Apple plans to focus on social by making a Snapchat-like video app
Apple is getting into social networking again, but this time it’s not about music. Instead, it’s developing a video-sharing and editing app for iPhone and iPad.
According to Bloomberg, Apple wants to integrate social networking within its mobile products, especially after seeing the success of Facebook and Snapchat in recent years. The report cited “people familiar with Apple’s strategy”. Keep in mind Apple’s hardware business is slowing, and Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, is targeting services as a way to generate more revenue.
The thing is… Apple doesn’t have a good history with social media services. Its iTunes social network, Ping, failed to take off, and it has greatly diminished the Connect social feature in Apple Music. This isn’t stopping the company from developing its own features in order to remain relevant among younger users, however. Plus, it can’t ignore how much time people spend on social.
Snapchat’s 150 million daily active users spend an average of 30 minutes per day on the app. So, Apple has begun developing a video-sharing app that allows users to record video, apply filters and drawings, and share their creations with contacts or followers via social networks such as Twitter. The app currently has a one-hand interface, for ease of use, and video can be shot, edited, and uploaded in 60 seconds.
A prototype for the app even lets users shoot video in an Instagram-like square shape. Apple is hoping this upcoming app, which is being made by the Final Cut Pro and iMovie teams, will appeal to the generation of young users obsessed with Snapchat and Instagram. Apple also hired a former president of a New York-based video production company to head the project.
The reports noted this unnamed app is in “preliminary development stages”, and that Apple is aiming for a 2017 release. The project could be killed, though.
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Pay what you want for 9 top-rated programming courses
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Rifftrax app takes the guesswork out of syncing jokes to film
For fans of snarky, alternative film commentary, Rifftrax has long been a haven of amusement. For only a few dollars, one can hear MST3K veterans Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett rag on classic and modern cinema. There was only one problem: syncing these audio tracks to the actual movies could be a minor nightmare. Fortunately, those days seem to be behind us: the group’s new RiffTrax app will do it for you.
The company’s announcement sums up the app’s features perfectly: “Think of it like Shazam,” the post reads, “but for riffs.” Indeed, that’s exactly what it is. The Rifftrax app uses your device’s microphone to listen for a movie and automatically syncs Rifftrax playback to the film. It’s simple and easy… but not perfect. Despite offering easy access to the user’s library of “just the jokes” RiffTrax, the app doesn’t support Bluetooth speakers just yet. Still, the app is free — and better than trying to sync the audio up yourself. The Rifftrax app is available on both Google Play and Apple’s App store. Check out the source link below for additional details.
Source: Rifftrax
The 2017 iPhone might ditch the home button, have a curved display
Apple hasn’t even released this year’s iPhone upgrade yet, and there are already reports coming out about the 2017 model.
Next year is the 10th anniversary of the iPhone, and so rumour has it Apple is going all out. In fact, it’s keeping this year’s upgrade pretty basic, because it wants to save a dramatic redesign for the 2017 iPhone. As part of that redesign, Apple will ditch the home button, which has existed on all previous iPhones to date, according to a new report from Bloomberg.
Other rumours about the 2017 iPhone include OLED display technology, so the entire from of the handset will look like “a single sheet of glass”, The Wall Street Journal reported in June. Apple might release a third model next year, too, alongside the standard iPhone and the Plus version. Its standout feature will be a curved display like Samsung’s Galaxy S7 Edge.
Nikkei Asian Review claimed Samsung may supply the curved OLED displays. As for this year’s model, it’ll get rid of the headphone jack, and come with two rear cameras and 3GB of RAM. It’ll also have a pressure-sensitive home button.
WhatsApp says it’s going to start giving user data to Facebook
Ever since Facebook acquired the WhatsApp messaging app two years ago, users have worried about their privacy.
The app’s co-founder wrote a blog post at the time to alleviate their concerns, saying “respect for your privacy is coded into our DNA, and we built WhatsApp around the goal of knowing as little about you as possible”. But it appears WhatsApp is backtracking a bit on that now.
WhatsApp has announced it will begin sharing some user data with its parent company, like user’s phone numbers, so that Facebook can tailor its friend suggestions by mapping users’ social connections between the two services. It’ll also help Facebook serve up more relevant ads. Analytics data from WhatsApp will also be used by Facebook to track usage and fight spam.
WhatsApp said it’s interested in seeing how businesses can use its app to contact customers. It provided a few examples, such a bank alerting a user about a fraudulent transaction. But in order to test these features, it first needs to update its privacy policy. Keep in mind Facebook has already been testing similar features in Messenger, so the news shouldn’t be shocking.
WhatsApp said users can still “manage these communications”, and it isn’t getting into third-party banner ads. The app also reminded users that it’s all about privacy. For instance, it supports end-to-end encryption.
Samsung’s Dolby Atmos soundbars are ready for your living room
After announcing a pair of Dolby Atmos-equipped soundbars at CES, Samsung is finally shipping the duo in the US. The HW-K950 and HW-K850 are both available now, so long as you’re willing to part with either $1,499 or $999, respectively. What are you getting for the extra dough? Samsung’s HW-K950 is a more a complete sound system with a soundbar, two satellite speakers and a subwoofer. The whole group is wireless so you won’t have to worry about hiding any unsightly cables. What’s more, both the soundbar and the pair of smaller speakers project sound upward for any overhead effects the Dolby Atmos tech employs.
If you’re looking to save a little coin, the HW-K850 does cost $500 less, but you have to give up those two satellite speakers. Of course, you can always upgrade later with a pair of Samsung’s Radiant360 speakers for some Portal-esque flair. In addition to the Dolby Atmos compatibility, the HW-K950 and HW-K850 both offer Bluetooth connectivity for playing tunes from a mobile device. You can also stream music over WiFi with the Samsung Multiroom app which also controls any of the company’s other speakers you may have situated around your house.
Source: Samsung (Business Wire)
CBS All Access hits Xbox One
If you have been patiently waiting to try CBS All Access on your Xbox One, there’s good news. CBS has announced that its streaming service is now available on Microsoft’s console. It’s perfect timing for Xbox fans, as the anticipated January, 2017 premier of the All Access-exclusive Star Trek series is only months away.
CBS All Access is similar to Netflix and Amazon Prime in that it offers thousands of on-demand episodes from the network’s old and new shows, including The Good Wife, for $5.99 per month. So far, the company’s heavy focus on All Access is paying off as it announced last month that its streaming service has one million subscribers. Xbox One’s large consumer base will surely further add to that number. But, the only people that are still missing out on CBS’ on-demand online content are PlayStation 4 fans, and hopefully that gets rectified soon.
Source: CBS
De La Soul releases crowdfunded ‘and the Anonymous Nobody’ album
Like many Kickstarter projects, the new De La Soul album took a lot longer to arrive than promised, but now it’s here. Originally scheduled for release in September 2015, the group’s new project carefully avoids the sample clearance hell that has kept their previous work offline. This time, the samples come from jam sessions they recorded with LA-area musicians, keeping the rights in-house. The 17-track and the Anonymous Nobody album features collaborations with Pete Rock, 2 Chainz, Snoop Dogg, Damon Albarn (of Gorillaz), Little Dragon, Estelle and a number of other well-known artists.
Our new album has arrived! Get your copy of ‘and the Anonymous Nobody’ here: https://t.co/ZgzQhVjGEx pic.twitter.com/GftyWGhinX
— De La Soul (@WeAreDeLaSoul) August 26, 2016
Backers should have download links in their inboxes now (open them on a desktop, please — the link expires after it’s clicked), while others can listen via the platforms of their choice: iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play Music or even vinyl, it’s all available via the album release site.
Source: De La Soul – and the Anonymous Nobody, Kickstarter
iPhone 7 could have tap-to-pay feature for Japan’s subways
Apple might give its upcoming iPhones an extra feature exclusively for people living in Japan. According to Bloomberg, the tech titan is planning to add tap-to-pay support for the country’s extensive subway system. To accomplish that, it will equip the devices with FeliCa chips, the Sony-developed mobile tap-to-pay standard in the country. Think of FeliCa as Japan’s equivalent to NFC, except a lot more people use it.
Since the feature would also require being able to store virtual transit cards to the Wallet application, Apple is reportedly in the midst of negotiating with providers. The feature’s launch with the next phone depends on the success of those talks. If Cupertino fails to hash out an acceptable agreement, it will have to delay the feature’s launch.
By installing FeliCa chips, Apple will also give people a quick way to buy from vending machines and convenience stores in the country. Those chips can also store e-money, see, and the technology can process payments in 0.1 seconds — much faster than the time it takes for Apple Pay to approve and process transactions.
While this particular info might not be as interesting if you live in other parts of the globe, there are quite a few leaks and rumors going around that could tide you over until Apple’s September event. In the same Bloomberg piece, for instance, the publication mentions that the next iPhones could drop the Home button completely to focus more on the display.
Source: Bloomberg
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