On the beat: In US, World Cup reaches fever ‘pitch’

Ronal-d’OH!

US Soccer fans: Does that describe your (G-rated) reaction to the heartbreaking conclusion of Sunday’s World Cup match against Portugal? A spectacular crossing pass from perhaps the planet’s top player, Cristiano Ronaldo, led to Portugal’s equalizing goal and a deflating 2-2 draw for the US, mere seconds from a history-making comeback win.

Still, history was made – throughout the week, really.

On Monday, CNN said “Sunday’s match was a high point in a World Cup that’s already shattering social-media records.”

Twitter Data tallied eight million tweets about the US-Portugal match as it was played. In Team USA’s much-anticipated follow-up Thursday, another three million tweets were posted during a 1-0 loss to powerhouse Germany.

Facebook said 10 million people accounted for 20 million reactions to US-Portugal. A Facebook spokesperson told CNN:

“It turned out to be a unique moment for us, and one that has seen the highest level of conversation for any event Facebook has ever measured.”

Then there’s ESPN, which had technical difficulties during US-Germany: The sports broadcasting giant’s live-streaming app crashed under the stress of viewer demand for all World Cup action, most certainly including US-Germany.

This ESPN PR tweet says it all:

“FINAL WatchESPN record 1.7 mil peak concurrent viewers. Minor issues at start of match. Internet rarely tested like this for sporting event.”

ESPN’s online viewership translated to roughly 19 million TV viewers, the New York Daily News reported.

The US plays Tuesday in the knockout round. Expect to refresh those records.

Here are four more stories found on the beat:

Major ruling

Without a warrant, police “generally” cannot search a suspect’s cell phone taken during an arrest. That’s how the Supreme Court unanimously ruled Wednesday in Riley v. California.

David Leon Riley had his cell phone seized when arrested on weapons charges. While in custody, police searched the phone, which contained incriminating evidence used in his conviction.

Riley appealed, citing a Fourth Amendment violation. The Supreme Court agreed:

“The fact that technology now allows an individual to carry such information in his hand does not make the information any less worthy of the protection for which the Founders fought. Our answer to the question of what police must do before searching a cell phone seized (in an) arrest is accordingly simple – get a warrant.”

Device of choice

Among 25- to 34-year-olds, more than 50% have a tablet, according to this CNET report citing new IDG research. IDG polled 23,500 people across 43 countries, the story said.

Moreover, 40% of respondents scrapped their desktop computer or laptop for a tablet. And 80% use a tablet for work-related research at night.

Mobile manipulation

Mobile malware is growing, according to the McAfee Labs Threats Report June 2014. And trusted apps are targets:

“We tend to trust the names we know on the Internet and risk compromising our safety if it means gaining what we most desire,” McAfee Labs Senior Vice President Vincent Weafer said via press release. “The year 2014 has already given us ample evidence that mobile malware developers are playing on these inclinations to manipulate the familiar, legitimate features in the mobile apps and services we recognize and trust.

“Developers must become more vigilant with the controls they build into these apps, and users must be more mindful of what permissions they grant.”

According to the release, mobile malware grew 167% between the first quarters of 2013 and this year.

Parking ban

The Los Angeles Times reported that San Francisco’s city attorney, Dennis Herrera, made it known that the Monkey Parking app is illegal. A cease-and-desist order was issued to the maker of the app, which let the city’s drivers auction their public parking spaces to others operating a vehicle in the vicinity.

“Technology has given rise to many laudable innovations in how we live and work – and Monkey Parking is not one of them,” Herrera told the LA Times. “We will not abide businesses that hold hostage on-street public parking spots for their own private profit.”

Apple was also asked to remove the app from its App Store.

“Hit the brakes” has a new meaning.

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