Tag Archive for: How To Kill An Hour

profit

Profit: Twitter grew, what’s next?

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It has taken them 12 years but Twitter finally turned a profit. In what seems crazy, (Twitter never turning a profit a remaining alive) they’ve profited! The social media giant posted their Q4 earnings recently and posted that they grew 2% from year to date. For the number nerds out there they company was in the green $91M for the quarter on a reported $732m revenue.

A lot of the growth is down to targeted advertising. The click-through rate of Twitter’s targeted ads hasa largely improved. Thus pushing Twitter into the green. Consequently the ads have worked so successfully due to machine learning advancements.

Profit & Growth

Twitter has also seen a rise in growth! Globally at least. Whilst the revenue was down 8% in the US, it grew to an impressive 17% for the rest of the world. Most notably a 34% increase in Japan!

 

However, user growth has seemed to have plateaued a bit. Ever since the company went public in 2013 there has been nominal increase in user growth. Twitter had 218M users in 2013; the total now? 330M the same as Q3 and only a 4% gain year on year. (Twitter grew by 0 users in one WHOLE quarter!?)

Shares grew due to Twitter turning a profit too! The shares reached a high of $34 per share, which was a 20% hike!

We don’t think Twitter is going anywhere soon, plus with the giant turning a profit, only good is going to come. There seems to be a lot of innovation coming from Twitter, as shown by the recent Local News investment from Twitter. Hopefully this will help get people chatting more on Twitter, as it’s a really good platform to get all your news from!

What do you think this will do to Twitter?

Let us know by getting in touch via our social platforms! @howtokillanhour

To listen to the guys chatting about this please click here!

 

Space Force

Trump Wants Space Force

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Are we about to become a Star Wars movie? Well, maybe we will. Kinda. President Trump has recently stated that he wishes to create a branch of the armed services to operate in space. Yes you read correctly. A military force to work in space. Coining it ‘Space Force’

Apparently President Trump was joking stating

‘I said, maybe we need a new force, we’ll call it the Space Force,’ and I was not really serious. Then I said, ‘What a great idea,’ maybe we’ll have to do that.”

Though whether President Trump was still joking is another matter.

However when Engadget reached out to the Whitehouse for clarification, the White House Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley said to them:

 “The President announced America’s new National Strategy for Space includes the recognition of space as a ‘warfighting domain.’ The National Space Council’s mission reflects President Trump’s priority to protect the security, commercial, and scientific benefits of space for the American people. We look forward to continuing the conversation on how to best ensure lasting U.S. leadership and success in space.”

Space Force

Engadget reporting that even though this sounds silly. There already is a space force of some kind. The Air Force has a Space Command division that oversees the US military operations in space. Engadget also report that the Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coates stated in 2017 “Both [China and Russia] will continue to pursue a full range of anti satellite (ASAT) weapons as a means to reduce US military effectiveness.”

So it doesn’t sound as cool as Star Wars battle in outer space with laser guns. There is some form of Space Force around right now. However it seems as though it’s more geared toward the protection of the USA from above. Utilising rockets one would assume to blow up other rockets that are potentially heading towards the USA. Which makes a lot of sense really, the distance between space and a rocket is a lot less than a rocket from earth aimed upwards!

To listen to the guys chatting about this please click here!

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Altered Carbon

Altered Carbon: What’s life like in 2384?

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Altered Carbon is another one of those Netflix gems that you come across from time to time that you just cannot stop watching. So as you watch the show, you see yourself in the reflection of the Tv at 2am and wonder what your doing with your life, but you keep watching. As the show is just that good. Altered Carbon is another one of those shows. As it’s a Netflix Original, of course it is. Netflix keep smashing it out of the park!

Altered Carbon is a tv show which is created by Laeta Kalogridis, based on a 2002 novel of the same name. The novel is written by English author Richard K Morgan. The first season of Altered Carbon is 10 beautiful episodes long. Furthermore the show premiered on Netflix on February 2nd 2o18.

Altered Carbon: Plot

So, why is Altered Carbon so good? Well, the series takes place over 350 years in the future, in a year neither you or I will be alive. The year 2384. Therefore, there’s going to be some really cool stuff going on in 2384 right? Well, of course there is! In this super cool future, a person’s memories can be kept in a disk shaped device called a cortical stack. Consequently this cortical stack, is implanted in the vertebrae at the back of a person’s neck. As of course it is. These memory storing devices are of alien design, reverse engineered and even mass produced.

The human body as we know it have now become ‘sleeves’ for the memories and are used as vessels. Which therefore means that any ‘sleeve’ or ‘vessel’ can accept any stack that’s implanted into it. We follow Takeshi Kovacs (Joel Kinnaman) a political operative with mercenary skills. We follow his life as he wakes up after 250 years after his previous sleeve was deleted. Kovacs is given a choice. The choice to spend the rest of time. (Noticed I said time and not life) In prison for his crimes, (he previously was involved in an unsuccessful uprising attempt to defeat the new world order)  or help solve the murder of Laurens Bancroft (James Purefoy) Bancroft just so happens to be one of the most wealthiest men of the ‘settled’ worlds.

To watch Altered Carbon download Netflix by clicking here Apple / Android

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twitter local news

Twitter local news: combating misinformation?!

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Social networks want to combat the spread of misinformation. When something major occurs, sites such as Facebook and Twitter can provide people with real time information of what’s going on. This all the while being good. Can also be a hot bed for misinformation. Lies, truth and everything in between. Therefore Twitter wants to do something about it. Via Twitter local news!

To do this, Twitter are teaming up with select local news services to broadcast local news live. Therefore doing the utmost best to provide news that is factually correct. While this won’t stop people from spreading complete lies. Yet, it will do a lot of good to provide up to date, important, local news. While the spread of misinformation can be unintentional, it still doesn’t stop others as reporting it as fact. Which is why Twitter are focusing so much on broadcasting local news in a live manner.

Over in the US Twitter have already begun utilizing the live local news on thier service. Miami’s WSVN 7 live streamed footage of the recent tragic shooting in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. This footage was displayed on users timelines within America.

Kayvon Beykpour Twitter’s video general manager (and former Periscope CEO) Spole to Buzzfeed News about Twitter local news:

“We’re continuing to work on new ways we can surface credible and relevant information to help people stay informed. By pairing live video with the conversation on Twitter, there is no faster way to see what’s happening in the world.”

Twitter local news: How does it work?

What’s different than the regular streaming services that Twitter currently offer is that anyone clicking the local news feed will be linked to a custom timeline. The Twitter local news timeline will show live footage of what’s going on and tweets (which are selected and organised by an algorithm alongside) The display of tweets alongside what’s happening in real time, Twitter hopes, will help stop the spread of misinformation.

To listen to the guys chatting about this please click here!

Ninja

Drake Breaks Twitch Records with Ninja

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Drake recently broke some more records. This time it wasn’t for a hit track streamed on Spotify. Nor was it for spending x amount of weeks on the Billboard 100. This time it was for concurrent live viewers on Twitch with Twitch superstar, Ninja.

 

Yes you heard correctly. Twitch. The game streaming platform.

Drake recently hit up massive superstar streamer Tyler “Ninja” Blevins to play Fortnite. According to Blevins, Drake followed Ninja on Instagram, only for a few days later to slide into Ninja’s DM’s to ask about the possibility to join forces on Fortnite.

At first Drake joined Ninja for a few rounds of duos, with the unlikely pair winning two rounds. Then Drake called on Travis Scott and NFL Superstar Juju Smith to get in on the action of Squad mode. At it’s peak Ninja’s gaming session with Drake, Travis Scott and Juju Smith hit 628,000 concurrent viewers. The most for any stream on the platform. (Personal stream, not including huge e-sports events or branded content) We were even treated to drop ins from KimDotCom, Logic even wanted to get in on the action, as did Lil Yachty.

https://twitter.com/Logic301/status/974160337195868165

Logics call out even got a shout out from Drake mid stream:

Here are some gems from the stream:

So what did we learn? Drake’s a vegan and likes pineapple on pizza, Drake heals people by reciting his own Lyrics and Travis Scott likes to trash talk online.

The aftermath: Ninja

In all seriousness, Drake hoping in on Ninja’s stream set Twitter on fire and brought A LOT of attention to the gaming space. Ninja was raking in a lot of money during that stream, he is said to have earned $25,000 from Twitch subscriptions that night A LONE. (You can sub to your favourite creator on Twitch for $5 a month, like Netflix) This is not counting the donations that Ninja got that night. One of them being $5k dollars.

Therefore what’s the fallout from this? Everyone now knows what Twitch is about. Twitch has got a HUGE boost in it’s competition with YouTube. (Though they are two separate platforms, based on two different ways of sharing content)

So, what does Ninja get out of streaming with Drake? Well, it’s said that he is now earning $500K a MONTH in Twitch subscriptions. At the rate he’s going, he’s said to earn $1M a MONTH. In just Twitch Subscriptions. Not including sponsorships, merch or Twitch Donations.

To download Twitch please click here Apple / Android

To listen to the guys chatting about this please click here!

 

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Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden has your face!

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So, Madison Square Garden has your face, well if you attended a show there recently. As a security measure, Madison Square Garden’s security team has been compiling images of your face for quite sometime now. It’s been using facial recognition as a form of security as a way of keeping everyone safe. Using cameras to capture images of it’s users. Then running those images through an algorithm to compare them against a database of images. One would assume that database would be a database of criminals. Or logs of problematic attendees to other venues.

This would be ok, however, no one knows when this was implemented in Madison Square Garden. Nor is it possible to be made aware of which events that the facial recognition has been used for. All of them? Some of them? All the Garden, Madison Square Garden’s mamagement team told New York Times:

“MSG continues to test and explore the use of new technologies to ensure we’re employing the most effective security procedures to provide a sage and wonderful experience for our guests”

 Madison Square Garden: How could this tech be used?

Consequently, MSG could use the technology internally to determin who’s allowed in certain areas of the venue. As we enquired above and NYT mentioned in their article. Facial recognition software for public venues are pointless without law enforcement watch lists. Therefore, what’s the point of having them without it? Who know’s what else that this tech could be used for. Would our faces be sold for marketing purposes? Also, who else is going to have my face?

However, the ultimate question is though, would you feel safer knowing that this tech, could prevent unsavoury characters from entering the building. If someone could have a picture of your face?

 

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Predator Adventures Seabreacher Experience

Predator Adventures Seabreacher Experience

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We look for new ways to kill time! Come join us!

Posted by How To Kill an Hour on Thursday, 25 July 2019

We recently attended the brand new Predator Adventures Seabreacher Experience in London and boy was it a LOT OF FUN!

Based at the Royal Victoria Dock in Central London, users are put into a super speed, high powered half-submersible speedboat that sends you through the water at an incredible rate. Ducking in and out of the water, just like a killer whale. Did we mention that the high speed powered vehicle that you’re strapped in, is shaped and designed to look just like a Killer Whale? No? Well it looks awesome! So, we’re implore you to try it out!

Predator Adventures Seabreacher Experience: What is it?

Launching in 2017, the guys over at Predator Adventures are one of the most exciting experiences and acitivities that we have undertaken here at How To Kill An Hour. ​Furthermore we’re still shocked and are in complete awe that something so powerful can go above and below water. The machine that you are in is powered by a 260hp supercharged vehicle, making it one of the highest performing seabreaching vehicles available today. Also, the seabreacher is designed to not only look like a Killer Whale but act like one too! The fully vectored thrust system mimics the tail articulation of  a Killer Whale!

So, we cannot think of any words to praise the guys at Predator Adventures. As our time there was incredibly fun and it’s definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity that you cannot afford to miss! It simply is an unforgettable experience. Therefore you will not regret it!

To attend Predator Adventures Seabreacher Experience simply click here! 

To listen to the guys chatting about this please click here!

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Amazon Health Care

Amazon Health Care

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We may soon see Amazon Health Care as part of our Prime Membership. Or something in the healthcare industry at least. Why? Amazon has just made a huge hire with the FDA’s first chief health informatics officer Taha Kass-Hout, according to CNBC.

This is all due to Amazon’s alleged secret health care division. The e-commerce giant has hired Kass-Hout to work alongside former Google X director Babk Parviz in a business development role. Yet no one really knows what it is Taha Kass-Hout is actually going to be doing at Amazon. While his previous employment may lead to some pretty solid guesses as to why Amazon would want him at their company.

Predictions

Amazon Health Care?

Easier access to a customers health records?

Could Amazon soon be selling prescription drugs?

Are Amazon developing their own range of home health hardware? Echo related health hardware?

While accroding to Engadget, Apple are also developing ways to make it easier for people to access medical history. A betting man would be confident to place some dollar on that. CNBC are reporting that medical errors are a huge cause for death in the US. If a person, or medical professional or a patient are able to get a hold of their medical records, easily and quickly, it could be the difference between life or death.

It’s a lot of fun speculating what Amazon are cooking up with Kass-Hout and to be honest. Any one of the speculations that we stated above would be pretty cool from Amazon. Let’s face it. Amazon are no longer just an e-commerce company. They’re a huge tech company, who could probably make anything they wanted. It’s very interesting at least to see why they’ve hired such a huge player in the health industry to work with them. Let’s see how this plays out.

 

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implanted travel card

Implanted Travel Card Banned?!

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A man called Meow-Ludo Disco Gamma Meow-Meow has had his implanted travel card deactivated and that sucks.

Hailing from New South Wales, Meow-Ludo Disco Gamma Meow-Meow, a biohacker by trade, found out that after a recent trip to the US that his implanted travel card was deactivated. So, as it’s embedded in hid skin under his left hand, he’s kind of stuck.

He plans to file a lawsuit against New South Wales transport authorities, to help create laws around body-hacking technology. (Plus he wants his travel card back)

Side note: alongside his implanted travel card he also has a chip inside his body that stores all his important documents.

He told the Australian Associated Press:

“This is case law in creation and it’s fun to be at the centre of this….this is a scenario so unusual that their lawyers never foresaw this happening because, if they did, they would have written it in there.”

Implanted travel card: lockdown

The authorities took the decision to deactivate Meow-Ludo Disco Gamma Meow-Meow’s card after huge media attention in April of 2017. However, there was light at the end of the tunnel, all be it momentarily for Meow Meow. As the travel card wasn’t registered to him, he was able to use the card for almost a year! (Despite having to swipe his palm over the scanner more than once to get it to work)

Final lockdown for the card came after he travelled back to Australia. In an ironic twist of fate, authorities finally turned off his terminator oyster card after he had attended a cyborg convention in the US. The event was all about “regulation and cyborg rights”

Meow-Ludo Disco Gamma Meow-Meow isn’t new getting into travel based trouble either. As in March he was in court in Sydney challenging a $200 fine for travelling without a valid ticket.

To listen to the guys chatting about this on the podcast please click here!

Amazon Tracking Employees

Are Amazon Tracking Employees?

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Amazon Tracking Employees?

In what seems something horrific, Amazon tracking employees is not so positive and positive. Hear us out. Amazon have patented designs for smart wristbands to put on their warehouse employees. The intent is to help their warehouse employees locate products that their computers tell them to locate. To them put them into boxes to then send products to your homes. As an employee wanders around a warehouse full of thousands of products the wristbands will then vibrate to inform them whether to go left or right for example.

Privacy

While this sounds like a fairly harmless piece of tech, there is a glaring worry that this will affect an Amazon warehouse employee’s privacy. As it can detect your location within a warehouse, it could detect when your taking a quick cigarette break when you shouldn’t. It would also be able to detect how long your taking when collecting a customer’s order. Amazon as a company have a right to sack an employee who takes too long collecting orders and takes regular breaks when they shouldn’t. Afterall time is money.

As Amazon have access to all this data, they could get a whole lot of information based around you as a worker. Rather than you as a person. Which has to be taken into regard in regards to whether or not you’re hired. We as humans aren’t just numbers. You may not be the greatest worker, but your work ethic and ability to get on well with others would trump your ability. Unless your terrible. Yet, by just looking at people as just a number and a bunch of data. That is what people are in danger of becoming. A number. Also you’d become almost robotic.

The idea behind the Amazon wristband for employees seems like it would make an employees life easier. However with all of the data available from simple location data, it’s very dangerous what could be done with it.

What are Amazon going to do with it? Who knows. But as time goes on and robots are taking over people’s jobs, are we becoming closer to robots than we would like to think?

To listen to the guys discussing this on the podcast please click here!

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