Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | RoyalFive)

The proposal from former Chairman Tom Wheeler was officially “on circulation,” meaning that commissioners could vote on it at any time. That was the case until Friday, when Pai removed the set-top box proposal from the list of items on circulation, an FCC official confirmed. (Pai also removed a Wheeler proposal to lower the price caps for business data services.)

Republican members of Congress had previously asked Pai to close the set-top box proceeding entirely. But while Wheeler’s proposal can no longer be voted upon, the proceeding is still open, and Pai could circulate an alternative proposal. There’s no word on whether he has any plans to do so, though.

Enlarge / US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Vice President Mike Pence looks on at the White House in Washington, DC on January 20, 2017. (credit: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images))

On Monday, President Trump signed a far-reaching Executive Order directing federal agencies to get rid of two existing regulations for every new regulation added—regardless of almost any other consideration. Specifically, the order says that “unless prohibited by law,” agencies “shall identify at least two existing regulations to be repealed.” The EO also states that “the total incremental cost of all new regulations, including repealed regulations, to be finalized this year shall be no greater than zero.”

In other words, the costs imposed by repealed rules will have to, at a minimum, equal the costs imposed by any new rules.

Enlarge (credit: DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images + Aurich Lawson + Warren Davis and Jeff Lee)

In the wake of President Trump’s sweeping order to severely limit immigration, visitation, and refugee status for people from seven Muslim-majority countries this weekend, game developers and trade groups are scrambling to respond in ways that protect their members and project a message of inclusiveness in the gaming community.

“We embrace the fact that the passion and skill for game development knows no boundaries—political, geographic, cultural, or demographic,” the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) said in a statement. “Thus to restrict immigration on the basis of an individual’s state of origin represents an ignorant knee-jerk [reaction] that assumes only the worst and wrongly stereotypes the people of an entire culture. We stand in absolute opposition to any policy in any government that would seek to unduly restrict an individual’s ability to pursue their creative passion and chosen career path in game development.”

The Entertainment Software Association, which represents most major game publishers in the United States, was a little more circumspect in its criticism of Trump’s order, saying, “The Entertainment Software Association urges the White House to exercise caution with regard to vital immigration and foreign worker programs. As a leading force in technology and exporter of entertainment, the US video game industry thrives on the contributions of innovators and storytellers from around the world. While recognizing that enhancing national security and protecting our country’s citizens are critical goals, our companies rely on the skilled talent of US citizens, foreign nationals, and immigrants alike. Our nation’s actions and words should support their participation in the American economy.”

Enlarge / The Apple Watch Series 2 and some of its bands. (credit: Valentina Palladino)

Every spring, Apple releases a last round of major updates to the current versions of its operating systems before starting work on the new versions it reveals at WWDC in the summer. Last week, Apple put out the first betas of iOS 10.3 and macOS 10.12.4. Today, the company is releasing the first beta of watchOS 3.2 for developers (unlike iOS and macOS, Apple typically doesn’t issue public betas for watchOS).

The update introduces two new features, one familiar and one new. The familiar one is SiriKit, the same API that Apple introduced in iOS 10 (and is expanding ever-so-slightly in iOS 10.3). It lets specific kinds of third-party apps tie into Siri, letting you issue commands by voice. Since Siri is the primary input method in watchOS and messaging apps and workout apps are among SiriKit’s supported apps, the API seems like a good fit.

The second feature is called “Theater Mode,” and as the name implies it’s meant to be used while you’re out at the movies. Turn it on, and Theater Mode mutes the sound on your watch and keeps the screen from lighting up when you raise your wrist. The watch will continue to buzz as you receive notifications, but you’ve got to tap the screen or press the Digital Crown to actually use the screen.