Twitch takes on YouTube and Facebook Live with ‘IRL’
Twitch wants vloggers to leave YouTube and Facebook Live behind. The Amazon-owned video streaming site is launching a new “IRL” section that will allow allow streamers to share their experiences at events, on trips abroad or even just to document their day-to-day lives. Videos can either be live streamed or uploaded for on-demand viewing, and from next year users will also be able to use their smartphone cameras to broadcast through the Twitch mobile app.
To date, Twitch has mostly focused on live content relating to video games. This isn’t the first step it’s taken to remove itself from that niche, but it’s certainly the most significant. Previously capitalizing on its community’s love of cosplay, the site launched the gaming-inspired arts and crafts category, Twitch Creative, before testing more mainstream waters with its social eating channel. Twitch has also been slowly adding uploaded videos to its repertoire over the past year, although that feature remains in beta.
Adding the ability to upload vlogs is a clear attempt to steal some of YouTube’s market. YouTube has been pushing its gaming-specific service hard over the past year, and recently beat Twitch to 4K streaming.
Mobile broadcasting is also a big deal for Twitch. After the success of Facebook Live and Periscope, the company is playing catch up a little, but it’s also ensuring that successful streamers on the platform keep all of their content inside Twitch.
With these markets already cornered by Facebook and YouTube respectively, though, enticing non-gamers to start using the platform may prove difficult.
Aaron Souppouris contributed to this article.
Twitter built and cancelled a messaging app
For years, it’s been rumored that Twitter is working on a standalone messaging app. Direct Messages, or DMs, are certainly popular with some of the service’s most dedicated users. According to BuzzFeed News, a messenger app was in development as recently as September — but its form was a little different than you might expect. It packaged tweets and new “instant messages” around particular topics — a news story or a football team, for instance — which were set by chosen “influencers.” They were threads, essentially, similar to Reddit or Slack where groups could chat.
The spin-off messaging service was designed by Twitter’s Indian engineering center in Bengaluru. It was meant to be a lighter, newcomer-friendly version of the social network for users in emerging markets. The hope was that they would see the tweets and the valuable discussions they spawned. They would then be encouraged to dive into Twitter proper, following the accounts that they had appreciated in the messaging app.
“Look, as a product, Twitter isn’t easy to figure out for most people,” an unnamed source who reportedly worked on the app said. “Everyone around us was hooked to WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, and I think internally, there was some concern about how much people were engaging with those platforms versus ours. Instant messaging seemed like a natural choice to build something around.”
BuzzFeed News says the app was shelved in September after poor user testing. “It didn’t test out so well in the market surveys that we did with college students,” the source said. The team was let go a few weeks laters, ahead of a larger, global round of layoffs affecting roughly 350 people.
The app’s failure comes with a silver lining: Twitter is aware of the interest in Direct Messages, and the role instant messaging could play in its service. There’s no guarantee that it will ever materialize in a standalone app, however. Twitter has announced its plans to shutter Vine, a creative six-second video-sharing platform. Periscope’s broadcasting functionality is now baked into the main Twitter app, putting its future as a standalone service in doubt. It would seem that Twitter wants fewer apps, not more, in order to focus its business and product strategies. For now, the dream of a dedicated DM app seems to be just that — a dream. Sorry, Twitter fans.
Source: BuzzFeed News
Facebook is using third-party fact-checkers to fight fake news
Last month, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg previewed a number of steps the social network would take to combat fake news. Today, the company provided an update on the initiative which starts by making it easier to report a hoax. You can report what you think might be a fake news story by clicking in the top right corner of the post. If enough people do just that, Facebook will send the link to a third-party fact-checker to determine if it really is fake.
Facebook will also start flagging disputed stories from those fact-checkers. You’ll still be able to read and share the link, but each one will be labeled so you and your friends know exactly what you’re getting into. They will also appear lower in the News Feed. So, who’s doing the checking? Facebook is working with Poytner’s International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) to determine if a story is real or not.
The company also says it noticed when people read a story past the headline, it makes them less likely to share it. Facebook plans to use this behavior to determine if what appears in the News Feed may be misleading in some way. Finally, as previously reported, the company will also cut off the financial incentives for spammers posting fake news and grabbing a share of ad revenue. Sure, this is just a start, but Facebook says it will continue to combat the problem to improve “the quality of our service.”
Source: Facebook
Fibaro Reveals First HomeKit-Enabled ‘Flood Sensor’ to Detect Potential Water Damage
Home automation manufacturer Fibaro today announced a new set of HomeKit-enabled products that offer basic motion detection and home security, as well as a Flood Sensor, which the company calls “the first water sensing and leak detection device in the Apple HomeKit ecosystem.” Each of the three new products — Fibaro Flood Sensor, Fibaro Motion Sensor and Fibaro Door/Window Sensor — include Bluetooth low energy and are all compatible with Apple HomeKit.
The Flood Sensor detects water as soon as it appears, and warns users of potential impending water damage with an acoustic alarm system. Fibaro says the device can also “trigger a smart home scene,” so users can connect the Flood Sensor to other HomeKit products to serve as a back-up warning system. Temperature detection is included as well so users can check the levels of rooms in their home, which the company says can be useful in the winter to “stay ahead of burst pipes and potential problems.”
The other two products Fibaro announced focus on motion detection around a home and near its entryways. The Fibaro Motion Sensor measures movement, ambient temperature, and light intensity to accumulate information about a user’s home and warn them about intrusions and other anomalies. Similarly, the Door/Window Sensor can be placed on any door or window to add another layer of security onto a home and alert users about security breaches for each potential entry point.
All three devices can be connected to the Fibaro iOS app [Direct Link], which includes features like device status checks and notifications. Thanks to the introduction of the new Home app in iOS 10 users can also access the Fibaro products directly through Apple’s first-party app, as well as in Control Center, and use Siri to control their features. With Apple TV, users can check in on the Fibaro devices when they aren’t home.
“Expanding our product line to include support for Apple HomeKit was a natural choice for Fibaro. The HomeKit platform offers a simple and secure solution for expanding the many benefits of smart home to a new category of consumers that up to this point, may not have had the means or knowledge to participate. Working with companies like Apple to expand the mainstream consumer smart home market is very exciting for us,” said Rich Bira, Managing Director of Fibaro in the U.S.
The Poland-based company sells its products through authorized resellers — like The Home Depot — and has priced the Fibaro Flood Sensor at $59.99, Motion Sensor at $69.99, and Door/Window Sensor at $59.99.
Tags: HomeKit, Fibaro
Discuss this article in our forums
Twelve South Launches BookBook and All-New Journal Case for iPhone 7
Twelve South today launched the latest in its line of BookBook cases, this one for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Like previous editions, the new BookBook includes wallet slots for credit cards and a driver’s license, all housed in a vintage leather-bound case that looks like an old novel. A removable shell protects the iPhone 7 both inside of and out of BookBook, and the case can fold into a stand for the smartphone when viewing videos.
BookBook for iPhone 7
The company noted that the design for iPhone 7 does have a few differences this time around, including:
- Upgraded card slot and wallet design to prevent stretching and pilling
- Dark interior finish to better resist dirt and dust
- All-new Book spine design to add variety to your library
Additionally, Twelve South is launching “Journal for iPhone,” a new leather-bound wallet case that’s made exclusively for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Journal is a more basic leather case that doesn’t have BookBook’s novel aesthetic, but matches that case’s design with credit card slots, a detachable composite shell, and built-in viewing stand.
Journal for iPhone 7
Since 2010, Twelve South has curated a library of cases called BookBook. We are pleased to announce today that not only do we have your favorite vintage BookBook available for the iPhone 7, but we are also introducing an all-new edition called Journal. Modernizing the story, Journal is our newest and most luxurious case. Crafted in full-grain leather covering both inside and out, this handsome folio presents a more refined, clean design. Like BookBook, Journal features slots for cards, cash and ID, streamlining your everyday carry in style.
BookBook for iPhone 7 is available for $59.99 in black and brown, while Journal for iPhone is available for $69.99 in black and cognac.
Tag: Twelve South
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple to Charge $69 to Replace a Lost or Broken AirPod
On its iPhone Service Pricing page, Apple recently updated its repair and replacement costs for AirPods, which went on sale earlier this week.
Apple doesn’t appear to be offering AppleCare+ for AirPods, instead providing a standard one-year warranty that’s available on all Apple products. If the AirPods need service during that one year period, all work will be covered for free.
After the one-year warranty has expired, Apple will charge a $69 fee for out-of-warranty service repairs. Battery service for AirPods that lose battery capacity is free during the one-year warranty period or $49 out of warranty.
If you lose or damage one of the AirPods or the charging case, Apple will charge $69 for a replacement, regardless of whether or not the AirPods are still under warranty. The pricing in Apple’s support document is U.S. pricing, and will vary based on country.
AirPods first went on sale Tuesday morning with shipment dates as early as December 21, but supplies were quickly exhausted. Within an hour, delivery estimates slipped to December 29, and shortly after that, fell again to four weeks.
AirPods orders placed today in the United States will not ship out for six weeks, arriving to customers towards the end of January. Apple is expected to start offering AirPods in stores starting next week, so customers who did not get a chance to pre-order may still be able to get a set of AirPods.
Apple has said stores will be receiving “regular AirPods shipments,” but supplies are likely to be tight as demand is high.
Priced at $159, AirPods are wire-free Bluetooth-equipped headphones that are able to provide up to five hours of music playback. AirPods use a new Apple-designed W1 chip to quickly switch between devices, and include features like touch-based controls and Siri. AirPods charge via an included charging case and a Lightning cable.
Discuss this article in our forums
‘Super Mario Run’ Launches on App Store for iPhone and iPad
Super Mario Run is now available on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, becoming the first official smartphone and tablet game to feature the iconic Nintendo character. The game is a free download with a $10 in-app purchase required to unlock all 24 courses spanning six worlds.
The classic endless runner is designed for one-handed gameplay. Mario runs forward automatically as players tap to jump, collect coins, pounce on Goombas, avoid obstacles, and reach the flagpole at the end of each course before the timer runs out. Ultimately, Mario must rescue Princess Peach from the infamous Bowser.
Mario automatically vaults over small obstacles, including Goombas, while players can tap over enemies to perform a vault jump. As the levels get more difficult, players will be tasked with performing long jumps, walking over blocks that launch Mario in a particular direction, and other challenges.
Mario can jump off walls and perform a number of stylish moves as players aim to collect pink or purple challenge coins along the way. Challenge coins are often placed near ledges or other difficult to reach areas, requiring an element of skill and precision to collect them all.
A challenge mode called Toad Rally allows players to compete with friends or strangers to see who can obtain the highest score. Players must collect coins and perform stylish moves as usual to attract the largest crowd of Toad spectators in order to win. There is no flagpole in this mode, so players keep running until time runs out.
Toad Rally requires Rally Tickets, which can be acquired in a variety of ways, such as clearing worlds or through bonus games in your own kingdom.
There is also a Kingdom Builder mode, enabling players to create their own kingdom and customize it using coins and toads gathered in Toad Rally, which become part of the kingdom. Placing certain buildings can unlock bonus mini-games and characters such as Luigi, Yoshi, and Toad.
Due to piracy and security concerns, Super Mario Run requires an internet connection to play. iOS devices must be connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network during gameplay, largely ruling out usage on airplanes or subways. It is also a blow to SIM-less iPhone and iPod touch users when Wi-Fi is unavailable.
Super Mario Run signifies a change in stance for Nintendo, which for years refused to consider releasing its popular franchises such as Mario, Pokémon, and The Legend of Zelda on smartphones and tablets, instead limiting the titles to its own consoles such as the Wii and Nintendo 3DS.
Apple and Nintendo have been aggressively marketing the game since it was unveiled in September, with prominent App Store banners, teaser videos, and an on-stage demo on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Some analysts believe Super Mario Run could top summer phenomenon Pokémon Go in downloads, but not revenue.
Super Mario Run is rolling out now on the App Store in more than 151 countries. The game can also be demoed at Apple retail stores.
Tags: App Store, Nintendo, Super Mario Run
Discuss this article in our forums
Portal Home Wi-Fi System review – CNET
The Good The Portal has fast speed and far-reaching Wi-Fi coverage. The system has both a web interface and a mobile app and doesn’t require an account to work.
The Bad The web interface lacks some fairly typical Wi-Fi features and the mobile app is buggy. You can only use the app on a single mobile device. It requires you to change your settings in order for it to be compatible with all 5GHz devices. The system has terrible signal handoff.
The Bottom Line Though fast, the Portal has too many niggling issues that prevent it from being a seamless experience. Go with the Google Wifi or the Netgear Orbi instead.
When I first learned about the Portal a few months ago, it was intended to be a single Wi-Fi router. Now Ignition Design Labs has reintroduced it as a mesh system, meaning you can use a second unit to extend its Wi-Fi network.
While it works fine as a single router, it’s not a well thought-out or well tested mesh Wi-Fi system. And it certainly isn’t worthy of its current price of around $180 for a single unit or $319 for a set of two.
Why should I care about yet another Wi-Fi system?
Good question. What makes the Portal different from the most Wi-Fi routers is a dynamic frequency selection (DFS) mechanism Ignition Design Labs calls FastLanes. The router can use Wi-Fi channels that were previously only available to radar systems to boost speed at peak times (around 6-8 p.m. wherever you live). This means that FastLanes will only benefit those who’ve had speed or connection problems during peak times in the past. I personally didn’t see any improvement at home, but your mileage will vary depending your internet speed and how congested the air space in your neighborhood is.
The real problem with Fastlanes, however, is that not every product is compatible with it. Here’s a short list of those that aren’t and therefore will only connect to the 2.4GHz frequency band of the Portal (FastLanes is only available on the 5GHz band.) Since the the 2.4GHz’s airspace is almost always congested, which is why we need the 5GHz band in the first place, FastLanes will mean extremely slow Wi-Fi for certain devices.
FastLanes is turned on by default. When turned off, the Portal will support all existing devices.
View full gallery
The Portal system includes two identical units.
Dong Ngo/CNET
OK, here’s what’s (mostly) good
Simple setup
Setting up the Portal is similar to that of the Google Wifi or the Eero. But you don’t need to create an account with Ignition Design Labs. As with most home routers, the system does not require you to connect to the vendor in order to work.
The Portal mobile app (available for Android and iOS) was buggy, however. I used it on a Pixel XL and the interface would freeze while applying changes or switching from one section to another. Still, it took me just 10 minutes to set up the first router. Basically, all I had to do was pick a name and a password for the Wi-Fi network.
Adding a second unit to create a mesh system took me much longer but most of the time was spent on waiting for the system to be ready. The process itself was still simple and relatively straightforward.
Good performance
Supporting AC2400 Wi-Fi, the Portal performed well both as a single router and a mesh Wi-Fi system. As a single router, it has a top sustained real-world Wi-Fi speed of more than 540 megabits per second. As a Wi-Fi system, when connected to the second unit, the top speed fell to just 244Mbps, due to signal loss. Signal loss is a common phenomenon of Wi-Fi systems, when the “satellite” unit needs to both receive and rebroadcast the Wi-Fi signal from the first router unit at any given time, resulting in some 50 percent efficiency reduction. Dynamic frequency selection (FastLanes) is supposed to mitigate this phenomenal but it doesn’t seem help in the Portal’s case.
The Portal has good range. As a single unit, it could cover about 2,800 square feet of a residential setting with strong a Wi-Fi signal, with two units combined into a mesh network, you now can cover easily around 5,000 square feet or even more.
Denon AH-D7200 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Denon’s new reference headphone ships in January for $999.
Denon
Denon has a new high-end headphone coming this January — the AH-D7200 — and from its design and specs it seems worth keeping an eye on, if you’re in the market for a $999 headphone. (There’s no word on international pricing but we’ll add it when we get it. It converts to £800 or AU$1,400.)
Designed for “discerning audiophiles,” it’s got a classic reference headphone look with real walnut housings and Denon’s FreeEdge nano-fiber drive units. The earpads use Japanese-developed soft synthetic leather covers that have been designed for maximum comfort, according to Denon.
We’ll let you know how the AH-D7200 sounds and feels and soon as we get our hands on a review sample.
The AH-D7200 at a glance:
- 50mm FreeEdge Driver Technology made from nano-fiber material
- Real wood earcups
- 385 grams (13.6 ounces) excluding cable
- Ultra high-quality connection with 7N oxygen-free copper cable
- Earcups are suspended on ergonomically curved, diecast aluminium hangers
- Headband is finished in real sheepskin leather
- Memory-foam ear-cushions are trimmed with artificial leather chosen for its softness and durability
- Fit and side pressure optimized for the widest possible range of head sizes and shapes
- Price: $999
- Shipping in January 2017
Best Samsung Tablet
For the best mix of power and portability, Samsung’s top tablet is the Galaxy Tab S2 8.0.
Andrew has been a mobile enthusiast since the Windows Mobile days, and covering all things Android-related with a unique perspective at Android Central since 2012. For suggestions and updates, you can reach him at andrew.martonik@androidcentral.com or on Twitter at @andrewmartonik.
Best overall
Galaxy Tab S2 8.0
See at Amazon
Samsung has hit a great balance of size and portability with the Tab S2 8.0, which of course has an 8-inch display. It’s notably bigger than even the biggest phones out there, giving you plenty of screen real estate to work with, but it’s also extremely thin and light so you can use it in one hand if you want. The metal body is simple and strong, and you get a fingerprint sensor below the screen to keep all of your information safe.
On the inside you get a capable processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, which is plenty for a Wi-Fi only tablet, and you also get Samsung’s latest Marshmallow software that’s relatively clean and very powerful. It’s all powering a very nice 2048×1536 Super AMOLED display that’s a bit wider than what you may be used to, but it’s actually a good thing — it means the Tab S2 8.0 feels comfortable in both portrait and landscape orientation.
Yes it’s a year old at this point, but Samsung hasn’t made anything better in the last year … and the Tab S2 8.0 is still a very capable tablet, especially if you find it on discount from its original $399 price.
Bottom line: If you like Samsung’s hardware and software, this is the tablet to get.
One more thing: Because it’s a year old, it’s unfortunately still using a Micro-USB charger.
Why the Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 is the best
Android tablets with big screens and high price tags have always been a tough sell, so models with smaller screens and lower prices have hit a nice middle ground overall. Not only are they cheaper, but they’re also easier to use and cover up some of the shortcomings that still exist today in the Android app catalogue.
The Tab S2 8.0 is amazingly thin and light, which makes it perfect for using in portrait mode — even with one hand — for reading, browsing or typing out quick messages and emails. The screen is fantastic, and the slightly unconventional 4:3 aspect ration means it’s still “wide” enough when in portrait mode, while giving you enough room to use side-by-side multi-window apps when in landscape. The battery isn’t huge considering that minimal thickness and weight, but that’s a fine trade-off for a device you’re likely to use casually and let sleep most of the time.
From our full Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 review:
The Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 is thin, light, powerful, has a great screen, and is sprinkled with extra features like a fingerprint sensor, good battery life, a decent rear-facing camera and a solid side-by-side app implementation.
Samsung’s newest software offering, based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, closely matches that of what’s available on the Galaxy S7 today, which is to say it’ll be familiar to Samsung users while also being powerful and relatively sleek. And because these are Wi-Fi-only, you won’t have any carrier bloatware to deal with.
While it isn’t the biggest tablet out there, the Galaxy Tab S2 offers the best combination of size, portability, features and price that you can get from Samsung.
Best bigger screen
Galaxy Tab S2 9.7
See at Amazon
As the name would lead you to believe, this is the same tablet as our top pick, but with a larger 9.7-inch display that goes toe-to-toe with the iPad. You get the same hardware internals, same great external metal build and fingerprint sensor, but it’s all wrapped around a larger display that can better handle multiple windows.
The larger screen is also better suited for landscape orientation, especially when paired up with a keyboard from either Samsung or one of its partners. The keyboards slickly snap onto the back of the tablet with included snap points, meaning you don’t have to have a big bulky case wrapped around it just to have a keyboard. When you combine the two pieces, you have something approximating a tiny laptop, letting you type and work better than you ever could on a small tablet with a virtual keyboard.
You pay more for the bigger real estate and the keyboard accessories aren’t included, but if you want something bigger then this is your go-to choice from Samsung.
Bottom line: For the same great Tab S2 experience with a bigger screen that can work with a keyboard, the 9.7-inch version is the one to get.
One more thing: Be sure to check out the various keyboard offerings available for the Tab S2 — you don’t have to buy the one from Samsung.
Best for less
Galaxy Tab A 10.1
See at Amazon
We get it, Samsung’s top-end tablets also come with top-end prices. If you don’t want to shell out $500+ for a big Galaxy Tab S2, we wouldn’t blame you for looking at the Galaxy Tab A series instead. If you want the Samsung software and design at a lower price, we recommend the Galaxy Tab A 10.1, which comes in at $299 retail.
So where does it make those savings? Well, a little bit of everywhere. The Galaxy Tab A 10.1 has a lower-resolution 1920×1200 display, a bit lower-end processor, less RAM at 2GB and less storage at 16GB. It also lacks a fingerprint sensor.
But in general, while it doesn’t have the highest-end specs and features, it can still get the job done for someone who wants a big tablet for casual browsing and media reading. The 10.1-inch display will give you more than enough room to run multiple windows at once, though it won’t be as portable as something like the Tab S2 8.0.
Bottom line: To get the best bang for your buck with a big screen, you’ll want the Galaxy Tab A 10.1.
One more thing: Because of the 16GB internal storage, you’ll want to invest a little in a microSD card to expand for media.
Conclusion
If you want a Samsung tablet that’s fast, feature-packed and with a great screen that’s also light and portable, your best option is the Galaxy Tab S2 8.0. You can get a bigger display with the Tab S2 9.7, or save some money with the Tab A 10.1, but the best overall offering is the Tab S2 8.0.
Best overall
Galaxy Tab S2 8.0
See at Amazon
Samsung has hit a great balance of size and portability with the Tab S2 8.0, which of course has an 8-inch display. It’s notably bigger than even the biggest phones out there, giving you plenty of screen real estate to work with, but it’s also extremely thin and light so you can use it in one hand if you want. The metal body is simple and strong, and you get a fingerprint sensor below the screen to keep all of your information safe.
On the inside you get a capable processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, which is plenty for a Wi-Fi only tablet, and you also get Samsung’s latest Marshmallow software that’s relatively clean and very powerful. It’s all powering a very nice 2048×1536 Super AMOLED display that’s a bit wider than what you may be used to, but it’s actually a good thing — it means the Tab S2 8.0 feels comfortable in both portrait and landscape orientation.
Yes it’s a year old at this point, but Samsung hasn’t made anything better in the last year … and the Tab S2 8.0 is still a very capable tablet, especially if you find it on discount from its original $399 price.
Bottom line: If you like Samsung’s hardware and software, this is the tablet to get.
One more thing: Because it’s a year old, it’s unfortunately still using a Micro-USB charger.
AIVAnet 