a long way to go to compete with Steam on this front.

The post You can now play Windows Store games offline in Windows 10, but not without jumping through some hoops appeared first on ExtremeTech.

Rethink wins Wonder

Creative assignment includes the brand's entire line of bread and baked goods

Want to become a top-level football referee? You'll need 'super vision,' study finds

By: Victoria Woollaston

Desktop Wallpaper Calendars: November 2016

Sometimes the best inspiration lies right in front of us. With that in mind, we embarked on a special creativity mission eight years ago: to provide you with inspiring and unique desktop wallpapers every month. Wallpapers that are a little more distinctive than the usual crowd and that are bound to fuel your ideas.

We are very thankful to all artists and designers who have contributed and are still diligently contributing to this mission, who challenge their artistic abilities each month anew to keep the steady stream of wallpapers flowing. This post features their artwork for November 2016. Both versions with and without a calendar can be downloaded for free. It's time to freshen up your desktop!

The post Desktop Wallpaper Calendars: November 2016 appeared first on Smashing Magazine.

Mobile driving Facebook revenue: eMarketer

Double-digit mobile growth expected to continue through 2018

Neuro research confirms direct mail triggers consumer action

118% more attention, 29% higher brand recall than digital advertising, study finds

Google's Halloween Doodle turns Momo the cat into a ghost-hunting witch

By: Victoria Woollaston

WIRED Awake: 10 must-read articles for October 31

By: WIRED

Sunday, October 30, 2016

An open letter to Microsoft and Google's Partnership on AI

By: Gerd Leonhard

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Cixin Liu is the author of your next favourite sci-fi novel

By: Rowland Manthorpe

Friday, October 28, 2016

EU privacy watchdogs seek answers from WhatsApp and Yahoo about users' data

European Union privacy watchdogs have warned WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum to stop sharing users' data with parent company Facebook until they investigated whether the transfers comply with EU data protection law. They also want Yahoo's Marissa Mayer to come clean about recent leaks and spying allegations.

In an open letter to Koum published Friday, an umbrella group representing the EU's national data protection authorities expressed its serious concerns at the way WhatsApp users were informed of changes to the company's terms of service and privacy policy, and questioned whether the company had their valid consent to the changes.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

How To Grow Your Company With Strategic Acquisitions, According To The CEO Of Demandbase

With their May acquisition of Spiderbook, Demandbase has become the only end-to-end account based marketing platform helping companies identify, target, engage and sell to target accounts. The acquisition positions the company to utilize the advanced technology of Spiderbook, including AI, machine learning and linguistics expertise that automates the discovery of [...]

The Wall Street Journal targets CEOs in first Canadian campaign

Newspaper uses OOH, newspaper wraps to recruit execs to its invite-only CEO Council

Haunting images reveal 3D scans of dancers frozen in time

By: Oliver Franklin-Wallis

Web Development Reading List #156: Browser News, Webpack 2, And Lessons Learned From HPKP

Is a person who is sitting by herself in a room alone? From an outside perspective, it might seem so, but the human brain is way more interesting in these regards. We carry a map of relationships inside ourselves, and it depends on this map if the person actually does feel alone or not.

I just read “Stress and the Social Self: How Relationships Affect Our Immune System”, and I feel that we can learn a lot from it. In fact, I might see social media from a different perspective now. We're social beings, I love sharing good content with you, so, without further ado, here's this week's web dev reading list.

The post Web Development Reading List #156: Browser News, Webpack 2, And Lessons Learned From HPKP appeared first on Smashing Magazine.

Comparing Skyrim: Enhanced Edition with the classic version

Skyrim's new Special Edition promises a graphics overhaul, but how does it compare with the original -- or the original's mods?

The post Comparing Skyrim: Enhanced Edition with the classic version appeared first on ExtremeTech.

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Casacom wins OnDeck after competitive review

Communications plan to include speaking engagements, events and business outreach

Jeff Roman takes VP role at Broad Reach Communications

Aside from PR vet, communications agency makes four strategic hires

Twitter kills Vine, cuts staff

Plans for future growth include laying off 9% of its workforce

Sim Group appoints NKPR North American PR AOR

Among PR agency's mandate is to support new client's upcoming rebrand

Cause marketing, special effects (Column)

CSR efforts need to be authentic and not cosmetic, says Veritas president

WIRED Awake: 10 must-read articles for October 27

By: WIRED

Tesla is in the money: Elon Musk's firm announces its first quarterly profit since 2013

By: Matt Burgess

Ricardo Media looks to PR to promote English print mag

Bicom Communications will handle media and influencer relations to build awareness

How the Pirate Party rose from obscurity to become poised to take power in Iceland

By:

Matt Burgess

and Liat Clark

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

WIRED Awake: 10 must-read articles for October 26

By: WIRED

Canadian malls need to diversify, say experts

Owners need to rely on more than fashion retailers to drive visits and sales

Jays' playoff run a hit for Rogers

Team owner is also most noticed advertiser during the post-season run

Google's $6,000 smart Jamboard wants to make office projects more fun

By: Liat Clark

Vodafone fined £4.6 million for mis-selling and 'inaccurate' customer billing

By: Matt Burgess

Giant glowing halos around a distant quasar challenge what we know about the Universe

By: Victoria Woollaston

iPhone sales drop sees Apple's revenues fall for the first time since 2001

By: Matt Burgess

WIRED2016: Next Generation workshops

Doctor Strange review: a gorgeous, insane trip that verges on magical

By: Oliver Franklin-Wallis

MIT's Nightmare Machine is here to show how terrifying AI can be

By: Amelia Heathman

Stranger Things director Shawn Levy will helm Sony's Uncharted movie

By: Matt Kamen

IBM Watson is about to make Slack's chat bot smarter

By: Liat Clark

Apple's next MacBook Pro could ditch function buttons for a 'Magic Toolbar'

By: Matt Burgess

The Beatles, migrants, and sexism: the shortlist for Kantar's Information is Beautiful Awards

By: Victoria Woollaston

The generational divide

New MTM study shows how Gen Y and Gen Z use media

The PS4 Pro's chief architect shares surprising details on the system's architecture

The head designer on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Pro, Mark Cerny, has shared new details about the platform -- and his answers confound some of our previous expectations.

The post The PS4 Pro's chief architect shares surprising details on the system's architecture appeared first on ExtremeTech.

Giving Your Product A Soul

After a few years of designing products for clients, I began to feel fatigued. I wondered why. Turns out, I'd been chasing metric after metric. “Increase those page views!” “Help people spend more time in the app!” And it kept coming. Still, something was missing. I knew that meeting goals was part of what a designer does, but I could see how my work could easily become commoditized and less fulfilling unless something changed.

I thought of how bored I'd be if I kept on that path. I needed to build some guiding principles that would help me find my place in design. These principles would help grow and would shape my career in a way that fits me best.

The post Giving Your Product A Soul appeared first on Smashing Magazine.

OSHA Updates Guidelines for Health and Safety Programs

Matt Kraus

Safety

In October, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released an updated set of Recommended Practices for Safety and Health programs, bringing the original guidelines from 1989 into the 21st century.
The purpose of the OSHA guidelines is to help employers improve safety and health in their workplaces, and the updates reflect, among other things, how workplaces and the economy have changes in the last 27 years. OSHA believes these new recommendations will be of particular use to small- and medium-size businesses.

LIGO's black hole detection survives the gravastar test

LIGO famously saw two black holes merging -- but it turns out it may have seen an event even more exotic and intriguing than that.

The post LIGO's black hole detection survives the gravastar test appeared first on ExtremeTech.

Microsoft unveils its folding desktop – the £2,500 Surface Studio

By: Matt Burgess