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Alexa Blueprints

Alexa Blueprints

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Alexa is great and is one of our favourite smart voice assisstants available today! However, would you like it if you could make Alexa, just that little bit more personal? Would you like to make your own Alexa commands? Even your own Alexa, voice controlled games? Now you can with a new feature and website from Amazon! Head over to bluerprints.amazon.com to get started on your very own Alexa commands. Furthermore you don’t even have to know how to code! Plus you can make as many different Alexa skills as you like!

Alexa Blueprints: How To

Alexa Skills are just like the apps you have on your smartphone, but are placed on your Amazon smart speaker instead. There’s already loads available on the Alexa Skills Store! You can download apps which help fit your lifestyle, order a pizza, order a cab even pull down the latest football scores!

Once you start using Blueprints you can use templates that are available to you to create your own personal Alexa skill within minutes! You can create anything that your heart desires. Be that custom games, to-do lists, learning! Furthermore you can get creative with them and make things such as a learning and knowledge skill but make it about your family. Such as a trivia game “Alexa, open My Family Trivia”

There are a whole host of skills that you can make, simply browse the blueprints that are available to you in the following categories:

 

  • Fun & Games
  • At Home
  • Storyteller
  • Learning & Knowledge

What skill are you going to make? Let us know by contacting us via our social media pages, we’re @howtokillanhour across all socials!

 

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Apple leaks

Memo about Apple leaks – Leaked.

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Firstly, I’m getting more convinced we’re all living inside a movie each and every day. Apple, the huge tech company, prizes itself on secrecy and the mysterious allure it has! Apple like’s to keep things under wraps around it’s software and hardware each and every year. So they’re going to take a very hardline on anyone who breaks NDA’s. So those Apple leaks we get giddy about, someone, has put their job on the line to leak the information, hence why we always get blurry images and bit part information. Well turns out, that according to Bloomberg, Apple’s had 12 employees arrested over the course of the year for leaking information regarding future software plans. This was part of a memo which leaked.

Apple leaks: The Memo

In the memo, it stated that it had caught 29 people who had leaked info over the course of the last year. 12 of which were arrested. They were employees, contractrors and supply chain partners. So Apple has a job on it’s hand, to keep everyone in line when it comes to secrecy around their products. As there’s A LOT of people that are handling precious and important information on a day to day basis.

According to Bloomberg the memo read:

“Leakers do not simply lose their jobs at Apple….In some cases, they face jail time and massive fines for network intrusion and theft of trade secrets, both classified as federal crimes.”

Furthermore, the memo allegedly goes on to warn employees of any potential ‘friends’ that they may make from the media. Stating that the people aren’t your friends. They are just trying to get information out of them for their own benefit.

“While it may seem flattering to be approached, it’s important to remember that you’re getting played,”

Which reads like your telling you about a shady love interest. Apple are cool, even when you’re being warned about future work conduct!

Listen to the guys chatting about this by clicking here! 

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Netflix Movie Theatres

Netflix Movie Theatres??

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Netflix Movie Theatres. Sounds cool right? Well, that may become a reality in the near future.  According to a report from the LA Times the streaming giant were in talks to acquire billionaire Mark Cuban’s Landmark Theatre chain. However, they backed out due to the cost. Yet all is not lost it seems. As a source from Variety claim that Netflix weren’t just interested in acquiring Landmark specifically. But are considering acquiring theatrical real estate.

Netflix Movie Theatres: Why?

Sources who have spoken to the Times are reporting that the reason Netflix are interested in purchasing theatrical real estate is due to wanting to earn the respect it deserves from major theatre chains and film establishments. But why? When the streaming giant already has the most paying subscribers than any other streaming service on the planet. (125M, compared to Amazon’s 100M) Owning a theatre would make it easier for Netflix to qualify for Hollywood awards like the Oscars.

Netflix Movie Theatres: The Oscars

As having a theatrical release is one of the stipulations that you require to be eligible for the prestigious award. Yet there are problems here too, as Netflix have always stuck to a day and date structure. Meaning that the films that Netflix have produced have always been available on streaming and on theatres. This is a major reason, according to Variety as to why many major theatre’s won’t carry a movie from Netflix unless it’s an exclusive deal. Hence the reason as to why Netflix are pushing for ‘Netflix Movie Theatres’. Netflix aren’t new to the Oscar’s space, as they won their first Oscar for Icarus this year, which simultaneously debuted in theatres and on Netflix.  While they are no stranger to this scene, having their own ‘Netflix Movie Theatres’ would make life so much easier for them to put their own movies in cinemas.

Maybe there’s life in the old dog yet if the new boy still wants to hang around with the old boy!

Listen to the guys chatting about this by clicking here! 

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Facebook Listening

Facebook Isn’t Tapping Your Microphone

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There’s been a lot of information and news around Facebook lately. Most of it is about data, our personal data. However, earlier on in the year, Facebook drew criticism for allegedly listening to our conversations. Facebook listening to us sounds like a crazy idea. Facebook listening to us sounds horrifying! But is it actually true? The guys over at the Verge went ahead and done some myth busting around the whole thing!

Mark Zuckerberg even had to state during his privacy hearing in congress that the whole idea of Facebook listening to it’s users was a ‘conspiracy theory’

Facebook are said to have been listening to us, as we, as users. Have seen ads for the stuff we have been talking about with friends. Yet according to the Verge it’s not down to listening at all. It’s all down to very clever ad targeting. They know everything you do. It’s all because of you too. You’re the one giving Facebook this information, so don’t be surprised when you get super accurate ads.

  • They know your browsing history because of cookies and trackers. Facebook has their own inhouse one called Facebook Pixel.
  • The ‘Like’ button you may use on a news website. Information is fed back to facebook.
  • What you look like (uploaded photos)
  • Where you like to spend your free time (location data when you tag yourself in places)
  • The things you buy! (the Facebook ads you click on and then consequently purchase)

Facebook knows more than you think. It’s not down to eavesdropping that would violate a ton of wiretapping laws. It’s all down to you. You’re the one giving them this information. It may look creepy, but their just feeding back the information you gave to them back to you. Think of it as a gift from a loved one. You forget about it and then, as you forgot, act all surprised that they remembered what you wanted for your birthday. Think of Facebook ads like that.

The reason why it appears to appear on your screen right after you spoke about it? All psychological. Andreas Andrietta of the Electronics Frontier Foundation, stated in the Verge’s report something interesting. That ad may have been running there the whole time, but as you are more aware of it, after speaking about, your more inclined to notice the ad.

You provide Facebook with so much data, they don’t need to tap your microphone. Even if they could. They could. They have the tech to do it. Nigel Cannings of Intelligence Voice, states that the tech is super simple. But it requires a lot of differing factors to identify you. Such as geometric data and geofencing, which with Facebook, you give out that data. This would work simply on a very very very small scale. However, Facebook has huge numbers of people on their platform, there are just simply too many people to do this feasibly.

Even if they could do it anyway, there’s too many of us and B, it’s highly illegal to do so.

For a more detailed look at this head on over to the Verge and check out their video on the subject, it’s very interesting!

Listen to the guys chatting about this by clicking here! 

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Batman Ninja

Batman Ninja: Batman like you’ve never seen him!

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The guys recently went to see a brand new Batman movie from Warner Bro’s! However, this wasn’t just a regular Batman Movie. As this was a Batman movie that was animated and set in Japan! This is Batman Ninja! Batman has been transported from his regular stomping grounds of Gotham to fight crime. Yet he is fighting a familiar old foe. The Joker!

Batman Ninja is an animated movie from DC comics and Warner Bros that’s set in Japan. The movie is classed as an animated martial arts superhero film. While it features a lot of famous Japanese creatives on the movie. Including the creator of Afro Samurai: Takashi Okazaki acting as the character designer for the film.

So how does Batman go from Gotham to Japan? Well, Gorilla Grodd’s time displacement machine transports Batman, alongside Japanese versions of Nightwing, Red Hood, Robin, Red Robin, Alfred and Catwoman to Feudal Japan. Alongside these characters Gorilla Grodd also transports many of Batman’s worst enemies! The enemies confirmed to be of Joker’s allies in Batman Ninja are: Harley Quinn, The Penguin, Poison Ivy, Two Face, Clayface, Deathstroke, Bane and Gorilla Grodd himself. So there is some battle taking place in Feudal Japan!

Batman Ninja: Plot

The villains of the story take over forms of the Feudal Lords that divided the land of Feudal Japan. With the Joker, of course, taking the lead among the warring factions. Yet, due to Batman’s hightech weaponry becoming all but depleted immediately. The Batman must rely on his intelligence and the help of his team of allies to restore order to the land and return once again to Gotham City. In the present day of course.

 

What did we think of Batman Ninja? You’ll have to listen to the latest episode (276) of How To Kill An Hour to find out!

Listen to the guys chatting about this by clicking here! 

Purchase Batman Ninja by clicking here!

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borderline

BORDERLINE

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We got a chance to sit down and chat to British actor David Avery to find out more about him and his work, alongside more of what he likes to kill time with! David kills time doing  a lot of what he loves doing – acting! One of the shows he spoke about was “Borderline”

Borderline: Cast

Borderline is a mockumentary based on the lives and adventures of UK border officials. However, there is one thing that makes this show separate from other mockumentaries. The whole cast is made up of top comedy improvisers and  up and coming actors!

David has since moved on to do other shows in Troy, BACKSTAGE AT LIVE AID, The Night Manager and is due to star in short film ‘Tom’.

Borderline is a comedy which we feel that you’re definitely going to love. It’s something different and we wholeheartedly you check it out! It’s out on Netflix NOW!

To watch Borderline please click here!

To download Netflix please click here Apple / Amazon

Click here to listen to the guys chatting about this in EP276 with David Avery!

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Episode 276 Netflix and Nintendo Labo w/David Avery

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Strange Brigade

Strange Brigade

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What is Strange Brigade?

Strange Brigade is your next favourite game! That’s what it is!

Strange Brigade takes users to places that they have never been before. The Plot? Well, simply there are four remote corners of the British Empire. What these remote corners entails no one knows as the shadows linger at their deepest. Who knows about these places the best? The servants of The Crown do and there are some supernatural beings that exist in these places!

Therefore it’s time to introduce the Strange Brigade! It is here where users are taken on an exotic safari, it’s dangerous and few dare to even embark on such an adventure. Why? As few return! As you go along this treacherous safari, you encounter civilisations that have once been forgotten by society, yet they’re fantastic within their own right, all while being shrouded in mystery! Go on adventures that take you to dark tombs and battle unimaginable evil!

Strange Brigade: Plot

You take on one of four adventurers or explorers. Each of the characters available to you have their own special powers, weapons and even tactics! The campaign takes you across a 1930’s era landscape and play with up to 4 friends along this action packed safari! However, as with many exotic plots, be aware of fighting armies of mythological characters that have been unleashed by an ancient Egyptian ruler: Seteki The Witch Queen. She’s so evil she has been wiped from hieroglyphs! So beware! To help you along the way there are secret caves around the safari. Why are these so special? Well within these caves there’s buried riches. Find these to help you along the way!

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