Angry Parents Sue Google Over In-App Purchases

Are your kids draining your bank account by downloading so-called “free” apps that enable unlimited in-game purchases? Join the club. Or, better yet, the class-action suit.

Source: Flickr

Last week, attorneys in the Northern District of California filed suit against Google, alleging that the Google Play Store’s in-app purchase policies allowed the company to “pocket millions of dollars from such … transactions with minors and without authorization of their parents.”

Though initial in-app purchases require a password in Google Play apps, the authorization is good for 30 minutes, allowing kids to make further purchases with reckless abandon after (presumably) a parent signs into the store, the suit alleges. Purchases are automatically billed to the credit card associated with the parent’s Google Play account.

In January, Apple settled a suit brought by the FTC, agreeing to refund at least $32.5 million to consumers who had their iTunes pockets picked by their kids. Last year, Apple also settled a similar class-action suit brought by angry parents.

Starting in March 2011, Apple has required you to enter a passcode before authorizing any in-app purchase. However, if you want to turn it off completely, try the following.

How to turn off in-app purchases in iOSGo into the Settings app on your i-device and tap the General tab. Tap Restrictions. In the next screen, tap Enable Restrictions. You’ll be prompted to enter (or create) a four-digit passcode.

Scroll down the list of apps until you reach In-App Purchases, and slide the toggle to the left (or off).

How to protect your wallet in AndroidIn Android, there’s no way to completely turn off in-app purchases. All you can do is ensure that a password is required before purchases are authorized.

Launch the Play Store on your device and tap the menu icon in the upper right of the screen. Tap Settings. Under User Controls, make sure Use password to restrict purchases has a checkmark next to it. If not, tap it and enter your Google account password to enable it.

The next time you or your progeny attempt to buy something inside an app, a dialog box will pop up demanding your password. However, if you enter the password and your sneaky kid clicks the Never ask me again checkbox before hitting Confirm, then password verification is nullified. And even if she doesn't do that, she’ll still have 30 minutes in which to run up charges on your account.

Hence the class-action lawsuit.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

NHK, Japan’s national television broadcaster, has revealed plans to begin transmissions in 2016 using the new Super Hi-Vision format, which features a resolution 16 times higher than the current HDTV standards. Having been in development in part by NHK for the last few years, the 7,680 pixels by 4,320 pixels resolution was given its first trial broadcast during last summer’s London Olympics.

Super Hi-Vision easily outclasses the latest “4K” high-definition standard that is just making its way into consumer television sets and being promoted by manufacturers as “the next big thing.” Broadcasting programs in the new format will be up to individual TV stations, and while some are resistant due to the high costs of upgrading, NHK seems ready to jump in without hesitation.

Yoshiaki Shishikui, the head of research at NHK’s science and technology laboratory, says the test at the Summer Olympic Games was a great success. The Japanese station produced 6 channels of live coverage in the Super Hi-Vision format that were shown at several public viewing locations within the U.K. and back in Japan. Among the feedback from viewers, there were many responses of feeling like they were witnessing the events in person.

While NHK may be eager to put its new technology to use, there are certainly a number technical hurdles it needs to overcome. The uncompressed video in Super Hi-Vision runs at a large 24 gigabits per second, and editing that signal followed by compression and transmission to viewers will be very challenging. The station was originally planning to begin broadcasts via satellite in 2020, but now they have moved up their schedule.

Source : Japan Could Begin Commercial 8K Broadcasting In 2016

TVs Could Control Your Home

Skynet is coming! Skynet is coming!...ok maybe not that dramatic, but this is kind of weird in my opinion. The developments in technology never cease to amaze me, but this is nuts.

Samsung already has a TV with a built in camera to recognize movement, and voice.

Samsung may be partnering with a startup company called VTouch to bring complete control of every connected electronic device in your home, with a "snap of a finger" per-say. The TV will come with a built in camera that can track hand, finger, and even eye gestures. Even to the extent that you can point at objects that aren't even on your TV screen to control them. In my opinion, this is kind of creepy...having a camera watch your every move and reacting to your gestures and facial expressions.

The system will in essence be able to control TV's, lights, stereo equipment, and any other connected smart devices. It hasn't been discussed yet if this will control ALL devices or be limited to Samsung, but coming from the number one HDTV maker, it's a pretty tempting offer.

Read more : By 2016 Samsung TVs Could Control Your Home