This week, Samsung gets a jump on CES with details about new TVs, how you can visit Acer’s CES booth, getting in on a class-action claim against Microsoft, and Nintendo acquires a Vancouver game developer. But first, Apple is bringing some changes to how you are tracked by apps.

Apple is going to give users control over their privacy and Facebook isn’t happy about it

In the very near future, Apple is going to be rolling out a change to the way you use your Apple devices. You will be explicitly asked to provide permission to apps that want to track you.

It’s a shift from automatic “opt-in” to automatic “opt-out”.

But some companies that rely on advertising are concerned that they’ll find revenues plummet if people are asked if they want to be tracked or not.

Here’s what Apple CEO Tim Cook thinks:

We believe users should have the choice over the data that is being collected about them and how it’s used. Facebook can continue to track users across apps and websites as before, App Tracking Transparency in iOS 14 will just require that they ask for your permission first. pic.twitter.com/UnnAONZ61I

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) December 17, 2020

Cook’s post came the day after Facebook launched a campaign complaining about Apple’s proposed change, in which Facebook claimed to be standing up to Apple for small businesses everywhere.

Canadians who purchased certain Microsoft software qualify for class-action lawsuit

If you purchased Microsoft software between 1998 and 2010, you could be in for a settlement payment as part of a class-action lawsuit.

The suit was first filed in B.C. in 2005, and was finally settled in mediation last year.

If you purchased a license for Windows versions of Microsoft operating systems or its office software, you have until September 23, 2021 to make a claim.

If your claim is for under $250, you do not need to provide receipts.

Claims are to be submitted online.

Samsung First Look event gives us a sneak peek at new screens

In advance of CES 2021, Samsung today previewed what to expect from its lineup of televisions.

The company’s flagship QLED screens – the 8K QN900A and 4K QN90A – are getting mini LED technology, which use smaller diodes to deliver a picture with darker black colours and a more refined image. They’re also getting Samsung’s new Neo Quantum Processor which upscales content to 4K and 8K.

These new televisions are also getting new software features, including playing games at an ultraswide 32:9 aspect ratio and casting video calls from your smartphone to the TV. You’ll also be able to easily connect your Windows computer to use the TV as a monitor, or access your Microsoft productivity apps through the in-TV browser.

Samsung is also introducing the first consumer TVs that use micro LED technology, which are so small that there’s an LED for each pixel in the screen. To start, Samsung is releasing 110” and 99” models, with smaller micro LED screens planned for later this year.

Pricing and specific available dates for the new televisions hasn’t been announced.

Check out Acer’s CES booth for yourself this year

Normally, regular citizens can’t just attend CES. It’s a trade show, reserved for manufacturers, retailers, brokers, and the media.

But Acer is welcoming everyone to attend its virtual booth this year.

Starting on January 12, you can visit Acer’s digital experience to navigate through the videos and information in four zones:

• Consumer
• Commercial/education
• Creator
• Gaming

Register to visit the Acer CES showrooms.

Nintendo acquiring Vancouver developer Next Level Games

Nintendo announced this week [PDF] that it has an agreement to acquire Next Level Games, a Vancouver development studio that has been making video games for nearly 20 years.

While Next Level has worked on games for other partners, including Activision, Sega, and Ubisoft, in the past decade it’s been all Nintendo at the studio.

The developers have worked on Mario Strikers (soccer) and Punch-Out (boxing) franchises, and have really shone with the Luigi’s Mansion games, including 2019’s Luigi’s Mansion 3.