Gaming chat app Discord adds a paid tier with cosmetic upgrades

Herding your friends into voice chat before a gaming session has always been a bit of a chore, especially going through the rigmarole of hosting servers and exchanging passwords. The scrappy chat service Discord aimed to simplify all that, cribbing some of Slack’s better features alongside its pièce de résistance: Click-and-join servers that don’t require software installation or logins. Two years after launching and 25 million players later, they’ve activated a new $5-per-month paid tier — Nitro — for fans to support the service.

The added bonuses are nominal: Nitro boosts the image file upload limit from 8MB to 50MB, allows users to upload GIF avatars and use custom emojis in any server or DM. They’re deliberately non-essential upgrades to keep the core service pure, reserving the paid option for folks who voluntarily want to kick some money Discord’s way. Nitro costs $5 monthly or a discounted $50 up front for a year pass.

On top of keeping their main service free, Discord’s got several new features cooking for 2017, including chat history search, screen sharing, admin audit logs and collapsible channel categories.

Source: Discord blog

Apple Offers More Details About Upcoming App Store Review Policy Changes

Yesterday, Apple announced it was introducing new App Store review features in iOS 10.3 and macOS Sierra 10.12.4 that would allow developers to respond to customer reviews for the first time. A few more details of note have emerged from Apple since then, courtesy of The Loop’s Jim Dalrymple and Daring Fireball’s John Gruber.

Speaking to Gruber, Apple said that developer responses to App Store reviews will show up in the store as a single response, but rather than having threaded conversations appear, customers will be able to edit their reviews and developers will be able to edit their replies. Notably, iOS users can now use 3D Touch to label reviews left in the App Store as “Helpful”, something that couldn’t be done before.

Currently, App Store review rating averages are reset each time a developer updates their app. However, although in-app review request prompts are to be limited to three a year, this limit won’t be reset each time a developer subsequently updates their app. This is likely to frustrate developers, but it looks as if Apple has come down on the side of customers who are often subject to apps hassling them too frequently for reviews.

Perhaps most significantly for users, Dalrymple revealed that a “master switch” will be included in the next update that turns off user review request prompts across all installed apps.

On a final note, Apple told Gruber that existing apps won’t have to change their review prompt behavior immediately after the APIs containing the policy changes have been implemented, but Apple offered no timeline for when the sanctions will come into force.

iOS 10.3 and macOS Sierra 10.12.4 are currently only available for developers, but Apple will likely release public betas for public beta testers in the near future.

Tag: App Store
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‘Knockout League’ brings cartoony boxing to virtual reality

The Nintendo Switch has Arms and now the VR-minded folks at Grab Games and Vive Studios have dropped Knockout League onto Steam’s Early Access label. The arcade-y boxing game’s in-development version only has four cartoony pugilists for now, according to VentureBeat, but each one has a different fighting style. And some aren’t even human. Like Sir Octopunch, a mustachioed octopus with a stance like an old timey English boxer. Sure!

It’s more Ready 2 Rumble in tone and presentation than, say, Fight Night’s simulation leanings, but the aesthetic works really well based on footage from the trailer below. VB reports that the full version should be ready by the second quarter this year (so, some time between April and June) and should have some additional bits by then. For now, the version with a quartet of boxers will run you $18. Time to lace up the gloves… err, Vive wands and Oculus Touch controllers.

Via: VentureBeat

Source: Steam

Reuters: Trump admin telling EPA to pull climate change info

Despite a gag order, Environmental Protection Agencies are talking to Reuters, informing the outlet that their bosses have been instructed to remove this page from its website (Archive.org). On the official White House website, a page devoted to climate change is now only accessible in its archives, and the EPA section could meet a similar fate. Currently, the webpage displays the effects scientists have already recorded (like 2016 being the hottest year on record), and government initiatives trying to combat the issue

Trump’s selection to head the agency, Scott Pruitt, has not yet been confirmed but is a noted skeptic of the issue and has sued the EPA before. Myron Ebell led the transition, and told Reuters that “My guess is the web pages will be taken down, but the links and information will be available.” The White House has said it’s working to “finalize” its online presence, but given Trump’s campaign promises to eliminate the Climate Action Plan and Waters of the US Rule, it seems unlikely most of this info will return for easy access.

A group of scientists concerned about the government’s ideological agendas is already planning a march on Washington, although details are scarce. Also, scientists have worked to back up climate change data they fear could be removed by the new administration, on projects including Climate Mirror and The Environmental Data and Governance Initiative. To see how other government websites have changed through administrations, the End of Term Web Archive has caches saved from 2008 and 2012.

Source: Reuters

Tumblr’s mobile apps finally have photo filters and stickers

In a move possibly inspired by Snapchat, or even Instagram, Tumblr is bringing photo filters and stickers to its iOS and Android apps. But that’s not it: The feature will also work with GIF posts, which is going to let you spice up your feed even more than you already are. Tumblr says you can choose from over 100 “extremely relevant” stickers, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding one that fits the message you’re trying to get across. And fret not if you don’t see these in your Tumblr app yet, as the update just started rolling out today to the App Store and Google Play.

Source: Tumblr, TechCrunch

Now you can download Netflix shows to your Android’s SD card

Netflix rolled out a new feature in its latest update for the Android operating system on Tuesday: the ability to download shows to your device’s SD card. When saving a show for offline viewing, users will now be prompted to choose a download location, either Device Storage or the SD card.

Android​ Users – You can now download to your SD card so there’s always room for more. pic.twitter.com/Uqt2GSjPw5

— Netflix US (@netflix) January 24, 2017

This could offer an interesting new way for users to consume their video content. Theoretically, it could allow users to download far more episodes and films than they would otherwise and build up huge catalogs of offline shows. However, as a Netflix rep told Engadget, “You can download content to multiple SD cards. However, there are limits to how many simultaneous downloads a member can download at one time, along with limits on how long a download will remain accessible. This ensures that the feature is being used for its intended purpose.” Additionally, users won’t be able to share SD cards amongst multiple devices as the content on the card will only play on the device that it was originally downloaded with, the rep explained.

Source: Netflix (Google Play Store)

‘Superhot VR’ is about to get much more challenging

Superhot VR is an immersive, intense take on an already fun game, but there’s no question that it’s short when you can run out of things to do in just a few hours. Never fear, though: the creators are preparing the Forever update, which promises a number of good reasons to keep coming back to the Oculus Touch shooter. You can try to beat your best scores in both the usual bullet time mode as well as real time, and face opponents with quicker reflexes. You’ll also find a few challenges that ramp up the difficulty if the very act of dodging bullets isn’t enough for you.

Some of them are straightforward, such as having to land headshots to kill enemies or completing the game using only melee combat. However, there’s at least one over-the-top mode: if you’re up for it, you can try to finish the entire game in 10 minutes. You’re going to have to be both fast and a crack shot to have a hope of making that one. The Forever update should be available in February, so you’ll at least have some time to practice.

Source: Oculus

Apple Adopts San Francisco Typeface for Apple.com Website

As of today, Apple has started changing the typeface on its Apple.com website to San Francisco, the font it first debuted alongside the Apple Watch in 2015.

On Apple’s homepage and other web pages on the site, the San Francisco typeface is being used in many places where text is displayed, replacing the previous Myriad typeface. Bolder and easier to read, San Francisco has been used on iOS devices and Macs since iOS 9 and OS X 10.11 were introduced in 2015.

San Francisco is a condensed sans-serif that’s similar to Helvetica. It was created specifically for small displays like the Apple Watch, with extra spacing between letters to increase legibility. It also works well on larger Retina displays because of its clean design.

Apple’s website with old Myriad typeface on left, new San Francisco typeface on right
San Francisco is the first font Apple has designed in-house in many years. In the 80s and 90s, Apple used several fonts that were created in-house, but the company largely stopped making its own fonts in the early 1990s.

Apple isn’t yet using the San Francisco typeface for its entire website, but may continue the transition over the coming days.

(Thanks, Nick!)

Tag: San Francisco
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Google I/O returns to Shoreline Amphitheater from May 17-19

Now we know when Google I/O is.

Every new year brings us another year of Google I/O, the company’s annual developers conference. Not only is it the week that we’ll learn about all of Google’s upcoming projects — and Android’s future products — it’s also a time when developers from around the world can come together and learn about making better apps for Android.

Around the world, from here to there, to the most clever minds, the secret will share. #googledevs #savethedate https://t.co/YKJiAp3r3r pic.twitter.com/lhGDyvYvOW

— Android Developers (@AndroidDev) January 24, 2017

A tweet posted today by the official Android Developers account gave us clues about when the event will actually be held. Google’s Save the Date site has also had a bit of a revamp compared to last year’s neon, festival aesthetic. If you click the Go! button, you’ll be taken to GitHub, where there’s a riddle:

5 puzzles. Each gets more difficult.

5 clues. Take notes. Each puzzle is gone after it’s solved.

5 places. Think numbers.

Enter all answers at savethedate.foo.

You must know where you’ve been to get where you’re going.

The official I/O events page has also been updated with an obvious tease to check back for more details.

Turns out we don’t have to wait. Thanks to some adroit scavenger hunters (h/t Android Police) we now know that Google I/O will be held once again at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, just a few miles away from Google’s home base, from May 17 to May 19.

Last year’s conference was fraught with long lines, poor organization and a lack of hands-on products to demo, but it was a beautiful place with great facilities, so let’s hope Google fixes what needs to be fixed and we can have a great three days.

Huawei Watch 2 might arrive next month with built-in cellular data

Android Wear seems to be making a comeback this year.

Determined not to be left out of the loop, Huawei is reportedly planning to unveil a newer, sportier Huawei Watch. It’ll be called Huawei Watch 2, according to Venture Beat, and you can expect it to be unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month. You can also expect at least one model with built-in cellular data, allowing you to get some standalone functionality with Android Wear 2.0.

• Alexa is coming to your phone: Huawei adds the Amazon assistant

The smartwatch will be able to make phone calls, but other than that, we don’t know much, because rumours are slim. It’ll be interesting to see if Huawei manages to reduce the thickness of its upcoming watch, and whether it keeps the sapphire-covered display from the original Huawei Watch. We should know more soon, as the MWC trade show is scheduled to kick off end of February.

Keep in mind Google is expected to release Android Wear 2.0 on 9 February. At that same event, it will also debut two LG-manufactured smartwatches. The timing therefore seems to be correct if Huawei really is planning to launch a new Android Wear 2.0 watch soon.

Also, Huawei does have a MWC event scheduled for 26 February.