Analyst claims Apple’s upcoming video service can give Netflix a run for its money

Apple is set to launch its own video service in the coming year and according to Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty, this would help grow the company’s services revenue in the coming years and make them pose a big threat against Netflix. She believes this service can generate over US$4 billion for Apple by 2025. In the coming year, she estimates that the company will generate $500 million from the service alone. While Apple’s catalog won’t be as expansive as Netflix, it still has a few advantages. Huberty says, “While not a first mover, Apple’s attractive and sticky customer set combined with low friction sign-up and payment system could drive users to its video platform, even with a less complete content portfolio vs. Netflix.”

And it seems Apple is even willing to take down its well-kept walls a bit by opening up its Apple TV app from its own hardware to Android devices and smart TVs—at least according The Information’s profile on Eddy Cue.

Source: 9to5Mac

Facebook files suit against BlackBerry over voice messaging tech patent infringement

Looks like there’s no love lost between Facebook and BlackBerry. Months after BlackBerry filed a lawsuit against the social network claiming it stole key technology related to mobile messaging that have “made BlackBerry’s products such a critical and commercial success in the first place,” Facebook seems to be returning the favour. Facebook claims BlackBerry has infringed on six of its patents related to a voice messaging feature in BBM Enterprise. It claims BlackBerry violated its patents in the way mobile devices deliver images and audio as well as with patents related to GPS data management and security. The social network filed the suit in San Francisco federal court and is seeking unspecified damages.

Source: Engadget

OnePlus 6 gets first open beta release for Android Pie

In a move that might help bring its latest operating system to its users faster, Google has partnered with some of its OEMs to support its Android Beta Program. OnePlus is quick to take advantage of this and has just launched the first open beta release for Android Pie for the OnePlus 6, making OnePlus 6 users one of the first to get their hands on the latest version of Android. The instructions on how to get the beta up and running are under the cut.

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James Dyson Award winner in Canada makes touchscreens accessible for the visually impaired

University of Waterloo mechatronics engineering graduates Craig Loewen and Lior Lustgarten developed WatVision, a system that helps the visually impaired navigate our now touchscreen-reliant existence. And this has garnered the top prize of Canadian leg of the annual James Dyson Award. WatVision makes use of three things: a smartphone app, industry standard detection markers placed on each corner of a touchscreen, and a ring worn by the user. The smartphone’s camera will identify the position of the touch screen by locating the four detection markers. It’ll then take a photo of the screen and download it onto the phone. Once the user pints to a button on the screen, with the ring-wearing finger, the app will find the ring and use the downloaded image to read the text out loud.

The international design award gives the team $3,000 in funding to help develop the project. WatVision is joined by two national runner-ups from the University of Toronto. One is for a project called Printem, which is a smart film that lets users go from design to physical circuit in just three minutes—all using a specially developed film that can be used on a home-office printer. The other is called Revertome, which is a surgical instrument that can treat severe burns by delivering cells in a bioink using a compact handheld bioprinter. The three teams will move onto the next stage of JDA, where Dyson engineers will select the top 20 international projects. The international winner will receive $50,000 for the students and $8,500 for the student’s university department. Two international runners-up will get $8,500 each.