WhatsApp Announces New ‘Status’ Feature for Sharing Videos and Photos That Expire After 24 Hours

Following in the footsteps of Snapchat and Instagram, Facebook-owned WhatsApp today announced the launch of “Status,” a new feature that’s designed to let users share videos, photos, and GIFs that expire each day.

The Status addition to WhatsApp is essentially identical to the “Stories” feature in Instagram and Snapchat, both of which allow users to share daily life updates with friends and family that expire after 24 hours.

With WhatsApp Status, WhatsApp users can use the in-app camera to share photos or videos that can be annotated with emoji, text snippets, and drawings. Status updates can be shared with all contacts, rather than just individuals or specific groups, but there are also options to choose who is able to see what.

Through the new Status tab, WhatsApp users can view all of the updates that their address book contacts have shared on the app and reply privately to updates. All Status updates expire after a 24 hour period.

WhatsApp is launching Status to celebrate its eighth anniversary. The new feature is rolling out to WhatsApp users starting today and should be available soon for all iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone users.

WhatsApp can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tags: Facebook, WhatsApp
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Apple Seeds Third Beta of iOS 10.3 to Developers

Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming iOS 10.3 update to developers, two weeks after seeding the second beta of iOS 10.3 and more than a two months after the release of iOS 10.2, the last major update to the iOS 10 operating system.

Registered developers can download the third iOS 10.3 beta from the Apple Developer Center or over-the-air with the proper configuration profile installed.

iOS 10.3 is a major update, introducing several new features and changes to the iOS 10 operating system. The biggest new consumer-facing feature is “Find My AirPods,” which is designed to help AirPods owners locate a lost earphone. Find My AirPods records the last known location of when an AirPod was connected to an iOS device via Bluetooth and can play a sound on a lost AirPod.

Apple’s latest update also introduces a new Apple File System (APFS), installed when an iOS device is updated to iOS 10.3. APFS is optimized for flash/SSD storage and includes features like strong encryption.

Apple plans to introduce some App Store changes in iOS 10.3, allowing developers to respond to customer reviews for the first time. iOS users are also able to label reviews in the App Store as “Helpful” or “Not Helpful,” which should help surface the most relevant review content.

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Apple also plans to limit the number of times developers can ask for a review, allow customers to leave app reviews without exiting an app, and provide a “master switch” that will let users turn off all app review request prompts (said to be included in beta 2).

Also new in iOS 10.3 is a redesigned app open/close animation, an Apple ID profile in Settings, a better breakdown of iCloud storage usage, improvements to SiriKit, and more. For a full rundown of the changes introduced in the first beta, make sure to check out our dedicated “What’s New” post.

Should any new features be discovered in the third beta of iOS 10.3, we’ll update this post.

Related Roundup: iOS 10
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Apple Seeds Third Beta of tvOS 10.2 to Developers

Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming tvOS 10.2 update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the second tvOS 10.2 update and nearly a month after releasing tvOS 10.1.1, the current release version of tvOS.

Designed for the fourth-generation Apple TV, the third tvOS 10.2 beta can be obtained by connecting the Apple TV to a computer with a USB-C to USB-A cable, downloading and installing the software from a registered developer account via iTunes or Apple Configurator. Once a profile is installed, subsequent betas can be downloaded over the air.

Given the tricky installation requirements, tvOS betas are limited to developers and will not be provided to the public.

According to Apple’s release notes, tvOS 10.2 introduces improved scrolling behavior, allowing tvOS users to scroll through large lists of information more quickly. A large swipe on the Siri remote automatically activates the new scrolling mode, and a swipe on the far right side of the remote allows users to navigate specific indexes.

It’s likely there are other small feature tweaks and bug fixes included in tvOS 10.2, even though additional changes have not been specifically outlined by Apple. We’ll update this post should any new content be found in the third tvOS 10.2 beta.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 10
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Don’t Buy)
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Tight on space? Here are 3 ways to offload photos from your iPhone

The iPhone camera gets better with every new iteration, which isn’t surprising given it’s one of the most popular smartphone cameras in existence. However, as image quality improves and resolution continues to climb, you’re going to need more storage space. And now with support for RAW images, as well as 4K videos, those files are now even larger. Shutterbugs who carry around a 16GB iPhone will soon find that their device is running out of space well before their contract expires.

More: 22 photo apps to supercharge your iPhone camera

That said, there are plenty of ways to quickly and easily back up your photos to your computer or the cloud, which not only saves you space, but ensures your photos will be readily accessible elsewhere in the event your phone is stolen or breaks. Below are a few of our favorite methods for doing so, whether you want to rely on a direct connection or one of many cloud-based apps. (The processes described here could also apply to iPads.)

How to upload your photos using a USB cable

The process for importing and transferring photos from an iOS device basically hasn’t changed for a decade, whether you’re using MacOS or Windows. The process varies slightly between operating systems, but it’s basically just a matter of plugging your iPhone in and clicking the Import button.

MacOS

Step 1: Plug your phone into your computer — either using a 30-pin USB cord or Lightning cable — the same way you would if you were uploading music.

Step 2: The Photos app should automatically launch, but if not, open the program via Launchpad or your main Applications folder. Alternatively, launch Aperture or iPhoto. If your device isn’t automatically selected, you can find it on the left side of the Photos app screen. You could also use the Image Capture app in MacOS to quickly download content from phone to a folder.

Step 3: If using Photos, click the blue Import New button in the upper-right corner, or select the individual photos you wish to transfer before clicking the Import Selected button at the top. You can also check the box beside Delete items after import if you wish to automatically delete the photos on your iPhone after importing.

Once done, select Last Import (located on the left) to view your recently-uploaded images. Keep in mind that Ctrl-clicking an image will also bring up additional options for sharing, favoriting, and editing said images.

MacOS, by default, launches the Photos app whenever a camera, memory card, or device containing photos — like an iPhone, for example — is connected. To disable this, after the first time Photos launches, uncheck the box in the upper-left that says “Open photos for this device” or “Open photos.”

Windows

The iPhone pairs well with MacOS — there’s no doubt there. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean Apple has made it difficult for Windows users to access their photos using a program native to their respective OS. The process is nearly identical for Windows 8 and 10 users, though, so you shouldn’t experience much trouble using any moderately-recent Windows OS.

Step 1: Plug your phone into your computer — either using a 30-pin USB cord or Lightning cable — the same way you would do so if you were uploading music.

Step 2: The Photos app should automatically launch, but if not, open the program using the Start menu or search bar. You may have to unlock your iPhone before moving on.

Step 3: Click the Import button in the upper-right corner, represented by a box with a downward arrow inside. Afterward, check the individual photos you wish to transfer from your iPhone and click Continue in the lower-left corner.

Step 4: Check the box in the resulting pop-up window if you’d like to automatically delete the photos on your iPhone after importing them, or simply click the Import button to transfer the images to your main Pictures folder. Alternatively, click the blue Change where they’re imported link to select a new save destination.

When finished, click the Albums button accessible via the left-hand navigational pane. Then, select Last Import at the top to view, share, or edit any of your recently-uploaded photos.

Get into shape with the best iPhone fitness apps

If you’re trying to lose weight, work on your fitness, or eat better, your iPhone can be a helpful tool — but only if you have the right app. Thankfully, we’ve dug through hundreds of apps out there to give you our take on the best apps in the App Store to help you stay healthy and fit.

More: The best fitness trackers you can buy

Weight Loss

Sometimes, the prospective health benefits of exercise aren’t enough to get you out the door and on the trail. The apps below are designed to give you another compelling reason, whether it’s the opportunity to earn virtual badges, a chance to win actual prizes, or simply the prospect to not get ridiculed.

Nike+ Training Club

Nike’s official app has a library of 30 to 45-minute workouts that are based on your goals and fitness level. Importantly, the app explains how to execute each exercise with how-to videos and even lets you share your accomplishments on social networks.

Download now from:

iTunes

Carrot Fit: 7 Minute Workout, Step Counter and Weight Tracker ($4)

Carrot is an AI construct that threatens, inspires, ridicules, and bribes you — whatever it takes — to get you moving. It’s a wonderful motivator that features a “7 minutes in hell” workout that will require you to do 30 seconds of  12 punishing exercises, and will berate you if you don’t.

Download now from:

iTunes

Argus: Calorie Counter & Activity Tracker for Heart Healthy Living

Argus is a neat all-in-one activity tracker that monitors your sleep, heart rate, calories, and more. The app offers challenges to overcome, as well as the option to build your own workout plan. You can even add food you eat by scanning the barcode on the label to track your calories.

Download now from:

iTunes

Lose It! Weight Loss Program and Calorie Counter

Lose it tracks food intake and fitness activities. Plug in your height, weight, age, and how much weight you are trying to lose (if any at all), and the app constructs a recommended net calorie intake based on how many calories you consume and how many you burn.

Download now from:

iTunes

MyFitnessPal Calorie Counter and Diet Tracker

Calorie Counter and Diet Tracker by MyFitnessPal boasts a database of more than 5 million foods to sort through, making it easier to track what you eat. It also features a step tracker and a barcode scanner, to make sure you’re able to track everything in your diet. Read more here.

Download now from:

iTunes

Lifesum: Healthier Living and Better Eating

Lifesum is a weight loss app that works with apps from Withings and RunKeeper to give you an accurate assessment of your daily calorie intake. It even features a built-in barcode scanner that can pull up nutritional data on millions of items.

Download now from:

iTunes

Fitocracy

Fitocracy is for the competitive. The personal trainer lets you track workouts and encourages you to work toward real-life goals through a leveling system and in-game achievements you can share among your friends and the Fitocracy community.

Download now from:

iTunes

Pokémon Go

This isn’t a traditional weight loss app, sure, but many hail Pokémon Go as being a great way to get off the couch and into the wild. It might be more suited for ’90s kids who grew up with Pokémon, but regardless of who you are, you’ll find yourself walking all over your city as you try to find new Pokemon.

Download now from:

iTunes

V-Traning

If you’re looking for a personal trainer, this app will automatically show you all nearby trainers on a map. You can find out about their experience, training style, certifications, going rates, and more. There are user ratings for some trainers, too, and photos of past clients. You can request and book times through the app and have one-on-one interactions. If you’re a trainer, you can also create six-day training and nutrition plans for your clients, and send them from directly within the app. You also have access to a calendar with appointments and reminders for training sessions.

Download now from:

iTunes

Fitstar Personal Trainer

This app creates a custom workout based on your fitness level. It learns from you as you use it. You choose workouts, and then you tell the app whether the exercises were too easy or too tough for you. The information is used to create a workout routine that fits your level. It will also track your overall fitness, as it’s compatible with the Health app, Fitbit, MyFitnessPal, and Strava. The freemium app is also compatible with Apple Watch, though some features require a subscription to use. Sadly, the latter will run you anywhere between $8 and $40 annually.

Download now from:

iTunes

Weight Watchers

Weight Watchers has an official app that promises to help you in your journey to a healthier lifestyle, and helps you track and share your weight loss progress with your friends. Since the Weight Watchers program is about tracking points, this app also makes it easy to keep track of your food intake, since everything you eat has a point value. The free app is compatible with the Apple Watch, too, but you’ll need to subscribe to Weight Watchers Online if you want to make the most of it.

Download now from:

iTunes

Facial-recognition software may help save Earth’s most endangered mammals

Why it matters to you

LemurFaceID could spawn similar software that may be used to protect endangered species across the planet.

Lemurs are in trouble. In 2012, the International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the Madagascar natives as the most endangered mammals on the planet. But a team of researchers have developed a system called LemurFaceID, which uses facial-recognition software to spot lemurs in their natural habitat.

“The original inspiration for developing LemurFaceID was a desire to develop a noninvasive tool that would help us ID and track lemurs,” Stacey Tecot, University of Arizona assistant professor and senior researcher of the project, told Digital Trends.

To minimize invasiveness, Tecot and her colleague, George Washington University’s Rachel Jacobs, decided not to capture or tag their subjects, but soon found that such a hands-off approach made collecting sufficient datasets difficult. “I’d explored using dye via a gentle water gun, but didn’t get very far with that,” Tecot said. “Another researcher had used photographs but I didn’t have the resources for a good camera, and my photos weren’t useful.”

More: Australia wants to replace passports with facial-recognition technology

Jacobs, on the other hand, managed some success using photographs to double-check her team’s visual assessments. “Because of that success, automating lemur identification seemed possible, and we began to explore the different biometric tools out there. We kept coming back to facial recognition. Connected with Anil Jain and his students gave us the confidence that this could work.”

Along with his students, Jain, who teaches biometrics at Michigan State University, used hundreds of lemur photos that were captured by Tecot, Jacob, and their team, feeding the images into facial-recognition software until the system was able to identify the 80 individual red-bellied lemurs depicted in the images.

“We hope the system will help inform the study and conservation of lemurs in several ways,” Tecot said.

First, the system may be used to train researchers, assistants, and technicians who are new to studying lemurs. “It’s not a replacement for learning IDs for long-term research,” Tecot said, “but it can be a good check that a lemur is actually who we think it is during data collection.”

Second, LemurFaceID can help keep track of populations, much like a census, by spotting individuals new to the group or identify lemurs that have been trafficked for sale elsewhere. “Part of conservation is determining population viability and status,” she added. “We plan to test this system in the future alongside traditional census methods, and reassess the conservation status of the species.”

Finally, the system may even be used to engage the public in conservation efforts by making the lemurs that much more relatable. “Tourist guides and visitors to the park … could have a more personal connection with the lemurs, and the park and wildlife more generally, by either contributing to the database and helping us keep track of the population, or snapping a photo and learning more about the individuals,” Tecot said.

The researchers have published a paper detailing their work in the journal BioMed Central Zoology.

Facial-recognition software may help save Earth’s most endangered mammals

Why it matters to you

LemurFaceID could spawn similar software that may be used to protect endangered species across the planet.

Lemurs are in trouble. In 2012, the International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the Madagascar natives as the most endangered mammals on the planet. But a team of researchers have developed a system called LemurFaceID, which uses facial-recognition software to spot lemurs in their natural habitat.

“The original inspiration for developing LemurFaceID was a desire to develop a noninvasive tool that would help us ID and track lemurs,” Stacey Tecot, University of Arizona assistant professor and senior researcher of the project, told Digital Trends.

To minimize invasiveness, Tecot and her colleague, George Washington University’s Rachel Jacobs, decided not to capture or tag their subjects, but soon found that such a hands-off approach made collecting sufficient datasets difficult. “I’d explored using dye via a gentle water gun, but didn’t get very far with that,” Tecot said. “Another researcher had used photographs but I didn’t have the resources for a good camera, and my photos weren’t useful.”

More: Australia wants to replace passports with facial-recognition technology

Jacobs, on the other hand, managed some success using photographs to double-check her team’s visual assessments. “Because of that success, automating lemur identification seemed possible, and we began to explore the different biometric tools out there. We kept coming back to facial recognition. Connected with Anil Jain and his students gave us the confidence that this could work.”

Along with his students, Jain, who teaches biometrics at Michigan State University, used hundreds of lemur photos that were captured by Tecot, Jacob, and their team, feeding the images into facial-recognition software until the system was able to identify the 80 individual red-bellied lemurs depicted in the images.

“We hope the system will help inform the study and conservation of lemurs in several ways,” Tecot said.

First, the system may be used to train researchers, assistants, and technicians who are new to studying lemurs. “It’s not a replacement for learning IDs for long-term research,” Tecot said, “but it can be a good check that a lemur is actually who we think it is during data collection.”

Second, LemurFaceID can help keep track of populations, much like a census, by spotting individuals new to the group or identify lemurs that have been trafficked for sale elsewhere. “Part of conservation is determining population viability and status,” she added. “We plan to test this system in the future alongside traditional census methods, and reassess the conservation status of the species.”

Finally, the system may even be used to engage the public in conservation efforts by making the lemurs that much more relatable. “Tourist guides and visitors to the park … could have a more personal connection with the lemurs, and the park and wildlife more generally, by either contributing to the database and helping us keep track of the population, or snapping a photo and learning more about the individuals,” Tecot said.

The researchers have published a paper detailing their work in the journal BioMed Central Zoology.

Blizzard games to no longer support Windows XP or Vista

Why it matters to you

If you are still running XP or Vista, you’ll need to upgrade if you want to continue playing Blizzard games.

Blizzard has joined a growing number of developers and software makers who no longer offer official support for the aging Windows XP and Vista operating systems. Announced in a forum thread discussing the move, Blizzard said that it will drop support for those two OS’s before the end of the year.

Much like Microsoft, it has actually been quite some time since Blizzard officially supported XP and Vista. It announced in 2016 that it would be ditching both operating systems from its official support list, but since a good number of its players still used them, it continued to support them behind the scenes. Now though, with most having moved on to more modern operating systems, the firm has decided to cut the cord for good.

Throughout this year, Blizzard will release updates for its games — World of Warcraft, StarCraft II, Diablo III, Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm – which will kill the ability of anyone running XP or Vista to play them. If you are still running one of those older systems and want to play any of the above games you will need to upgrade.

Blizzard hasn’t made it clear when these patches will arrive and we’re told they will be staggered rather than launched all at once, but the updates are coming.

More: Reinstall Windows 10 (and fix your problems) with these quick steps

Blizzard joins the likes of Google in its decision to drop support for those two operating systems. The software giant announced earlier this month that it would be reducing its support for Windows XP and Vista with its Gmail platform, over security concerns.

Microsoft ended any form of general, extended support for the near-16-year-old Windows XP a couple of years ago, and full support as far back as 2009. That means it lacks many recent security updates and improvements of its more contemporary alternatives. However it does maintain some support for key government industries, like the U.S. Navy.

Regardless of that specific case though, you really should upgrade to Windows 10, if only for its security benefits.

Microsoft reportedly cans first HoloLens revision, new version expected in 2019

Why it matters to you

HoloLens is a big priority for Microsoft, but a report might indicate that the company doesn’t expect the hardware to be commercially viable for a couple more years.

In February 2016, Microsoft opened pre-orders on the development edition of its HoloLens headset. Since then, it’s been expected that the company would release a more refined second edition — but now there’s reason to believe that Microsoft is thinking even further forward when it comes to its first major revision of the hardware.

A second version of the device was apparently in development, but has now been canceled, according to a report from Thurrott. It’s likely that this release would have reduced the price and size of the HoloLens, making it more appealing to consumers than the developer-centric original.

However, there’s now word that Microsoft is confident that HoloLens can hold its own against competitors without an immediate revision. As such, the company is now preparing a more comprehensive update that will likely launch in 2019. That might seem like a way off, but this version of the HoloLens would be even further off were it not for Microsoft’s decision to scrap the intermediary second edition.

More: Microsoft does have plans to release a Hololens headset for consumers

It’s clear that some of the biggest players in the tech industry think that AR is the future. However, these forecasts might not line up with users’ eagerness to adopt the new hardware. Microsoft’s strategy seems to hinge on delaying a more advanced HoloLens headset until users are ready to invest in AR.

At present, there isn’t a great deal of pressure for Microsoft to press forward. Its biggest rival in terms of AR is Magic Leap, and while the company has had no problem gathering funding, it’s yet to make a product available to the public.

Microsoft has no intention of scrapping its HoloLens project. However, it seems that the company has no problem with abandoning a particular iteration of the device if it stands to benefit the larger HoloLens brand. Right now, it’s all about making the necessary preparations for a time when your average user is ready to buy an AR headset.

How to stream music from your phone in an older car

Upgrading your car stereo capabilities on the cheap.

Story time: I’ve got an older car, a 2001 VW Jetta, that still runs great but lacks some of the modern amenities that I would prefer to have in my car. Most notably, my car stereo still prominently features a cassette deck along with FM/AM radio.

Yeah, I’m pretty sure this setup was out of date back in 2001.

I’m well past using physical media for my music, so I needed to find a way to transmit the music from my phone to my car stereo. Ideally, I’d want a car stereo with a touchscreen and support for Android Auto — though I would easily settle for Bluetooth connectivity, or at the very least an AUX input in a pinch — but that would typically require either buying a new car or investing in a new car stereo that is also compatible with my 16-year-old Volkswagen. Neither of those options sound cheap or easy, so I turned to car accessories to help me out.

As a quick fix, I picked up a classic cassette to AUX adapter, which served its purpose well and wasn’t too cumbersome despite dealing with the red wire. Unfortunately, the harsh nature of Canada’s winter was none too kind to that wire, and it’s now time to upgrade… but again, I’m still in no position to buy a new car or get a new car stereo.

Instead, here’s my guide to connecting your phone to your car stereo on the cheap.

Mounting your phone

If you’re planning to use your phone as the media hub for your car, the first thing you’re going to need is a way to mount your phone to your dashboard. That way you can skip tracks, see and answer calls hands-free, as well as use Google Maps for directions.

Check out our list of the best universal car mounts to find one that works for you and your car. If your car has an in-dash CD player, you might want to consider the Koomus CD Eco Universal phone mount. Since the goal, again, is to stream all your music from your phone, you might as well still get some functionality out of that CD slot in your dashboard. What you do with that binder of burnt CDs under your seat is your business.

Personally, I rely on the Spigen Style Ring to mount my phone to my car dashboard. The Style Ring is a somewhat controversial accessory, and not everyone is going to like adding a half-inch bump to the back of their phone. But I love it for all the functionality it adds, especially the included car mount that quickly sticks to your car dashboard and gives you an entirely minimalist car mount option with the freedom to quickly grab your phone when you arrive at your destination.

Regardless of which car mount you go with for your phone, you’re going to definitely want to keep your phone out of your hands while you’re driving. Not only is it incredibly unsafe, but it may also be illegal depending on your local laws.

Connecting your phone to your (old) car stereo

Once you’ve got your phone mounted to your dash, your next step will be connecting your phone to your car stereo. If you, too, own a car with a cassette deck in your car, and you don’t mind dealing with a length of wire coming out of your car stereo to save some money, the cassette to AUX adapter I mentioned above really did worked out well for me — just keep in mind that frigid temperatures will make that wire extremely brittle at times and, eventually, it will break down.

Depending on the features of your car’s current stereo deck, you may be lucky enough to only need an auxiliary cable to connect your phone to your car stereo. You should get this pair of 3.5mm AUX cables that are the perfect length to be used in your car.

If dealing with a bunch of wires running up and down your dashboard sounds like a nightmare, you may want to look at an FM transmitter instead, which will let you broadcast your music to an open FM signal on your local radio dial. There are countless FM transmitters available, but arguably the most elegant and practical one I’ve found is the GoGroove FlexSMART X2.

This car accessory is powered by your car’s 12V outlet and allows you to connect your phone via Bluetooth or with the included 3.5mm AUX cable and then transmit your music over FM. But that’s just the beginning, as this little box is jam-packed with features, including a built-in microphone, controls for skipping tracks and answering incoming phone calls, a 5V/1A USB port for keeping your phone charged up, and it’s all mounted on a fully adjustable arm. This is the accessory you want if you’re looking for Bluetooth connectivity for your phone without investing in a new stereo deck. Priced at $35, you might be able to find a cheaper FM transmitter, but you will ultimately get what you pay for.

See at Amazon

Paired with a quality car mount and you can get that high-tech dashboard look for a budget price. Now start planning that summer road trip!

Your ride

What do you use to overcome the technological limitations of your aging car? Let us know in the comments below!