Summary: After a tumultuous year that saw the sad passing of actress and author <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/27/movies/carrie-fisher-dead-star-wars-princess-leia.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Carrie Fisher</a> (as well as <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-37072736" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kenny Baker</a>) the year 2017 has arrived. And so, coincidentally, is Episode 217 of Pop Tech Jam.<br> On this week’s show, El Kaiser and J.D. discuss some early announcements out of the <a href="http://www.ces.tech/">Consumer Electronics Show</a>, what Facebook’s been up to lately and explore suggestions to the Twitter’s CEO about improving the bird-themed microblogging service.<br> J.D. also has a (<a href="http://www.poptechjam.com/hopefully-helpful-hint-free-space/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hopefully) Helpful Hint about watching the skies</a>. While you’re looking up, raise a glass to the memories of the actors that brought Princess Leia and R2-D2 to life all those years ago. They will be with us, always.<br> Links to Stories in This Week’s Episode<br> <br> * <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-bright-lights-documentary-moved-up-20161230-story.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">HBO moves up debut of Debbie Reynolds-Carrie Fisher documentary ‘Bright Lights’ to Jan. 7</a> (Los Angeles Times)<br> * <a href="http://blog.lenovo.com/en/blog/raising-the-iq-of-todays-smart-home/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Raising the IQ of today’s smart home</a> (Lenovo blog)<br> * <a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170103005694/en/DISH-Amazon-Deliver-Alexa-Voice-Control-Hopper" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">DISH and Amazon deliver Alexa voice control on Hopper DVR</a> (Businesswire)<br> * <a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/alexa-start-the-washer-whirlpool-makes-it-possible-at-ces/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alexa, start the washer: Whirlpool makes it possible at CES</a> (CNET)<br> * <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/seiki-westinghouse-electronics-and-element-electronics-introduce-the-first-line-of-4k-ultra-hd-smart-tvs-with-amazon-fire-tv-300384492.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Seiki, Westinghouse Electronics and Element Electronics introduce the first line of 4K Ultra HD Smart TVs with Amazon Fire TV</a> (PR Newswire)<br> * <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2016/12/28/facebook-google-dominate-the-list-of-2016s-top-apps/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook & Google dominate the list of 2016’s top apps</a> (TechCrunch)<br> * <a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7639969/facebook-developing-copyright-id-system-music-rights-infringement" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook developing Copyright ID system to stem music rights infringement</a> (Billboard)<br> * <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/facebook-doesnt-tell-users-everything-it-really-knows-about-them" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook doesn’t tell users everything it really knows about them</a> (ProPublica)<br> * <a href="https://m.facebook.com/help/494750870625830?helpref=uf_permalink." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">How does Facebook work with data providers?</a> (Facebook)<br> * <a href="http://www.pcmag.com/news/350685/luggage-tag-code-unlocks-flights-flyer-miles-your-identity" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Luggage tag code unlocks your flights, identity to hackers</a> (PCmag.com)<br> * <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/01/02/elon-musks-spacex-says-it-has-found-cause-of-rocket-explosion-and-plans-to-fly-again-sunday/?hpid=hp_hp-more-top-stories_no-name%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.8041535d7fef" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Elon Musk’s SpaceX says it has found cause of rocket explosion and plans to fly again Sunday</a> (The Washington Post)<br> * <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/dec/31/french-workers-win-legal-right-to-avo..."></a>
