Google brings interactive cards to YouTube in hopes to replace annotations
If you’ve ever uploaded your own YouTube video and tried to use the “annotations” feature, you’d know that it’s very limited in functionality. That’s why today, Google has announced the addition of interactive cards to YouTube on both desktop and mobile. The company explains that the new feature is an evolution of annotations, which will allow creators to inform viewers about other videos, merch, playlists, websites and more.
The cards feature definitely looks more visually attractive than annotations, and is much less intrusive. Instead of having a big text bubble pop up while you’re watching a video, the cards tab can be expanded by clicking on a button towards the top of the video. There are currently a few different types of card layouts to choose from, including merchandise, fundraising and more. If you’d like to compare and contrast each layout, you can check out some specific examples by following the source link below.
Google explains that the goal with cards is to one day replace annotations entirely:
Because cards work across mobile and desktop and give you more flexibility to share what you want, our goal is to have these eventually replace annotations. But this will happen only once they can do everything annotations can do today, and more. Until then, we’re looking forward to your feedback on cards, including what you want them to do for you in the future.
If you’d like to take advantage of the new feature, you’ll find a “Cards” tab in your Video Editor that will let you create and edit them any time you’d like.
YouTube for Artists offers tools to launch your online music career
YouTube can be a powerful tool for emerging musicians, offering a direct line to fans and always teasing the possibility of a surprise, viral hit. YouTube for Artists is a new initiative aimed at making it easier for artists to connect with their audiences, manage their videos and review data — who’s watching what, where do your fans live, what do they like? The initiative’s homepage breaks down ways to advertise shows or merchandise in music videos, offers ideas for collaboration, and has tips for becoming a revenue-generating YouTube Partner.
The Partner program includes participation in YouTube’s Music Key beta. This subscription service launched in beta form in November, and it provides ad-free playback, Spotify-like playlists, offline and background music options, and access to the full Google Play music library.
The more musicians and artists that use YouTube to promote their work, the better that is for YouTube’s future plans. Music Key needs musicians to function as promised, and YouTube for Artists is similar to analytics services offered by Spotify, for example. YouTube already extends this type of support structure to video bloggers and personalities, and it looks like music is the next big bet.
Filed under: Internet, HD, Google
Source: YouTube
The memory bug present in Android 5.1 has been fixed internally
The release of Lollipop 5.0 is a rather touchy subject for many members of the Android community. Whilst it’s the biggest visual and technical overhaul since Ice Cream Sandwich, it carries a handful of extremely irritating bugs that render some smartphones unusable.
Amongst the bugs is one that’s been dubbed the “great memory leak.” This is the result of a handset failing to clear its memory (RAM), which causes almost every application to repeatedly crash and the launcher to regularly redraw — making it almost impossible to use any app or service.
When Lollipop 5.1 was first announced, many hoped that the issue would finally be resolved. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Even though version 5.1 fixed the bug present in 5.0, this latest release brought its own memory leak to the table, which proved to be just as bad.
Thankfully, Google has today announced that the 5.1 memory leak has been “fixed internally”, but it does “not currently have a timeline for public release.”
Source: Google
Come comment on this article: The memory bug present in Android 5.1 has been fixed internally
Apple to Lure Android Users to iPhone With New Trade-In Program
Apple plans to lure Android switchers to the iPhone by offering them Apple gift cards in exchange for their Android devices, reports 9to5Mac. The gift cards will be available under a new recycling and trade-in program that will provide in-store credit for users who trade in old smartphones, including those that come from rival smartphone manufacturers.
The new program will work similarly to Apple’s existing trade-in program, which provides users with gift cards for older Apple devices that can be used towards a new purchase. Value of the gift cards provided to Android switchers will vary based on the individual device, its age, and its condition.
Apple has been making efforts in recent months to attract users switching from Android devices. In addition to this new trade-in program, the company has also created a detailed guide that walks Android users through moving data from their Android devices to the iPhone.
Following the launch of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the devices had brought the highest Android switcher rate Apple had seen in three years. At the time, Cook also said he expects to see more customers switching over to iPhone.
Apple retail employees will begin receiving training on the new trade-in program this week and it will launch in the near future.
How to see unconfirmed calendar events in Calendar for iPhone and iPad
By default, the Calendar app on your iPhone or iPad won’t show events you haven’t confirmed on your calendar view. If you don’t like this behavior and would like to see all events — declined or not — in all calendar views on your iPhone or iPad, all you’ve got to do is change a setting. Here’s how!
When you choose to show declined events in the Calendar app, you won’t actually receive notifications for them. You’ll simply see them in your Calendar app. You’ll only ever receive notifications if you change your RSVP to either maybe or attending.
How to see shared events you previously declined in Calendar for iOS
- Launch the Calendar app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on Calendars in the bottom navigation.
- Turn On the option for Show Declined Events, it’s all the way at the bottom.
- Tap Done at the top right.
HTC releases its Fun Fit fitness tracking app to the Play Store
HTC has just released its new fitness tracking app, called Fun Fit, to the Google Play Store. The app is compatible with devices running Android 4.1 and up, and aims to make fitness fun by connecting you and your Facebook friends together.
The app is easy to use and sports a familiar HTC design language. It will count your steps throughout the day, provide daily activity history including distance and calories burned, and will also supply daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly record reports. Oddly enough, you can only sign in as a guest or with your Facebook account information, not with your HTC account. And for now, you can only sign in on one device at a time. We’re sure support for multiple devices and more login options will be added in the future, as this is very clearly a version 1.0 release. To get some more information on the app, take a look at the screenshots below.
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HTC’s Fun Fit app isn’t too heavy on the features and doesn’t really bring too many new notable enhancements to the table. But if you’re waiting to see how the app progresses in the future or are just a big fan of HTC’s design language, the app can be downloaded for free in the Google Play Store.
YouTube cards might finally get you to click video links
Lots of YouTube videos carry annotations with links to related clips or other websites, but how many of them do you actually visit? Probably few of them, if any. However, YouTube may have a way to pique your interest. It’s rolling out cards that both look much nicer — compared to text boxes, anyway — and are available at any time, not just at specific moments. They’ll work on mobile, too, so you won’t miss important contextual info just because you’re on your phone. YouTube isn’t ditching old-school annotations yet (it wants to fill out the cards’ feature set first), but it’s clear that their days are numbered.
Source: YouTube Creators
Feld & Volk Expanding Luxury iPhone 6 Lineup With Carbon, Titanium, Sapphire, and More [iOS Blog]
Following a number of leaks last year that saw the company reveal the NFC-equipped logic board from the iPhone 6 and even build a booting device from parts in the weeks before the device’s official debut, Feld & Volk moved quickly to launch its own versions of the device. The company specializes in modifying iPhones for the luxury market by replacing the standard rear shells with new ones made from other high-end materials, frequently including touches such as gold plating and lighted Apple logos.
Feld & Volk’s first iPhone 6 offering was its Wood collection, priced at $3900, but the company is now moving forward with a number of new collections to be shown starting later this week at the Baselworld watch and jewelry expo in Switzerland.
Feld & Volk’s iPhone 6 Wood collection
Among the new materials being shown by Feld & Volk are carbon and titanium, with a new model pairing a carbon rear panel with a titanium frame and a glowing blue Apple logo. The iPhone 6 Carbon is already being featured by French retailer Colette, which notably was the site of the Apple Watch’s first public appearance last September.
Other new collections from Feld & Volk will include one with alligator leather and another featuring a sapphire back with a titanium frame, and Feld & Volk is also teasing upcoming announcements involving illumination to build upon the company’s glowing Apple logo feature.
Feld & Volk’s iPhone 6 Carbon collection
While there has long been a market for modified luxury versions of Apple’s products, the segment is seeing increased attention with the upcoming launch of the Apple Watch, with Apple itself selling 18K gold versions of the device priced at $10,000-$17,000. Feld & Volk and other similar companies are no doubt looking to capitalize on this move by Apple, and Baselworld is likely to be the site of a number of such announcements. Feld & Volk will be making additional announcements at the expo and will be providing updates on its site and Facebook page.
HTC teases big announcement for U.S. market this Wednesday
Jason Mackenzie, president of HTC America, took to Twitter this morning to let followers know the company was going to be making a “BIG” announcement regarding the U.S. market. For those working on their tourney brackets, the odds probably favor this being an announcement about availability. If HTC is able to provide a specific date, that would be welcome news, especially after the apparent snafu they have experienced launching the device in their home market of Taiwan.
For those of you looking for an upset to bust up a bracket, Mackenzie’s emphasis on the word “big” could be alluding to the HTC One M9 Plus. That device supposedly will be limited to the Chinese market according to many rumors. Mackenzie did tag his tweet with HTCOneM9, so the possibility of a Plus related announcement is a long shot.
source: @JasonMacHTC
Come comment on this article: HTC teases big announcement for U.S. market this Wednesday
HTC One M9 continues to overheat; hits 131 degrees
The rumors/proof of the Snapdragon 810 processor overheating have been around ever since the Qualcomm powered chip was first announced. It has been denied from Qualcomm and even LG. Most recently, the HTC One M9 seems to disregard those claims as it continues to overheat.
The first real overheating issue spotted was right after HTC’s MWC announcement of the One M9 where it overheated during the AnTuTu Benchmark. While it did overheat, there could have been plenty of factors that played into it such as continued charging, excessive use, pre-production device, etc. It definitely didn’t douse the rumors, but it kept them coming.
Today, more information of the chip set overheating within the metal unibody of the HTC One M9 has surfaced. A Dutch site called Tweakers took the HTC One M9 and put it through a battery of tests, including the GFXBench. During the benchmark, the rear of the device heated up to 131 degrees. To give you a perspective, tap water at 140 degrees can give you third-degree burns.
Tweakers didn’t stop there, as the lined of five flagship devices and ran the same benchmark side-by-side to give a perspective to how hot each device actually gets. Among the devices, the Galaxy Note 4 and the HTC One M9’s predecessor were the coolest at 100 degrees and 102 degrees respectively.
While this is definitely still a cause for concern, the conditions are unknown. Like we mentioned earlier, it could be because of the device not being a final product or other outside factors. We won’t know until the masses get their hands on the HTC One M9 later this month.
Does all these overheating issues raise concern for purchasing the HTC One M9? Be sure to let us know in the comment section below.
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