We’re live from SXSW 2017!

The past few weeks have been intense for the tech world, what with MWC and GDC taking place over the past few weeks. Now it’s turn for SXSW 2017. We’re on the ground in Austin, Texas to check out what the festival has to offer with its interactive, music and film sections. All the SXSW action is happening this week and next, so stay tuned as we’ll be bringing you the latest news, interviews and more from the event.

Twitch desktop app aims to make streaming more social

Twitch has long been more than just a video game streaming platform. In fact, it’s starting to morph into a full-fledged, gamer-centric social network and marketplace. Just a few days ago, the company unveiled Pulse, which added a Facebook-like feed featuring posts from streamers and viewers. This spring, Twitch will also introduce the ability for users to buy and download the games being played by their favorite streamers directly on the page. Today, the gaming platform announced these and other features are also coming to the new Twitch Desktop App, which launches on March 16th.

The app isn’t entirely new, since it’s a rebranding of Curse, a communication platform Twitch acquired in August, with added features. Now that Curse has been fully integrated into the Twitch family, the revised app aims to be a one-stop destination for Twitch power users. In addition to standard Twitch features like streams, chat, activity sharing and private messaging, the desktop program will also include video chats, audio messaging, and community servers (those places where followers of a particular streamer can interact with each other even when the streamer is offline).

Soon, desktop Twitchers will also be able to actually play the games they watch. When direct purchases become available this spring, users will be able to download and play their games right there in the Twitch Desktop App. Once that feature goes live, the gamers can even snag addons and mods, which sounds similar to the Steam Workshop downloadable content marketplace. Steam shouldn’t have to worry about its market share just yet though — it recently had 14 million people on the platform at once, says PC Gamer — but the platform definitely has a serious new competitor.

In non-app news, Twitch is also increasing its influence among non-gamers with TwitchPresents, a new channel for TV marathons. It’s kicking things off with a 17-day Power Rangers binge, which will include all 831 episodes and runs from March 14 to March 30. The Twitch website should continue to be more than enough for most casual viewers, gamers or otherwise, but for users who want a more immersive experience — and perhaps an alternative to Steam — it looks like the Twitch Desktop app could scratch that itch.

The best USB audio interface

By Al Griffin

This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here.

For beginners looking to branch out into DIY recording, we recommend the Tascam US-2×2. After spending 30 hours researching the category, discussing key features with audio pros, and recording instrument and vocal samples on five models for evaluation by a panel of trained listeners, we chose the US-2×2 as our favorite. We found it to be the easiest model to work with, and setup in most cases is plug and play. It’s also one of the more affordable two-channel USB audio interfaces on the market.

Who should get this

Musicians wanting to record songs without a big upfront hardware investment have long relied on their computer’s basic audio capabilities to capture and digitize tracks. But those serious about boosting the quality of their setup will soon realize the shortcomings of built-in hardware. Recordings can be noisy, and you are typically limited to capturing only one instrument or vocal track at a time. Relying on USB to connect a microphone also restricts your selection to mics with a USB output. Though mics in that category are fine for basic recording applications like podcasting, the options aren’t anywhere near as extensive as regular models that output analog audio over an XLR or ¼-inch jack—especially when it comes to specialized mics for recording musical instruments.

For all these reasons and more, a USB audio interface will benefit musicians looking to expand their recording capabilities.

How we picked and tested

Photo: Al Griffin

To narrow down the choices for musicians and others doing basic recording, we scoured sites including Amazon, Sweetwater, and Musician’s Friend and looked for products that satisfied a select list of criteria. These included a hi-Z input or plugging in an electric guitar or keyboard without additional hardware, zero-latency hardware direct monitoring, a pair of inputs, and more; see our full guide for the rest.

When we surveyed the field it became clear that models capable of capturing audio at 24-bit bit depth and a 96 kHz sampling rate have become the norm. Though that high level of resolution can make sense for projects where archival quality is desired, it isn’t necessarily a requirement for most recordings. Not having that capability ultimately wasn’t a dealbreaker.

We also eliminated products that received complaints in user reviews about insufficient gain (input volume) when using phantom power with condenser microphones.

We tested the Tascam US-2×2, PreSonus AudioBox iTwo, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, Steinberg UR22mkII, Behringer U-Phoria UM2, and Blue Microphones Icicle. To evaluate their audio performance, design ergonomics, and ease of setup, we spent time with each model in a home studio, recording both vocal and electric guitar samples using GarageBand on a MacBook Pro, and Cubasis LE on an iPad.

We then recorded samples of vocals and acoustic instruments—in this case, harp. Using two popular and affordable condenser mics, a Blue Microphones Yeti Pro (using its analog output) for harp and an MXL V63M for vocals, we recorded performances. After swapping out USB interfaces, we repeated each performance so to capture samples with the various units at 24-bit/44.1 kHz resolution in GarageBand on a MacBook Pro.

Once the samples were edited, we normalized the volume for each track (to make sure listeners weren’t responding to minor differences in levels), exported them as AIFF files, and uploaded them in uncompressed format to Soundcloud. This enabled our expert listening panel to evaluate them using their own headphones and USB DACs.

Our pick

Photo: Al Griffin

The Tascam US-2×2 is our pick for the best two-channel USB audio interface for amateur musicians and podcasters. It offers consistently excellent recording quality and a design that’s more user-friendly and rugged than the other models we tested. The US-2×2 is also packed with useful features such as iPad support and a MIDI interface to enable the playing of software instruments using an external controller.

The low noise and ample gain provided by the US-2×2’s dual microphone preamps allow for use with a wide range of microphones, including more exotic condenser models. Its ability to capture the nuances of both acoustic instruments and vocals pushed it past the other models under evaluation to score a top rating in our recording sound-quality tests.

Tascam’s design for the US-2×2 elevates the front panel and positions it at a slight angle. This arrangement allows for easy access to the unit’s control knobs, which, unlike those on some of the other units we checked out, are spaced comfortably apart and provide good resistance when making adjustments.

Runner-up

Photo: Al Griffin

Although it costs more than our main pick, the PreSonus AudioBox iTwo is also well worth considering. The AudioBox iTwo received high marks from our listening panel for its sound quality, with comments citing its ability to capture the natural decay of acoustic instruments as well as maintain spaciousness and detail even during loud passages. The AudioBox iTwo’s main trade-off from the Tascam pick is a less convenient ergonomic design: Input gain adjustment knobs are placed near the bottom of the unit’s front panel, making them somewhat difficult to access.

If you need to record more than two sources

Photo: Al Griffin

The Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 features the same high-quality mic preamps and 192/24-capable DACs as the Scarlett 2i2 we evaluated for this guide, but adds features that the 2i2 lacks such as iPad connectivity and a 1×1 MIDI interface. Priced only $100 higher than the 2i2, it provides four additional ¼-inch inputs/outputs on the back beyond the twin XLR inputs on the front (for a total of six inputs). This lets you accommodate a wider range of recording scenarios, such as capturing the performance of a full band. Some panelists had a few criticisms of the Scarlett’s sound. This is what kept it from being a top pick. But it’s still a fantastic value if you need six inputs.

An affordable option for vocals and acoustic instruments

Photo: Al Griffin

The Blue Microphones Icicle is a great choice for those who don’t need to record guitars or keyboards and simply want to capture vocals or acoustic instruments. In contrast to the company’s Yeti, our pick for best all-in-one USB microphone, the Icicle is a basic audio interface that has an XLR input on one end for plugging in microphones, and a USB output on the other end to connect to a computer. It’s best thought of as an adapter to turn any XLR mic into a USB mic. The Icicle’s recording resolution maxes out at 16-bit/44.1 kHz (CD quality), which is plenty good enough, but below what the other interfaces are capable of.

This guide may have been updated by The Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here.

Note from The Wirecutter: When readers choose to buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn affiliate commissions that support our work.

New US solar installations nearly doubled in 2016

Yes, the head of the EPA did display a staggering level of ignorance about climate change, but not everything is terrible. A report produced by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association says that solar power in the US had a blockbuster 2016. It’s believed that 14,762 megawatts of solar capacity was installed in the year, almost twice as much as the 7,501 megawatts that were added in 2015.

The document also reports that the average price of a solar system has fallen by 20 percent in that same 12-month period. That dwindling price has helped solar becoming the largest source (39 percent) of new energy installations in the US. Natural gas and wind energy complete the rest of the makeup, with coal nowhere to be seen — in fact, coal investment seems to have dropped off since 2014.

The report is optimistic about the future, even though it warns that 2017 and 2018 won’t match 2016’s record numbers. Because so many large utility projects came on in the year, 2016 is an outlier that won’t be beaten until 2020 at the earliest. The projections also suggest that 18 gigawatts of energy will be installed by 2022, theoretically ensuring that more than 24 states will have 1 gigawatt of operating solar power.

With falling prices for both panels and batteries, more efficient hardware and a big push from China, solar energy is the way forward.

Via: Cleantechnica

Source: GTM, (2)

AT&T Launches $60 ‘Unlimited’ Prepaid Plan as T-Mobile Raises Throttling Minimum to 30GB

AT&T today introduced a new GoPhone prepaid plan with unlimited talk, text, and data at a max speed of 3 Mbps for $65 per month, or $60 with AutoPay enabled. However, unlike AT&T’s new $90 Unlimited Plus plan with up to 10GB of 4G LTE tethering, the GoPhone plan does not include Mobile Hotspot capabilities.

Each line that exceeds 22GB of data usage may experience reduced speeds to a max of 128 Kbps on that line for the remainder of the 30-day term, but only at times and in areas where there is network congestion, which is similar to 22GB and 23GB soft cap policies from Verizon and Sprint respectively.

T-Mobile this week raised its own deprioritization threshold to 30GB, up from a previous minimum of 28GB, as spotted by TmoNews.

A cheaper GoPhone plan is available for $45 per month, or $40 with AutoPay, and includes unlimited talk, text, and up to 6GB of data at a max speed of 3 Mbps. After 6GB, data speeds are slowed to a max of 128 kbps for rest of the 30-day term. Unused data rolls over to the next month. No tethering is included.

Both plans have Stream Saver mode enabled by default, which reduces streaming video to 1.5 Mbps or around 480p quality, but it can be turned off through AT&T’s website to stream video in HD quality. Both plans also include talk, text, and data roaming in Canada and Mexico at no additional charge.

The new GoPhone plans are ideal for customers that do not need tethering and are looking to avoid credit checks, activation fees, and deposits, but otherwise AT&T’s new Unlimited Plus and Unlimited Choice plans and competing options are worth considering for better features or value.

AT&T’s pricing includes monthly access charges, but the plans are not inclusive of taxes or additional fees. Comparatively, Verizon Unlimited starts at $80 per month, Sprint Unlimited starts at $50 per month for a limited time, and T-Mobile ONE, which includes all taxes and fees, starts at $70 per month.

The new prepaid plans appear to be available immediately, but AT&T has yet to update its GoPhone website. Additional lines can be added to each plan, with multi-line discounts ranging between $5 and $20 per month.

Tags: T-Mobile, AT&T, unlimited data
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How to set up Google Voice on your iPhone or Android smartphone

Google Voice is a handy, free service that lets you make phone calls and get voice mail through the internet. It works on iOS, Android, and of course on the web through your web browser. It also allows you to select a phone number that the receiver will see, instead of your real phone number. That’s quite handy, since it means you can give out your Google Voice phone number to others, without having to reveal your real phone number.

More: Google confirms major Google Voice update in the works

Let’s take a look at how to set up Google Voice on your iPhone or Android smartphone.

Set up Google Voice on iPhone

If you don’t have the Google Voice app, download it from the App Store.
Open Google Voice and sign-in, or select, your Google account.
Tap Search to select a phone number to use. Select the number that you want your contacts to see when you call them. You can search by city, and pick the number that you want.
Tap Select when you choose your number, and then tap Next to confirm the phone number you selected.
On the Link this device to Google Voice screen, tap Next.
You will be asked to enter your phone number.
Type the verification code you received.

Once you have verified the code, you will be ready to use Google Voice with your iPhone.

Set up Google Voice on Android smartphone

If you don’t have the Google Voice app, download it from the Google Play Store.
When you open the app, you will be asked to go to voice.google.com on your computer to set it up.
On the Welcome page, click Continue.
Search for available numbers by city or area code.
When you find the number that you want to use, click Select.
Click Next to confirm the number you selected.
You will be asked to add a number; if you haven’t added your phone number to your Google account, then click Send Code.

Once you have verified the code, you will be ready to use Google Voice with your Android smartphone.

Hypar looks to hyperbolas for its innovative folding kayak

Why it matters to you

Hypar redefines the folding kayak with an innovative design that can even transform into a sailboat or motor boat.

Folding kayaks are nothing new. Boats with a collapsible frame and a removable skin have been around for decades. In recent years, however, the technology has improved to the point that these folding kayaks can compete favorably with traditional hard-shell kayaks in performance and durability. Over the past few years, innovation in this category of watercraft has moved the boats away from the skin-on-frame design to a single-piece collapsible form factor that makes the kayaks easy to carry around. The latest entry into the foldable and portable kayak market is the Hypar.

Hypar sets itself apart with its unique hull shape that uses two hyperbolic paraboloids to form a hull that is razor sharp at the stern and wide at the bow. This configuration allows the boat to cut through the water with minimal distortion and drag. It also provides a stable base that can be motorized with a solar-powered motor for conditions that demand more than just paddling, or transformed into a sailboat with the addition of a mast and sail.

More: Coreyak is a VR kayaking machine offering a new kind of exercise

Hypar’s hyperbolic design is one-of-a-kind, but that is not where the innovation ends. The company also went above and beyond in the materials department, working with corrugated plastics manufacturer DS Smith. The collaborative effort produced a custom Akyboard polypropylene material suitable for a marine environment. This polypropylene allows the boat to be light enough to carry, but rugged enough to withstand the demands of kayaking on the sea or a fast moving river. It also is long lasting, with an estimated ability to withstand more than 20,000 repetitive folds.

The Hypar folds into a 40 x 30 x 10-inch rectangle and weighs less than 16 pounds. It fits easily into the trunk of a car and can even be flown as a piece of luggage. When it is time to hit the water, the kayak can be unfolded and strapped together in less than 5 minutes. Hypar plans to sell its kayak via crowd-funding in a campaign that is slated to begin on April 11. Keep an eye on Hypar’s website for all the pre-ordering details.

Best app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps for free for a limited time

Everyone likes apps, but sometimes the best ones are a bit expensive. Now and then, developers make paid apps free for a limited time, but you have to snatch them up while you have the chance. Here are the latest and greatest apps on sale in the iOS App Store.

These apps normally cost money, and this sale lasts for a limited time only. If you go to the App Store and it says the app costs money, that means the deal has expired and you will be charged. 

More: 200 Awesome iPhone Apps | The best Android apps for almost any occasion

Marble Camera

Create charming Marble-style photographs with real-time Marble effects. These effects work great on selfies and other portraits but also for many other subjects.

Available on:

iOS

Simpler Pro

Simpler Pro is a completely redesigned contacts app that makes your address book light, smart, and user friendly.

Available on:

iOS

Quick Fit

7 minutes is all it takes to get in shape with this scientifically proven, full-body workout.

Available on:

iOS

noScroll

Maintain your privacy while showing friends and family photos on your phone. Simply select the photos you want to show, and those will be the only ones they can swipe between.

Available on:

iOS

Studio Music Player

This simple and smart player takes headphones like EarPods, and many other models, to a completely new level, providing the kind of playback quality usually delivered by professional studio headphones.

Available on:

iOS

QUIKchat

Enjoy fast and fun mobile conversations with your friends. Add a caption, snap a photo or a video, and send it to a friend.

Available on:

iOS

Feel fly like a G6 with these handy tips and tricks

The stylish LG G6 is a slick blend of metal and glass that manages to pack an impressively large display into a relatively small body. That’s not the only trick this phone has up its sleeve. We’ve been playing around with the G6 to uncover some of its more interesting features and functions. These LG G6 tips will help you master your new phone.

More: Keep your shiny new LG G6 safe from damage with the best cases and covers

How to edit touch buttons

The touch buttons at the bottom of the display are Back, Home, and Recent Apps by default, but you can change that. Go to Settings > Display > Home touch buttons > Button combination and you can change the order, or add a couple of shortcuts. You can also change the color in Settings > Display > Home touch buttons.

How to edit quick settings

You can also set up your notification shade to display the exact quick setting icons you want. Swipe down from the top twice, and you’ll see your complete list of quick setting toggles for things like turning Bluetooth on or off. Look at the bottom right, and you’ll see an Edit option. Tap on Edit, and you can tap and drag icons around to wherever you want them, or completely remove toggles that you don’t use.

How to use Smart Lock

You’ll want to make sure that your LG G6 is secure, but you don’t want to have to enter a password or PIN every two minutes. We suggest trying Smart Lock, which you’ll find in Settings > Lock screen. You can set up trusted places or devices, so when you’re connected to home Wi-Fi, for example, your G6 will remain unlocked. You can also try On-body detection, which should keep your G6 unlocked while it’s on your person. It doesn’t work perfectly, but it’s a handy way to cut down the number of times you need to enter your PIN or pattern to gain access to your G6.

How to use comfort view

There’s a danger that blue light could keep you up at night, so blue light filter modes are becoming more and more popular on phones. On the LG G6, you’ll find the option is called Comfort view. You can toggle it on via Settings > Display, or you can swipe down from the top of the screen and find the quick setting toggle — it’s on the second page of icons by default.

How to capture screenshots

It’s easy to take a screenshot on the LG G6. You simply hold down the Power button and the Volume down button together for a couple of seconds, until you hear the screenshot sound and see the onscreen animation. You can also use LG’s Capture+ option, which is a toggle in your notification shade if you swipe down from the top. The Capture+ option takes a screenshot and immediately loads the editing tools, so you can annotate, type on, or tweak your screenshot. All screenshots you take will appear in a Screenshots folder in the Gallery app by default.

How to turn off sound effects

Do you really want sound effects to play every time you touch the screen or type a letter? The LG G6 makes noises in response to a lot of different actions, but you can turn a lot of them off by going to Settings > Sound & notification > More > Sound effects.

How to have an always-on display

You can have your LG G6 display things like the time, date, and battery level in white, even when the display times out. To set it up the way you want, go to Settings > Display > Always-on display.

How to set up a screen saver

If you tend to dock your LG G6 and you’d like it to display something while it’s charging up, then the screen saver function is for you. Go to Settings > Display > More > Screen saver, and you can choose Clock or Photos to use as your screen saver. It will display when the screen times out and your phone is docked or charging.

How to change the font

Changing the font style and look can really change the feel of your whole phone. If you want to tweak the font on your LG G6, then go to Settings > Display, where you’ll find Font type, Font size, and Bold text options.

How to use smart settings

This handy option can be a time saver. Go to Settings > General > Smart settings and you can set up different shortcuts. For example, you could have Spotify launch automatically when you plug in your headphones, or connect to a Bluetooth device, turn Wi-Fi off, and have your ringer volume boost automatically when you leave home.

How to use smart cleaning

You shouldn’t have any issues when you first set your LG G6 up, but over time you might encounter battery drain, run out of storage, or run into performance issues. LG has included a handy utility to help you out. Go to Settings > General > Smart cleaning and you can quickly delete useless files, examine your battery usage, or test the G6 hardware.

How to quickly launch the camera

Most people know that you can tap and drag the camera icon on the lock screen to quickly open the camera app, but there’s also a hardware key shortcut. Press the Volume down key twice, when the screen is off or locked, and the camera app will launch. You can make sure this feature is turned on via Settings > General > Shortcut keys.

How to preview camera roll

Because of the 18:9 aspect ratio, you sometimes have dead space on the G6 screen, but LG has tried to find ways to use it. In the camera app, by default, you’ll find that your camera roll previews are displayed along the top. We think it looks good, but if you prefer to get rid of it, then tap the Settings cog in the camera app and toggle Camera roll off.

How to use the square camera

The LG G6 has an unusual 18:9 aspect ratio, which means the screen can form two perfect squares. This is great for split screen view, but LG has also included a special square camera option. You can select it via the app icon, or you can tap Auto in the regular camera app and choose Square. Your viewfinder is displayed at the top and the bottom square will show you the shot you just took, but there are also some nifty modes. Match shot, for example, takes two photos using the front and back cameras simultaneously. We also liked Guide shot, which gives you a translucent overlay to help you frame a shot perfectly.

How to use cheese shutter

LG has long included this handy option on its phones and we always use it. It allows you to say a word to trigger a photo hands-free. Tap the Settings cog in the camera app and you’ll see the toggle for Cheese shutter. When it’s turned on you can say “Cheese,” “Smile,” “Whiskey,” “Kimchi,” or “LG” to trigger a countdown to an automatic snap. It’s great for group selfies.

Playable Ads in Windows devices lets users ‘stream’ full app functionality

Why it matters to you

If you’re one of the many people wishing for more game demos, streaming ads like Microsoft’s offer some form of that.

Microsoft has debuted a new system which it hopes will capture more engaged users for app installs by allowing applications to run in their entirety within an online ad. In essence, this would let users ‘stream’ an application, giving them an idea of what the full app is like.

The idea of streaming applications within ads has been around for a couple of years now and is certainly effective. It means users don’t need to download and install an app to find out what it’s like to use. It’s useful for avoiding misunderstandings about what an app can and can’t do, and it makes it easier for app makers to hook users on specific features by giving them a live, interactive demonstration.

While Google may have pioneered the technique, (thanks MSPowerUser) Microsoft is now picking it up, and has made it compatible with the Windows Store. Called “Playable Ads,” the new ads will allow for users to play around with an app for up to three minutes within the ad itself.

More: These great Windows apps will get you started with your new Windows 10 machine

That means interacting with the app as if it were installed on the device. At the end of the three-minute session, they will be prompted with an offer to install it. Microsoft hopes developers will begin using these sorts of ads in the future, suggesting that they can offer an engaging experience to users right from the get-go and that research suggests those who install games after playing them for a few minutes are much more likely to continue playing than those who install based on a product description.

To create a playable ad, Microsoft suggests that all you need do, as a developer, is go to your developer dashboard and create a “New Campaign,” and from there a new Playable Ad can be created in minutes.