‘Yahoo Newsroom’ App Launches With Curated Stories, Social Features, and More
Yahoo today announced the rebranding of its core mobile app to “Yahoo Newsroom,” where users can engage in conversations and social interactions about news relevant to their interests. The app makes it easy to discover new and breaking stories through a range of topics the company is referring to as “Vibes.” Yahoo describes each Vibe as a “forum where you read, react, and debate topics that you care about.”
With every Vibe followed, the app’s newsfeed “will adjust to include the stories and conversations that matter most to you,” and the more the app is used, more user-specific content will appear for each person. Users can also post articles into various Vibes, along with their opinion on the subject, so other users can comment and begin a discussion.
What’s exciting about this experience is that it empowers our community of hundreds of millions of global users to participate in and help shape the conversation. You can now post articles from around the web – with your reactions – directly into specific “Vibes” to spark a discussion. Yahoo’s personalization technology ensures that people who share your interests will see your posts and be prompted to join the conversation.
The company hopes that Yahoo Newsroom encourages users to participate in discussions on a wide range of topics while being “free from social pressure” that might be present in other communities. Yahoo says its new app is specifically aimed at exploring the Vibes curated for you with “people that share your interests, not ‘friends’ on social media.”
Those interested can check out Yahoo Newsroom on the iOS App Store today for free. [Direct Link]
Tags: Yahoo, Yahoo Newsroom
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple TV Universal Search Now Supports The CW, Expands to 5 More Countries
Apple has added The CW to the universal search function on the fourth-generation Apple TV, less than a week after the app launched in the United States.
The CW app allows Apple TV owners to watch new episodes of shows on the network for free, with ads, with no cable authentication or login required. Only five episodes from the most recent season of each show are available to watch, with no archived content available from past seasons.
Apple TV universal search has also expanded to five additional countries, namely Mexico, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the Netherlands, for iTunes movies and Netflix. Meanwhile, in Australia, universal search now supports regional video on demand services ABC iview and Plus7, a few months after support for Stan was added.
For those unfamiliar with universal search, it’s a feature that allows users to conduct Siri voice searches or text-based searches to find TV and movie content across a wide range of channels. At launch, universal search only supported a few channels, but Apple has been rapidly expanding the feature to encompass additional channels.
Apple TV universal search is available for a wide number of apps in the United States, but the feature is limited to iTunes and Netflix in Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. In some other countries and regions, only movies in iTunes are supported.
Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 10
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Caution)
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple Seeds Second Beta of tvOS 10.0.1 to Developers
Apple today seeded the second beta of tvOS 10.0.1, Build 14U66, to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after releasing the first tvOS 10.0.1 beta and three weeks after releasing the tvOS 10 update.
Designed for the fourth-generation Apple TV, tvOS 10.0.1 can be installed by connecting the Apple TV to a computer with a USB-C to USB-A cable, downloading and installing the software via iTunes or Apple Configurator. Once a beta profile has been installed on the device through iTunes, new beta updates will be available over the air.
No obvious outward-facing features were discovered in the tvOS 10.0.1 beta, so it’s likely it focuses on bug fixes and under-the-hood performance improvements to address issues discovered since the release of the first version of tvOS 10.
Single sign-on, a feature that will allow Apple TV users to sign in once with their cable credentials to access all live cable content included in a cable subscription, does not appear to be in this beta and will be introduced in the future.
tvOS 10 brings improved search, expanded Siri capabilities, a new dark mode, a Continuity option for using the iPhone for text input, automatic download of universal apps, easy access to live TV, and more.
Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 10
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Caution)
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple Seeds Second Beta of watchOS 3.1 to Developers
Apple today seeded the second beta of watchOS 3.1, Build 14S464, to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the first beta and three weeks after releasing watchOS 3 to the public.
watchOS 3.1 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General -> Software Update. To install the update, the Apple Watch must have 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone. watchOS 3.1 requires an iPhone running iOS 10 to install.
watchOS 3.1 appears to focus on bug fixes and under-the-hood performance improvements rather than outward-facing changes, as no new features were discovered in the first beta. We’ll update this post with anything new that’s found in the second beta.
watchOS 3 brings a new interface to the Apple Watch, with a dedicated App Dock and instant launch apps. There are new Activity sharing features, a “Breathe” app guides you through daily deep breathing sessions to cut down on stress, and there are new Reminders, Find My Friends, and Heart Rate apps.
Three new watch faces are included, and an SOS feature can automatically call emergency services. A revamped Messages app makes it easier to reply to incoming texts, plus there’s a new “Scribble” feature for writing replies on the Apple Watch face with a finger.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple Releases Third macOS Sierra 10.12.1 Beta for Public Beta Testers
Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming macOS Sierra 10.12.1 update to public beta testers, one week after seeding the second public beta and one day after seeding the third beta to developers. It’s been two weeks since Apple released macOS Sierra to the public.
Beta testers who have signed up for Apple’s beta testing program will receive the 10.12.1 macOS Sierra beta through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store.
Those who want to be a part of Apple’s beta testing program can sign up to participate through the beta testing website, which gives users access to both iOS and macOS Sierra betas. Betas should not be installed on a primary machine due to the potential for instability.
macOS Sierra 10.12.1 appears to focus mainly on bug fixes and performance improvements to address issues that have surfaced up since macOS Sierra was first released. It also includes album support in Photos for the new Portrait feature in iOS 10 on the iPhone 7 Plus.
macOS Sierra is a major operating system update that introduces features like Siri support, cross device copy paste, improved iCloud functionality, the ability to unlock a Mac with the Apple Watch, an Optimize Storage option, and more.
Related Roundup: macOS Sierra
Discuss this article in our forums
This trick lets you navigate around your iPhone’s busted bits – CNET
No home button, no problem: navigate around your iPhone’s busted bits
Assistive Touch can be a massive help if your iPhone’s buttons are breaking down or broken off.
by Daniel Van Boom
Close
Drag
Phones break, no matter how advanced they get. Especially if their owners are uncoordinated, like me.
Thankfully, iPhones have a workaround that’ll help you navigate even if one or more of your buttons are broken. In the video above you’ll find how to activate assistive touch, which can act as a home button, volume knob, mute button and much, much more.
Emerson Sensi review – CNET
The Good Emerson’s $160 Sensi Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat costs less than many other smart-home models, its button interface and app are thoughtfully arranged and it works with Amazon’s Alexa.
The Bad The Sensi doesn’t come with algorithmic learning, remote sensors or geofencing capabilities; the thermostat hardware is on the plain side of the spectrum.
The Bottom Line The Sensi is a solid option if you’re looking for a smart thermostat upgrade that still manages to keep things simple.
Visit manufacturer site for details.
Emerson’s Sensi Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat doesn’t rely on algorithms, remote sensors, geofencing or any other high-end smarts a la Nest’s Learning Thermostat, Honeywell’s Lyric or the Ecobee3. In fact, it’s really just a basic-looking programmable thermostat with a related app. So, why should you buy it over the competition?
Let me count the ways:
- It’s affordable — the Sensi has an MSRP of $160, but is widely available at stores like Home Depot for $129 and on Amazon for just $104. Nest and other connected models cost as much as $249. Amazon’s UK site lists Sensi for £341 through a reseller, so it’s much cheaper and easier to find in the US.
- It’s easy to use — Both the thermostat and the app have thoughtful, logical layouts that make usability a breeze.
- It works with Amazon’s Alexa — You can pair any Alexa-compatible device with Sensi for fast voice control integration.
If you’re on the hunt for a thermostat upgrade, but don’t want or need all of the fancy extras, the Sensi’s semi-smartness still makes it much simpler to heat and cool your home. I definitely recommend it.
Don’t overlook the understated Sensi smart…
See full gallery
1 – 5 of 7
Next
Prev
Sensi, part one
If I were to come across the Sensi on a store shelf alongside other connected thermostats, I would assume someone put it there by mistake. This thing is pretty utilitarian-looking. It’s way better than the 20-year-old, barely functioning model in my house right now, sure, but decidedly lacking in the dazzling design department.
All thermostats, all the time:
- What’s a C-wire, and why should you care?
- Honeywell finds a new look for its latest Lyric thermostat
- Same great Nest thermostat, now with even better looks
- Ecobee’s smart thermostat closes in on Nest
- Honeywell’s next-gen Lyric thermostat sings the same old tune
- These smart thermostats steal the heating and cooling spotlight
- Thermostat buying guide
- Have a radiator? This thermostat wants to make it smarter
- How to find a great thermostat for just 30 bucks
Since the advent of the Nest Learning Thermostat in 2011, a $249 smart model designed by two former Apple employees, a number of manufacturers have turned away from the practical rectangular white box look and have instead tried to add a dose of modern design into the mix.
Emerson didn’t do that with the Sensi, but it isn’t all bad news — its buttons are responsive, its display is large and it’s easy to read from a distance, as well as different angles. The app and Amazon Alexa integrations, too, are simple to configure and create a number of opportunities for remote access.
But before all that, you have to install your Sensi.
First stop? Check here to see if your wiring is compatible and be sure to visit Sensi’s support page if you have installation questions. As always, consult a professional if you aren’t comfortable going the do-it-yourself route, but a basic familiarity with thermostat wiring should have everything up and running in minutes. It took me roughly 10-15 minutes, but the holes in my wall from the old thermostat conveniently lined up with the Sensi’s, so I took a slight shortcut.
Click through the gallery below for a tutorial on how to install a Sensi thermostat; this covers everything from removing your old thermostat to pairing the Sensi to the companion app.
Google Pixel arriving on October 20, according to Canadian carrier
Google’s Pixel phones may arrive on October 20 — at least at the carrier level — according to one Canadian carrier.
A sponsored Facebook post issued yesterday by Rogers, Canada’s largest carrier — and not the same one that leaked Pixel details over the weekend — says that the devices will be available 16 days after pre-orders go live, if they do indeed begin today.
Like the Bell and Carphone Warehouse leaks, Rogers refers to Pixel as “a phone by Google,” which increasingly looks like where the marketing line is leaning, and supports the “made by Google” that we saw teased last month.
Follow our Google Pixel liveblog starting at 9am PT / 12pm ET
We’ll know everything later on today, so stay tuned!
Google Pixel + Pixel XL
- Everything we know so far
- New navigation buttons
- Google UI + circular icons
- Android 7.1 Nougat
- Pixel vs Pixel XL
- Older Nexus phones
AIVAnet 