Facebook Plans to Make Camera More Prominent in Mobile App, Akin to Snapchat
During a quarterly earnings meeting yesterday, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg briefly commented on the status of the company’s mobile app experience, mentioning a belief that “a text box is still the default way we share.” As reported by Bloomberg, the CEO said that the next step for Facebook on smartphones is a camera-first experience that changes status updates from simple written posts to dynamic photos and videos.
As it stands, when the Facebook app is opened today users must click on “Photo” at the top of the app to begin a status update, then navigate to the Camera icon among their photos in order to take a picture or record a video. Zuckerberg’s vision is one more akin to Snapchat’s camera-first user interface, but on Facebook it’s described as “a swipe away,” hinting that it could be introduced as a new left-to-right swipe, replace the friends list currently in the menu that appears after a right-to-left swipe, or come in from the top of the screen.
Facebook’s Olympics update in Canada and Brazil introduced a camera-first experience
“In most social apps today, a text box is still the default way we share,” Zuckerberg said. “Soon, we believe a camera will be the main way that we share.”
The Facebook camera itself will be updated with new features as well, including new augmented reality filters — like the ones that appeared on Halloween — and “have many of the same features Snapchat has,” according to AdAge. Facebook’s move to put itself more in line with Snapchat has stretched into its other apps, including Instagram, and the new camera-first mindset from the social media company is said to be something it’s looking to implement in Facebook Messenger (which it’s already begun to do) as well as WhatsApp.
For the third quarter, Facebook reported that sales grew 56 percent to $7.01 billion, 84 percent of which was generated on mobile devices. In total, advertising sales account for more than 97 percent of the company’s revenue, but CFO David Wehner mentioned that the company will begin “limiting its ad load” so as not to turn away daily users, which rose to 1.18 billion in Q3 2016.
In regards to the new camera-focused update, Zuckerberg said that “it will start to roll out broadly across the world, hopefully sooner rather than later.” In a small test in Brazil and Canada, Facebook tried out a Snapchat-like experience in its iOS app over the summer, updating it in those countries with a front-facing camera that appears when users open the app and letting them add various themes and filters onto their selfies inspired by the Olympics.
Tag: Facebook
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The Morning After: Thursday November 3 2016
The past 24 hours of news here at Engadget was a heady mix of Pokémon Go bonuses, GIFs in space, Hulk Hogan and robot-selected wine. Definitely not just another Wednesday. We round it out with Facebook’s big success in mobile and why Russia is dropping Microsoft software. Spoilers: It’s all about politics.
House of CachingNetflix’s worldwide expansion could bring the addition of offline viewing
Streaming video on Netflix is fun … as long as your internet connection holds up. For years the streamer has resisted the urge to offer any ability to download and save videos, but comments by Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos yesterday made it seem more like a “when” than an “if.” Since Netflix is available pretty much worldwide, that could make watching cheaper for viewers in developing markets (and on airplanes or in the wilderness).
Yes, people are still playing“Pokémon Go’s” latest attempt to keep players hooked: daily bonuses
Sooner or later the temperatures will start dropping, so how will Niantic Labs keep players checking in at PokeStops and gyms? Try daily bonuses, with added bumps for seven-day streaks or checking in at the same stop repeatedly.
Well, I’m still not happyApple says SD card slots are clunky and that’s why the new MacBook Pro doesn’t have one
Apple’s senior VP, Phil Schiller, explained in an interview why the company axed the card reader. It was a “bit of a cumbersome slot.” He added that many newer cameras have built-in wireless transfers. (Although anyone who uses that feature knows that transfer is slow. Very slow.)
Everyone loves mobile adsFacebook nearly triples its profits
Facebook recorded yet another blockbuster quarter. Over the past three months, the social network made $2.38 billion in profits, an astounding 166 percent increase over this time last year. That’s largely thanks to mobile advertising, where 84 percent of its ad revenue comes from.
ÜberappThe new Uber is both bigger and faster
Soon you’ll see a redesigned Uber app rolling out. The company claims that it’s faster to use, with shortcuts that figure out where you’re likely headed and suggest destinations right away. It’s also trying to keep your attention with in-app access to features from UberEats, Pandora, Yelp, Snapchat, Foursquare and others.
From: Russia, with LoveRussia is dropping Microsoft because it’s an easy political target
There are a few reasons behind Russia’s plans to get rid of all of its Microsoft software. Vladimir Putin and his team are picking on Microsoft because it’s an easy target for anti-American sentiment. It’s a huge company that rules the tech sector, and it’s not hard to persuade Russians that the firm is collaborating with US spies, despite evidence to the contrary. Any domestic software could foster the local economy — and if Russia makes it, the government has more power to control that software.
The future of VR?Save $50 by pre-ordering Fove’s VR headset now
Why should you choose this VR headset over competition from Oculus and HTC? Fove uses eye tracking for increased realism, and its tech renders only things you can actually see. That means it doesn’t need as powerful a PC to render VR, while its screen has a higher resolution than the Rift. It’s mostly for developers right now.
But wait, there’s more…
- The makers of Vinfusion think this wine-blending machine can satisfy any oenophile’s tastes
- The International Space Station celebrates 16 years through the medium of GIF
- Gawker settles with Hulk Hogan for a reported $31 million
Onkyo’s LS7200 Atmos soundbar plays nice with movies and music
Onkyo has taken the wraps off the new Envision Cinema LS7200 3D soundbar system. The star of the show is the soundbar that at 53mm high, promises to not block your view of the TV, although you can wall-mount it if you’d rather. Inside you’ll find two speakers drivers for each left, right and centre channel as well single height speakers to create 3D sound effects via Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
- Dolby Atmos explained: What is it and how do I get it?
The soundbar connects wirelessly to the included subwoofer and via Multichannel Audio Cable to the AV centre. The AV centre acts as the hub of the system and comes with four HDMI inputs for connecting Blu-ray players, set-top boxes, games consoles and the like and connects to your TV via a single 4K HDMI cable.
Onkyo has included its AccuEQ Room Acoustic Calibration software for adjusting the sound to your room to give you the best possible enveloping effect from Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks.
The company has also applied a Surround Enhancer mode that claims to create “virtual rear speakers” to help give the illusion sound is coming from behind you, and a Direct Mode is best used for stereo sources.
- Read all our soundbar reviews here
Onkyo is also keen to point out the LS7200 can be used for your music needs too, and supports DTS Play-Fi technology that lets you stream music from a range of integrated streaming services, locally stored tracks or files on a NAS drive via Wi-Fi. If you happen to have other DTS Play-Fi speakers in your house, you can use them to create a multi-room music system.
Alternatively you can stream via Apple AirPlay, Spotify Connect and Bluetooth, or Tidal and TuneIn radio through the Onkyo Controller app.
The Onkyo LS7200 will be available to buy from January for £899.
‘Futurama’ writer heads YouTube’s first original animated series
YouTube is adding the first animated series to its roster of original offerings on November 16th. That’s when the streaming website’s subscription service will start airing Paranormal Action Squad, a project helmed by Futurama and Family Guy writer Michael Rowe. Since YouTube works with the biggest names on the website for its originals, the company tapped gaming and animation creators Vanoss, SeaNanners and Mr_Sark to create what sounds like an eight-episode racy Ghostbusters-like comedy. SeaNanners and Mr_Sark will also voice the main characters — two ill-equipped paranormal investigators — while Vanoss will voice their owl-headed neighbor.
This represents YouTube’s latest move to entice viewers to sign up for the $10-a-month Red subscription service launched late last year. It gives you the power to watch not just originals, but all of the website’s videos without ads of any kind. Earlier this year, the service introduced a number of original programmings, including one starring the massively popular (and controversial) PewDiePie. To get a quick look at Paranormal Action Squad, check out a behind-the-scenes video below:
Source: YouTube
Xiaomi Redmi 4 will make its debut on Nov 4
Xiaomi is all set to introduce the latest model in the entry-level Redmi series in China later this week. The official Redmi account teased an image along with the November 4 unveil date for the Redmi 4 on Weibo, pointing to a metal chassis and 2.5D curved glass.
Based on the TENAA certification, the Redmi 4 will offer a 5.5-inch Full HD display, 14nm Snapdragon 625 clocked at 2.0GHz, 3GB of RAM, 32GB storage, microSD slot, dual-SIM, 13MP camera at the back, 5MP front shooter, LTE with VoLTE, 4000mAh battery, and a fingerprint sensor at the back. On the software front, the phone will run MIUI 8 atop Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow.
The Redmi 4 will likely be sold for under $150, with retail pricing estimated to be ¥999 ($147). Xiaomi is also expected to unveil a lower-end version of the phone dubbed the Redmi 4A at the event. We’ll know more on Friday.
Qualcomm posts strong Q4 results
Qualcomm saw a healthy 13.3% YoY increase in revenue to $6.2 billion on the back of strong demand in China and new license agreements in the country. Overall chip shipments rose by 4% to 211 million units.
From Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf:
Our fiscal fourth quarter EPS was above the high end of our expectations, reflecting new license agreements in China and strong chipset shipments. We are forecasting continued growth of global 3G/4G device shipments in calendar year 2017, led by growing demand in emerging regions.
We are well positioned to extend our mobile technology leadership and footprint into attractive growth opportunities, accelerated by our recently announced agreement to acquire NXP.
With 4G finally gaining ground in countries like India, we’ll likely see a host of companies rolling out phones powered by the Snapdragon 427 next year, which offers an X9 LTE modem, dual ISPs, and Qualcomm’s TruSignal antenna boost tech.
The company isn’t just relying on the mobile SoC segment to drive growth. Last week, Qualcomm announced that it would acquire NXP Semiconductors for $47 billion, giving it a vital foothold in the automotive and IoT segments.
AXGIO Roadbooster QC deluxe dual-port Quick Charge 3.0 car charger (review)
There’s a very good chance that you have upgraded your smartphone in 2016. With an almost record setting number of Android smartphones released this year, almost none of you could resist the newest builds and features.
With that upgrade came several updates to charging speeds, with the latest Quick Charge 3.0 from Qualcomm allowing you to charge your device faster speeds than ever. One of the drawbacks of that change is the need to replace your chargers. However there are a wide variety of great options to choose from at great prices, and the AXGIO Roadbooster QC deluxe dual-port Quick Charge 3.0 car charger is one worthy of an upgrade too.
Build & Usage
The AXGIO dual-port car charger is made with high-quality plastic with a matte finish. It’s compact and barely sticks out of your automobile’s DC port, or what I still call a cigarette lighter.
It’s one of a few chargers that offers maximum charge output with Quick Charge 3.0 in both USB ports. Many other car chargers might have a single port for Quick Charge speeds, but this one is designed to charge two devices simultaneously at maximum output. In more technical terms, Quick Charge 3.0 supports voltages from 3.6V to 20V. It’s compatible with microUSB and USB Type-C which is the latest charging standard manufacturers are moving to.
Devices that run the Snapdragon processors, 820, 620, 618, 617, and 430 can recharge up to 50% in less than 30 minutes if you’re using compatible chargers like the AXGIO Roadbooster. I tested the AXGIO with several devices over the past month: LG G5, Samsung Galaxy S7 edge and Note 7, iPhone 7 Plus and iPad Pro 12.9.
The AXGIO Roadbooster charged all of the devices at their maximum allowed speed, with the G5 charging up to 50% from dead in about 25 minutes several times. The Note 7 and S7 edge went from 15% to 100% in about an hour. While iOS devices don’t charge at Quick Charge speeds like Androids, they still are compatible with the AXGIO charger and charge at high speeds too.
If you’ve upgraded your phones like I have, the car charger is probably more important than a wall charger for home use. You have less time to recharge your device in your car, and sometimes need the extra boost of energy to get you through the next event in your day. I’m someone who has several devices that need charging while I’m on the road – smartphones, dash camera and sometimes accessories. Having the AXGIO Roadbooster offers the most compatibility with the latest devices and works as advertised.
I really appreciated AXGIO’s inclusion of two microUSB cables in the box, which normally would cost $3-7 on their own. I grabbed my charger from Amazon for just $13.99 with the current discount code EJXL5AAN to save an extra $4 off the $17.99 retail price.
Summary
If you’ve upgraded your smartphone, or plan on it in the near future, then upgrade your car charger too. Many old chargers don’t even have enough output to keep your phone going while you use it, especially with demanding processes like GPS navigation. Take advantage of the latest technology in your devices.
The AXGIO Roadbooster QC deluxe dual-port Quick Charge 3.0 car charger is a bargain at $13.99 (with discount code EJXL5AAN), and even comes with two microUSB cables and a two-year warranty. It’s small, well-built and backwards compatible with all of your USB devices. It’s one of the better deals on mobile accessories we’ve tested in a long time and is highly recommended.
Nintendo reveals ‘Miitopia’ and ‘Animal Crossing’ expansion
Animal Crossing fans starting to get burnt out by the repetitive tasks in New Leaf — hey, it’s been years since it came out — would love Nintendo’s announcement. At the latest Nintendo Direct presentation, the gaming giant has announced a free software update for the old favorite that adds amiibo support and expands its world. If you have any of the 16 previously released Animal Crossing amiibos, scanning them invites the characters into your village, but not in the way you’re familiar with. They come with their own RVs and stay in the brand new RV Campground overseen by a new character named Harvey.
The amiibos will also give you access to a new game within the game: you get Desert Island Escape if you’re playing on the Wii U or Animal Crossing Puzzle League if you’re playing on the 3DS. If you never bought New Leaf and want to try it out, though, you may want to wait for a bit. Nintendo is releasing the Animal Crossing: New Leaf – Welcome amiibo pack on December 2nd for the 3DS. It comes with 50 amiibo cards featuring villagers from old games that you can scan and invite to your RV Campground. Besides these amiibo-related features, the update also gives you a camera mode for in-game selfies, a new storage room and other goodies.
Nintendo has also finally revealed what Miitopia is all about after mentioning it during another Direct presentation a couple of months ago. Turns out it’s a cross between an RPG and Tomodachi Life, where you can choose your class/job and fight enemies. You can be a knight, a mage or what seems to be a cat, and in your downtime, your characters can train together and exchange gifts. Miitopia will be available in Japan on December 8th. Since you might have to wait for quite some time to be able to get it outside the company’s home country, check out the trailer below to get a glimpse of the game.
Source: Nintendo
Uber faces $5 million suit from San Francisco’s oldest cab company
Another party is suing Uber over the ride-hailing service’s business practices. This time it’s San Francisco’s Flywheel, the taxi company formerly known as DeSoto Cab, also known as SF’s oldest taxi company. To the tune of a $5 million-plus federal suit, Flywheel alleges that since UberX came to be in 2012, the city’s taxi industry has lost 65 percent of its riders and 30 percent of its rivers, according to SF Gate.
Flywheel claims that’s the result of Uber setting prices between 10-and-45 percent lower than that of taxi services, and that Uber can cover this cost thanks to investments from deep-pocketed venture capitalists. There are a few bits about Uber misrepresenting its safety, pricing and potential earnings for drivers as well.
“This lawsuit is about holding Uber responsible for their unlawful practices,” Flywheel CEO Hansu Kim told the publication. “It is not about stifling competition or technological innovations. We want all on-demand taxi services to be treated fairly under the law, and competing on an even playing field.”
Flywheel also thinks that Uber will drive out all of its competitors, create a monopoly and then jack prices up because it’ll be the only option available.
A Stanford professor doesn’t think the suit will go anywhere though because courts have made it “extremely hard” to prove predatory pricing. “The complaint that a competitor charges too little money is usually not evidence of a secret conspiracy to drive everyone out of the market and then raise prices,” Stanford Law’s director Mark Lemley said. “It’s usually (made by) someone who is failing to compete in the market and is upset about it.”
NBC Bay Area reports that Flywheel’s lawyers predict the case could take over a year to be resolved.
Uber’s response? “We compete with lots of ways to get around, especially car ownership,” according to a statement given to TechCrunch. “Our goal is to provide a credible alternative to the private car. Our technology lets us make our network more efficient over time, and innovations like UberPool are further lowering prices, making ridesharing available to more people.”
Amid all the other litigation Uber currently faces, this once again proves that you can indeed sue for anything — winning is another matter entirely.
Source: SF Gate, TechCrunch
Ukraine’s military wants HoloLens helmets for its tank commanders
It’s not easy to see out of a tank (that’s the point) but in order to be effective on the battlefield, their crews need to know what’s going on around them. Modern tanks often have a variety cameras mounted to their exteriors to help the soldiers inside get a better view but crews still have to rely on monitors in the cabin to see out. However, a new HoloLens-enabled helmet from Limpid Armor can give tank commanders a better view of their surroundings just by turning their heads.
The helmet, dubbed the Circular Review System (CRS), sets a HoloLens headset directly onto the front of its frame. Video feeds gathered from the tank’s exterior cameras are stitched together and displayed through the headset as a “mixed reality” view to the wearer. With it, tank crews are afforded a 360-degree view of the situation in both the visible and infrared spectrums. Not only that, the CRS can tag enemy and friendly soldiers, designate targets and feed critical information to the commander.
Limpid Armor debuted the Limpid Armor in mid-October at the Arms and Security show held in Kiev. The company has not yet tested the helmet outside the lab, however, the Ukraine military has expressed interest in the technology so, given the region’s heightened tensions surrounding Russia’s illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula, expect for field tests to come quickly.
Via: VR Scout
Source: Limpid Armor (Facebook)
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