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WELCOME TO THE Weird Wide Web – where we take a look at the week’s best offerings in tech and social media news.
‘One out of 40 million’ development of the week
Spotify suffered a security breach on Tuesday but out of the 40 million users who use the service, only one person was affected. Although Spotify said it will ask people to re-enter details and download an upgraded Android version over the coming days, you should change your password just to be on the safe side.
Broadband on the moon breakthrough of the week
In news that will likely infuriate those suffering from poor or non-existent internet speeds, a group of researchers from MIT and NASA have developed an internet connection that can transmit data between Earth and the moon at a rate of 19.44mbps. And just to add insult to injury, it managed to reach download speeds of 622mbps.
Dramatic logo change of the week
If you opened up Google anytime this week, you might have noticed something different with its logo. To compare, here’s the old version:
And here’s the new version:
For those who can’t quite see what happened, Google moved the ‘g’ left one pixel and the ‘l’ down and left one pixel. If you can’t see it, this gif will help clear things up.
Selfie security measure of the week
Now this is a selfie trend we can get behind. US mobile security firm Lookout has introduced a feature which will secretly take a selfie of the person who has stolen your phone, alongside its usual notifications when someone enters a wrong password too mayn times or try to uninstall security software.
Not only does it send the selfie to you, it also includes the phone’s location so you can tell the gardai where the robber (or the unfortunate person who was sold the device) is.
Only problem is Lookout has dubbed it a ‘theftie’ which takes a bit of the sheen off what’s essentially a good idea.
Weird product placement of the week
It’s a me, marketing. Or at least that’s what Mario may as well said as Nintendo announced one of the stranger product placements in gaming. Those who buy Mario Kart 8 in Japan can download a version which allows Mario and chums to drive Mercedes GLA around Rainbow Road and other popular Mario Kart tracks.
The placement isn’t the weird part (Pikmin and Duracel batteries, Cool Spot being the product of 7Up, even Pole Position and Marlboro), the weird part is this 30 second ad for Japan which brings Mario into the real world. Still better than the Mario Bros movie.
“Look ma, no hands” car development of the week
After using other cars for a while to facilitate its self-driving technology, Google has gone and built its own self-driving car. The car can hit a top speed of 25 mph and doesn’t have a steering wheel, accelerator or brake.
It may be a long while before you see any of these ever making their way around
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Maybe I’m getting old but I have no idea what that article was about
It’s essentially about two guys who made a company based on their popularity online and tried to trademark the word ‘reacts’ among other things. They wanted the ability to remove content which looked anything like theirs (or not, they had a go at Ellen DeGeneres for a scene which only vaguely alluded to their work) and ultimately the right to sue anyone who wouldn’t abide by their wishes.
Essentially, it’s about what happens when trademark laws are taken to a ridiculous extreme.
But wtf is a ‘react video’? Jaysus I’m only 27 and I haven’t a clue…
It’s basically people filming their reactions to things. Usually YouTube videos. How anyone thinks they could trademark that is beyond me
That’s what I thought, but then I thought, Na no one would watch something so utterly mundane…
I actually heard from somebody I watch on YouTube sometimes, a ranter that the Fine Bros went around copyright claiming videos that even had the word “react” or “reaction” in them and some of these videos were from as long ago as 2007! Its absolutely ridiculous what they are doing.
Two arrogant p***ks react to being taken down a peg or two.
Sorry, you can’t take back being douchebags. I hope your subscriber exodus continues.
I can’t blame someone for wanting to protect their work, although the Fine Brothers were not looking to do that. They were looking for the freedom to monetise an entire style of video.
It would be like Disney trying to protect the Star Wars trademark (fully understandable) but also looking for the freedom to sue any other film company that produced something even remotely like it.
One of the problems is their videos are all based off of other people’s content. They make money using other people’s videos and try to trademark something incredibly vague. They certainly were not the first to come up with the concept of a reaction video either.
Prohibited ave become too greedy. They already make a lot from their videos so why attempt to milk more…money makes the world go round I guess…
People have *
I’m not sure if she was successful or not but Paris Hilton wanted to trademark the words, “that’s hot”. Ridiculous!
The great thing about YouTube is that it’s not like television, in the sense that you don’t need a massive team of people to create something. Anyone with a webcam and a computer can make a YouTube video and trying to licence what essentially is a whole genre of videos on the website will ruin the whole thing, in my opinion.
They are nothing without the content other people created.
Exactly Seth.
Exactly! I’m so relieved that they decided not to go ahead. this kind of legalisation of YouTube video formats would have had a drastic effect on how video sharing works and would destroy the notion of the freedom of the Internet. there’s space for anyone to express themselves on YouTube, and this move would have damaged that
Alice I’m surprised they didn’t expect this kind of backlash after what happened to Sam Pepper. And anyway, if you get caught stealing someones idea/video on youtube you get dragged in the comments lmao
very true! there’s a level of courtesy that you follow and if you don’t- you get called out! I’m so relieved it’s been reversed that could have been catastrophic
“YouTube Stars” – what is wrong with this statement? :-)
TV Stars, Movie Stars, no difference really
Well said @Seth.
Hey ho
Two knobs who make videos featuring lots of pretentious people playing up for the camera.
They wanted to trademark their series, as in the kids react and elders reacts!
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