Mitchel Broussard

Mitchel is a Contributing Editor at MacRumors. Southern Louisiana-born, he lives off of bad TV, good books, and great video games. Despite a few close calls, he has yet to forget the face of his father.



T-Mobile Launches 'Team of Experts' Aimed at Personalizing Customer Service, Supports iMessage Business Chat

Wednesday August 15, 2018 9:35 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
T-Mobile held a press conference today announcing a new "Team of Experts" service, which is the company's next "Un-carrier" move that's taking aim at the poor customer service performance of rivals like AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon. During the hour-long conference, T-Mobile CEO John Legere and EVP of Customer Care Callie Field explained that customer service is "the biggest pain point" in the telecom industry today. Team of Experts aims to nullify that customer frustration by introducing a tight-knit team that is dedicated solely to each individual user, and others in their city, with no robots or automated phone menus to navigate around. The company hopes to make Team of Experts feel more personal than traditional customer service, and even allows you to see a photo of your team in the T-Mobile iOS app. When you call or message T-Mobile, the company will put you straight through to a member of your team. If you open an issue and have to contact T-Mobile again, the same team will still be covering the matter, making it easy to keep track of ongoing service requests and fixes. “Team of Experts isn’t just better customer service. It’s an entirely new way of thinking about customers … one that puts your happiness at the center of everything we do,” said Callie Field, EVP of Customer Care at T-Mobile. “Some brands attempt to give high-dollar customers the kind of treatment we give everyone with Team of Experts. Because at T-Mobile, we think just being our customer makes you a rock star. Team of Experts is ‘one percenter’ treatment for the rest of us!” Team of Experts
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Twitch Plans to 'Aggressively Broaden' its Content and Expand Beyond Gaming as it Battles YouTube

Wednesday August 15, 2018 5:45 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Twitch, the platform known as a place to watch streamers play games like League of Legends, Fortnite, and Overwatch, is now looking into becoming a "broader video service" that would cater to lifestyle vloggers from rival company YouTube. According to a report today by Bloomberg, Amazon-owned Twitch has decided to "aggressively broaden" the programming on the platform to directly compete with YouTube, and gain more advertising revenue in the process. Amazon and Twitch have reportedly pursued exclusive live-streaming deals with "dozens" of popular media companies and personalities who are currently on YouTube. These deals are said to be worth "as much as a few million dollars a year," and include a share of future advertising sales and subscription revenue. "A few deals have closed," although some approached by Twitch have not agreed to the company's terms, including a minimum amount of hours required to livestream per week. Despite Twitch's plans to add more non-gaming programming, the company is still focusing on live streaming video. “There will be a steady drumbeat of lots of new content we’re bringing on,” says Michael Aragon, Twitch Interactive Inc.’s senior vice president of content. “We’re growing well, and that makes us an attractive destination for people looking to do new things in live, interactive entertainment.” When Amazon bought Twitch in 2014, the live streaming service was exclusively focused on video games and didn't let anyone post videos that weren't related to gaming. In recent years, Amazon slightly expanded the scope of the platform with
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DirecTV Now Rolling Out Support for Many Local ABC, NBC, and CBS Stations Owned by Nexstar

Tuesday August 14, 2018 9:39 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Live TV streaming service DirecTV Now this week began expanding support for local stations on its platform, with numerous posts on r/DirecTVNow reporting that local network affiliates for ABC, NBC, and CBS have appeared in cities across the United States. As pointed out by CordCuttersNews, these affiliates are owned and operated by Nexstar Media Group, a television broadcasting company that owns or operates around 170 TV stations across the country. In November 2017, Nexstar announced that it had reached "mutually satisfactory agreements" with three of the big four networks for participation in live TV streaming services like DirecTV Now and PS Vue, and then throughout 2018 a few local affiliates began trickling out for select cities. This week, however, it appears like a wide rollout of local affiliates has begun on DirecTV Now. Over the past 24 hours on Reddit, users have mentioned seeing the following local stations: CBS WIAT in Birmingham, Alabama WIVB in Buffalo, New York KOIN in Portland, Oregon WNCN in Raleigh, North Carolina WROC in Rochester, New York NBC WCMH in Columbus, Ohio KXAN in Austin, Texas WOOD in Grand Rapids, Michigan ABC WKRN in Nashville, Tennessee WRIC in Richmond, Virginia WTNH in New Haven and Hartford, Connecticut This is far from every local affiliate owned by Nexstar, and there are likely more that have appeared on DirecTV Now and other over-the-top streaming platforms in recent days. The full list of stations owned and operated by Nexstar can be found on the company's Wikipedia page. The addition of local stations
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MacRumors Exclusive: Gear Up for Back-to-School With Twelve South's Cases, Stands, and Chargers

Monday August 13, 2018 11:03 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
MacRumors and Twelve South are partnering up for another discount event, this time centering on a collection of nine products that should help students, parents, and teachers gear up for the new school year. In the MacRumors exclusive sale, you'll find 15 percent discounts on Twelve South products like the BookBook Vol. 2, Fermata headphone stand, Curve for MacBook, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. To take advantage of the discounts, browse TwelveSouth.com for any of the accessories listed below and enter the promo code MacRumorsBTS during checkout. The code is live beginning today, August 13, and will run for just under two weeks and end on Friday, August 24 at 11:59 p.m. ET. MacRumors readers around the world can take part in the sale, although shipping costs will vary by region. Twelve South offers users in the United States free FedEx Smart Post on all orders (5-10 day shipping estimate), and free 2-day shipping on all orders over $95. Note: While all items in the sale are the cheapest available online, there are some exceptions. For these Twelve South accessories, we have marked Amazon's better deals (as of writing) in a section directly under our own exclusive promo price. Amazon's prices fluctuate daily, however, so we can only ensure consistent savings through our own coupon code on TwelveSouth.com. BookBook Vol. 2 for MacBook and MacBook Pro Promo Price: $67.99, down from $79.99 Colors: Brown leather Com
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Deals: AirPods for $140, BOGO 20% Off iTunes Gift Cards, and New Anker Flash Sale

Monday August 13, 2018 9:35 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Costco today kicked off a new "5 Days of Deals" event just for its members, and one of the discounts is for Apple's AirPods. Today only Costco members can purchase the headphones for $139.99, down from $159.99 -- one of the best deals online for a new pair when compared to retailers like Adorama and Best Buy. Free shipping is also available. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Costco has a few other sales going on this week, with a members-only savings event that includes the 2018 9.7-inch iPad (128GB) for $359.99, down from $399.99. There are also savings on the Google Home mini, LG TV sets, and more, so be sure to visit Costco to check out all of the discounts before the sale ends. In other deals, Target this week has App Store and iTunes gift cards on sale with its traditional buy one, get one 20 percent off discount. While not as good as the more common 15 percent discounts for a single card, this is one of the only online iTunes gift card sales going on right now, so it could be a good opportunity to add some credit to your iTunes account. The offer is valid on $15, $25, $50, and $100 iTunes cards, which will be delivered via email. The 20 percent discount will be applied to the lower priced item, so multiple price tiers can be added at once, and after two cards are placed in your cart you'll notice the discount. As usual, Target REDcard members can save an additional 5 percent in the sale. We've rounded up
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Samsung Introduces 'SmartThings Wi-Fi' Combination Mesh Router and Smart Home Hub

Monday August 13, 2018 9:08 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
The latest offering for users looking to add mesh networking to their homes has been revealed by Samsung today, called the SmartThings Wi-Fi (via The Verge). The router includes mesh networking technology from Plume, which itself recently revealed its "SuperPod" mesh router along with a $60/year subscription. Samsung's SmartThings Wi-Fi isn't subscription-based, and in addition to the usual mesh networking features, the device also acts as a smart home hub for any SmartThings accessories. Similar to Apple TV and HomePod acting as a hub for HomeKit, SmartThings Wi-Fi will allow customers to set up and manage SmartThings-compatible plugs, switches, lights, cameras, and doorbells from Philips, Ring, Arlo, Kwikset, and much more. With Plume's technology, SmartThings Wi-Fi learns the environment to optimize performance for consistent coverage throughout the home. The system is sold on Samsung's website in a 1-pack for $119.99 (covering 1,500 square feet) or a 3-pack for $279.99 (up to 4,500 square feet). The company today also revealed a new standalone SmartThings Hub priced at $69.99, for those users who already have a router but still want to implement SmartThings products into their home. As an upgrade to the previous hub, the new device does not need to be plugged directly into your router and can instead work wirelessly anywhere in your home. There are a few other SmartThings announcements that happened today, including upgrades to the platform's Motion Sensor, Multipurpose Sensor, and Water Leak Sensor. There's also a new SmartThings Outlet for $34.99 and
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Spotify Continues Strong Push Into Podcasts With Addition of BBC's Podcast Library

Monday August 13, 2018 5:40 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Spotify today announced that listeners across the globe can now tune into the BBC's podcast catalog directly within the Spotify app, including "hundreds of programs across thousands of episodes." In the announcement, the company focuses on podcast listeners in the United Kingdom, but it appears that BBC podcasts on Spotify are also appearing for users in the United States and elsewhere outside of the U.K. The BBC podcasts on Spotify include shows from iPlayer Radio and BBC Sounds, covering numerous genres, which listeners can find in the Browse tab on Spotify. Podcast categories include Comedy, News and Politics, Educational, Sport and Recreation, Lifestyle and Health, Business and Technology, and Kids and Family. The company also recommended a few podcasts for users, including "Short Cuts," which centers on themes like "fear" and "magical realism" through the presentation of poetry, short stories, documentaries, and more. There's also "Desert Island Discs," in which host Kirsty Young asks guests to list the items they would take if they were stranded on an island. Prior to BBC, Spotify in May added NPR's catalog of podcasts to its app. The streaming company has been making a stronger push into podcasts since July 2017, when a report from Bloomberg claimed that Spotify was "coming after" Apple Podcasts. The company started by commissioning original podcasts about music in early 2017, and has now shifted to partnering with existing podcast creators to bolster its catalog of shows. With the addition of these content creators, Spotify's head of podcast
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Apple Music Launches New Classical Music Section Curated by Deutsche Grammophon, Including Full-Length Operas

Friday August 10, 2018 9:39 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Apple Music this week began rolling out a new section in Browse curated by Deutsche Grammophon, known as one of the biggest classical musical labels in the world. In this section, classical music fans will find featured playlists of specific composers, highlighted radio stations, and all-new visual albums stocked with the "full-length performance" of select operas (via Engadget). Specifically, one of the three visual albums is a staging of composer Charles-François Gounod's Roméo et Juliette, which was held at the 2008 Salzburg Music and Drama Festival. The visual album includes 32 tracks, which can be played all at once and runs for 2 hours and 33 minutes. The other operatic visual albums were also staged during the Salzburg Festival, including a Mozart Gala from 2006 and Giacomo Puccini's La bohème opera from 2012, staged at the Grosses Festspielhaus opera house. Of course, Apple Music has launched non-opera visual albums in the past, including Frank Ocean's Endless, but as Engadget notes this is the first time the service has debuted a full-length opera as a visual album. From the Apple Music editors: Deutsche Grammophon has been home to the world's greatest musicians ever since gramophone inventor Emile Berliner founded the label in 1898. For decades, legendary conductor Herbert von Karajan epitomized the style and elegance of The Yellow Label - so called for its striking cartouche emblem. Claudio Abbado and Leonard Bernstein joined him, and now Andris Nelsons and Yannick Nézet-Séguin continue DG's tradition of working with the finest conductors.
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Philips Hue Announces Lineup of New Fixtures and Lights, First Few Launching August 20

Friday August 10, 2018 8:43 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Over the summer, a few new and upcoming Philips Hue light fixtures leaked online, including an Outdoor Light Strip and White Ambience Adore Vanity Mirror. This week, the company has announced prices and confirmed an August 20 launch date for most of these products, as well as revealed a collection of new Hue lights. As usual, all of the new Hue lights are compatible with Apple's HomeKit platform. To start off, the previously seen Outdoor Lightstrip is designed specifically for all-weather use with a diffused coating that ensures the Lightstrip can be used as both a direct or indirect light source. Users can easily bend and shape the Lightstrip for all yard designs, or apply it to fences and railways using included clips and screws. The White and Color Ambiance Outdoor Lightstrip will cost $159.99 in a 16 ft. model and $89.99 in a 7 ft. model. Pre-orders will go up on August 20, and then the product will launch in early October. The White Ambiance Adore Collection consists of the Adore Vanity Mirror and a flushmount ceiling fixture, which are both Damp rated to ensure bathroom moisture won't degrade them over time. Each Adore light includes a ringed outer-edge area that "prevents unwanted shadows" from appearing in a bathroom, with four pre-set light recipes for morning and nighttime routines. The Adore Vanity Mirror will cost $249.99 and the flushmount Adore Ceiling Light will cost $179.99, and both will be available starting August 20. A new kitchen and dining area light has also been announced in the form of the White Ambiance Being Pendant. This
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Qualcomm and Taiwanese Regulators Reach Settlement 'Reversing Most' of $773M Fine

Friday August 10, 2018 7:39 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Nearly one year after Qualcomm received a $773 million fine by Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission regarding how the company prices smartphone chips and patents, Qualcomm this week reached a settlement agreement with the Taiwanese regulators that "reverses most" of the $773 million fine. In the settlement, Qualcomm will invest $700 million over the next five years to "boost research activities in Taiwan." The company will also stop paying fines and retains the right to charge manufacturers royalties on its technology. The Taiwanese regulators will keep around $89 million in fines already paid by Qualcomm and "waive the rest." “Both parties felt the FTC’s fines were controversial. And we feel, if we continue with the lawsuit, it will take too long should we take Taiwan’s industry progress into consideration,” FTC Commissioner Hong Tsai-Lung told reporters. A lengthy legal process “will have a very negative impact on Taiwan’s development, so that is why our stand has changed following an internal collective decision.” Despite Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission lifting the pressure off Qualcomm, the company still faces numerous lawsuits and fines, including from Apple. Qualcomm and Apple have been embroiled in an escalating legal battle since the beginning of 2017 after the FTC complained that Qualcomm engaged in anticompetitive licensing practices. Shortly after, Apple sued Qualcomm for $1 billion and accused the company of charging unfair royalties for "technologies they have nothing to do with" and failing to pay for quarterly rebates. Also in the United States, Qualcomm
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Spotify Testing Way for Free Tier Users to Skip Ads 'Any Time They Want'

Friday August 10, 2018 6:35 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Spotify has begun a test for select users in Australia, allowing free tier listeners to skip "any" audio and video ads that they come across "as often as they want," according to a new report by Ad Age. Currently, users who don't pay for a Spotify Premium subscription ($9.99/month) have to listen to ads and can't skip them. Spotify's head of partner solutions, Danielle Lee, explained that unlimited ad skipping is something the company is interested in because it will allow users to hear or watch only the ads they are interested in. As such, Spotify will know which ads each user lets play to the end, "informing Spotify about their preferences in the process" and tailoring the ads to their liking. The company calls this "Active Media," and ensures advertisers won't have to pay for any ads that are skipped, suggesting Spotify is confident it will learn and create enough compelling ads that free tier users won't want to skip. According to Lee, Spotify's hope is to debut Active Media on a global scale, but at this time the Australia-based testing is only one month old. "Our hypothesis is if we can use this to fuel our streaming intelligence, and deliver a more personalized experience and a more engaging audience to our advertisers, it will improve the outcomes that we can deliver for brands," Lee says. "Just as we create these personalized experiences like Discover Weekly, and the magic that brings to our consumers, we want to inject that concept into the advertising experience." In comparison, Apple Music doesn't offer a free tier for its service, instead gifting new
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Google's New iOS App 'Cameos' Lets Celebrities Respond to Popular Questions in Search Results

Thursday August 9, 2018 8:52 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Google this week debuted a new app called "Cameos," which lets celebrities record video answers to "the most asked questions on Google," and then post the recordings directly to Google's search results (via TechCrunch). The company says that this will let users "get answers directly" from the source when searching for facts and trivia about certain people in the spotlight. Although anyone can download the app [Direct Link], Cameos requires access to be granted once it's downloaded. Celebrities who gain access can browse the Internet's "top questions" asked about them, choose which ones they want to answer, and record a video of their response. Cameos will push celebrities with new questions and searches to ensure that their Google-related content "stays recent and timely." With the app, high-profile users can respond directly to their fans' biggest questions and leave out any potential misinformation provided from other websites sourced from a Google search. Once a question is answered, Google says that the response videos get posted "right to Google" so that users can see the videos when they search for the celebrity, or similar questions about the person. The videos will also appear on each celebrity's feed in the main Google
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HomeKit-Compatible 'Eve Aqua Smart Water Controller' Now Available to Buy Through Apple

Thursday August 9, 2018 7:56 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Apple has begun selling the Eve Aqua Smart Water Controller on its United States website today, following a few weeks after the HomeKit accessory previously launched on Eve's own website and on Amazon (via HomeKit News and Reviews). On Apple.com, you can buy the Eve Aqua for $99.95, and the free shipping option currently designates a delivery date on Monday, August 13. The Eve Aqua is a small controller that you attach to an outdoor water outlet, letting you activate or shut off water flow via the Home iOS app, Siri voice commands, or automatic HomeKit scenes. Eve says this makes the accessory perfect for sprinklers and can prevent gardens from flooding thanks to an auto shut-off feature. Elgato Systems announced the Eve Aqua this past May, and then in June Elgato revealed that it would shift its focus "entirely" to its line of Eve devices. Elgato is now "Eve Systems," with plans to offer a "constantly expanding ecosystem" of accessories designed exclusively for Apple's HomeKit platform. Despite the name change, Apple.com still lists the water controller accessory as the "Elgato Eve Aqua." Following the restructured company, Eve Systems teased users with new product announcements set to come out of IFA Berlin, which begins on August 31 and runs through September 5. For current products, Eve sells many of its devices on Apple.com, including the Elgato Eve Degree Connected Weather Station, Light Switch, Wireless Motion Sensor, Room Sensor, Energy Smart Plug, Button, and
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Apple Faces Potential Legal Threat From Indian Regulator Over Noncompliance With Anti-Spam iPhone App

Thursday August 9, 2018 6:34 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Just a few days after Bloomberg revealed Apple's revamped India strategy, including changes that the company hopes will boost its lackluster smartphone market share in the country, a report by Reuters today has pointed out another hurdle for Apple's India plan. The new report concerns Apple's work with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) over the development of an anti-spam iPhone app, which dates back nearly two years. Indian users constantly have to deal with spam phone calls, leading to the government's decision to build its own smartphone app that would let users mark and report spam callers. Reuters previously reported in March that work on the app was deadlocked as Apple continuously raised concerns over the privacy implications of allowing the app broad access to customers' calls and text logs. Following months of Apple pointing out privacy loopholes in the app -- which has been available on Android in India since 2016 -- TRAI last month threatened Apple by stating that its smartphones could be "derecognized" from the country's networks. This means that while iPhones would still be available for purchase in India, users would not be able to connect to any supported cellular network and would lose many of the features that they likely purchased the iPhone for. TRAI's derecognition threat was specified in a letter sent to Indian telecom firms over the summer, notifying the firms that TRAI would give them six months notice to derecognize devices from their networks if the phones in question do not support the anti-spam app. With that
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Apple Pay's New Promo Offers $20 When You Spend $100 or More in Nike's iOS App

Thursday August 9, 2018 5:23 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Apple Pay is offering a $20 promo code when you spend $100 or more within the iOS Nike app through August 16. This is the latest offer in Apple's long-running Apple Pay promo series, now themed as a back-to-school sale for any students looking for new shoes for the school year. To get the code, download the Nike iOS app [Direct Link], make a purchase worth $100 or more, and then pay with Apple Pay. The promo code for $20 will then be delivered to you within two weeks of your original purchase date, and must be redeemed within Nike by November 20, 2018. Apple is encouraging students to gear up at a few other Apple Pay-compatible stores and apps, including Staples, Office Depot, JanSport, Walgreens, Jet, and J. Crew. It's been a few weeks since the last Apple Pay promo, which offered summertime savings in a range of apps like Fandango, Groupon, Houzz, and Seamless. Previous promotions have also seen Apple team up with StubHub, Adidas, Postmates, Instacart, and many
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Sitewide Sales: Save 15% Off at eBay and 30% Off at Incase for a Limited Time

Wednesday August 8, 2018 9:55 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
If you've been waiting for eBay's next sitewide coupon, the retailer today launched a 15 percent off code that lets you save on everything across eBay until 10:00 p.m. PT tonight. Of course, exclusions to "everything" include warranties and protection plans, coins and paper money, gift cards and coupons, and real estate. Otherwise, once you shop around on eBay and find a few eligible items worth $25 or more, you can check out and enter the promo code PRONTO15 to receive 15 percent off your order. Note that the coupon code will be capped at a maximum value of $100 and must be used within a single transaction, applying to the purchase price and excluding shipping, handling, and taxes. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. eBay's sitewide sales are a great opportunity to buy Apple devices, this time including an open box version of HomePod (White and Space Gray) sold by Best Buy in excellent condition for $284.85, down from $324.99. Other ideas include HomeKit items like Philips Hue and Nanoleaf Aurora, and much more in categories like computers, smart watches, video games, clothes, and appliances. In another sitewide sale going on today and ending tomorrow, August 9, Incase is offering rare discounts on a wide variety of its Apple-compatible protective accessories. If you use the promo code BTS30 when checking out, you can save 30 percent on the company's backpacks, MacBook sleeves, and more. There are unspecified exclusions to
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Google Pixel 3 XL Production Unit Leak Reveals Taller iPhone X-Like Notch

Wednesday August 8, 2018 8:03 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Although Google's major fall event is still about two months away, typically occurring in October and ushering in a new generation of Pixel smartphones and other products, today leaked pictures have been shared online highlighting the upcoming Google Pixel 3 XL. Images from Telegram user @LuchkovCh via Android Police The images depict an alleged "pre-release" final production unit of the Pixel 3 XL smartphone, sourced from a Russian tech blogger (via Android Police). Images showcase the rear and front of the device, with an iPhone X-like notch at the top of the Pixel 3 XL's display that's not as wide as Apple's, but is noticeably taller. Previous CAD leaks suggest that a smaller 5.4-inch Pixel 3 will not have a notch, while the larger 6.2-inch Pixel 3 XL is what appears in the images today, notch included. It's believed that Google is using the notch to house improved cameras, including two camera lenses. Per Bloomberg, from a report in May: The bigger Pixel will include two camera lenses on the front of the phone inside of the notch, one of the people said. The notch, or cutout, at the top of the new larger Pixel’s screen won’t be as wide as a similar feature on the iPhone X, but is noticeably taller, according to the people. Google aims to eventually remove the bezels completely in a future Pixel, but is retaining the notch and chin this year to keep stereo speakers on the front of the phone, the people said Additionally, the images suggest that customers will get "Pixel Bud-esque" wired USB-C earphones with the Pixel 3 XL. There also appears to be a
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Anki Reveals Autonomous 'Vector' Home Robot With AI Learning to Help Around the House

Wednesday August 8, 2018 7:04 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Anki has revealed its fourth consumer product in the form of a home robot that it's calling "Vector," launching on Kickstarter today. Although the company has debuted a Kickstarter to give backers early access to the robot on October 9, it's promising that Vector will launch wide just a few days later, in stores on October 12, 2018. The new robot looks visually similar to Anki's previous "Cozmo" robot, which teaches kids how to code through games and a compatible iOS app. Vector differs significantly in functionality, however, with the company explaining that Vector is a major step forward in robotics and is meant to be an always-on companion robot that follows you around your house to help in your daily routine. Once you complete a one-time setup with the connected iOS or Android app, Anki says that all further interactions with Vector are done with eye contact and talking to the robot. Vector is fully autonomous, cloud-connected, and always-on, and has a personality, facial expressions, and animations ("around a thousand") created from a team of animators coming from major studios like Pixar. Anki says that Vector is closer to the fantasy of at-home robot helpers than any company has yet to come: When people imagine what their daily lives will be like with robots, many take inspiration from sci-fi novels, television shows, and films with high-spirited characters like R2-D2 from “Star Wars,” and Rosie in “The Jetsons.” Instead, the closest the world has come in the quest for affable, useful home robots are puck-like vacuum cleaners and lifeless
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Amazon Launches Grocery Pickup at Select Whole Food Stores Using 'Prime Now' Mobile App

Wednesday August 8, 2018 5:21 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
After first launching direct grocery delivery from Whole Foods to its customers' doors earlier this year, Amazon today has begun a rollout of curbside grocery pickup at Whole Foods locations in Sacramento and Virginia Beach. At supported stores, grocery pickup will be available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time. The company explains that Prime members can now download the "Prime Now" app for iOS and Android, shop for items like fresh produce, bakery products, dairy, meat, seafood, floral, and everyday staples, and choose the pickup option at checkout. For orders over $35, customers can choose free pickup in as little as an hour, or pay $4.99 to get it in 30 minutes. When arriving at a Whole Foods store, the supported locations will now have reserved pickup spots designated for curbside pickup customers. After parking, a Prime Now shopper will arrive and place the groceries in the customer's car "within minutes," and if customers tell the store that they are on their way in the Prime Now app, "groceries will be ready as they arrive." “Pickup from Whole Foods Market is a perfect option for customers who want to grab healthy and organic groceries at their convenience, all without leaving their car,” said Stephenie Landry, Worldwide Vice President of Prime Now, AmazonFresh and Amazon Restaurants. “A customer can order at 5:00 p.m., pick up at 5:30 p.m., and we’ll have their groceries loaded into their car just minutes after arrival. For an even faster experience, customers can tell us they are on their way using the Prime Now app and groceries will be ready as
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Instapaper Relaunches Premium Subscription at $2.99/Month, Updates Privacy Policy to Comply With GDPR

Tuesday August 7, 2018 7:46 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Read-it-later app Instapaper today announced that it is relaunching "Instapaper Premium" as part of the company's new initiative that's looking towards "the next ten years of Instapaper and beyond." Instapaper is hoping to generate revenue after it became an independent company last month through a deal with parent company Pinterest. Instapaper Premium costs $2.99/month or $29.99/year and offers full text search for all articles, unlimited notes, text-to-speech playlists on mobile, speed reading, an ad-free website, and a "send to kindle" feature. The company ensures that there will still be a non-Premium version of Instapaper and these users "will continue with a standard free account without access to Premium features." In addition to getting access to Premium features, your Instapaper Premium subscription will help ensure that we can continue developing and operating Instapaper. Our goal is to build a long-term sustainable product and business, without venture capital, and we need your help to achieve that goal. In addition to the subscription news, the company announced that it is bringing Instapaper back to users in the European Union. Just over two months ago, Instapaper temporarily suspended user access to its service across Europe as it faced issues implementing the EU's GDPR laws. Over the summer Instapaper took "a number of actions" to address the GDPR and will now return for users in the EU with a newly updated privacy policy that includes the rights afforded to EU users under GDPR. The company is also offering six months of Instapaper Premium to all
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