Netflix adds 8.8M subscribers despite growing competition | TechCrunch

January 22, 2020January 21, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Netflix grew by 8.8 million net subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2019, according to its latest earning report, putting its growth well ahead of its forecast of 7.6 million.

The company says it has 167 million paid memberships worldwide, with more than 100 million outside the United States. It also reported stronger-than-expected financials, with revenue of $5.47 billion and earnings per share of $1.30, compared to analyst estimates of $5.45 billion and EPS of 53 cents.

That’s all despite the launch of two major streaming services, Disney+ and Apple TV+, with more competition coming this year from WarnerMedia’s HBOMax and NBCUniversal’s Peacock.

Chick-fil-A Likely Loses Out on More Than $1 Billion in Sales Every Year by Closing on Sundays — and It’s a Brilliant Business Strategy | Entrepreneur

January 21, 2020January 20, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Chick-fil-A likely loses millions of dollars by refusing to open on Sundays. But the strategy is still worth it for the chicken chain.

Chick-fil-A earned $10.46 billion in U.S. systemwide sales in 2018, despite being closed every Sunday. Missing out on 14% of possible open business days likely cost the chain more than $1 billion, according to 24/7 Wall Street.

What Is the IRS Debt Forgiveness Program? | Getentrepreneurial.com

January 21, 2020January 20, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Have you faced financial hardship or do you know someone who has? Hardships come in many forms, from unexpected health problems to a lost source of income. Whenever someone faces a sudden hardship, they may be unable to fully pay their taxes.

Despite any financial troubles you might currently have, you need to file your taxes to avoid penalties from the IRS. However, that doesn’t mean the agency isn’t willing to work out a reasonable solution for those facing dire money problems. Find out how the IRS debt forgiveness program works and if it is right for your current situation.

Panasonic’s compact, HDR-capable VR goggles actually look kinda cool | New Atlas

January 20, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Home VR is going to hit the mainstream big-time this decade, and personally, I can’t wait. If you’re yet to experience the insane ability this rising technology has to fully immerse you in a different time and place, you’re in for a treat. And if the giant, chunky facemasks you’re seeing in current-gen systems like the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift are a bit of a turn-off, Panasonic’s got the antidote for you.

These prototype VR specs are a set of digital John Lennon glasses, with eye cups and solid frame arms heading back to a set of earbuds. They look far less bulky and cumbersome than what you’re used to seeing, and they don’t require you to mess up your ‘do with a headband, but they still deliver UltraHD (at least 4K) resolution, enough to eliminate the “screen door” effect you can get on lower-resolution glasses.

This is why women hold more jobs than men | CNN

January 17, 2020January 16, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Women held slightly more jobs than men in December — the first time that’s happened in nearly a decade.

The numbers are super close, with women holding 50.04% of American jobs, but economists note it’s a data point worth watching because it could mark a turning point in the US labor market.

2019 Was the Second Hottest Year on Record, NASA Says | Live Science

January 17, 2020January 16, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

It’s the award no one wanted to win: 2019 was the second hottest year on record, government scientists confirmed yesterday (Jan. 15).

That’s according to two separate analyses: one conducted by NASA and one by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Each study compared 2019 Earth temperature data with scientists’ historical records, which begin in 1880. Of those 140 years, only 2016 was warmer than last year; the analyses also show that the five hottest years on record have been the five years beginning in 2015

Package delivery emissions could increase 30% by 2030 | Fast Company

January 16, 2020January 15, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The rise in e-commerce is wreaking havoc on our cities, the millions of packages delivered each day are worsening traffic congestion and generating a glut of emissions—and these side effects of online shopping are only expected to get worse. The demand for this kind of urban, last-mile delivery will increase 78% by 2030, according to a new report from the World Economic Forum, and without serious, effective change, delivery-related carbon emissions could increase more than 30% in the world’s top 100 cities in the next 10 years.

Elon Musk Promises a Lot of Tesla Features. A Lot of It Never Comes Through | Digital Trends

January 13, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

It’s 2020, and everyone’s a little disappointed that the flying cars aren’t here yet. But one 1980s fantasy of the future may soon come true: One day soon, your Tesla could be talking to you.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk appeared to show off a new feature for his electric cars: The ability to talk to people outside of the car in a British accent. Musk added that the talking car could cause some “epic robber confusion” by adding the functionality to the car’s already existing sentry mode, a monitoring system that’s part of the car’s security.

Will online privacy make a comeback in 2020? | TechCrunch

January 9, 2020January 8, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Last year was a landmark for online privacy in many ways, with something of a consensus emerging that consumers deserve protection from the companies that sell their attention and behavior for profit.

The debate now is largely around how to regulate platforms, not whether it needs to happen.

The consensus among key legislators acknowledges that privacy is not just of benefit to individuals but can be likened to public health; a level of protection afforded to each of us helps inoculate democratic societies from manipulation by vested and vicious interests.

Please Stop Sending Terrifying Alerts to My Cell Phone | WIRED

January 8, 2020January 7, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Last month a police officer in Houston was run over and killed during a traffic stop. The suspect got away. The next day, millions of phones across Texas buzzed with news of the officer’s death after the state’s Department of Public Safety blasted out what’s known as a Blue Alert. This prompted considerable concern and confusion. A man in Odessa, some 500 miles away, spoke for many when he tweeted: “wtf is a blue alert?”

Blue Alerts are mass notifications, now used in 35 states, that are sent to mobile phones and flashed on electronic highway signs when a suspect on the loose is thought to be an “imminent and credible threat to law enforcement.” The hope is that pinging the public will lead to tips for the police, and then a speedier capture. It’s an idea that originated with the better-known Amber Alert program, named after a 9-year-old abductee from Arlington, Texas, who was murdered, which aims to help authorities recover kidnapped children. Along with Blue and Amber alerts, there are Silver Alerts, issued for elderly people who are lost and might be suffering from dementia, and Camo Alerts, dispatched in at least three states when current or former members of the military are missing and thought to be a threat to themselves or others.

Source: Please Stop Sending Terrifying Alerts to My Cell Phone | WIRED