Facebook starts switching all users to HTTPS, Amazon ends its monthly Prime subscription, early OS X 10.9 builds indicate Siri and Maps integration, and YouTube introduces a pop out feature.
- Facebook Could Slow Down A Tiny Bit As It Starts Switching All Users To Secure HTTPS ConnectionsThis week Facebook began switching all users over to HTTPS in order to provide more secure connections for all of its users. Previously, users could choose to opt into HTTPS. Now that it's the standard, users can elect to opt out of the in order to increase their connection speed, but minor slowdowns are to be expected with better security. [TechCrunch]
- Sorry, Netflix Subscribers, Amazon's No Longer Testing Prime for $7.99 a MonthAmazon Prime's recent $7.99 monthly option was but a short-lived experiment. The monthly rate is no longer available to subscribers—those interested will have to pay the $79 yearly rate. [All Things D]
- Early Builds of Apple's Upcoming OS X 10.9 Include Siri and Maps IntegrationTest builds of OS X 10.9 indicate that both Siri and Apple's controversial Maps app could be featured in next year's Mac OS release. It's unknown if the OS X Siri will be tied to newer hardware and barred from older machines the way iOS Siri is. Also unclear is if the Maps app will actually get a Mac OS version, or if it's just being made available to developers for app integration. [9to5Mac]
- YouTube TV Pop OutYouTube's new pop out feature optimizes the web site for TV—by right clicking and selecting "pop out", you can watch videos with an interface that's similar to YouTube's Playstation and Xbox apps. You can also take access it by going to youtube.com/tv. [Google Operating System]
- Apple's Messages Beta Program For OS X Lion Ends December 14thLion users who have the beta version of Apple's Messages app will have to upgrade to Mountain Lion—where it's a standard feature—if they want to keep it. The beta version will expire December 14th. [Cult of Mac]
- Google strikes deal with European music publishersA licensing deal with several European music publishers will give Google access to 5.5 million songs. The deal is being called "the broadest of its kind," and differs from agreements like the usual country-by-country ones companies like Apple and Amazon have. [Businessweek]
- Warner Archive on-demand disc service kicks off Blu-ray availability with Gypsy, DeathtrapWarner Archive's on-demand disc service is finally going HD. The service, which delivers made to order out-of-print films, made its first blu-ray titles available today: Gypsy and Deathtrap. [Engadget]
- How The Official Getting Things Done App Will Free Your Mind And Empty Your InboxesGet Things Done master David Allen has partnered with Intentional Software to make a
cross-platform "meta-app" that, ideally, will combine information from every app and service you use into a dashboard like interface that removes the need for menial data input and helps get things done. The project is still in its infancy, so no word on what it will be called or when it will be released. [Fast Company]
