Good job, you made it through hump day!

The past 24 hours of news here at Engadget was a heady mix of Pokémon Go bonuses, GIFs in space, Hulk Hogan and robot-selected wine. Definitely not just another Wednesday. We round it out with Facebook's big success in mobile and why Russia is dropping Microsoft software. Spoilers: It's all about politics.

House of Caching

Netflix's worldwide expansion could bring the addition of offline viewing

Streaming video on Netflix is fun ... as long as your internet connection holds up. For years the streamer has resisted the urge to offer any ability to download and save videos, but comments by Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos yesterday made it seem more like a "when" than an "if." Since Netflix is available pretty much worldwide, that could make watching cheaper for viewers in developing markets (and on airplanes or in the wilderness).

Yes, people are still playing

"Pokémon Go's" latest attempt to keep players hooked: daily bonuses

Sooner or later the temperatures will start dropping, so how will Niantic Labs keep players checking in at PokeStops and gyms? Try daily bonuses, with added bumps for seven-day streaks or checking in at the same stop repeatedly.

Well, I'm still not happy

Apple says SD card slots are clunky and that's why the new MacBook Pro doesn't have one

Apple's senior VP, Phil Schiller, explained in an interview why the company axed the card reader. It was a "bit of a cumbersome slot." He added that many newer cameras have built-in wireless transfers. (Although anyone who uses that feature knows that transfer is slow. Very slow.)

Everyone loves mobile ads

Facebook nearly triples its profits

Facebook recorded yet another blockbuster quarter. Over the past three months, the social network made $2.38 billion in profits, an astounding 166 percent increase over this time last year. That's largely thanks to mobile advertising, where 84 percent of its ad revenue comes from.

Überapp

The new Uber is both bigger and faster

Soon you'll see a redesigned Uber app rolling out. The company claims that it's faster to use, with shortcuts that figure out where you're likely headed and suggest destinations right away. It's also trying to keep your attention with in-app access to features from UberEats, Pandora, Yelp, Snapchat, Foursquare and others.

From: Russia, with Love

Russia is dropping Microsoft because it's an easy political target

There are a few reasons behind Russia's plans to get rid of all of its Microsoft software. Vladimir Putin and his team are picking on Microsoft because it's an easy target for anti-American sentiment. It's a huge company that rules the tech sector, and it's not hard to persuade Russians that the firm is collaborating with US spies, despite evidence to the contrary. Any domestic software could foster the local economy -- and if Russia makes it, the government has more power to control that software.

The future of VR?

Save $50 by pre-ordering Fove's VR headset now

Why should you choose this VR headset over competition from Oculus and HTC? Fove uses eye tracking for increased realism, and its tech renders only things you can actually see. That means it doesn't need as powerful a PC to render VR, while its screen has a higher resolution than the Rift. It's mostly for developers right now.

Source:
courtesy of ENGADGET

by Mat Smith , @thatmatsmith

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