Apple under federal anti-competition scrutiny, again

Apple under federal anti-competition scrutiny, again

Micah Singleton writes for The Verge:

Sources also indicated that Apple offered to pay YouTube’s music licensing fee to Universal Music Group if the label stopped allowing its songs on YouTube. Apple is seemingly trying to clear a path before its streaming service launches, which is expected to debut at WWDC in June. If Apple convinces the labels to stop licensing freemium services from Spotify and YouTube, it could take out a significant portion of business from its two largest music competitors.

I dislike hyperbole, but the fact that Apple would even engage in behavior that is capable of misperception as anti-competitive is shocking.

Image credit: “Apple Headquarters in Cupertino” by Joe Ravi. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Popcorn Time, Netflix, HBO and the future of digital media

This story about a U.K. court ordering Popcorn Time blocked has been knocking around in my brain for a couple of days now. When stuff knocks around in my head for days, chances are it will end up in written form, right here. So here we go.

Read More →

“Super-cuts” from same-sex marriage arguments

“Super-cuts” from same-sex marriage arguments

SCOTUSBlog contributor Tejinder Singh posted 36 minutes of audio highlights from yesterday’s oral argument in Obergefell v. Hodges. The case is one of several on the Court’s docket this term focused on two specific constitutional questions:

  1. Does the Fourteenth Amendment require a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex?
  2. Does the Fourteenth Amendment require a state to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-state?

I’ve embedded the super-cut below but if you’re really interested in getting a first-hand sense of how the Justices feel you can find audio of the full oral argument (more than two hours, split into two files) at Oyez. I’ll have more to say about the arguments after I’ve had the chance to listen to them in their entirety.

[embed]sblog.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-conten…[/embed]

Public domain photograph of the Roberts Court via Wikipedia

Re-engaging driver with questions after saying he’s free to leave is a second stop

Re-engaging driver with questions after saying he’s free to leave is a second stop

This is worth knowing if you’re a Pennsylvania resident or you find yourself frequently driving through the state. However, do yourself a favor and don’t throw it in the face of an officer whose behavior implies he or she doesn’t know about this precedent. If you’re innocent, keeping it to yourself will expedite the stop. If you’re guilty, comply with the officer and bring up this case to your public defender or private defense attorney.

Another blow to deceptively marketed "unlimited" data plans

Another blow to deceptively marketed “unlimited” data plans

Jon Brodkin at Ars Technica:

The FCC's new rules ban throttling except in cases of "reasonable network management." AT&T could argue that the throttling is necessary to keep its network running smoothly, but FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has objected to throttling of plans that are supposed to be unlimited and forced Verizon Wireless to back down from a throttling plan last year.

I have no problem with good-faith network management, but if a plan is subject to throttling, it can’t be marketed and sold as “unlimited.” The FTC is sending the right signal here in choosing to pursue this case, and Judge Edward Chen of the US District Court in Northern California has demonstrated that he understands the issue.

The network that can provide real unlimited data at usable speeds with no fine print has an opportunity to significantly increase its user base, but I haven’t found one yet. Let me know if you have.

Tim Cook: Pro-discrimination ‘religious freedom’ laws are dangerous

Tim Cook: Pro-discrimination ‘religious freedom’ laws are dangerous

Tim Cook, in an op-ed at the Washington Post:

Our message, to people around the country and around the world, is this: Apple is open. Open to everyone, regardless of where they come from, what they look like, how they worship or who they love. Regardless of what the law might allow in Indiana or Arkansas, we will never tolerate discrimination.

I admire the visible positions Cook is taking on more and more issues these days.

Employee Manuals Need Spring Cleaning Thanks to the NLRB

Employee Manuals Need Spring Cleaning Thanks to the NLRB

Jason Shinn, writing at Michigan Employment Law Advisor:

But this is where employers really need to be concerned: The distinction between what is permissible and what is not is somewhat anemic to begin with, and if your company’s policies are too broad or poorly worded, then whatever distinction existed may be obliterated.

The full report is available in PDF format. The National Labor Relations Act is a federal law, and Section 7 applies whether or not employees are unionized. That means, as Shinn advises in the article, that every company with employees of any kind should perform a revision of their HR policies and procedures.

Tesla will enable automated freeway driving this summer

Tesla will enable automated freeway driving this summer

Chris Taylor reporting at Mashable:

So to recap: Tesla cars will start self-driving this summer, on freeways at least. (It seems likely that once we've gotten used to that notion, autopilot for the full ride will be unlocked.) Google could have done the same thing for us a few years back, if the company were not driven by perfectionism and relentless iteration.

This is interesting. Tesla, to me, has made Google look a little old school, in a bad way. What’s more disruptive? Waiting until you’ve perfected automobile automation everywhere, or enable what you’re confident you’ve done well?

Of course, a base Model S goes for $63,570 after the federal tax credit. So I won’t be automated-ly driving around any freeways for at least a decade (student loan reform, anyone?). But the fact that Tesla can enable automated driving with nothing more than a software update speaks volumes to where the industry is headed.

The Night His Girlfriend Dissociated and Forgot Who He Was

The Night His Girlfriend Dissociated and Forgot Who He Was

An anonymous author writes at Vice.com:

'This is perfectly normal,' I thought, as she scrolled through her phone looking for George's name. 'I'm just a guy, standing here, getting my girlfriend's ex to vouch for my existence.'

Her first attempt went through to voicemail. Quietly and tearfully, all she could say was “help me” a dozen or so times. I wondered if he was at work. It could have been hours before he was able to check his phone. In our last stroke of good fortune for the night, he called back a few seconds later. I can’t remember exactly what was said or how long they talked for; it might have been a minute, it might have been five. She mentioned that there was a man here she didn’t know who was claiming to be her boyfriend, and in a sort of exaggerated stage whisper I said, “George! It’s me!”

She listened for a little while longer and then passed the phone to me. “He wants to talk to you.” I spoke to George for a couple of minutes. I’ve never been so relieved to hear the voice of a girlfriend’s ex. He calmly talked me through the next steps – to get her into her flat, sit her down and pull up something she’d seen before on Netflix. Familiarity was key, he told me. I thanked him and returned the phone. They talked for a few more seconds, then she hung up.

“George says I can trust you.”

It’s a terrifying and well-written account you should take the time to read in its entirety.

Petraeus reaches plea deal with Justice Department

Petraeus reaches plea deal with Justice Department

Kevin Johnson and Tom Vanden Brook, reporting for USA Today:

The explosive details in the agreement show that Petraeus lied to investigators, divulged a massive amount of sensitive data to Paula Broadwell and worried about how she handled them in an interview she taped with him.

Those who want former NSA analyst Edward Snowden’s head on a plate for disseminating classified information based on his ideals, with which you may or may not agree, and then admitting it, must be really angry at former CIA director General David Petraeus for disseminating classified information to his mistress and then lying about it to FBI agents.

Right?

Goodbye Leonard Nimoy

Goodbye Leonard Nimoy

Krishnadev Calamur, reporting at NPR:

Actor Leonard Nimoy, best known for his role as Mr. Spock, the logical half-Vulcan, half-human in the original Star Trek series and several movies, has died at his home in Los Angeles, his granddaughter, Madeleine, told NPR. Nimoy was 83.

It’s a sad day for geeks everywhere, a very sad day indeed.

Snapchat selfie gets teen arrested on murder charge

Snapchat selfie gets teen arrested on murder charge

Gay marriage begins in Alabama

Gay marriage begins in Alabama

How the DMCA criminalized DIY farm equipment repair

How the DMCA criminalized DIY farm equipment repair

Innocent until convinced otherwise

Innocent until convinced otherwise

The Guardian explains ‘three-parent’ babies

The Guardian explains ‘three-parent’ babies

The science of smarter teams

The science of smarter teams

Aol dials up the stupid with 150 editorial layoffs

Aol dials up the stupid with 150 editorial layoffs

EFF Wins Battle Over Secret Legal Opinions on Government Spying

EFF Wins Battle Over Secret Legal Opinions on Government Spying