Year: 2018

DirecTV Now is going UP in August

CompuScoop Staff July 2, 2018 2

DirecTV Now's parent company, AT&T, announced that it will be raising the service's monthly price by $5.00.

The slight rate increase will go into effect on August 1st.

Accordingly, the company's "Just Right," "Go Big," and "Gotta Have It" bundleswill cost $55, $65, and $75. These offer 80-, 100-, and 120-plus channels, respectively.

The new pricing is comparable to PlayStation Vue or YouTube TV, and follows hikes by the latter and Sling TV. It also comes shortly after the $85 billion Time Warner takeover by DirecTV Now's parent company, AT&T.

The carrier defended its move as a way to "continue delivering the best possible streaming experience for both new and existing customers" by "bringing the cost of this service in line with the market."

The Future of the International Space Station (ISS) may be in doubt

CompuScoop Staff July 2, 2018 1

This is the 18th year of continuous human presence in space. Students graduating high school this summer have lived their entire lives in a time when men and women are continuously orbiting in space above them.

Last week, a Senate subcommittee met to determine whether the United States would continue to fund the space station over the next decade.

Advocates of the International Space Station feel that the iconic space laboratory plays a vital role in America's continued journey into space and that it creates economic opportunity and spurs innovation through the unique research opportunities available in space.

Around 1,100 Boeing employees work with NASA every day to operate and maintain the space station. Jim Chilton, Boeing's vice president of Space and Launch Systems, took the stand to deliver an impassioned salute to the International Space Station and its mission.

Chilton highlighted that the International Space Station "is far more capable now than it was even seven years ago. And with the NASA-Boeing team focused on operations 24-7-365, we are able to operate in a mindset of continuous improvement for safety and reliability."

Source: Watch U.S. Fly

Divorce Lawyer warns warring couples to Unsync their iPhones

Dan Uff July 2, 2018 2

With couples sharing information between iPhones (and others) leading divorce lawyers are advising clients in the process of splitting up to tighten up their online security, warning how easy it is for an individual’s personal data to be accessed by a soon-to-be-ex-partner.

While internet-connected gadgets are designed by make life easier, the ease with which they can be accessed by people living under the same roof is also making it easier for warring couples to snoop on each other.

Lucia Clark, an international family law specialist at independent law firm Morton Fraser, stated the following:

“There’s a whole list of things to consider when getting divorced but one thing that does not often enter into the minds of people breaking up is the need to protect themselves online. However, with so many online and email accounts now linked between spouses, people do not realize that their personal and sensitive information can often still be accessed by their former partner.”

So, if you and your ex share an iCloud or Google account, either disable that account and use another service, or apply for another account on the same service you're using now.

Parts of this article were referenced from CNBC.com.

TomTom shares fall after Apple announces own mapping system

CompuScoop Staff June 30, 2018 3

TomTom NV, a maker of digital mapping technology, fell Friday after the website TechCrunch reported that Apple Inc. plans to rebuild its Maps application for iPhones with its own data, putting the companies’ long-running partnership at risk,” Mark Gurman reports for Bloomberg.

“Apple dropped Google Maps in 2012 and launched a redesigned Maps app with data primarily provided by Amsterdam, Netherlands-based TomTom and other sources,” Gurman reports. “The app immediately received poor reviews.”

“For the past few years, Apple has been building a custom maps infrastructure, drawing from its network of more than 1 billion iPhones and information collected from vans touring the globe with cameras and high-tech sensors,” Gurman reports. “Apple will begin rolling out its new data through this year’s iOS 12 iPhone and iPad software upgrade, beginning with cities in Northern California, the website TechCrunch reported.”

Read more in the full article here.