Tinder launches web version so you can ‘drag right’ from a computer

You can now swipe right – or, rather, “drag right” – on Tinder.

The dating app has launched a web version of Tinder. Called Tinder Online, it’s aimed at developing markets with limited access to 4G smartphones, as well as people who want to toggle between spreadsheets and Super Likes while at work. But instead of swiping right or left on your phone to like or reject a person, respectively, you just drag a potential match to the right or left from a desktop browser.

You can watch a demo of Tinder Online here:

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Just go to Tinder.com from any browser and login through Facebook. You can still use the site to match up with people anywhere in the world – as long you have an internet connection. The online experience is slightly more limited than the mobile app experience, but Tinder said the new site is optimised for messaging and suggested it will improve over time. For now, the service is being tested in only a few countries.

The testing markets include Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, the Philippines, and Sweden. The company is also testing the ability to log in through SMS in certain markets. Check out Pocket-lint’s Tinder guide for more information about how the service works. We’ll keep you posted when Tinder Online launches globally. We’ve reached out to Tinder for more details.

Immigration chat bot can help you with the H1-B visa

When Visabot went live last November, the Facebook Messenger-based artificial intelligence attempted to simplify the US visa application process and help many people skip the fees associated with a visit to an immigration lawyer. At the time, however, Visabot’s conversational approach only supported two types of visas for travel or “exceptional individuals.” Now, as promised, Visabot support is adding support for the H-1B visa transfers and applications that many Silicon Valley companies rely on for attracting talent.

As Buzzfeed reports, the H-1B applications won’t be supported by Visabot in time for this year’s April 3 deadline, but they will be available soon. In the meantime, Visabot does support H-1B transfers — which should give workers more mobility and prevent them from getting locked into the company that sponsored their visa in the first place. As Buzzfeed explains, it’s a common problem for foreign born coders who get hired at major tech firms like Google or Microsoft, but can’t afford to leave for a newer startup that doesn’t have the time or legal resources to sponsor their visa transfer.

The service isn’t only for tech workers, however, and Visabot should be able to help users in any industry with their immigration paperwork. While there’s still no guarantee that all users will have their application approved, the company says it has already processed 50,000 visas in just over four months.

Source: Buzzfeed

Google’s iOS app comes with its GIF-friendly keyboard on the side

It’s no secret that Google is hoping to make its own lineup of search, navigation and email apps the go-to services for Apple users. The folks in Mountain View have even gone so far as to introduce new features in iOS apps months before rolling them out to their Android counterparts. Today, Google is trying to strengthen that hold on iPhone users with even deeper integrations of its flagship, search-focused app into Apple’s operating system.

After streamlining the app’s news feed late last year, the main Google app now brings the Gboard iOS keyboard under its wing. In other words, you no longer need the standalone app to get Gboard’s in-keyboard access to search, GIFs and emoji across all your iOS apps. It now comes installed with the Google app and users can set it up inside the Google app settings.

Today’s other big iOS update today is a live-updating “Trending on Google” widget that can be accessed through the app or pinned to your notification center for easy access to current search trends. The big search topics of the moment are displayed in blocks of Google primary colors, and tapping a topic will open a search tab with that subject. Finally, Google has also added or expanded the 3D touch functions throughout the app, so users can preview search results, bring up that trending widget or jump right into an incognito or voice search right from the home screen.

The updated version is live now in the App Store.

Source: Google Blog

US House votes to let ISPs sell your browser history

With a slim majority of 215 to 205, the US House of Representatives just passed a resolution rolling back FCC privacy regulations. Approved last year, the rules required that ISPs get your explicit permission before selling “sensitive data” like your browsing history. The resolution already passed the Senate last week, and now will go before the President, who has said he plans to sign it.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation responded to today’s vote with a statement that “If the bill is signed into law, companies like Cox, Comcast, Time Warner, AT&T, and Verizon will have free rein to hijack your searches, sell your data, and hammer you with unwanted advertisements. Worst yet, consumers will now have to pay a privacy tax by relying on VPNs to safeguard their information.”

New FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is in support of rolling back the rules, claiming that “the FCC will work with the FTC to ensure that consumers’ online privacy is protected through a consistent and comprehensive framework.” Once this is signed by the president, it will be up to them just how creepy internet service providers can get.

On the industry side, service providers also make that argument, claiming the privacy rules would’ve overreached and singled out internet service providers while allowing others like Google and Facebook to sell information. That doesn’t, however, take into account how much data our ISP has access to, with the ability to know where you are, who you communicate with and what you say online potentially all up for sale. Also, many customers don’t have more than one or two choices for broadband, reducing the possibility for privacy-friendly competition.

This rollback will also cut rules that mandated how an ISP would have to handle notifications of a security or privacy breach.

Source: US House results for S J Res 34

Apple finally flips the switch on review responses

Along with the other slate of improvements that are in iOS 10.3, maybe one that’ll make a real change (at least in terms of the App Store) in the ecosystem is the ability to converse with app developers. We knew that the feature was coming way back in January, but now it’s actually here. Previously, as sister site TechCrunch notes, a developer would have to reverse engineer someone’s UserID to get to their email if they wanted to ask about a bug the user experienced. Not anymore.

Google has had this sort of functionality for around five years, which makes Apple’s reluctance to add it all the more curious. Anyhow, next time an app isn’t working exactly as advertised on iOS or OSX, if you leave a comment about it in the App Store there’s a chance you’ll hear from the developer. If you’re a fan of trolling though, that snarky comment might come back to bite you.

Once you submit a review, should a developer respond, you’ll get an email that offers a chance to update your original review or contact the developer directly. On the developer side, Apple’s outlined how app-makers should use the feature, too. Basically, respond swiftly and follow Wheaton’s Law. And really, that’s it. Maybe this two-way communication will result in developers being more communicative and result in faster updates.

Seeing my review replies from ~8hrs ago hit public. I kinda like how this looks. pic.twitter.com/DbtsoXTuyF

— Curtis Herbert (@parrots) March 28, 2017

Via: TechCrucnch

Source: Apple Developer (1), (2)

‘Minecraft’ Realms multiplayer finally heads to Apple TV

If you’ve been looking to play Minecraft with your other Apple TV-owning gamer buddies, it’s time to get excited. The latest update to the Apple TV version of this hit game enables “Realms,” Minecraft‘s subscription-based multiplayer system. This upgraded version also includes Xbox Live authentication support, which will let players access their linked avatars and character skins.

When you purchase a Realms account, it’s like getting a Minecraft server, only it’s maintained by Microsoft so you don’t have to mess with things like hosting or IP addresses. You get to control who can visit your private Minecraft Realm, too. That way, you don’t have to worry about anyone trashing your world as you race around fighting exploding Creepers or building insane recreations of King’s Landing from Game of Thrones. You can get a two- or 10-player Realm of your own for $3.99 and $7.99, respectively.

Unfortunately, owners of existing Realms subscriptions on Mac, Linux or PC won’t be able play alongside their iOS or Apple TV brethren; there are two separate Realms systems, one for PCs and one that includes iOS, Android and Windows 10 users. We’ve reached out to find out if there are plans to connect the two systems.

The procedurally-generated worlds of Minecraft deserve to be explored with others; now Apple TV and iOS fans have a chance to do just that… as long as they stick to their own platform.

Via: 9 to 5 Mac

Source: Minecraft

MLB.com At Bat and NHL Apps Take Advantage of Custom Icon Option in iOS 10.3

iOS 10.3 includes a new feature that allows developers to change app icons after an app has been installed, bringing custom app icons to the iOS Home screen. Both the MLB.com At Bat and NHL iOS apps are now taking advantage of the new custom icon feature following updates released this afternoon.

In the MLB.com At Bat app, users can customize the Home screen icon of the app with MLB club-branded app icons representing their favorite team. Similarly, in the NHL app, app icons can also be customized with team logos instead of the standard NHL app icon.

To change the icons, iOS 10.3 is required. Subscribers can go to More –> Settings –> Home Screen icon and choose a team logo.

Screenshots via TechCrunch
As TechCrunch points out, while developers are now able to change app icons without pushing a full iOS update, there is no support for dynamic app icons that would allow for things like a weather app icon that updates continually with the temperature.

Customized Home screen icons, which Apple calls “User-Selectable App Icons” may be something that we’ll see a lot more of now that iOS 10.3 is available to the public. Apple has strict rules for icon customization options, requiring visual consistency, a simple icon swap interface, and explicit user permission to change an app’s icon.

MLB.com At Bat can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

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

Tags: MLB, NHL
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Mophie Powerstation Plus review

Many of today’s phones feature battery capacities in the 2,000mAh-3,000mAh range, with some pushing even further. And, while that’s often enough to get us through a typical day or two of usage, we don’t always have the luxury of plugging in when we’re low. A long day of geocaching or a few hours of pushing music to a Bluetooth speaker can put a damper on your evening plans to stream a game.

Even as phone batteries get higher capacities and quicker charging times, we’re still fans of portable power solutions. They’ve gotten smaller over the years yet the power levels have increased. Mophie, is a brand who has been in the game for some time and continues to put out excellent choices. We were sent a Mophie Powerstation Plus to review. Read on for our take on the portable unit.

The Mophie Powerstation Plus (branded as mophie powerstation plus) is a portable battery back (6,000mAh) with a premium design. Featuring a built-in cable with tips for both microUSB and Apple Lightning, it also packs a second USB port for plugging in a secondary device.

There’s essentially zero setup to the Powerstation Plus. Take it out of the box, plug in your phone, and you’re all set. The included cable tucks away nicely along the edge and only needs to come out when charging your handset.

The cable comes with two different tips, a microUSB for most legacy Android devices and a Lightning tip for Apple models. The Apple tip snaps on to the microUSB and is rather small. You might feel compelled to toss it aside if you don’t own any Apple products, but it leave a weird space in the side of the unit and doesn’t snap in tightly.

The model we were sent was silver (space grey) on top with a black bottom and side trim. There are other color options to choose from, including gold, rose gold, and PRODUCT (RED). Go for the two gold flavors and the back will be white while the red gets the black treatment.

We found that the black material was prone to pick up oils from hands almost too easily. See below for a picture to see what we mean. The space grey aluminum was soft to the touch but has been tough enough to withstand general abuse and tossing about.

Charging the Powerstation Plus up is done via a microUSB port; a 9-inch micro USB cable comes with the charger. Along the side of the device are four small indicator lights. With each representing 25% worth of juice, it’s a convenient way to figure out how much power is left.

Whereas the microUSB and Lightning port should cover the bases for most users, some of us are carrying devices with USB Type-C ports. As such, you’ll need to plug into the USB port, which is a convenient inclusion. Just bring your own cable.

The Mophie Powerstation Plus has an overall footprint that feels like a smaller smartphone. Given that every phone has a different size, it might feel wonky carrying the phone and charger at the same time. Our advice is to simply plug it in and set it off to the side.

The Powerstation Plus offers up 2.1A output and smart adaptive charging technology so that your connected phone gets the fastest and most efficient charging speeds available. This way you can be up and running again in no time.

The Powerstation Plus comes with a higher price tag than most of its competitors. At $79.95, it’s not exactly cheap. But, if you’ve ever spent time with products from Mophie, them you know you’re in for quality. Not only that, but products are covered by a two-year warranty.

While you might be tempted to go with a different brand, we suggest checking for other capacities from Mophie, first. The Powerstation Mini (4,000mAh) is $59.99; the Powerstation Plus XL (12,000mAh) is $99.95.

NBC will finally air all of the Olympics live, across time zones

Today NBC announced that for the 2018 Winter Olympics, it will finally back off of its hated policy of tape delaying significant portions of the games. In 2016, it streamed much of the competition live, but segments like the Opening Ceremony and each day’s prime time programming got the tape delay treatment on TV. In a world connected in real time by phones, Facebook and Twitter, splitting up viewers makes less sense than ever, and NBC is finally acknowledging that instead of just pointing to the ratings or encouraging that viewers “move back east.”

Ratings for the 2016 Olympics dropped 18 percent from the 2012 London games, and going live everywhere could help turn that around. With the 2018 event occurring in PyeongChang, South Korea, big events that are scheduled to take place in the morning there will happen during the prime time window on the East Coast of the US. Rather than forcing viewers to jump on the internet to watch events live, going all live on TV could boost those ratings back up in the place where advertisers are paying the most money.

NBC will kick off its evening lineup simultaneously at 8PM ET, 7PM CT, 6PM MT, and 5PM PT, with a break for local news and then the “Primetime Plus” package in all areas. The network has already signed up for Olympics broadcasts rights through 2032, however, exec Jim Bell would only tell the LA Times that it is “likely” to continue the all-live broadcasts for Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022.

Source: NBC

PGA will test shot distance trackers on three tours

Not surprisingly, the PGA has been hesitant to let golfers use distance trackers on the course. In theory, they take all the challenge out of picking the right club. The association isn’t stuck in its ways, however. Officials have announced that they’ll let players test distance measuring devices at certain tournaments on the Web.com Tour, the Mackenzie Tour in Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamérica. Competitors won’t be allowed to gauge elevation, slope or wind, but this could still help them take more informed swings.

The first tourney to allow trackers is the Essential Costa Rica Classic, which kicks off April 20th. It’s important to note that the PGA isn’t nearly so cautious about tracking for the sake of fans, by the way — the PGA has served distance info to viewers for a while.

It will take a while before you know whether or not these gadgets become mainstays. Once the relevant tours wrap up in July, the PGA’s Player Advisory Council will examine the data to see how the trackers influence play. And it could be a complicated decision. The PGA may not mind helping players out and speeding things up, but it also doesn’t want to risk removing so much of the challenge that tournaments become boring.

Source: PGA Tour