Lightweight YouTube Go app, planned for release last year, is now available

Why it matters to you

Facebook Lite already has 200 million monthly users, and now YouTube is looking to emulate that success with its own little app — YouTube Go.

Facebook has already proven that lightweight versions of popular apps can be a hit in developing markets — just ask its now 200 million monthly users in those markets. And now, YouTube is hoping to take a page out of that book with the inconspicuous launch of YouTube Go. On Wednesday, a version of the app appeared on the Google Play Store. It weighs in at less than 10MB, and comes with the option of sharing files using Wi-Fi Direct protocol.

The stripped down version of the app was first announced at an event in India just a few months ago. Promising to be a “faster, and lighter” version of its behemoth video service, it’s meant to help you save data while watching footage of cats chasing vacuums (or whatever else floats your boat).

More: A weird YouTube glitch has been causing alarm among popular vloggers

The app also allows for offline viewing, and will be particularly useful for those in areas where data connectivity isn’t always the strongest. With YouTube Go, users can choose whether they want to play a video in basic or standard quality, and whether they want to play it now or save it for offline viewing later.

We should note that not every YouTube video is eligible for saving (these preferences are set by channel owners), but if the option is available, it certainly can be a boon to viewers. A popup in the app will also tell users how much empty space is left on their device or SD card.

All saved videos are sent to the Saved tab of the YouTube Go app — once footage is stored here, you can share it with others via Wi-Fi Direct, which allows devices to connect with one another without Wi-Fi access. While the original YouTube app already allowed for offline viewing, the lightweight app differs in allowing users to choose their resolution, helping them to further save data.

The app, geared towards the Indian market, supports a number of Indian local languages, including Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, and Tamil.

Are your headphones always running out of juice? This charging case can help

Why it matters to you

Your constantly power-draining wireless headphones might have just met their new best friend.

If you’re familiar with PolarPro, it’s a safe bet that you’re a photographer or videographer, as the company is mainly known for its lens filters. Now, though, the company is tackling a new challenge with the WAVe, a case for your wireless headphones that charges them while keeping them safe.

We’ve seen cases that charge headphones before, but they’re usually included with true wireless earbuds, or when they are offered by third parties, they focus on in-ears. The PolarPro WAVe, on the other hand, can hold models like the Bose QuietComfort and Beats Solo series. The case is quite the looker as well, with an exterior coated in Napa leather.

More: PolarPro’s lens filters for DJI drones help you achieve the cinema look

The case is available in two different models: the WAVe Contoured and the WAVe Universal. The Contoured model fits the Beats Solo, Solo2, Solo3, and Beats Studio Wireless, while the Universal model fits the Bose QC25, QC35, and SoundLink headphones. Other headphones will likely fit as well, though you may not want to back the Kickstarter unless you’re absolutely sure yours will fit.

No matter which model you opt for, PolarPro says the built-in 3,000mAh battery can fully charge the headphones up to 10 times, depending on the model. Charge time will depend on the model, but according to the company, many headphones can be charged to 90 percent in 20 minutes, and can achieve a 100-percent charge in 30 minutes. The case itself can be recharged in a little under three hours. In addition to charging headphones, an external USB port allows the WAVe to charge mobile devices as well.

More: Mophie’s Power Capsule can charge your wireless headphones eight times over

Either case is available for a pledge of $40, while Super Early Bird pricing — which is still available — will get you either case for $30. If you want to go all-in, a three-pack is available for $100, allowing you to mix and match Universal and Contoured designs.

The campaign, which launched yesterday, is aiming for $55,000 in funding, If successful, PolarPro expects to start shipping to backers in May 2017. For more information or to back the campaign, see the WAVe Kickstarter page.

Feel the bass like never before with this outlandish wrist wearable

If you’ve ever wondered how strapping a tiny, low-powered subwoofer to your wrist might feel, it’s kind of like wearing the Basslet.

The Basslet, a product of Berlin-based startup Lofelt, delivers low-frequency, high-precision haptics to your wrist — sort of like a vibrating Apple Watch on steroids.

“Feeling the kick of the ball is really something.”

Powering the voodoo vibrations is what Lofelt calls the “LoSound” engine, a patent-pending motor that produces inaudible bass in the 10-250Hz range. Scaling it down was an engineering challenge, Lofelt founder and CEO Daniel Büttner told Digital Trends. “We had to shrink the subwoofer from a big box into a wearable.”

More: Bass? Been done. Jaded is all about that chirp on “4000Hz”

Like a standard subwoofer, the Basslet syncs audio from any device with a standard 3.5mm audio jack. A Bluetooth-paired “support” dongle hooks to a power source via a Micro USB cable, and serves double duty as the Basslet’s charger via a magnetic connector.

Feel the beat right on your wrist

The Basslet’s immersiveness impressed us. In a demo at the Digital Trends offices in New York, we streamed an assortment of tunes from Beyoncé’s Single Ladies to William Michael Morgan’s Cheap Cologne. The distinctive drumbeat of King of Punk Funk became all the more palpable with the Basslet strapped on tightly, while the acoustic Cheap Cologne, produced a different sensation altogether — almost like guitar strings against the skin.

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

But the Basslet struggled in other songs. It identified the wrong baseline in Major Lazer’s Light It Up Remix, and had difficulty distinguishing between the individual drumbeats in The Knack’s My Sharona.

That’s all to say the Basslet won’t be replacing bookshelf subwoofers anytime soon, and it’s certainly no match for the high-end sound systems you’re likely to find at a stadium or auditorium.

More: Awesome tech you can’t buy yet: Wearable subwoofers, gigantic Legos, and more

It’s not exactly practical, either. If you already sport a watch or fitness band, it’s a hassle to fit on your wrist. Büttner said the team is working with hardware manufacturers to embed the Basslet’s tech in future tablets and smartphones, but be warned that a tangible product is years off.

What’s next for Lofelt?

In one of Lofelt’s first ventures beyond the wearable market, it partnered with automaker Renault on a concept car dashboard that alerted drivers of navigation changes and potential collisions. Meanwhile, Teenage Engineering, a Sweden-based digital music company, is incorporating the tech into a synthesizer, and Lofelt is super excited about the project. “It’s really interesting when you add it to an instrument,” Büttner said. “It makes a huge difference. You can directly feel the instrument.”

Lofelt sees a place for the Basslet’s haptics in gaming, too — specifically virtual reality. “We’ve tested it with the [HTC] Vive virtual reality headset,” Büttner said. “It’s much more nuanced than a game controller. It’s almost like touching a speaker — you can feel the sound decaying out.” The company has experimented with genres ranging from platforms to first-person shooters, but says soccer simulator FIFA was one of the most affecting. “Feeling the kick of the ball is really something,” he said.

The Basslet costs $200 on Amazon and Loflet’s own website in the U.S. and U.K. It supports standard 38mm and 42mm wristbands and lasts six hours on a charge.

Strava’s Android Wear 2.0 app lets users record, upload activities without a phone

Why it matters to you

While it’s still unclear if smartwatches are the future, they’re certainly more useful when they do not need to be tethered to our smartphones.

Strava has optimized its Android Wear app to make use of the latest 2.0 revamp that was officially announced Wednesday alongside the brand new LG Watch Style and Watch Sport.

The popular fitness app now lets users record and upload activities straight from Android Wear 2.0 watches — without requiring a phone to be nearby. It’s all thanks to a focus on stand-alone apps in Google’s latest update.

More: Android Wear is back in business with two new watches from LG

The only way to make use of the Strava update immediately is to buy the LG Watch Style and Watch Sport, which go on sale on this Friday, February 10. The Android Wear 2.0 update will roll out to a select number of existing devices in the coming weeks, particularly toward the end of February.

An Android or iPhone is only required for the initial setup, but you can install the Wear 2.0 Strava app directly from your Android Wear watch’s Play Store.

Google Fit, the pre-installed fitness application on Android Wear watches, also got a big revamp in Wear 2.0, as it can now track your pace, distance, heart rate (if your watch has a heart-rate monitor), and calories burned while you’re walking, biking, or running.

Fit can now also accurately track sit-ups, squats, push-ups, and weightlifting reps.

More: Strava fitness app’s ‘Beacon’ lets people track your location while you run, bike

Strava is more of a social network for athletes, as you can compete with friends and track ytheir exercise efforts. The app recently added the ability for your friends and family to track your location (with your permission), which can be handy in case of an emergency.

Expect to see more announcements from app developers about their optimizations with Android Wear 2.0 as the update nears the rollout date.

Microsoft to give users new way to access its Office suite — the Windows Store

Why it matters to you

Microsoft’s decision to bring the Office suite to the Windows Store sheds more light on the role of Windows 10 Cloud.

In recent years, Microsoft has drastically increased the number of ways users can get access to its Office suite, from the web-based implementations that are available via Office 365, to the touch-enabled versions created for mobile usage. Now, it seems that Office is making its way to the Windows Store.

Microsoft will use the Desktop App Converter, formerly known as Project Centennial, to bring Office to the Windows Store, according to a report from MS Power User. The tool was created to make it easy for developers to offer traditional desktop software as apps, which might hint at the company’s overarching game plan.

More: New preview build of Microsoft Office for Mac brings support for add-ins

Earlier this month, a leaked build confirmed the existence of Windows 10 Cloud, a new variant of Microsoft’s flagship operating system. The going theory is that Windows 10 Cloud would be a stripped-down version of the OS that’s limited to running software obtained from the Windows Store — although there’s been some doubt cast on that assumption thanks to hands-on testing.

If Microsoft does intend to release a version of Windows that can only run software from the Windows Store, it would make a lot of sense to make the Office suite available from that storefront. The package is still one of the company’s most popular products, and Microsoft wouldn’t want Windows 10 Cloud users to be unable to access the suite.

It’s being reported that Microsoft plans to bring the Office suite to the Windows Store following the launch of the Creators Update, which is scheduled to land in April. Given that this release seems to have deep ties to Windows 10 Cloud, it wouldn’t be surprising to see both projects make their debut around the same time — but with the company still focusing its promotional efforts on the Creators Update, we might have to wait a while to hear anything official.

Brain cells, beware: Researchers have created the world smallest hammer

Why it matters to you

By smashing brain cells, researchers can better understand — and someday treat — brain conditions such as Alzheimer’s and TBI.

The world’s smallest hammer has been created to study what happens to brain cells when we hit our head. The goal for the University of California, Santa Barbara researchers behind the project is to uncover the physical underpinnings of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in order to develop better treatment methods.

“This is new territory,” Kimberly Foster, one of the principal investigators leading the project, told Digital Trends. “We are not yet sure of what we will find! This is what makes this science so interesting and exciting.”

Along with Megan Valentine, Adele Doyle, and research student Luke Patterson, Foster will study how impact affects neural stem cells. But cells are small and the researchers needed a cellular-scale device to test and measure the damage, so they developed a tiny hammer.

More: Innovative brain-reading cap allows ‘locked-in’ patients to communicate with doctors

“The microhammer is a silicon micromechanical device, known as MEMS,” Foster explained. “The hammer is deployed using a magnetic force. It was fabricated in a cleanroom utilizing tools similar to those used to make microprocessor chips.”

Foster and her team’s microhammer was designed by modifying a cell-sorting technology developed by Owl Biomedical, a biotech company that will collaborate with the researchers in the study.

“With the microhammer device we not only provide TBI-relevant forces to cells, we can collect the cells after impact and assess their biochemical and structural changes over time,” Valentine told Digital Trends.

Though the project is still in its infancy it shows promise to illuminate the mechanisms at work beneath our skulls by impacting and precisely measuring physical, chemical, and biological effects.

“There is so much we don’t understand about the brain, and in particular how forces are sensed and processed,” Valentine said. “We hope the tools we develop will allow us to understand the complex interactions between force inputs and biological outputs, including changes in cell composition, function, and viability.”

The project is part of the federal Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative.

Pixlplay finds a use for your old smartphone as a toy camera for kids

Why it matters to you

Pixlplay will teach kids about photography while giving you something to do with that old iPhone 5 that is still lying around.

Now on Kickstarter, Pixlplay from Pixl Toys looks to breathe new life into your retired Android phone or iPhone by turning it into a fun, kid-friendly camera. The $25 accessory is inspired by the design of classic 35mm film cameras and serves double duty as a rugged case to protect your phone. The large, rubberized grip makes it easy for kids to grasp in both hands, and rotating “aperture” and “film advance” dials provide a tactile, if purely skeuomorphic, experience.

While the dials may be fake, the shutter button is real, connecting to your phone’s headphone jack to control the camera (iPhone 7 users will need to use the 3.5mm to Lightning port adapter). Initially, the Pixlplay will come with just an iOS app, which will add the option to paste funny stickers like hats and mustaches over photos. Pixl Toys lists an Android app as a stretch goal, but the Pixlplay will also work with the default camera apps on iOS, Android, and Windows phones (as well as most third-party camera apps).

More: Fashion photographer finds toy camera challenging to use, but not impossible

The Pixlplay is designed to fit virtually all standard-size phones — so no phablets or plus-sized phones — thanks to an adjustable clamp. The Pixlplay could make a good permanent home for an old phone that is otherwise collecting dust in a drawer somewhere, but even new phones should be safe. In addition to the rugged case, a splash-resistant screen cover shields your device while inside, hopefully allaying any fears inherent of handing a phone over to a four-year-old.

Beyond providing fun and entertainment, Pixl Toys says the Pixlplay will teach kids about the basics of photography and encourage creative expression. A collection of “activity cards” will provide creative suggestions for parents and children alike. Pixl Toys says the Pixlplay is appropriate for children ages three and up.

The Pixlplay has raised more than $9,000 so far on Kickstarter with 33 days left in its campaign, well on its way to achieving its $25,000 goal. Pledge tiers that include the Pixlplay start at $20, but spots are limited. As with all crowdfunding projects, a successful campaign does not guarantee delivery of the product.

Etekcity Roverbeats Bluetooth receiver gives speakers wireless capability for $20

If you have a traditional set of wired speakers and are tired of being cable-bound, then now might be the time to grab the popular and feature-laden Etekcity Roverbeats Bluetooth receiver. A best-seller on Amazon, the Roverbeats Unify receiver is currently available for a 46-percent discount, coming in at just under $20. At less than two inches wide and under one inch thick, this compact adapter is about the size of a small MP3 player and can easily slip into a pocket.

The Roverbeats Unify utilizes energy-efficient Bluetooth 4.0 technology for clear and quick wireless streaming with a range of up to 33 feet. The lithium ion battery in the receiver can run for up to 10 hours on a single charge and powers up quickly via USB cable. The Unify can connect via standard A/V, RCA, and 3.5mm audio jacks, turning your compatible speaker system into a wireless-capable streaming station. Along with traditional speakers, the Unify can integrate with virtually any stereo, car radio, or home theater setup that can connect to the receiver.

More: Monoprice home theater system takes your entertainment room to next level (25 percent off)

The Etekcity Roverbeats Bluetooth receiver can stream audio from any modern Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, tablet, or computer, and features convenient NFC wireless connectivity as well. After pairing one of your devices with a set of speakers for the first time via the receiver, re-pairing can be instantly done with a quick hand gesture: simply touch your NFC-capable mobile device to the Roverbeats Unify. It will connect automatically, and you are ready to start streaming.

At just $20 on Amazon after the 46-percent discount, the Etekcity Roverbeats Bluetooth receiver is a great low-cost solution to your wireless audio streaming needs. The adapter currently has a 4.4-star user rating with over 1,600 customer reviews and is frequently listed among the best Bluetooth receivers. Etekcity includes a one-year worry-free warranty with the device as well.

$20 on Amazon

Apple’s latest patents hint at 3D camera tech that could power the next iPhone

Why it matters to you

Apple’s latest advances in 3D imaging could make their way to your next iPhone, unlocking a world of possibilities in facial recognition, augmented reality, and photography.

With a wide range of applications from augmented reality to gesture tracking, photography, and even mapping, 3D-scanning technology is truly one of the next great innovations in the world of digital imaging. A team of Apple researchers in Israel, formerly known as PrimeSense and responsible for developing Microsoft’s Kinect gaming platform, has just filed a patent for a depth-sensing device that appears to be intended for the company’s mapping vans, but also holds far-reaching implications for consumer devices like the upcoming iPhone 8.

The patent filing, reported on by blog Patently Apple, depicts a compact “multi-mirror scanning depth engine” that determines the distance of objects in an environment based on the amount of time light reflecting off those objects takes to reach a sensor. This particular array would most likely be used as part of a light imaging, detection, and ranging device — more commonly known as laser or 3D scanners — that are standard in the geographic mapping industry.

More: Apple iPhone 8 rumors and news

As Apple continues to invest in talent to beef up its own mapping service, it’s not surprising the company might experiment with its latest discoveries in the field before condensing that technology into a smartphone after its been thoroughly battle-tested. Early last year, Apple acquired Emotient, a startup that used artificial intelligence to improve facial recognition. The upcoming iPhone 8 — which may actually be called the iPhone X, according to the latest rumors — has been tipped to include a 3D-sensing camera, where facial recognition is expected to be one of the major applications.

A depth-sensing camera offers clear benefits for iPhone photography as well. One of the iPhone 7 Plus’ most notable and well-received features is its dual-camera system, which combines the standard wide-angle lens on the regular iPhone 7 with an additional telephoto lens to enable optical zoom and deliver stunning depth effects. Bolstered by Apple’s advancements in 3D-scanning hardware, the upcoming flagship iPhone’s camera could be more powerful and versatile than ever before.

Apple’s latest patents hint at 3D camera tech that could power the next iPhone

Why it matters to you

Apple’s latest advances in 3D imaging could make their way to your next iPhone, unlocking a world of possibilities in facial recognition, augmented reality, and photography.

With a wide range of applications from augmented reality to gesture tracking, photography, and even mapping, 3D-scanning technology is truly one of the next great innovations in the world of digital imaging. A team of Apple researchers in Israel, formerly known as PrimeSense and responsible for developing Microsoft’s Kinect gaming platform, has just filed a patent for a depth-sensing device that appears to be intended for the company’s mapping vans, but also holds far-reaching implications for consumer devices like the upcoming iPhone 8.

The patent filing, reported on by blog Patently Apple, depicts a compact “multi-mirror scanning depth engine” that determines the distance of objects in an environment based on the amount of time light reflecting off those objects takes to reach a sensor. This particular array would most likely be used as part of a light imaging, detection, and ranging device — more commonly known as laser or 3D scanners — that are standard in the geographic mapping industry.

More: Apple iPhone 8 rumors and news

As Apple continues to invest in talent to beef up its own mapping service, it’s not surprising the company might experiment with its latest discoveries in the field before condensing that technology into a smartphone after its been thoroughly battle-tested. Early last year, Apple acquired Emotient, a startup that used artificial intelligence to improve facial recognition. The upcoming iPhone 8 — which may actually be called the iPhone X, according to the latest rumors — has been tipped to include a 3D-sensing camera, where facial recognition is expected to be one of the major applications.

A depth-sensing camera offers clear benefits for iPhone photography as well. One of the iPhone 7 Plus’ most notable and well-received features is its dual-camera system, which combines the standard wide-angle lens on the regular iPhone 7 with an additional telephoto lens to enable optical zoom and deliver stunning depth effects. Bolstered by Apple’s advancements in 3D-scanning hardware, the upcoming flagship iPhone’s camera could be more powerful and versatile than ever before.