Yahuui Blog: Software : Netflix is testing a way to keep your guilty viewing pleasures a secret

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Software : Netflix is testing a way to keep your guilty viewing pleasures a secret

Netflix is testing a way to keep your guilty viewing pleasures a secret
Google is finally addressing Chrome battery drain in Windows laptops
Freemium games on the Google Play Store won't be called 'free' for long
Spend your NikeFuel on Nikeswag at this fitness-friendly vending machine

Netflix is testing a way to keep your guilty viewing pleasures a secret

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We at TechRadar know there's nothing wrong with going on a Netflix binge and marathon-watching Power Rangers or that Katy Perry movie ten times in a row.

But you may not want those things on your permanent record, so to speak, which is why Netflix is testing a new private viewing mode.

The mode will prevent content from appearing in your viewing activity and will ensure it isn't factored into your recommendations, no matter how many times you watch The Baby Sitters Club movie.

The official name of this helpful addition is "privacy mode," according to an email Netflix Director of Corporate Communications and Technology Cliff Edwards sent to GigaOM.

Gotta watch 'em all

Letting Netflix users who share the same account have individual profiles was a big step toward improving the service's recommendations, and it sounds like this will be another.

After all, you don't necessarily want the streaming service to show you more programs like Pokemon the Movie: Kyurem vs. The Sword of Justice after that one-off experience.

Netflix's privacy mode is currently being tested across all markets, and may be in testing for several months.

Unfortunately the feature is not guaranteed to ever see a full release, depending how it performs in these tests; "We may not ever offer it generally," Edwards said.

Let's hope they do, so we can finally watch Jumanji again in peace.

Netflix vs Amazon Prime Instant Video: which is best for you?

Google is finally addressing Chrome battery drain in Windows laptops

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Google's web browser may be close to owning half the market share, but that hasn't stopped the software from feeding off some laptop batteries like a vampire right out of a classic horror movie.

PCWorld reported this week that Google appears to have finally gotten the message from Windows laptop owners tired of Chrome running down their battery, even when the processor is sitting idle.

The problem first came to light on July 14 with a Forbes article shedding light on how Chrome for Windows fails to properly restore PC processors to a more power-efficient mode, even when the browser is resting in the background.

The report blamed Chrome's high "system clock tick rate" of one millisecond, Microsoft claimed this can increase power consumption by as much as 25%, depending upon how the hardware is configured.

Crusty old bugs

Forbes' Ian Morris pointed out that most Windows software - including Microsoft's own Internet Explorer browser - default to a system clock tick rate of 15.625 milliseconds, which causes the PC hardware to wake up less often.

More damning to Google is the fact that this bug was first reported in 2010, but failed to gain any significant bug reports to the Chromium team until November 2012. And yet, it still hasn't been addressed to date.

However, now that the issue has received widespread public attention, Google confirmed to PCWorld that the Chrome team is on the case, having bumped up the bug report to "priority one" internally.

While there's no word on when the fix will actually arrive, Windows laptop owners can get some much-needed relief by simply shutting down Chrome when it's not in use, or use the time to try out an alternative such as Firefox, Opera or even Internet Explorer.

Gone but not forgotten: Check out our Nokia X review!

Freemium games on the Google Play Store won't be called 'free' for long

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"Free" game apps on the Google Play Store that charge for in-app purchases won't be called free for much longer.

The European Commission laid out a new set of guidelines that all developers and app stores have to comply with. In accordance with these new court-ordered rules Google must stop advertising games that include in-app purchases as free in its app store.

The new guidelines didn't say if Google has to make these changes to its Play Store in other territories, but those in Europe should see many fewer "free" apps in the virtual marketplace by September.

You got served

The European Commission also slammed Apple in a press release attached to the new guidelines for failing to offer up any concrete or immediate solutions as Google had.

Google likely wants to act much more quickly after seeing the United States Federal Trade Commission whip both the Cupertino company and Amazon for failing to provide adequate control over inadvertent in-app purchases.

Earlier this year Apple paid the FTC a whopping $32.5 million (about £18.9m, AU$34.4m) to 37,000 customers forced to pay for virtual items they never wanted in the first place. More recently the FTC began pursuing a lawsuit against Amazon to make it pay back users charged for inadvertent purchases.

One would think that Apple would be rushing to make changes to avoid paying another multi-million dollar settlement.

The iPhone maker has since responded by claiming it has better controls than the rest of the mobile industry. A spokesperson told CNET it is also working to strengthen its protections with new features coming this fall, likely with iOS 8.

Android Wear is having its own problems with apps

Spend your NikeFuel on Nikeswag at this fitness-friendly vending machine

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Until now, the NikeFuel currency was useful only for keeping track of personal movement goals. However, a New York vending machine is allowing fitness fanatics to get something tangible in return for all that sweat.

The FuelBox, which seems to be on the move around New York City, allows FuelBand SE owners to cash in their NikeFuel on fitness gear like socks, hats and t-shirts.

"The Nike+ FuelBox drops today and only your Nike+ FuelBand makes it work. Keep your eyes open. Keep your movement up," the company tweeted.

Considering vending machines usually spit out garbage that's the very opposite of fitness-focused, this little marketing gimmick could spell a welcome change.