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Is Facebook really changing? Or just trimming its data haul?
2019 Chevy Camaro Turbo 1LE: More of what matters
All the ways fans wish Apple would fix iOS 11 and improve the iPhone X

Is Facebook really changing? Or just trimming its data haul?

Posted: 09 Apr 2018 11:18 PM PDT

Lost amid a flurry of Facebook announcements about privacy settings and data access is a much more fundamental question: Is Facebook really changing its relationship with users, or just tinkering around the edges of a deeper problem — its insatiable appetite for the data it uses to sell ads?

CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who is scheduled to testify to Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday, long defined the company's mission as making the world more open and connected. He's now tweaking that high-minded goal to emphasize positive community-building, not just connectivity. But it's not at all clear how much Facebook can shift without undermining what makes it one of the world's most profitable companies.

"Why is connectivity a good thing? Once you begin to challenge that, you begin to question the business model, which is about mining our data," said Richard John, a Columbia University professor of business history. Facebook is "extraordinarily reliant on the goodwill of users" who allow it to harvest what they share about themselves, he said — much more so than other tech companies.

Wall Street analysts are already counting on Facebook to survive a user revolt. Based on recent polling, GBH Insights analyst Daniel Ives expects roughly 15 percent of users to disengage somewhat from the social network following revelations that the political data-mining firm Cambridge Analytica improperly obtained personal information from 87 million users to try to influence elections. In a worst-case scenario, decreased engagement and what Ives terms a "negligible" number of deleted accounts could cost the company up to $2 billion in annual advertising, Ives said.

Facebook could likely survive a $2 billion cut in its bottom line. Its shares have rebounded after hitting their lowest price in nine months in late March. Since then, the stock has climbed about 4 percent to $158.61 at midday Monday.

Less clear is how Facebook will handle the threat of increased regulation if Zuckerberg does not adequately resolve lawmakers' concerns this week.

"Could Facebook still exist even though you have greater privacy protections? That's the billion-dollar question," said University of Tennessee law professor Maurice Stucke, who has argued against allowing a handful of tech companies to monopolize everyone's personal data.

In the days leading up to Zuckerberg's testimony, Facebook has implemented a series of changes. It took yet another stab at explaining what happens to user data on its service and rejiggered its confusing privacy controls for the seventh time in a decade.

Tabs on a Facebook app for, "Privacy Basics, More Settings, and Data Policy," are displayed on an iPhone, Monday, April 9, 2018, in New York. Facebook is in full damage-control mode following revelations that it might have shared the data of some 87 million users with Cambridge Analytica. Starting Monday Facebook will let users know if their data was shared, and some 2.2 billion Facebook users will be given access to a link to see what apps they use and what information they shared with those apps. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

The company also planned to alert users affected by the Cambridge Analytica breach on Monday, although those efforts were delayed, and announced an independent commission that will have access to Facebook data to study the effects of social media on elections and democracy. Last week, it announced new transparency and verification rules for advertisers and page administrators.

Facebook is also restricting the access that outside parties have to data from Facebook users and groups, and it removed an option to search for users by entering a phone number or an email address that it said "malicious actors" had abused to scrape information from nearly all Facebook users.

Researchers generally consider such steps positive, if insufficient. Stucke, for instance, said a much stronger move would be for Facebook to fold U.S. users into the more stringent data protections the European Union will impose on internet companies starting May 25.

Zuckerberg has been unclear about whether Facebook would extend the European protections to the U.S. and elsewhere. He said recently the company will make its "controls and settings the same everywhere, not just in Europe," although it wasn't clear exactly what he meant, nor how that would affect data collection and privacy.

Privacy advocates are calling for Facebook to embrace the European rules globally. In an open letter sent Monday to Zuckerberg and lawmakers on both sides of the Atlantic, a group called the Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue said the law will offer "protections that all users should be entitled to no matter where they are located."

Researchers such as Stucke worry that Facebook might be able to wait out the pressure. "There's a big commotion," he said. "You hire a lot of lobbyists. You pressure the agencies not to do anything and just ride it out until the next scandal."

But Jeffrey Chester, executive director for the Center for Digital Democracy, said it would be a mistake to view Facebook's current turmoil as a "one-time event." Thanks to the European rules, he said, "there's a noose that's tightening around the necks of the Googles and the Facebooks" that will eventually force changes in their business models."

A Facebook message, "People you share and communicate with," is displayed on an iPhone, Monday, April 9, 2018, in New York. Facebook is in full damage-control mode following revelations that it might have shared the data of some 87 million users with Cambridge Analytica. Starting Monday Facebook will let users know if their data was shared, and some 2.2 billion Facebook users will be given access to a link to see what apps they use and what information they shared with those apps. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Some who favor stricter regulations want Facebook users to be treated like the advertising products that they are and to be paid for what they contribute to the social network. A few scholars say Facebook has so much influence over media and society that the U.S. government should consider taming its dominance by forcing it to spin off Instagram, WhatsApp or other businesses.

"We're in totally unprecedented waters," said Lina Khan, a Yale law professor and director of legal policy with the Open Markets Institute. "I wouldn't be too conservative about what's realistic."

Others who find the European model too onerous say most U.S. consumers don't care if Facebook analyzes them and their friends in a way that keeps what they share anonymous.

Such data collection "doesn't create a lot of harm and can create some significant benefits," said Joe Kennedy, a fellow at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, which is backed by the technology industry.

He cited targeted ads as a boon to consumers and said the data behind them can boost artificial intelligence systems, which use vast quantities of data to "learn" human-like behavior.

Tags:: newswires; associated press; business newswires

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2019 Chevy Camaro Turbo 1LE: More of what matters

Posted: 09 Apr 2018 06:00 AM PDT

These days, the best Camaros wear 1LE badges. Whether it's fitted to a V6- or V8-powered Camaro, or even a supercharged ZL1, the 1LE kit offers substantial benefits in handling, braking, cooling and traction -- the things that matter most. If you want to get the most out of your Camaro driving experience, 1LE is the obvious way to go.

To that end, Chevy will soon offer the 1LE treatment on the base Camaro 2.0T. The aptly named Turbo 1LE arrives later this year along with the rest of the updated 2019 Camaro range, and Chevy says it'll allow customers to get into a great-handling coupe without having to pony up for a bigger engine.

The Turbo 1LE follows the same formula as its V6 and V8 siblings, meaning the powertrain carries over unchanged. Chevy's 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 puts out 275 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque in the Camaro, and while other Turbo models can be had with an automatic gearbox, the 1LE is offered exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission. Rightfully so.

Larger Brembo brakes are fitted behind these 20-inch wheels. Goodyear Eagle F1 summer tires offer improved grip, as well.

Steven Ewing/Roadshow

For the 1LE, Chevy ditches the base car's suspension in favor of the FE3 setup from the Camaro SS, which uses larger stabilizer bars and retuned dampers, as well as stiffer bushings and ball joints at the rear. Beefier Brembo brakes are fitted at all four wheels, with four-piston stoppers up front and single-piston calipers in back. The 1LE kit also adds a mechanical limited-slip differential with a 3.27:1 final drive ratio, launch control and revised Track and Competition driving modes. Finally, the Turbo 1LE gets model-specific 20-inch wheels, wrapped in asymmetric Goodyear Eagle F1 summer tires -- 245/40-series rubber in front and 275/30-series out back.

The 1LE's enhancements become apparent when it's time to put that power to the road -- or, in this case, track. Following a very brief stint behind the wheel of a camouflaged Camaro Turbo 1LE prototype on the infield track of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, I can tell you its whole package works as advertised. The chassis improvements offer meaningful improvements in overall handling and stability.

Engine power is adequate -- enough shove to get the Camaro up and running with a quickness, but not so much that it'll get you in trouble. The Camaro's nicely weighted, direct steering makes it a joy to toss around, with crisp action from the six-speed manual gearbox. The Turbo 1LE stays flat and balanced through both long sweepers and tight corners, and because the chassis can handle way more than what the engine's throwing down, you're able to carry a lot of speed during turns. This, friends, is what's known as a "momentum car" (see also: Subaru BRZ). It's delightful.

Never has a turbocharged Camaro handled so nicely.

David Becker/Chevrolet

Without the ability to drive the Turbo 1LE prototype on any surface other than the aforementioned track, I can't comment on whether or not the stiffer suspension will make this Camaro too harsh for daily-driver consideration. That said, I've driven plenty of Camaro SS models on a wide variety of surfaces, and no standout complaints come to mind. I'll want more time behind the wheel of a production Turbo 1LE before giving it a final stamp of approval, but after this short lapping session in Las Vegas, I'm perfectly optimistic.

The Turbo 1LE comes standard with the RS appearance package available on other Camaro models -- you can see an uncamouflaged 1LE here. I'll let you come to your own conclusions about the 2019 Camaro's design, but even in hot 1LE trim, I can't call it an improvement. Despite the model-specific black hood and 20-inch wheels, that new face just ruins what was previously a very attractive car.

My other issues with the Turbo 1LE aren't specific to the model itself, but rather the Camaro as a whole. The Turbo 1LE's cabin is the same as any other 2019 Camaro, aside from a unique "performance" gauge cluster. Recaro front seats are optional, and they're stellar. Chevy's new Infotainment 3 technology is on hand, too, with better graphics and simplified menus. But none of this changes the fact that there are still a number of questionable materials throughout the Camaro's interior. Hard plastics continue to line the doors and transmission tunnel. And yes, outward visibility remains terrible.

You can't see it under all this pesky camouflage, but the 1LE gets the same RS appearance package available on other Camaro models.

Steven Ewing/Roadshow

Chevy hopes the Turbo 1LE will appeal to more than just existing Camaro fans. The automaker is targeting folks who'd normally end up in a Honda Civic Si or Type R, Ford Focus ST or RS, a Volkswagen GTI or even -- really -- the new Kia Stinger. I can't imagine your typical hot hatch enthusiast suddenly wanting to bro down with the Camaro set, but with Turbo 1LE pricing expected to start around $30,000, there's certainly potential for a lot of cross-shopping.

On the other hand, if you're already in the Camaro headspace, consider this: a Turbo 1LE will likely cost about the same as a non-1LE V6. Sure, the 2.0T is down on power compared to that 3.6-liter engine, but the added handling chops more than makes up for the disparity in output. Power isn't everything, after all.

Roadshow accepts multi-day vehicle loans from manufacturers in order to provide scored editorial reviews. All scored vehicle reviews are completed on our turf and on our terms. However, for this feature, the manufacturer covered travel costs. This is common in the auto industry, as it's far more economical to ship journalists to cars than to ship cars to journalists.

The judgments and opinions of Roadshow's editorial team are our own and we do not accept paid editorial content.

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All the ways fans wish Apple would fix iOS 11 and improve the iPhone X

Posted: 09 Apr 2018 11:34 AM PDT

Apple's iOS 11 software is easily the company's most controversial release since iOS 7 completely changed the look of Apple's mobile platform in 2013. Unfortunately, iOS 11 is controversial in a much worse way. While Apple fans freaked out over the jarring new design that iOS 7 introduced, it was obviously a matter of taste. It was also obvious that people would eventually come around to the new look of iOS 7, which ditched skeuomorphism for a design that was more modern and flat. This time around, Apple's iOS 11 platform is making waves because it's riddled with bugs and performance issues.

Because iOS 11 has been so uncharacteristically buggy, the conversation has turned to Apple's next-generation iOS software much sooner than it typically does. Now, in a thread on Reddit, Apple fans have begun to discuss the features they want to see most in Apple's upcoming iOS 12 release.

2017 was an odd year for Apple releases, all things considered. The iPhone X was probably Apple's most hotly anticipated product release since 2014's iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, and yet sales have reportedly been much lower than Apple was expecting. The phone's bold new design that ditches Touch ID and the home button is likely playing a role, as is the phone's sky-high price tag that starts at $1,000.

Making matters worse is that hardware isn't Apple's only problem right now. iOS 11 has been Apple's rockiest software release in years thanks to bugs, security holes, and performance issues. It's made some people so crazy that they think iOS is now a mess Apple will never be able to fix. That's obviously a ridiculous notion, but it's easy to see why people have grown so frustrated with the software.

With iOS 11, Apple is reportedly focusing mainly on improving performance and the overall iOS user experience. There will be new features added, of course, but several additions have reportedly been pushed back to subsequent releases so that Apple's software engineers can focus on fixing bugs and refining existing features.

since Apple will focus on improving its mobile experience with iOS 12, Apple fans took to Reddit over the weekend to discuss ways Apple might be able to improve the new iPhone X with a new software build. A thread titled "How can Apple improve the iPhone X with iOS 12?" had more than 200 comments at the time of this writing, and users had plenty of good ideas to share with each other.

Not surprisingly, the top two requests were the same ones we've been seeing for years. First, people want a system-wide dark mode. Talk of a dark mode has been going on for as long as we can remember, but it actually makes more sense now than it ever has before, considering the iPhone X's OLED display. The other top request is an overhaul to iOS's notification system. It seems like everyone at this point agrees that iOS notifications are deeply flawed in so many ways, though it's unclear if Apple plans to make any serious changes anytime soon.

Beyond that, users had plenty of great suggestions that ranged from allowing users to reassign default apps and create direct shortcuts to settings, to allowing third-party apps in Control Center and allowing users to customize lock screen shortcuts. The full thread offers interesting insights into hardcore Apple fans' various problems with iOS, and you can check it out on Reddit.

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