Feb 16

Google Is Making It Easier For PC And Mac Users To Upgrade To Chrome OS

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Are you curious as to what Google’s Chrome OS might feel like if you were to use it as a daily driver? You could always purchase a Chromebook device to find out, but even though they are pretty affordable in general, it’s still an unnecessary purchase if you’re on the fence, or worse, you buy it and realize you don’ like it.

The good news is that if you already have a computer, Google is making it easier for you to run Chrome OS and you don’t even need to format your computer to do so. This is because Google has since announced Chrome OS Flex. This is a slightly modified version of Chrome OS that users can download for free, put onto a USB drive, and have your computer boot from it.

This means that you will be able to try out Chrome OS on an existing computer and it works on both Windows and Mac computers. For the most part, the majority of features are the same as Chrome OS which means you’ll be able to enjoy features like Google Assistant, Nearby Sharing, and more. There are some differences that Google has highlighted on its support page, but you should have more or less a similar-ish experience.

There are some requirements when it comes to hardware and your brand of computer, but you can check out the list of compatible devices on Google’s website. Right now Chrome OS Flex is available as an early access which means that it’s still kind of in beta, but if you’re curious enough, it might be a good way to give an old laptop a new lease on life.

Google Is Making It Easier For PC And Mac Users To Upgrade To Chrome OS

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Feb 16

Paramount+ hits 32.8 million subscribers; will offer Showtime for a fee

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A lot is changing at ViacomCBS — which changed its name today to Paramount Global. In an investor presentation on Tuesday, the company announced that its streaming service, Paramount+ (formerly known as CBS All Access), hit 32.8 million subscribers during the last quarter of 2021. It’s a notable milestone for the platform, placing it ahead of Peacock (9 million paid subscribers), as well as other smaller platforms like ESPN+ (17 million subscribers) and Discovery+ (20 million subscribers).

That growth seems to be leading the company to consolidate some of its streaming offerings, specifically the now 12-year-old Showtime Anywhere service. Existing Paramount+ subscribers will soon be able to watch Showtime on the app itself, albeit for an extra fee. Instead of paying for Showtime’s standalone streaming app (which is $10.99 a month), users can bundle Paramount and Showtime together, for either $12 a month, or $15 a month for the ad-free tier. “Within Paramount+, it will be seamless to sign up for Showtime, and easier than ever to discover great shows. You’ll be able to simply upgrade your Paramount+ subscription to a bundle that includes the Showtime service and then view all that content in a single user experience,” Tom Ryan, head of streaming at Paramount, said today.

While it’s unclear how badly the world needed another way to subscribe to Showtime (you can currently purchase access as an add-on service through Apple TV+, Hulu, Prime Video, SlingTV and virtually every other OTT platform), it’s not a bad deal for existing Paramount subscribers. A spokesperson for Paramount told Engadget there are currently no plans to sunset Showtime Anywhere.

Another lure for Paramount+ subscribers is that the app will soon be the exclusive home for all Paramount movies, beginning in 2024. It’s not a surprising move, given that all the streaming platforms are gobbling up exclusive content in order to gain an edge. Netflix’s growth rate is slowing, which may be a positive sign for the competition. But there’s no sure formula for success in streaming. Streaming subscribers are notoriously fickle, and having a hit show or two is not a guaranteed path to returning customers. The new exclusivity deal and bundle with Showtime at least ensures that Paramount+ will have a steady stream of new content to keep existing viewers happy.

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Feb 16

Fox News Analyst Offers Absolutely Mortifying Take On Trucker Protest Crackdown

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“By this rationale, they could have cracked down on the civil rights movement. They could have arrested Martin Luther King,” said law professor Jonathan Turley.

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Feb 16

What Exactly Is Blockchain?

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Even those who may know a little about how blockchain tech works may still not understand how its application extends far beyond cryptocurrency.

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Feb 16

Elden Ring PC Specifications Have Finally Been Revealed

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With only days left before its release, we finally know the minimum specs gamers will need to play the hotly anticipated “Elden Ring” on PC.

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Feb 16

Steam Deck iFixit Teardown Has Some Great News And One Big Warning

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Valve has designed the Steam Deck with future repairs in mind, and while many of the components are easy to access, there’s one very big problem.

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Feb 16

San Francisco proposes 18-month moratorium on new Amazon delivery facilities

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San Francisco’s wariness of Amazon might soon extend to the company’s seemingly ubiquitous shipping network. Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton has introduced legislation that would impose an 18-month moratorium on new parcel delivery facilities in the city, whether from Amazon or others. Officials at the Board or the Planning Commission would use the pause to study the potential impact these locations have on the community, including health issues (like air pollution and traffic) and the overall public interest.

In a statement, the Teamsters and other unions backing the measure were concerned companies like Amazon would drag down pay, benefits and working conditions for the city. The proposed moratorium would help communities “set the standards” and decide if they want these facilities in the first place, Walton added.

The effort comes after San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development signed a January memorandum of understanding with Amazon to start negotiations for a Mission Creek delivery hub without informing or involving the community. These sorts of agreements are common, but Walton saw this as Amazon trying to enter the city without input from the very people its facility would affect.

There’s no certainty the legislation will pass. It’s also unclear how Walton and the Board would use any determination that Amazon and other delivery services’ facilities would harm San Francisco residents.

We’ve asked Amazon for comment. The company has faced similar opposition in other parts of California, and backed out of plans for a second headquarters in New York City following criticism. Activists and politicians raised concerns about possible gentrification in New York, the city’s $3 billion in proposed subsidies and Amazon’s overall practices. Amazon has also been a staunch opponent of unionization, setting up a confrontation with increasingly pro-union workers and the politicians who support them.

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Feb 16

Progressives See Ukraine Debate As Chance To Revamp U.S. Foreign Policy

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Liberal lawmakers are echoing President Joe Biden’s push for firm diplomacy with Russia and emphasizing Ukrainian rights, defying old critiques of the left.

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Feb 16

Ford Releases 3D Printing Templates For Maverick Accessories

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The best part of owning a vehicle is customizing it to meet your needs. That’s where Ford’s FITS comes in, offering templates for 3D-printed accessories.

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Feb 16

Paramount+ renews 'Halo' TV series before it even debuts

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Paramount+’s live-action Halo adaptation has yet to debut, but that’s not stopping the streamer from renewing the series ahead of its March 24th premiere. On Tuesday, ViacomCBS announced it will work with 343 Industries, Showtime and Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television to produce a second season of the show. David Wiener, known for his work on Homecoming, The Killing and Brave New World, will serve as showrunner and executive producer on the sophomore season.

At the moment, those are the only details ViacomCBS has shared. The company didn’t say anything about a potential release date. “This second-season pickup reflects the confidence we have in the power of this epic series to attract and engage viewers,” said David Nevins, chief content officer of scripted originals at Paramount+.

The early renewal of a promising series isn’t that unusual for a streaming service like Paramount+. We saw Apple employ a similar strategy in the early days of TV+ with For All Mankind and The Morning Show to ensure there was a steady stream of original content making its way to the service. More than ever, the streaming market is highly competitive and companies like ViacomCBS see exclusive shows and movies as an important tool in attracting and retaining subscribers.

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