Apple exec slams Steve Jobs documentary

AUSTIN, Texas — In a highly unusual step from one of the world's most disciplined and reticent companies, Apple senior executive Eddy Cue took to Twitter Monday to attack a documentary that premiered at the South By Southwest festival this weekend. The film, Steve Jobs: Man in the Machine, which we reviewed here, is an outsider's look at the Apple founder that spares no blushes in looking at both his light and dark side. Oscar-nominated documentarian Alex Gibney talks to many of Jobs' friends, employees and perhaps most damningly, Chrisann Brennan, the mother of his daughter Lisa. Speaking in Austin, Gibney described the documentary as "in my own ham-fisted

way, my version of Citizen Kane [the Orson Welles film based on the life of another business tycoon, William Randolph Hearst]." Here's what Cue had to say about it, in a tweet that arrived apropos of nothing:That's perhaps not surprising. Jobs presented different faces to different people, and could be immensely charming when he wanted to be, as this writer can attest. Cue was a trusted lieutenant. And he has a sliver of a point about the movie, in that the Foxconn suicides it covers are unfairly related to Jobs. One thing Cue didn't specify: whether he had actually seen the documentary, or just read the reviews. Given that it has only screened once here at SXSW, and Cue has not been spotted here in Austin, it isn't clear how he could have seen it. Mashable has reached out to Cue and to Apple for clarification. Meanwhile, we know at least one account of Jobs' life has Cue's approval: the forthcoming book Becoming Steve Jobs, by journalists Brent Schlender and Rick Tetzeli.

You can now log into Yahoo Mail without remembering a password

The company introduced a new on-demand login feature that sends users a 

specialized code to their mobile devices to gain access. The code is generated only for that account; since it changes each time you log in, the method is secure. Hackers would have to be in physical possession of a user's smartphone to know the code and thus access the account. Hackers would have to be in physical possession of a user's smartphone to know the code and thus access the account. Many companies like Twitter, Facebook and Google have offered a similar option — two-factor authentication — for some time. This method is like double-locking your door at night (you need both a standard password and the messaged code to enter). Yahoo differs because you don't need a permanent password, just the one that the company sends you on demand. The move, therefore, is technically a form of a one-factor authentication, but it signals a big move by Yahoo to eliminate passwords and also keep the service secure. Last year, the company announced that it was the target of a massive hacking that stole usernames and passwords from its email customers, so the need to provide a safe, encrypted way to keep accounts secure is greater than ever.

Apple exec slams Steve Jobs documentary

Speaking in Austin, Gibney described the documentary as "in my own ham-fisted way, my version of Citizen Kane [the Orson Welles film based on the life of another business tycoon, William Randolph Hearst]."

Here's what Cue had to say a

That's perhaps not surprising. Jobs presented different faces to different people, and could be immensely charming when he wanted to be, as this writer can attest. Cue was a trusted lieutenant. And he has a sliver of a point about the movie, in that the Foxconn suicides it covers are unfairly related to Jobs.

One thing Cue didn't specify: whether he had actually seen the documentary, or just read the reviews. Given that it has only screened once here at SXSW, and Cue has not been spotted here in Austin, it isn't clear how he could have seen it. Mashable has reached out to Cue and to Apple for clarification.

Meanwhile, we know at least one account of Jobs' life has Cue's approval: the forthcoming bookBecoming Steve Jobs, by journalists Brent Schlender and Rick Tetzeli.

Congress plays politics with human trafficking and Hillary Clinton is not impressed

Democrats have halted the human trafficking bill because of a provision 

in it that prevents victims of human trafficking from using restitution money to have an abortion. The bill would create a "Domestic Trafficking Victims’ Fund” that brings in money from fines from related crimes, and money would go to victims, but includes references that the money not be used for women who have been victims of trafficking to get an abortion. The White House seems to be equally as frustrated at the move by Republicans to delay the vote to confirm Lynch's nomination. Press Secretary Josh Earnest called the failure to confirm Lynch's nomination "an unconscionable delay," pointing out that President Obama nominated her for the position 128 days ago. Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

The Rock performs passionate 'Shake It Off' lip sync for all the haters

Taylor Swift and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson actually have a lot in common. For example, The Rock has been nominated for a Kids Choice Award four times in the category of "Favorite Male Buttkicker." Swift, meanwhile, has been nominated for 13 of the awards — none, sadly, for "Favorite Male Buttkicker."

In wake of deadly crashes, New Zealanders are confiscating car keys from tourists

Nayland Smith, constable in the township of Omarama, said one man followed a tourist all the way to a hotel — filming the other car with his phone the entire time. At the hotel, "he walked over to the [other driver's] vehicle, opened the door and took the keys out, telling the driver he could collect them from the police station," Smith said. Although following a car and recording it with a cellphone camera sounds dangerous, it had its advantages. When police arrived on the scene, the driver was cited for failing to keep left, according to The Herald, and the person's authority to drive in New Zealand was revoked. However, police are urging that drivers call *555 or 111 instead of making these versions of citizens' arrests. Authorities are concerned about the potential for altercations between drivers, and for good reason. The confrontations have already turned violent. On Friday, a

driver approached a car and punched another driver — who was a tourist — in the face, before taking the keys. The local head of road policing defended the tourist and called the incident a "nasty assault." "It was a really innocuous incident in terms of driving that was not unsafe," the assistant commissioner said. "There was nothing in terms of dangerous driving." In 2013, about 75% of injury car crashes in New Zealand were blamed on foreign drivers. Officials have tried to spread information about safe driving in the country, including adding placards in rental cars that reiterate the rules of the road. Many locals have turned the blame on visiting Chinese drivers, potentially adding an element of xenophobia to the roadway conflicts. As for the bad driving, authorities say that better education will lead to a solution, in addition to improved road signage.

Charles Barkley has no love for Twitter: 'I don't want to give losers power'

AUSTIN, Texas — NBA Hall of Famer and current TNT analyst Charles Barkley is arguably the most entertaining person in sports television, as regular viewers of Inside the NBA know well. Whether he's bashing sports analytics, roasting colleague Shaquille O'Neal or giving his unique take on today's NBA — the man stays entertaining. But much to the dismay of Basketball Twitter, Barkley has little love for social media. He revealed why in conversation with Sports Illustrated's

Richard Deitsch at SXSW Interactive on Friday afternoon. And because it's Charles Barkley, he also
 dished on many other topics as only he can. SEE ALSO: March Madness: Can Kentucky go 40-0 to make college hoops history? Barkley told Deitsch the main reason he doesn't partake in Twitter: "I don't want to give some of these losers power." Referencing the prevalence of sports trolls online, he's just fine avoiding that negativity. "I have to pick a team to win the game, so half the population's going to kill me anyway," Barkley said, using his Inside the NBA colleague Ernie Johnson as an

example. "If you say something bad about Ernie Johnson, I know there's something wrong with you because Ernie's the nicest guy in the world." "If you say something bad about Ernie Johnson, I know there's something wrong with you because Ernie's the nicest guy in the world." Being famous makes you more of a target, according to Barkley. "It's like being smart," he said. "All the dumb kids hate

you." Barkley even said he'd advise a rising NBA star like Andrew Wiggins to stay off social media — going against the advice of most sports business professionals. Suffice to say, Barkley is no early adopter of new technologies. The NBA legend gave a well-publicized rant against the rising use of advanced analytics in sports last month. He doubled down on that criticism in Austin on Friday. Analytics are just statistics with a fancier name, he said — "It's like if you're black you're a cook, if you're white you're a chef."

Showing hello: 15 ways people greet each other around the world

These traditional greetings, ranging from region to region, have developed into cultural norms — often to show respect. Take a peek at this helpful infographic made by Two Little Fleas, showing us the different ways people from all over the globe greet one another. And if you're planning a trip anytime soon, take notes so you're not lost in translation

A blind dog is competing in the Iditarod with the rest of her family

"Sometimes I have to throw snacks on the ground extra hard so she can hear where it falls," he said. But Laura is comfortable running in every spot on Maixner's sled team — except lead. When the pediatric dentist puts her in front, she relies on the other dog sharing the lead position to guide the way. Joining Laura on the team this year are a couple family members, her father Shane and her siblings, Big Mike and Flo. Post by Mad Stork Kennel. Laura is a favorite of her handlers.

Maixner said she's not only a reliable runner, but a cheerleader for the team as they make the trek from Fairbanks to the old gold-rush town of Nome. This is Maixner's fifth Iditarod attempt. He scratched from competition late in the race last year, but he's aiming to finish in the top 10 this year with Laura's help. Additional reporting provided by Mashable TOPICS: CUTE ANIMALS, FEEL GOOD, SPORTS, VIDEOS, VIRAL VIDEO, WATERCOOLER

Tesla founder Elon Musk promises to end 'range anxiety' with Model S update

When people think about the practicality of electric cars, one of the first concerns is battery life, particularly given the ever-hungry batteries in our mobile devices. On Sunday, Tesla founder Elon Musk promised to erase those fears completely, a claim that, if true, could boost interest among those

worried about getting stuck in the middle of nowhere while looking at a blinking "battery drained" dashboard symbol. SEE ALSO: Tesla Model S has a secret James Bond setting The news came via Musk's Twitter feed, where he promised to deliver an over the air software update that will "end range anxiety."

Why robots may soon replace fast-food employees

Imagine if the assembly line at your local McDonald's was as automated as the ones that make cars in Detroit. Farfetched? A new report from financial services firm Cornerstone Capital Group makes a solid case that humans behind the counter may be going the way of the McD.L.T.

The chief factors are a climate change-induced spiking of food prices, the uncertain consequences of Obamacare — which could boost the costs of employees — and income distribution trends, which are "increasingly a point of social and political contention."

 Since labor and food costs account for 60% to 70% of industry revenues, those factors threaten a category that already operates on slim profit margins. Raising prices isn't a viable option since fast food is such a price-sensitive segment. Still, John Wilson, head of corporate governance, engagement and research at Cornerstone Capital, said we shouldn't expect to see automated kitchens for another decade or so. On the other hand, we're already seeing mobile apps that let customers order their food ahead of time, and then pick it up at the counter, potentially making cashiers redundant. SEE ALSO:


Fast-food chains have a New Year's resolution: Drop the junk Such technology can help cut costs by making the business more efficient. "When possible, technology used in ordering (kiosks, mobile, online ordering) can speed the process, improve accuracy and decrease labor cost to the operator, allowing them to maintain their current cost margins," according to Darren Tristano, executive vice-president at Technomic, a firm that tracks the fast-food industry. However, Tristano was less sure

about robots taking over the kitchen. "With regards to the back of house, automation in the kitchen — which can help improve labor efficiencies — will also reduce cost, but to some extent, takes away the personal touch of a cook or chef," he said. "These changes may be less desirable by consumers. Overall, automation today will likely save a few dollars, but likely will not be a big impact on restaurant operators who have and will continue to focus on service, hospitality and a friendly smile."

Meerkat CEO: 20% of its users watch 2 hours of video daily

AUSTIN, Texas — Barely 16 days after launch, Meerkat is on a roll, CEO Ben Rubin says. The 27-year-old former architecture student from Israel took the stage Sunday afternoon at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Tex.

to promote Meerkat, the live-streaming app developed by his company Air. Rubin shouldn't have: three days into the conference's Interactive portion, Meerkat is already the conference's "breakout app." SEE ALSO: The most creative uses for Meerkat, SXSW's hottest app During the talk, Rubin disclosed solid figures about engagement. Meerkat easily crossed 100,000 users over the weekend, following a brouhaha with Twitter where the social network cut off the app’s access to its social

graph. Twenty percent of Meerkat users watch over 2 hours of live video daily; eight percent catch a whopping three or more hours a day. If that's right, a serious chunk of Meerkat users spend more time on Rubin's app on any given day than the average Facebook user spent checking their News Feed throughout 2014. Rubin also tossed off high-profile examples of so-called “Meerkaters.” Red Bull

drew 700 viewers when it broadcast an ice skating competition, and a Miami Dolphins game caught the eye of another 1,100 users. And that's not including early supporters such as skateboarder Tony Hawk and actor-turned-startup investor Ashton Kutcher. Obviously, Facebook has been around a lot longer, and Meerkat’s user base is a sliver of the social network’s 1.4 billion-plus. The app also has to prove that it has more longevity than SXSW darlings like Highlight, the location-based app that took off in 2012, then fizzled after. All we can say is, good luck with that.

'Entourage' actor Adrian Grenier tackles social good with help from a tech giant

AUSTIN — Adrian Grenier wants to be Aquaman. Seriously. Like the character he played on the long-running hit series and soon-to-be major motion picture Entourage, the actor and newly-installed Dell Social Good Advocate is eager to play the role. Not for TV or movies, but in real life. “I enjoy being Aquaman in real life. The oceans do need our help. I take it very seriously.

My role in Entourage, I feel I owe it to the fans to fulfill their Aquaman fantasies,” said Greiner with a laugh, adding, “That’s probably why I’m doing a lot of focus on the oceans these days.” SEE ALSO: The first bro-y trailer for the 'Entourage' movie has arrived Grenier, 38, isn’t actually playing Aquaman, a role his character sought and won on the hit show Entourage, but, as he often does, he turned the discussion of the memorable plot point in the show toward his environmental and sustainability work. And, to a certain extent, the Aquaman claim rings true. On the day we spoke just outside downtown Austin, Grenier had just come off a big oceanic win: His Kickstarter campaign to fund a documentary, The Loneliest Whale, about the search for a real-life whale that has spent its entire life alone, just blew past its goal of $300,000 and ended with $400,000, thanks, in part, to a $50,000 assist from Leonardo DiCaprio. The discussion today, though, was about more land-based pursuits. A few days before we spoke, Grenier had signed on to become Dell Computer’s Social

Good Advocate. It’s the kind of title that sounds good, especially on a celebrity, but Grenier and his new partner are quite serious about their goals — even if they haven’t fleshed all of them out. “[Social Good Advocate] means that we’re going to come to the table, sit down and beat out a large list of things we can do over the next year to bring people together and make them more conscious about the world and also find ways that we can get Dell an opportunity to do business better so they can reduce their carbon footprint. And also inspire other companies to follow suit,” said Grenier. As for Dell, they saw in the actor a kindred spirit and an opportunity. “What I like, when I first kind of

started looking; Adrian has already put together several digital platforms, content, specifically around the idea of rebranding sustainability, what it means to people,” said David Lear, Dell's executive director of corporate sustainability. “It’s an incredible opportunity to have a company support my ideas and honor the work that I’ve been doing,” added Grenier. Grenier’s latest role joins a long list of sustainability and environmental projects on the actor’s roster. He already runs SHFT, a so-called “lifestyle platform” focused on sustainability in film, art and food. It’s also quite natural for Greiner to blend social good and commerce. When I met the actor two years ago he was hosting a Ford Motors event at a farm that served dishes made entirely from the food grown there.

Extreme Bionics: This man is rebuilding humanity

AUSTIN, Texas — Dr. Hugh Herr is living proof that "extreme bionics" is no longer science fiction. The double amputee strode about a South by Southwest (SXSW) convention hall stage on two bionic limbs attached just below the knee — and if he weren't wearing suit shorts, the audience might never have known. "I think we will all be surprised at the speed at which bionics occurs in this century," said Herr, who recently established the Center for Extreme Bionics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Lab. Last year, Herr gained national recognition when his team constructed a

special bionic limb to help a Boston Bombing victim dance again. SEE ALSO: Implanted Prosthetic Arm Moves Us One Step Closer to Bionics During a deep and wide-ranging talk entitled "Extreme Bionics: the End of Disability," Herr outlined his team's efforts to build current and future generations of bionics and human augmentation. There have been many hurdles, including how to communicate with the brain. "The human brain is unimpressive when looked at externally ... inside there's extraordinary complexity," he said. More importantly, Herr's team is investigating how to get information from inside the body outside, and vice-versa.

Internet stars gathered to 'do it for the Vine' at our latest #MashMeet

"The #MashMeet was a party with the most creative people on the Internet. I know these people — their families, their art, their ridiculous antics," Unpopular Now's creative director Pete Heacock said. "This was a wonderful opportunity to reach into my phone, pull these people out, shake their hands and let them know how much I dig their work." Guests flew in from all over the United States, and some even from Europe. While we had planned on capping the list at 50 people, the crowd somehow grew to more than 100 — it was a surprisingly awesome turnout. Special thanks to our partner Samsung Mobile US, without whom we could not have pulled off such a great event. Of course,

when you put artists, comedians and marketing gurus in one room, you're bound to see something great. So we expected nothing less than extraordinary, but still, we were blown away by everyone's creativity.

This startup wants to take on Uber and Lyft with self-flying cars

The vehicle will be fully autonomous, and thanks to a hybrid engine, it'll have a 900-mile range — or about three hours of flying — so it'll be more about cutting down time for a regional jaunt than international travel. The car will also have four seats, so there will be room for a whole family.

Most importantly, an advanced parachute-deployment system will be present in case the autopilot ever fails. "What's better than a car, though, is that you can press what we're calling a panic button, and the parachute will be deployed, and it'll safety land via parachute," Vaculik explained. The problem with flying cars, however, is that you typically need to go to the airport anyway — a hassle that other flying-car companies, such as Terrafugia, have built into their business model.

 Vaculik said he thinks AeroMobil has a better way: Its cars (pilotless or otherwise) will have the capability to take off and land on long strips of flat grass, so any field will do. He envisions easy-to-build runways and landing strips that exist right beside highways, enabling flying cars to land, retract their wings and join highway traffic seamlessly. Add a robot pilot to that equation, and suddenly becoming the Uber for air travel becomes a real possibility. Add a robot pilot to that equation, and suddenly becoming the Uber for air travel becomes a real possibility. With a driverless "air taxi," a person's radius for quick visits increases dramatically. A family could conceivably dial up an AeroMobil flying car to visit friends or grandparents two states away, then take another flight a few hours later when it's time to go home.


 "The sharing economy is excellent for us," Vaculik said. "People will have this opportunity to call a 'flying Uber,' which will not just deliver you to the airport, but to your final destination." Driverless cars are doubtlessly the future of transportation, so it's logical to extend that idea to passenger planes at some point. Still, the obstacle of regulatory approval might pale in comparison to consumer reluctance: Lots of people don't trust even self-driving cars — throw the natural fear of flying into the mix, and AeroMobil's dream might be over before it even begins. Than again, the wonder and promise of a Jetsons-like world might trump any fears. Vaculik's presentation got an enthusiastic response at SXSW, and the company's board just recruited visionary entrepreneur Dean Kamen.

Charles Barkley has no love for Twitter: 'I don't want to give losers power'

Apple is the world's foremost manufacturer of goods. At one time, this statement had to be caged and qualified with modifiers such as "consumer goods" or "electronic goods," but last quarter, Apple shipped a Boeing 787's weight's worth of iPhones every 24 hours.

When we add the rest of the product line to the mix, it becomes clear that Apple's supply chain is one of the largest-scale production organizations in the world.

 While Boeing is happy to provide tours of their facility in Everett, Washington, Apple continues to operate with Willy Wonka levels of secrecy. In the manufacturing world, we hear rumors of entire German CNC mill factories being built to supply Apple exclusively, or even occasionally hear that one of our suppliers' process experts has been "disappeared" to move to Cupertino or Shenzhen. While we all are massively impressed with the scale of Apple's operations, there is constant intrigue as to exactly how they pull it all off with the level of fit, finish and precision obvious to anyone who has examined their hardware. This walkthrough is a detailed narration of what we see in Apple's

Watch craftsmanship videos. Of course, we get to see only a mere fraction of the process; I've tried to provide plausible explanations for the likely steps taking place between the processes shown on film, but these are assumptions and are included only to provide a more satisfying and complete narration. Gold Gold has always been the wrong metal to make a watch out of; its low yield strength and softness is incompatible with the tremendous amount of abuse an object worn on the wrist receives on a day-to-day basis. Driven by a history of desire going back millennia, alchemists and metallurgists have alloyed pure gold with nearly every combination of metals on the periodic table in order to overcome these limitations. The standards for 18-karat gold allow for a tremendous amount of leeway in producing innovative alloys (which may be comprised of anything, as long as the final product contains 75%-79.99% pure gold by weight), and major producers of gold goods have used that flexibility to each create proprietary formulations in an attempt to gain competitive advantage. Rolex built an in-house foundry at their Plan-les-Ouates complex in Geneva to produce all of their precious metals. Hublot has trumpeted their composite ceramic "Magic Gold" as being significantly more durable than anything else available. Recently, Apple patents were uncovered detailing a metal matrix composite process to produce 18-karat standard compliance gold with a significant weight reduction and durability increase. apple1 IMAGE: APPLE For the Watch Edition, however, Apple appears to have eschewed any revolutionary alchemy and instead applied an innovative work

hardening process to create gold that is (claimed to be) significantly harder than the typical 18-karat used by other watchmakers. The first portion of Apple's "Gold" video is carried by the beautiful alloying process and Jony Ive's meditative voice; at the 1:15 mark, however, things begin to get interesting. Work hardening is one of those counterintuitive industrial processes where we take an undesirable aspect of a material and judo it into a significant improvement. As the gold is cast into ingots, the crystalline lattice structure of the alloy is nearly perfectly aligned. What Apple is about to do is introduce — in a highly controlled and precise manner — defects in that lattice (known in the art as "dislocations"). The effect is to harden the material by giving future impact events or stresses a limited number of spots on the lattice to start (technical term: nucleate), and if they do start, very little room to propagate. You can experiment with this yourself using a metal paperclip — start bending the paperclip back and forth and you'll notice it gets ever so slightly more difficult to bend as you repeat the process. Eventually, you will create so many dislocations in the metal that the part will fracture into two pieces, but for a short period, you will have work hardened that section to a point where some potentially desirable material changes would have taken place. Add a tremendous

amount of precision, use equipment capable of applying thousands of tonnes of force, replace the paperclip with a $50,000 ingot of gold alloy, and you're working at Apple. apple2 IMAGE: APPLE The process Apple shows begins with the raw cast ingots getting machined with an index cutter face mill to a very precise thickness. Casting is a process that doesn't offer the level of precision Apple needs for the next step and this machining allows them to control the dimensions of the ingot to within 0.01mm. This level of precision is necessary because any variations in the surface of the ingot would create variations in the hardness across the final part.

Stainless steel

Stainless steel is the material used to produce the vast majority of quality watches in the world. Much like with the 18-karat gold alloy, Apple is playing it safe and not using some highly proprietary alloy or cutting-edge process (such as their tie-up with Liquidmetal). Instead, Apple is working within the confines of the ASM 316L standard — a material more commonly (and incorrectly) known as "surgical grade stainless." Buzzwords aside, 316L stainless is often used in the production of medical instruments and implants, as well as food processing equipment. The reason is simple; 316L does a good job of resisting the seepage of metal particles from the finished component.

This makes it the most common stainless alloy used in the watch industry for a similar reason: nickel allergies. Watch manufacturers have decades of experience working with stainless steel to narrow its effects on those with nickel allergies, and companies such as Rolex and Omega have tuned their alloys and processes to the point where only the most acute sufferers would notice even mild effects. I suspect a large focus of Apple's metallurgy and process design was on the nickel allergy issue. Like the "Gold" video, "Stainless" opens with numerous beauty shots directly from the foundry floor as the molten 316L is processed into what foundries call "sticks." The molten metal passes out of the bottom of a crucible (typically located on the top floor of a multi-story foundry) through a valve and into a series of shaping steps that form each stick as the metal's viscosity rises in the transformation back into a solid. This process is precisely controlled in order to properly form the final stick's grain structure and hardness. Apple is producing the watches in enough volume that it can easily specify the exact alloy composition of the entire crucible of material, as well as define the precise temper, hardness and stick dimensions.