During the Moogfest music and technology fest in North Carolina, Google Brain researcher Douglas Eck outlined a new artificial intelligence research project at Google called Magenta. The group, expected to publicly launch next month, plans to use the company’s machine learning engine TensorFlow to explore new ways that computers and AI systems could be trained to create original art and media such as music or video. The initiative should prove challenging; so far, the most advanced AI systems have struggled to replicate styles of existing artists. Continue reading Google to Explore Using AI Systems to Produce Art and Music

Twitter is planning a series of changes designed to make communication easier via the social platform, hopefully without alienating its loyal base (earlier proposed changes led to public outcry). Notably, Twitter will modify the 140-character limit of a tweet, which often frustrates some users, but in many ways has come to define the service. “Under the rule-bending, tagging users by their handles at the beginning of replies and adding photos, GIFs and videos will no longer count against the 140-character limit in tweets,” reports The New York Times. “Twitter users will also be able to quote and ‘retweet’ — or rebroadcast — their own older tweets, which was not possible before.” Continue reading Twitter Character Update Makes Room for Interactive Content

Apple is reportedly prepping an SDK that would provide developers with more access to the company’s digital assistant Siri, while a stationary hub similar to Amazon’s Echo is in the works. We should expect an announcement, or possibly the new device, during next month’s WWDC. Apple is facing new competition in this space, and opening Siri “to all developers would go far to make an adequate virtual assistant into a powerful and convenient one,” suggests TechCrunch. “And, as Apple works at shoehorning itself into households with HomeKit, a versatile voice-activated hub seems a natural addition.” Continue reading Apple Plans Release of Siri SDK, New Home Assistant Device

Following Disney’s investment in MLB Advanced Media and Turner Broadcasting’s majority stake in iStreamPlanet, NBC Sports will reportedly launch its own sports video streaming business named Playmaker Media. The new division will focus on convincing “leagues and teams to use NBC to stream their events,” reports SportsBusiness Journal. “For media companies like ESPN, NBC and Turner, these moves to set up their own streaming companies are signs of how TV networks plan to approach the next round of sports rights negotiations, many of which will occur early next decade.” Continue reading Playmaker Media: NBC Sports Plans Video Streaming Division

Six months after Hewlett-Packard split into two companies, the Hewlett Packard Enterprise half announced that it plans to spin off its services business to merge with IT services firm CSC in an $8.5 billion deal. HPE will merge its $20 billion Enterprise Services unit with CSC. HPE shareholders will own about half of the combined company, which will begin operating independently next March. “What will remain at HPE is a leaner $32 billion company that leads the world in sales of servers, the computers that are stacked together in data center racks that power the Internet,” reports Re/code. Continue reading HPA Plans to Spin Off Enterprise Services Unit in CSC Merger

Two years ago, Nokia announced that it had sold its mobile phone and smartphone businesses to Microsoft in a $7.2 billion deal. Since then, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella shifted the company’s focus to bringing software and services to Android and iOS mobile systems rather than convincing consumers to use Windows. Last week, Microsoft announced it was selling its low-end feature phone business, and yesterday added it would further scale back consumer phone efforts and cut another 1,850 jobs. The company explained it would also take a $950 million charge as part of the move. Continue reading Microsoft is Scaling Back its Consumer Smartphone Business

As part of an earlier deal between Netflix and Disney, the streaming service will offer Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Lucasfilm movies starting in September. The films will be made available “in the same window that they’d typically be made available to HBO, Starz, and other paid TV networks,” but after the Blu-ray, DVD and digital releases, explains The Verge. “All Disney films released theatrically in 2016 and beyond are included in the agreement, for which Netflix is reportedly paying hundreds of millions per year.” The pact blocks subscription networks from airing Disney’s latest titles during the first-run pay TV window, and “keeps them off Amazon Prime, Hulu, and other streaming services.” Continue reading Netflix to Become Exclusive Pay TV Home for Disney Movies

Chinese startup Moxi Group is looking to upstage those developing flexible screen technology by becoming the first to offer bendable smartphones. The company plans to ship 100,000 of the devices this year. The $765 phones “are designed to be rolled into a bracelet and worn on the wrist,” reports Bloomberg. “The touchscreens work when curled up, or can be unfurled into rectangles to use just like any other smartphone. For now, the gadgets will only feature black and white displays. with a color version to follow later.” Moxi will test the market in China before offering the devices in other regions. Continue reading Moxi Group Plans to Release Bendable Smartphones in 2016

“The Angry Birds Movie,” adapted from the popular mobile game, earned an estimated $39 million in North America during its opening weekend, taking the top spot at the box office. Rovio Entertainment, the company behind the game, self-financed the $73 million film, while Sony Pictures Entertainment handled distribution and marketing. “Rather than go the traditional route and license its characters to a studio to develop,” reports The Wall Street Journal, “Rovio backed the movie in an attempt to turn a game played on small screens into a full-fledged Hollywood franchise.” Other top earners included “Captain America: Civil War” (which became this year’s first film to earn $1 billion worldwide), “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising” and “The Nice Guys.” Continue reading Rovio’s ‘Angry Birds’ Tops the Box Office in Opening Weekend

Netflix has launched a new website that provides its customers with a simple way to test their Internet download speed. Fast.com is designed to help users identify what may be affecting their streaming video quality. “The goal with the site is to help you figure out who’s to blame when you have a problem with your Netflix connection,” suggests TechCrunch. “It might not be Netflix’s fault, but rather your ISP slowing things down.” The no-frills site does not offer the connection details available through related services, but it is quick and easy to use, presumably for subscribers who do not need full metrics, but would contact their ISP with any problems. Continue reading Netflix Subscribers Can Measure Internet Speed via Fast.com

Later this year, IMAX is planning to launch new virtual reality experiences in malls and multiplexes, “using its connections with movie theaters and Hollywood talent along with new partnerships in the tech community to build the new business,” according to The Wall Street Journal. Yesterday, IMAX and Google announced they would develop a camera to capture 360-degree content for VR headsets. Additionally, IMAX has partnered with Starbreeze for the location-based VR initiative, with plans to “use Starbreeze’s VR headsets and initially, games, though it hopes to encourage filmmakers to use the camera it is making with Google to create entertainment content as well.” Continue reading IMAX Plans Location-Based VR Initiative, 360-Degree Camera

Samsung is in early discussions with media companies to offer an online TV service and has been asking what those companies would charge to include their networks in a bundle of online channels, according to people familiar with the matter. “A service like the one Samsung is exploring could work as an app on Web-connected TV sets and mobile phones — both products made by the electronics giant,” notes Bloomberg. “By selling its own cable-like service, Samsung could help drive more sales of its phones and TVs.” If Samsung moves forward with such a service, it would join similar offerings from companies such as Sony, Dish, Hulu, Amazon and YouTube in what is becoming a crowded market. Continue reading Samsung in Talks with Cable Networks for Internet TV Service

National Cable & Telecommunications Association president Michael Powell opened the INTX 2016 show in Boston by accusing the FCC of a “relentless regulatory assault” on the industry. Powell cited FCC proposals to unlock set-tops and regulate broadband privacy and cable rates. FCC chairman Tom Wheeler dismissed the charges as a mere lobbying tactic, signaling “that he thought cable/broadband operators were in danger of standing in the way of progress in their pushback on proposals like set-top box unlocking and special access reforms and that those who do not want to change, or stand in the way of change, are destined to fail,” reports Broadcasting & Cable. Continue reading FCC Chair: ‘Regulatory Assault’ Comment is a Lobbying Tactic

Spanish-language broadcaster Univision will offer the first season of Netflix original series “Narcos” on its network prior to the second season’s availability for Netflix streaming. Univision’s sister network UniMás will also air Netflix original “Club de Cuervos.” This follows a similar deal in Europe to air Netflix political drama “Marseille” on France’s TF1. According to The Wall Street Journal, “Netflix views the arrangement as a marketing test to see if airing old seasons of its shows on traditional television will help drive people to sign up for the streaming service ahead of the premieres of subsequent seasons.” Continue reading Netflix and Univision Sign Deal to Broadcast ‘Narcos’ on TV

Google plans to release the next version of its Android mobile operating system later this summer. While it has yet to announce an official name for Android N, the company says the new release will include more than 250 new features “such as a split-screen mode for tablets and phones, a smoother graphics-processing engine and the ability to choose the skin color of emojis,” reports The Wall Street Journal. “Other multitasking improvements center around the recent-apps button, including the automatic removal of apps in the queue that you haven’t used in a while, and a ‘clear all’ option to start fresh.” The new version will also offer improved security measures. Continue reading Google Shares Details About its Upcoming Android Software