What’s on your HDTV: ‘Penny Dreadful,’ ‘Limitless’

This weekend the NFL Draft will spread across our TVs for three days, along with the continuing NBA and NHL playoffs. Of course, Game of Thrones is back, but on Showtime we also have the excellent Penny Dreadful back for another season (watch the premiere episode here, right now). CBS has the season finale of Limitless, while Netflix offers up the Ricky Gervais film Special Correspondents and the documentary Team Foxcatcher. For gamers, there’s a new episode of The Walking Dead: Michonne, Housemarque (Super Stardust HD, Resogun) is releasing Alienation on PS4 and the new Hoops expansion for Rocket League just released on Xbox One, PS4 and PC. Look after the break to check out each day’s highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).

Blu-ray & Games & Streaming

• Ride Along 2
• Krampus
• Death Becomes Her
• Dolemite
• Phoenix (Criterion)
• The Last Man on the Moon
• The Walking Dead: Michonne Episode 3 (Everything)
• Hearthstone: Whispers of the Old Gods (PC)
• Battle Worlds: Kronos (PS4, Xbox One)
• Aliens vs. Pinball (PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One)
• Party Hard (PS4, Xbox One)
• Alienation (PS4)
• The Deer God (Wii U)

Monday

• Mike & Molly, CBS, 8PM
• Reign (spring premiere), CW, 8PM
• Dancing with the Stars, ABC, 8PM
• The Voice, NBC, 8PM
• WWE Raw, USA, 8PM
• American Dad, TBS, 8:30PM
• Scorpion (season finale), CBS, 9PM
• Lucifer (season finale), Fox, 9PM
• Heart of a Dog, HBO, 9PM
• 12 Monkeys, Syfy, 9PM
• Bates Motel, A&E, 9PM
• Turn (season premiere), A&E, 10PM
• Hunters, Syfy, 10PM
• NCIS: LA, CBS, 10PM
• Damien, A&E, 10PM
• Blindspot, NBC, 10PM
• Billion Dollar Wreck, History, 10PM
• Bitten (series finale), Syfy, 11PM

Tuesday

• New Girl, Fox, 8 & 9PM
• The Voice, NBC, 8PM
• The Flash, CW, 8PM
• Grandfathered, Fox, 8:30PM
• Real O’Neals, ABC, 8:30PM
• Containment, CW, 9PM
• Deadliest Catch, Discovery, 9PM
• Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., ABC, 9PM
• Chicago Med, NBC, 9PM
• America’s Greatest Makers, TBS, 9PM
• The Grinder, Fox, 9:30PM
• Limitless (season finale), CBS, 10PM
• The Night Manager, AMC, 10PM
• Stitchers, Freeform, 10PM
• Awkward, MTV, 10PM
• Chicago Fire, NBC, 10PM
• Beyond the Tank, ABC, 10PM
• Faking It, MTV, 10:30PM

Wednesday

• The Path, Hulu, 3AM
• The Fashion Fund (season finale), Amazon Prime, 3AM
• Survivor, CBS, 8PM
• Rosewood, Fox, 8PM
• Heartbeat, NBC, 8PM
• Arrow, CW, 8PM
• The Goldbergs, ABC, 8:30PM
• Empire, Fox, 9PM
• Criminal Minds, CBS, 9PM
• Rogue, DirecTV, 9PM
• Supernatural, CW, 9PM
• Black-ish, ABC, 9:30PM
• The Americans, FX, 10PM
• The Last Panthers, Sundance, 10PM
• Catfish, MTV, 10PM
• Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, CBS, 10PM
• Nashville, ABC, 10PM
• Underground, WGN, 10PM

Thursday

• NFL Draft: Round 1, ESPN/NFL Network, 8PM
• Grey’s Anatomy, ABC, 8PM
• The Big Bang Theory, CBS, 8PM
• Strong, NBC, 8PM
• Bones, Fox, 8PM
• WWE SmackDown, USA, 8PM
• DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, CW, 8PM
• The Odd Couple, CBS, 8:30PM
• Scandal, ABC, 9PM
• The 100, CW, 9PM
• The Blacklist, NBC, 9PM
• The Eighties, CNN, 9PM
• Mom, CBS, 9PM
• Alone, History, 9PM
• 2 Broke Girls, CBS, 9:30PM
• Inside Amy Schumer, Comedy Central, 10PM
• Archer, FX, 10PM
• Rush Hour, CBS, 10PM
• The Catch, ABC, 10PM
• The Real World, MTV, 10PM
• Orphan Black, BBC America, 10PM
• Adam Devine’s House Party, Comedy Central, 12:30aM

Friday

• Special Correspondents, Netflix, 3AM
• Team Foxcatcher, Netflix, 3AM
• NFL Draft Rds 2-3, ESPN/NFL Network, 7PM
• The Drew, Showtime, 8PM
• The Amazing Race, CBS, 8PM
• The Vampire Diaries, CW, 8PM
• Caught on Camera, NBC, 8PM
• Grimm, NBC, 9PM
• Shark Tank, ABC, 9PM
• Hawaii Five-0, CBS, 9PM
• W. Kamau Bell: Semi-prominent Negro, Showtime, 10PM
• Motive, USA, 10PM
• Banshee, Cinemax, 10PM
• Vice, HBO, 11PM

Saturday

• Outlander, Starz, 9PM
• Cops (season finale), Spike TV, 8PM
• Jazz at the White Whouse, ABC, 8PM
• 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, HBO, 8PM
• Premier Boxing Champions, Fox, 8PM
• Seduced, Lifetime, 8PM
• Christopher Hardwick: Funcomfortable, Comedy Central, 10PM
• Party Over Here, Fox, 11PM

Sunday

• American Country Countdown Awards, Fox, 7PM
• Once Upon A Time, ABC, 8PM
• Little Big Shots, NBC, 8PM
• Call the Midwife, PBS, 8PM
• Madam Secretary, CBS, 8PM
• The Girlfriend Experience, Starz, 8PM
• Game of Thrones, HBO, 9PM
• Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, CNN, 9PM
• House of Lies, Showtime, 9PM
• Fear the Walking Dead, AMC, 9PM
• The Family, ABC, 9PM
• Grantchester (season finale), PBS, 9PM
• The Carmichael Show, NBC, 9PM
• The Good Wife, CBS, 9PM
• Crowded, NBC, 9:30PM
• Dice, Showtime, 9:30PM
• Penny Dreadful (season premiere), Showtime, 10PM
• Silicon Valley, HBO,10PM
• United Shades of America, CNN, 10PM
• Mr. Selfridge, PBS, 10PM
• Elementary, CBS, 10PM
• Girls, HBO, 10PM
• Quantico ABC, 10PM
• Veep, HBO, 10:30PM

(All times listed are ET)

EU invests 1 billion Euros to make quantum computing practical

The European Union doesn’t want to simply wait around while scientists figure out the fundamentals of quantum computing; it’s giving the concept a big financial boost, too. The European Commission has revealed plans for a €1 billion ($1.13 billion) “quantum technologies flagship” that, like other EU-level efforts, aims to turn scientific discoveries into practical realities. The Commission expects the project to help everything from motion sensors in phones to virtually unhackable communications. Honest-to-goodness quantum computers are some of the long-term goals, the EU says.

You won’t see the fruits of this funding for a while. The flagship doesn’t get underway until 2018, and it’s going to take some time after that before you see anything come out of it. Even so, the very fact that a cross-continent governmental organization is pouring that much cash into the technology is telling. It reflects a belief that real-world quantum computing is relatively close at hand, and that it just needs a boost (albeit a very expensive one) to escape the lab.

Via: Nature

Source: European Commission

Apple ‘Reevaluating’ Recruiting Efforts, Reportedly Lays Off All Contract Recruiters

Apple has been cutting down on its recruiting team over the last few months, reports VentureBeat. According to a source that spoke to the site, Apple has laid off all of its contract recruiters and has started to lay off some of its full-time recruiters. Up to 100 employees could be affected by Apple’s decision to prune its recruiting team if the rumors are true.

Essentially the recruiting engine inside Apple has slowed down and the company is reevaluating its activities in that area, the source said.

“You always need to have something new coming out to justify hiring,” the source said.

Apple has also implemented a new incentive structure for recruiters, dropping bonuses from 40 percent of a newly recruited employee’s base salary to 10 to 15 percent. In the future, the inside source believes bonuses could be eliminated entirely. Apple is also not hiring recruiters through its jobs website at this time.

The reason behind Apple’s potential recruiting scale back is not known, but VentureBeat points towards ongoing cutbacks in smartphone production and an imminent Q2 2016 earnings report that’s expected to see a year-over-year decline in iPhone sales and overall revenue.

Despite the reports of recruiting cuts, Apple has, in recent months, been hiring aggressively for its rumored car project, taking on employees from companies like Ford, Tesla, GM, MIT Motorsports, General Dynamics, Samsung, and more.
Discuss this article in our forums

The HTC 10 is your favorite new phone of 2016

In last week’s poll we asked What your favorite new phone of 2016. It’s been a great year so far for phones with great options like the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the HTC 10. Trying to decide on which phone is your favorite can be a struggle with so many options. Still, it seems that the HTC 10 is the phone that’s won your hearts for best new phone of 2016.

The HTC 10 came in first place this week, snatching up 41.63 percent of the vote. The Samsung Galaxy S7 was a close second with 37.75 percent. In third was the LG G5. grabbing up 14.02 percent. The Huawei P9 managed to roll into fourth place with 3.69 percent. In last place with only 2.91 percent of the vote was the Sony Xperia Z5.

Did we forget a phone that should have been a contender? Are you on team HTC 10? Let us know where you stand in the comments!

HTC 10

• HTC 10 review
• HTC 10 specs
• These are the HTC 10 colors
• Our first photo and video samples
• Meet the Ice View case
• Join our HTC 10 forums

HTC
Verizon

Dear LG: Reinstalling the software on your Android phones shouldn’t be this way

If you buy it, you should also be given the tools to fix it.

I just had to manually flash a KDZ file to my T-Mobile LG V10. Now I’m ready to turn it off and never touch it again, and it’s all because of the silly method required to “fix” it when you need to fix it yourself.

I like the V10. I wish LG would take my privacy and security a little more seriously and send out security patches regularly (I mean, come on, even BlackBerry can do that), and the LG software makes me want to pull my hair out sometimes, but I like the way it’s built, I love the camera it has and the HiFi audio hardware inside of it is really nice. I carry it with me as my point-and-shoot connected camera and music player.

Anyhoo, since I’m the only person here who uses the V10 regularly, I needed to write some words comparing it to the Galaxy S7 edge — people love those, and comparing the best of the best from LG and Samsung is something I’ve been looking forward to doing. But I didn’t want to write anything without the Marshmallow update (that took entirely too long to arrive, but that’s a whole ‘nother story) and something on my unit was fouling that up. The OTA wouldn’t run successfully, and LG Bridge couldn’t verify the software version.

I understand that this can happen, though I also think that maybe someone sent me a special “one-off” version of the software with this particular phone — my “HiFi DAC” setting has always worked with every application, for example. In any case, after some troubleshooting with T-Mobile I was finally referred to LG. Rather than send my V10 somewhere and wait, I knew I could fix it myself. That’s where things turned from being a bad experience to a complete headache.

I use all different kinds of Android phones, but I don’t “mess” with any that aren’t a Nexus. I don’t mind waiting for an OTA to get pushed, and I don’t worry about bloatware that I can’t uninstall. If it’s too bad, I just won’t use it. I like to think that’s how most people (the ones who don’t regularly visit Android blogs) use a phone. But, as I mentioned above, I needed this update to do a little work. Imagine how you folks would howl if I compared the V10 to the S7 edge while the former was still running Lollipop.

Because I don’t normally care to mess with things like flashing factory images or rooting or changing software on phones that aren’t Nexus branded, I had no idea what I was in for. I knew what to do — install the LGUP program on Windows and download the right KDZ file for my V10 — but I’ve never done it before.

I knew what to do, but had no idea what I was in for.

For starters, having to download and install (with administrator rights) software for Windows from some file-sharing site is something nobody should ever do. But LG doesn’t make the LGUP tool available for everyone, so someone working at a place that can repair and restore LG phones had to snag a copy and share it. The same goes for the KDZ file (the factory image) — LG doesn’t want you to have it, so you need to do some trickery via LG Bridge, find the right URL, then download it — or directly download a copy someone else has snagged from an LG server, and hope it’s “legit.” That’s another thing nobody should ever do.

When you buy a computer that’s not designed for your pocket — and Android phones are computers, too — you’re provided with a copy of the shipping software, or a method to download it yourself so you have a backup. Most Windows computers store a full backup in a partition on the primary hard drive so you always have a copy, while Apple and the folks making Linux computers (and this includes your Chromebook) have a public link where you can download a copy. You paid for a license for all that software with the purchase of the computer, and it’s pretty easy to put checks in place so you can’t use it for unintended purposes. If something breaks, you always have a method to restore the software on your very expensive piece of property. And the tools to do it are provided without having to find someone on the inside who can leak out a copy.

Why can’t the people making most Android phones do the same thing?

I’m not saying that flashing a Nexus phone is easy, but everything you need to do it is provided with full instructions about how to use it. The bootloader uses fastboot commands to flash images (which are provided all in one handy place direct from Google), and all the tools are available to do the work with any computer — you could flash the most current version of software on a Nexus S (even the Sprint model) using an ancient computer running Solaris (through QEMU built from source) if you wanted to do it. I certainly wish somebody from Google HQ would spend some time and build an easy front-end and Windows/OS X installer, but at least it’s there. And you can use all of this without installing potentially harmful programs from possibly dodgy sources. Motorola offers similar tools and files for phones made since Google bought it (go figure), and I hope that doesn’t change in 2016 now that Google is out of the picture and Lenovo has stepped in.

Things are different with other brands of Android phones. HTC comes close with some models (though someone needs to let them know that “your PC” is not a valid substitute for “your computer running Windows XP or later, or Vista with some wonky additional tools”) but the other “big” players — namely Samsung and LG — act like you shouldn’t have access to the backup of the shipping software, or the tools you need to install it.

Fastboot works well, and it’s free, but it won’t do much for most Android phones.

That’s ridiculous. It’s not like anyone who would be able to rip apart the software images can’t already “steal” any software right off the phone itself. LG knows this. All the people who make our phones know this, because they’re really smart people who are easily able to yank any file from any running device themselves. LG isn’t protecting any of its IP by not making everything you need available to you. All it’s worried about is that you need to take (or mail) your phone to someone it approves of if something goes wrong.

All this is stupid. I’ll imagine half of the people who visit Android Central regularly could use LGUP without much of a problem if it were easy to get and easy to install. (And we have forums full of brilliant people if you need some help.) Instead, you need to find the DLL file, the application installer, and a random common folder and do everything in the right order to make it work — and that’s after you located the right KDZ or TOT image for your phone — and downloaded it from the source who appears the most trustworthy, because LG doesn’t want you to have it.

The kicker? Fastboot exists. You can use fastboot to OEM unlock the V10. You can use fastboot to fully flash a Moto X that’s unlocked. Google provides the fastboot utility for free, and anyone can build a phone that uses it the way it’s intended to be used. Instead companies like LG (and plenty of others) limit its functionality so they can use something else and control who can fix the phone that you paid for. If LG is worried that you’ll break things then try to get your phone replaced, a big disclaimer that you have to agree to when you download or use the software is pretty easy and would take about a thousand less words than this to write. The small (and I think it’s very small) number of people who would use these tools wouldn’t have much affect on the bottom line anyway.

Using LGUP isn’t hard — but finding it and installing it takes some risks

Not everyone wants to buy or use a Nexus phone. But if you are in the position where things are really broken, you can always fix problems because Google’s not trying to make it impossible for you to fix them. And it’s not just Google. Microsoft gives users the Phone Image Designer tool. Apple has iTunes to fix anything and everything, so while they treat “mobile” a little differently, they make it easy when you have a need to repair broken software. Don’t tell me Microsoft and Apple care less about their IP and warranty claims than LG or Samsung does. I’m left thinking that it’s all about control over hardware that money from your wallet paid for, and if that’s the case, it’s a bullshit reason. I want better. Not just for myself — I’m happy using a Nexus, and don’t have to worry about the silliness — but for everyone. I’ll continue to vote with my wallet, but I know many other people can’t or won’t, and you deserve better, too.

LG V10

• Read our full review
• LG V10, a second opinion
• LG V10 specs
• All the latest LG V10 news
• Join the discussion in our forums
• LG V10 vs. the LG G4

Verizon
AT&T
T-Mobile
Amazon

Grab a Moto 360 Sport for just $199

If you’re in the market for a fitness-focused Android Wear smartwatch, the Moto 360 Sport is currently on sale for just $199. For those keeping track, that’s $100 off the Moto 360 Sport’s normal $299 price point.

Unfortunately, the latest discount only applies to the orange and white versions; you’re out of luck if you want black. Still, it’s not a bad way to get your hands on an Android Wear watch — especially if you plan use the 360 Sport with its built-in GPS as a workout companion.

The discount is set to last through May 2 at Motorola. Both Amazon and B&H Photo are also offering up the Moto 360 Sport at a discount, with the latter throwing in a free cleaning cloth and $50 gift card as well. If you’re interested, you have your pick of retailers at the links below.

See at Motorola

See at Amazon

See at B&H Photo

Google Camera update brings interface tweaks, dedicated slow motion video mode

A fresh update is now rolling out to the Google Camera app, bringing along a slew of interface tweaks and more. Of note are some interesting icon tweaks, with the shutter button losing its blue accent and the camera switcher changing to a circular design. Eagle-eyed users will also spot some slick new animations.

Meanwhile, there’s also now an option to launch directly into a dedicated slow motion video mode (on the Nexus 5X and 6P) in the slide-out camera menu, with a quick toggle to choose between recording speeds on the Nexus 6P. Previously, slow motion video capture was an option in the main video recording interface.

The Camera update is rolling out now, and we’ve so far seen it land for two of our Nexus 6Ps. As with all Google app rollouts, however, this one could take a while to land for everyone. In the meantime, here’s a quick look at just some of the changes in action.

Apple Watch 2 might pack cellular data connectivity, faster processor

Apple is working on the Apple Watch 2 and reportedly planning to add at least two things that’ll make the new watch stand out from its predecessor.

Apple unveiled its original smartwatch, called Apple Watch, in September 2014, but it didn’t begin shipping the wrist wearable until April 2015. Many people therefore didn’t expect Apple to announce a second-generation version during the iPhone 6S event in September 2015 – and they were right. The new watch also didn’t show up at the March 2016 event.

Instead, Apple in March cut the price for the least-expensive version of the watch (Sport Watch model) by $50 to $299. But don’t think Apple has given up on updating its aging wearable. According to The Wall Street Journal, analysts estimate the Apple Watch is a $6 billion business, and so Apple is definitely working on a new version with new features.

One of those new features might be cell-network connectivity. Apple Watch 2 could also come with a faster processor. Many critics have lambasted the now year-old Apple Watch because it’s not useful when away from an iPhone. You can track activity and do some things on Wi-Fi, but that’s it. And its processor is sometimes throttled to extend battery life.

With cellular data on the new Apple Watch, you could presumably leave your iPhone at home, then go out and about, and still receive notifications and run native apps. A faster processor would also make the Apple Watch 2 run smoother, quicker than Apple Watch. Unfortunately, there’s no word yet on when we can expect this new watch.

We also don’t know if a cellular Apple Watch will cost more than a standard model without cellular data. Check out Pocket-lint’s Apple Watch 2 round-up for more details on leaks, etc.

Apple Watch 2: What’s the story so far?

The Apple Watch 2 is close to being ready, or at least that’s what all the latest reports claim.

Apple unveiled its first smartwatch, simply called the Apple Watch, in September 2014, but it didn’t begin shipping the wearable until April 2015. Many people therefore didn’t expect the company to announce an updated version during its iPhone 6S event in September 2015 – and they were right. Since then however, we’ve all been asking ourselves: just when will Apple show off the second-generation Apple Watch?

To help give you some clarity, we’ve rounded up all the rumours. Here’s everything we know so far about Apple Watch 2, including when it might release, how much it might cost, and more…

Apple Watch 2: Name

We’ve only seen one Apple Watch so it’s hard to pinpoint Apple’s naming convention for the device. The company tends to stick to numerical monikers for its iOS products, such as iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, iPhone 6S. The same can’t be said for its OS X products however, with names like the MacBook Pro instead.

For the sake of this feature, we will refer to the second-generation Apple Watch as Apple Watch 2 or next Apple Watch.

Apple Watch 2: Release date

According to China’s United Daily News (via The Gadget Show), the next Apple Watch could launch around June – maybe at WWDC 2016 (kicks off 13 June).

The report quoted Barry Lam, chairman of Apple supplier Quanta, who claimed: “Quanta and Apple are currently developing the second-generation of the Apple Watch, expected late next year in the second quarter.” Keep in mind Quanta is the sole manufacturer of the first Apple Watch, so if Lam is speaking truthfully, we can expect the next Apple Watch to arrive next summer.

If it does launch in the second quarter, Apple might unveil it a few months prior. In 2015, Apple held a March event to shed more details on the first Apple Watch and to unveil the 12-inch MacBook, but history didn’t repeat itself this year. Instead the 21 March Apple event simply revealed new Apple Watch straps, alongside a smaller iPad Pro and a 4-inch iPhone called the iPhone SE.

Apple Watch 2: Pricing

The first Apple Watch starts at £299 ($350) and comes in many different models, sizes, and materials. The models are called Watch, Watch Sport, and Watch Edition, and each one offers two different case sizes: 38mm and 42mm. You must first decide which model you want, then you choose your case size and the band material you prefer. There are plenty of options, which you can read about in our separate feature.

Pricing varies wildly depending on your choices. There are 20 Watch options, 10 Watch Sport options and eight Watch Edition models with prices starting at £449 and ranging up to a whopping £13,500. We expect the next Apple Watch to follow similar pricing tiers – since Apple usually sticks to the original prices it sets for devices.

That said, Apple could introduce more expensive models. 9to5Mac suggested Apple is considering additional price points between the $1,000 stainless steel Apple Watch and the $10,000 18-karat gold Edition. If that’s the case, pricing will be based on materials, naturally.

Update: Apple in March cut the price for the least-expensive version of the watch (Sport Watch model) by $50 to $299. This now appears to be the starting base price for Apple Watch going forward.

Apple Watch 2: Design

A report from South Korea (via G4Games) claimed the next Apple Watch will sport the same design and form factor as the first Apple Watch. It’ll have the same rectangular screen sizes, screen resolution, and body, which therefore means your current straps might remain compatible.

Apple Watch 2 won’t even be thinner, even though its display thickness will apparently be scaled back. This is because rumours are claiming its battery will be bigger.

Tech site, 9to5Mac also claimed the new model would come with new materials like titanium, tungsten, palladium, and platinum, supporting its claim of additional price points.

Apple Watch 2: Features

FaceTime camera

The next Apple Watch will sport a front-facing video camera (located near the top of the display) that will allow for proper FaceTime calls, according to 9to5Mac. It’ll also feature improved wireless capabilities, including a “more dynamic wirless chip” and the ability to do more without a Bluetooth connection to your iPhone, thus enabling you to place and receive video calls directly from your wrist.

Faster Wi-Fi Chip

The first Apple Watch uses Wi-Fi for app updates and messaging, but the new chip will be able to handle more data transfer and router triangulation for improved location accuracy. Although it’ll also consume more power, the next Apple Watch is expected to boast a bigger battery, so you shouldn’t notice any difference in juice (when compared to the current model’s one-day battery).

Cellular data and faster processor

According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple is definitely working on an Apple Watch 2 with new features.

Two of those new features might be cell-network connectivity and a faster processor. Many critics have lambasted the now year-old Apple Watch because it’s not useful when away from an iPhone. You can track activity and do some things on Wi-Fi, but that’s it. And its sluggish processor is sometimes throttled to extend battery life.

With cellular data on the new Apple Watch, you could leave your iPhone at home, then go out, and still get notifications and run apps. A faster processor would also make the Apple Watch 2 run smoother, quicker than Apple Watch.

Want to know more?

Pocket-lint’s Apple, Apple Watch, and Apple Watch 2 hubs have all the latest developments.

Facebook is working on a standalone camera app for live streaming

Facebook doesn’t have a good track record when it comes to standalone apps, but that isn’t stopping it from going back to the drawing board.

According to The Wall Street Journal, a team of Facebook engineers in London are working on a standalone camera app that will allow you to record video and begin live streaming (presumably via Facebook Live). The app would open to the camera to encourage you to capture and post photos and videos.

Snapchat similarly opens straight to a camera and allows you to broadcast snaps to followers, though it doesn’t have a real-time, live-streaming mode. The Wall Street Journal speculated that Facebook is in investing in mobile video in order to get its 1.6 billion users sharing more content.

It’ll also help Facebook compete with Snapchat, a photo-messaging app it once tried buying. Snapchat later built a Snapchat-like app, called Slingshot, but it was killed alongside other standalone apps like Rooms and Riffs when Facebook shut down its in-house app studio Creative Labs.

We don’t know yet what the new camera app will be called. All we know so far is that it’s just a prototype and may never see a public release. Still, it shows Facebook is exploring ways to bolster Facebook Live.

Also, keep in mind the new camera app is different from Facebook Camera, another photo app Facebook launched in 2012 but eventually killed in 2014 because it too failed to gain any traction.

READ: Facebook Live Video: Here’s how it works