Apple’s movie called The Banker will close out AFI Fest on November 21. It joins crime thriller Queen & Slim which will open the festival.
IMF Calls on Policymakers to Address Digital Currencies
Economists at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are calling on policymakers around the world to address the “notable risks” of privately-issued digital currencies, otherwise known as stablecoins. Facebook’s Libra is one such example. Should central banks issue their own digital currencies?
The two economists suggest that stablecoins could undermine financial stability, and that stablecoin users risk losing their money: “Whether stablecoins are indeed stable is questionable.” It depends on the safety and availability of the underlying assets, and whether they are “protected from other creditors if the stablecoin provider goes bankrupt.”
One of the worries is that technology companies don’t have the same consumer protection rules as banks do. I look forward to seeing how this will play out. I certainly trust banks more than I do Facebook.
Report Says iPhone SE 2 Will Have an iPhone 8 Body
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that the iPhone SE 2 will appear in Q1 2020 but it will have the form factor of an iPhone 8.
The iPhone 11 Glows Thanks to its Glass Back
Someone noticed that their iPhone 11 glows when you turn on the flashlight. The latest models have a special matte glass material on the back. While the iPhone 8 and later have had a glass back, it wasn’t matte and so didn’t produce this effect (Or at least, this is the first time I’ve seen this).
When you turn the flash light on, the iPhone 11 glass back glows. Not sure if the iPhone XR did this too, but I thought the effect was pretty cool.
You can watch it in action on YouTube here.
Tech vs Governments, Siri Learning and Unlearning – TMO Daily Observations 2019-10-03
Dave Hamilton and Andrew Orr join host Kelly Guimont to discuss apps vanishing from App Stores, and how Siri can now use third party apps.
How to Enable Night Shift Mode in iOS 13 and Maybe Sleep Better
Night Shift Mode is available in iOS 13. You can enable it through the Display & Brightness Menu manually and set it to come on automatically.
Securely Store and Access Your Files with E2E Encrypted Cloud Storage: $99
We have a deal on a 1-year subscription to MEGA Cloud Storage PRO, a cloud storage platform using end-to-end encryption. The service encrypts what you upload before you upload it—and, you control the keys. You can store, access or share your files from within your web browser, or through dedicated Android, iOS, or Windows Phone apps. Our deal has three levels of storage, starting with 1TB at $99 per year.
Adobe Launches Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements 2020
Adobe has unveiled the 2020 versions of Photoshop Elements and Preimere Elements which include new Guided Edits and expanded HEVC support.
Amazon Planning $800 Million Data Centre in Argentina
Amazon is planning a new cloud data center in Argentina, according to a Bloomberg News report. It will invest $800 million in the project over 10 years.
The Seattle-based company is preparing to invest about $800 million in the project … will reap considerable tax benefits by locating the data center in the Bahia Blanca-Coronel Rosales districts of the province of Buenos Aires, said the people, who asked not to be identified because they’re not authorized to speak publicly. Amazon’s decision to put part of its cloud infrastructure in South America’s second-largest economy is a big win for the Argentine government, which is keen to diversify the economy into digital services, nanotechnology, aerospace and more. Earlier this year, the national congress unanimously passed a law creating incentives for tech companies to set up shop there.
Uber Helicopters Available to All Users From JFK
Uber made its helicopters available from JFK Airport to all users. Users within the geofence will be able to book the flights via the app, Reuters reported.
The company announced its Uber Copter offer on Thursday, saying flights to and from Lower Manhattan will become available to all Uber users on Oct. 3. Uber made the feature available to its premium members in June. The roughly eight-minute flight will cost between $200 and $225 per person and include ground transportation on either side of the trip. Passengers can bring along a small suitcase and have to watch a safety video before takeoff, similar to that on an airplane. The flights are operated by HeliFlite Shares, a licensed company, and Uber’s prices roughly compare to those of competitors offering helicopter rides to JFK… JFK is one of the countTry’s largest airports and car trips from congested Manhattan can take anywhere from one to two hours, while public transit takes between 50 and 75 minutes.