Evernote Introduces Touch Bar Support on New MacBook Pros For Quick Note Adding

Note-taking app Evernote today announced that users on the 2016 MacBook Pro will now be able to use Touch Bar commands to browse, edit, and customize their notes within the app. Notably, the company said that the addition of Touch Bar support will give users quick access to key navigation features and note editing commands found within Evernote.

To announce the update, Evernote has given users a list of five ways they can use the Touch Bar in the note-taking app, including a new one-tap feature that lets users create new notes faster. Also found on the Touch Bar will be a search button, a customized list of tags, a color slider, and a collection of markup tools to add annotations into notes. The update should begin appearing throughout the day.

Late last year Evernote faced user backlash when it announced a new privacy policy that would let staff members read personal notes taken in the app “to improve the service.” Many users threatened to stop using Evernote, and in response the company quickly backpedaled and announced that it would not implement the controversial policy.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Tag: Evernote
Buyer’s Guide: MacBook Pro (Neutral)
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Facebook Adds Group Payments to Messenger for Desktop

Facebook Messenger has allowed users to send money to one another since 2015, but as of today, the chat platform is being updated with a new group payments feature.

With Facebook Messenger for the web and Android devices, users can now send and receive money between groups of people, useful for splitting a restaurant bill or pooling money for a group gift.

Group payments can be sent in any group conversation by tapping the plus sign to access chat features and then choosing the ($) payments icon. From there users can pick who to send money to or request money from, and a message within the group chat will keep track of who has paid.

Enter the amount you want to request per person or the total sum to divide evenly, either including yourself in the calculation or not. Finally, you can specify what the money is for – maybe a “Pizza Party,” teacher gift, or more. Once you’re ready, tap Request.

The Messenger group payments feature is limited to users in the United States and at the current time, it’s not available on Messenger for iOS devices. Facebook does not mention if and when the feature will come to its iOS app, but features first introduced on the web do often expand to the iPhone and the iPad.

Tag: Facebook
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LG’s 32-Inch ‘4K’ Wide Color USB-C Display Now Available for $999

LG’s new 32UD99 display is now available to order for $999 from retailers such as Amazon and B&H Photo Video, as noted by AnandTech.

The 31.5-inch IPS LED display features Ultra HD resolution of 3,840×2,160 pixels, which is often marketed as 4K, support for 95% of the DCI-P3 wide color gamut, and a USB-C input for single-cable connectivity with a 12-inch MacBook or 2016 MacBook Pro. It also supports HDR10 and AMD FreeSync.

A complete rundown of the LG 32UD99 display’s tech specs:

• 31.5-inch
• 4K Ultra HD resolution (3,840×2,160 pixels)
• 140 PPI
• IPS LED
• 16:9 aspect ratio
• 60Hz refresh rate
• 5ms response time
• DCI-P3 wide color gamut (95%)
• 550 nits peak brightness
• Ports: USB-C input, DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI 2.0a ports, and two USB 3.0 ports
• Up to ~60W power delivery to MacBook Pro
• Other features: HDR10, AMD FreeSync, dual 10W speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack, narrow bezel design with pivoting and height adjustable stand

Here’s how LG’s UltraFine 5K Display, now $1,299.95, stacks up:

• 27-inch
• 5K resolution (5,120×2,880 pixels)
• 217 PPI
• IPS LED
• 16:9 aspect ratio
• 60Hz refresh rate
• 12-14ms response time
• DCI-P3 wide color gamut (99%)
• 500 nits peak brightness
• Ports: Thunderbolt 3 input and three USB-C 3.1 ports
• Up to 85W power delivery to MacBook Pro
• Other features: Built-in 1080p camera, dual 5W speakers, microphone, Thunderbolt 3 cable included, adjustable and VESA compatible stand

LG’s 32UD99 arguably looks nicer than the UltraFine 5K, while its larger screen, HDR10, and AMD FreeSync support are attractive features for gamers. But, for $300 less, you are getting Ultra HD resolution instead of 5K, USB-C instead of Thunderbolt 3, no webcam, lower power delivery, and slightly less coverage of the P3 color gamut.

Read our Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C Display Buyer’s Guide for other options.

Tags: LG, USB-C, 4K displays
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Apple Seeds Second Beta of iOS 10.3.2 to Public Beta Testers

Apple today provided its public beta testing group with the second beta of iOS 10.3.2, nearly two weeks after seeding the first iOS 10.3.2 beta and a day after releasing the second beta to developers. iOS 10.3.2 comes shortly after the release of iOS 10.3, a major update that brought features like a new Find My AirPods feature and Apple File System, and iOS 10.3.1, a minor security update.

Beta testers who have signed up for Apple’s beta testing program will receive the iOS 10.3.2 beta update over-the-air after installing the proper certificate on their iOS device.

Those who want to be a part of Apple’s beta testing program can sign up to participate through the beta testing website, which gives users access to both iOS and macOS Sierra betas. Betas are not stable and include many bugs, so they should be installed on a secondary device.

According to Apple’s release notes, the iOS 10.3.2 update fixes SiriKit car commands, which should now be working as expected. Aside from the SiriKit fix, we don’t know what other bug fixes and improvements are included, as nothing notable has been discovered in the betas we’ve received so far.

As a minor 10.x.x update, iOS 10.3.2 likely focuses on bug fixes, performance improvements, and security enhancements rather than outward-facing features.

Related Roundup: iOS 10
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Apple Seeds Second Public Beta of macOS 10.12.5 to Public Beta Testers

Apple today provided public beta testers with the second beta of macOS 10.12.5, an update that comes two weeks after the first 10.12.5 public beta was seeded and one day after developers received the second beta. macOS Sierra 10.12.5 follows the macOS Sierra 10.12.4 update, which introduced Night Shift for the Mac.

Beta testers who have signed up for Apple’s beta testing program will receive the 10.12.5 macOS Sierra beta through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store.

Those who want to be a part of Apple’s beta testing program can sign up to participate through the beta testing website, which gives users access to both iOS and macOS Sierra betas. Betas should not be installed on a primary machine due to the potential for instability.

According to the release notes accompanying the first developer beta, macOS Sierra 10.12.5 “improves the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac.” No other information was provided.

With little information available from Apple’s release notes, it is not clear what minor feature tweaks or bug fixes might be included in the update. Nothing notable has been discovered in the first two developer betas.

Related Roundup: macOS Sierra
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Smoovie MiniRig turns smartphone or GoPro into a mobile photo studio

Why it matters to you

For mobile and GoPro photographers, the MiniRig brings light, audio, and stabilization in a portable, affordable gimbal.

If the smartphone puts a camera into a pocket, then the MiniRig turns it into a mobile studio. Launching April 11 on Kickstarter, the MiniRig, from Smoovie, is a lighting, audio, and stabilization solution for smartphones and GoPros.

At the heart of the MiniRig is a magnet-based stabilization system. By balancing the smartphone or GoPro with lightweight magnets, the MiniRig corrects unwanted motion for smoother video, even while walking. While many gimbals, like DJI’s Osmo, use an electronic system, the MiniRig uses physics. It doesn’t have any fancy auto-follow features, but it’s lightweight at six ounces. The MiniRig can also be tightened for smooth action shots or loosened for more cinematic motion effects.

More: Can’t decide between electronic or mechanical gimbals? Steadicam Volt is both

When not in motion, the MiniRig can convert into a tabletop tripod simply by popping out three small legs at the bottom of the unit. An included wireless remote triggers the smartphone’s camera shutter.

But the MiniRig is designed to be more than just a gimbal or tripod. It’s a complete mobile studio too. A removable LED ring light allows photographers and videographers to move the light off camera, with a greater level of control – the LEDs can be adjusted to five different intensities, to create a number of different effects. The light can also be adjusted to different color temperatures, Smoovie says.

The mobile studio also includes an audio solution for enhancing the sound in videos. A covered mic reduces wind noise versus the built-in mic in a smartphone, the company says. For those who want to attach their own accessories, the MiniRig has connectors for using with third-party mics and lights.

The MiniRig measures about 8.5 inches at its largest side, and can extend out to over 13 inches. The rig is constructed with ABS and acetal plastic with aluminum tubing and lightweight neodymium magnets. The battery for the LED light lasts around two hours.

The MiniRig is the second crowd-funded project coming from Smoovie. The company’s first gimbal product, the Smoovie Pocket Video Stabiliser, raised nearly $150,000. The design comes from Alex Kalogroulis, a London Royal College of Art graduate who has designed products from Underwater Sea Scooters to kitchen gadgets.

The company hopes to raise 10,000 euros, or about $15,000 USD, to begin production on the MiniRig. Kickstarter backers can get the MiniRig for 50 euros or about $53, provided the Kickstarter reaches full funding and the company doesn’t run into unexpected production issues.  The MiniRig is expected to retail for about $75.

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

Smart Merge Pro

Smart Merge Pro easily helps you detect and merge duplicate contacts. Clean up and back up your contact list with this handy app.

Available on:

iOS

iMerchandise

This Trade Show App helps retailers like you buy more efficiently, plan wholesale purchases and deliveries, and generally be more organized, productive, and profitable.

Available on:

iOS

Dahli

Dahli makes it very hard to text or email while driving. Are you a parent of a teen driver? Have you ever tapped a text or email while driving? This app will stop that risky behavior.

Available on:

iOS

Musicfeed

Find your next favorite song from the friends and experts you trust. See what your favorite artists and music friends are sharing in your music feed.

Available on:

iOS

WorldMessage

WorldMessage is a cross-platform mobile instant messaging app which allows you to exchange messages, and automatically translates messages, videos, and more.

Available on:

iOS

Sketch Bench

This fast, easy to use app allows you to take any photo in your library and transform it into a lifelike painting, drawing, or sketch that will astound your audience.

Available on:

iOS

CorelDraw AI tool makes sketching on touchscreens feel like pen on paper

Why it matters to you

CorelDraw’s new LiveSketch tool could seriously cut down production time for graphic designers.

Computer-based design has been a mathematical art of arranging points to create vector shapes, but artificial intelligence is turning design back to paper and pen. LiveSketch, a new feature inside CorelDraw Graphics Suite 2017, is powered by neural networks that not only translates the touch from a touchscreen or trackpad into graphics, but also understands the designer’s intent – translating the pressure, tilt, and barrel rotation nearly as seamlessly as actual pen to paper.

Called the “industry’s first artificial intelligence-based vector drawing experience,” LiveSketch is part of Corel’s rebranding of Graphics Suite X8. The new suite of design software, announced on April 11, includes Photo-Paint (a Photoshop competitor), PowerTrace, Website Creator, Corel Connect, Corel Capture, and Font Manager applications. In addition to AI touch support, Graphics Suite 2017 also brings a number of new tools and features optimized for Windows 10 systems as well as two-in-ones (laptops that convert into tablets) and the Microsoft Surface Dial.

More:  The pen is mightier than the finger: The best styli for all your needs

While hardware and software packages, such as a Wacom tablet, have worked to bring graphic design back to a pen-and-paper experience, LiveSketch makes two big steps forward for touch interface design. According to Corel, LiveSketch is the first time a touchscreen and stylus (or finger) has imitated the tactile experience of pen to paper, reading the pressure and angle of the touch to automatically adjust the weight of the brushstroke. With the pressure, tilt, and barrel rotation all factored into the touch, the tool creates lines much like an actual paintbrush, adjusting weight and angle mid-stroke.

But, LiveSketch also uses neural networks to interpret intent. Designers work with a number of different sketch styles, Corel Vice President of Global Products Gerad Metrailler said during a demonstration for Digital Trends. Some may use what’s commonly referred to as chicken scratch, or using small slanted lines to create a single line. LiveSketch recognizes those sketching styles and interprets the user’s intent, turning chicken scratch into a single line.

Metrailler said most graphic designers sketch on paper before using the computer, because thinking creatively while simultaneously using mathematics to craft shapes, like Bezier curves and polylines, is tough to do. LiveSketch creates the same vector points that designers are accustomed to working with, but crafts them with the same tactile experience as pen to paper, shortening production time for many users.

More: Sketchy is a good thing with Wacom’s latest digital pen drawing system

“Graphic designers over the years, because of the limitations and the technology, were limited to thinking about the mathematics, not interacting and thinking about how to create naturally,” Metrailler said. “We take away the mathematics and turn design into a creative tool again, and the program recognizes your intention.”

Once the line or shape is drawn, the graphic can be edited using those traditional vector points, or by moving back over it with the LiveSketch tool. The system is also the only touch-based design program to store the original data from that first touch for adjustment later, such as pressure and angle, Corel said.

LiveSketch works best with a touchscreen and stylus but will also work without a stylus, with a laptop’s trackpad and with systems like a Wacom tablet. Other new features include editable node settings to make those vector points easier to see while working on complex graphics. For example, if you are working on a blue background, a blue node (which you can drag to manipulate the shape) is hard to see; with the update, it’s now easier to change that node to red so it’s easier to spot.

More: Corel VideoStudio raises the bar with 360 compatibility and mask tools

Every program in the new suite is optimized to work with two-in-one devices. The software UI switches between a traditional interface (when in laptop mode) and a touch-based option with larger icons. The entire software suite is also now compatible with Microsoft Surface Dial, as well as being optimized for 5K screens and multi-monitor setups.

The user interface in each program can now be customized; it could be set up to resemble a competitor’s program, such as Adobe, for example. With a new store option, users can download additional features, including free and paid tools. Corel’s Font Manger has a searchable database that lets users look for a particular font by style and mark favorites for easy access within the suite of programs.

While the latest update marks two years since the predecessor X8, Corel said they are moving to an annual update schedule to continue to offer advanced features to their user base.

While it isn’t as prevalent as Adobe’s Creative Cloud in terms of users, CorelDraw has a big following – it has more than 15 million users. The latest update allows users to choose either a “one-and-done” license or an annual subscription. Downloads are available beginning today, with boxed versions shipping on May 8. A full license costs $499, or existing users can upgrade for $199. Subscriptions with free updates are also available for $30 a month or $199 a year.

AMD Ryzen 5 1600X review

Research Center:
AMD Ryzen 5 1600X

The $250-$350 price point is growing increasingly crowded as AMD merrily rolls out Ryzen. These enthusiast level chips, used primarily in gaming systems, won’t hold back a single GPU setup, and are very capable of light photo or video production work in a pinch.

The Ryzen 5 1600X stands out as the least expensive chip to ever offer more than four cores. At $250, it undercuts the Core i7-7700K by almost a hundred dollars at full price, and is only $20 more than the Core i5-7600K. As attractive as Ryzen 7 was, it’s the Ryzen 5 processor line that fits in the budget of most PC enthusiasts. Can it become the people’s champion?

A refresher on the architecture

The mid-range Ryzen 5 Series is the second to arrive with AMD’s new Zen architecture. The red team started over from the ground up for these chips, and it really shows. The previous design, Bulldozer, set AMD back by pushing core count in exchange for per-core efficiency. With most games and demanding applications only making use of four cores, there wasn’t a big incentive to take the offer.

For more information on the Zen architecture and platform, head over to our review of the flagship chip, the Ryzen 7 1800X.

Six cores, 12 threads, plenty of go

Though its 3.6GHz base clock is only slightly higher than the Ryzen 5 1500X’s 3.5GHz clock, the Ryzen 5 1600X has two distinct advantages over its slightly cheaper sibling. Most notably, the Ryzen 5 1600X sports two more cores for a total of six, which brings it to support for 12 threads (two on each core). It also has a 95-watt thermal design power, as opposed to the 65-watt TDP on the 1500X. Theoretically, that thermal headroom may allow for better overall performance due to higher dynamic clock speeds.

Those two factors give the chip a massive advantage, bringing multi-core tests in line with even the Ryzen 7 1700. It takes a strong lead over the Ryzen 5 1500X in every single test — not bad considering it only costs $30 more. Still, that big performance jump is a pleasant surprise. In particular, we see a big gain in the Handbrake 4K conversion test, which runs almost 35 percent faster on the higher-end chip than on the entry-level option.

It should come as no surprise that the Intel Core i7-7700K, with its 4.2GHz base clock, charges ahead in every single-core test. The exchange comes with the extra cores, where well-distributed workloads can take full advantage of the extra threads. Tasks that use all of the Ryzen 5 1600X cores tend to perform better than on the Core i7-7700K, despite the latter’s price, which is about $90 higher.

We did not have a Core i5-7600K on hand to test. However, we expect that it would maintain a lead in single-core tests, at the cost of a major defeat in multi-core tests. The Core i5-7600K does not have Hyper-Threading, which means its four cores can each handle only one processing thread. The 1600X, meanwhile, can handle 12 threads.

Overall, the Ryzen 5 1600X packs a lot of performance into a slimmed-down price point. Its numerous cores and threads may not matter in all situations, but they matter a lot in some. And the 1600X’s disadvantage in single-core performance isn’t so drastic that that it becomes uncompetitive with Intel’s hardware.

Gaming

Mid-range enthusiast hardware is often built for gaming. It’s a demanding task, and one that requires the right balance of performance across many components. We hooked up both an EVGA SC GTX 980 Ti and an AMD Radeon RX 480, and ran the internal benchmarks in For Honor and Sid Meier’s Civilization VI, as well as the 3DMark Time Spy test, the latter two of which were run in DirectX 12.

The GPU is always the biggest factor in most modern games, and none of the CPUs in our test results should limit a single-GPU setup, particularly with our mid-to-high performance test cards. For Honor demonstrates that, as the gap between worst performance and best performance is less than 10 percent. A difference that’s likely to go unnoticeable.

The Ryzen 5 1600X games almost as well as the Ryzen 7 1700 and Intel Core i7-7700K.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VI is a different story. It puts a lot more strain on the CPU than most games, and the differences between the chips are clearer. The Ryzen 5 1600X sets itself apart from the less expensive 1500X once again, particularly with the graphics turned to extreme, where it only falls in second to the Intel Core i7-7700K system.

The extra cores and power also come in handy running the 3DMark Time Spy benchmark. The final score takes CPU performance into account to an extent, and the Ryzen 5 1600X falls, once again, closer to the Ryzen 7 chips than the Ryzen 5 1500X.

Overall, there’s little to no risk of the Ryzen 5 1600X holding back performance in most modern titles, unless they’re particularly demanding for the CPU. It’s clear that the 1600X is not the fastest gaming processor around, but its price easily excuses its minor disadvantage compared to Intel hardware.

Overclocking

We tested the Ryzen 5 1600X with the AMD Wraith Max cooler. It had a modest sized fan atop a generous heatsink, turned on its side to keep a low profile. There was even an RGB ring around the interior edge of the fan — fancy!

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Ryzen chips come out of the box in normal mode, with XFR enabled, and automatic voltage regulation. A bevy of sensors runs a quick check of the thermal and power limitations on the chip, and sets the clock speed of the chip accordingly. With our 750 Watt power supply, X370 chipset, and Wraith Max cooler, it ran at 3.7GHz base, 100MHz over its base clock. When Ryzen Master adjusts the settings on the chip, it disables XFR and automatic voltage regulation in favor of user settings.

Overclocking is easy thanks to the Ryzen Master software. It allows users to tweak clock speeds, voltages, shut off cores, and load all the settings into presets that are easy to flip between without resetting the system. We pushed the Ryzen 5 1600X from its base clock to 3.9GHz with a bump to 1.4 volts on the chip, and 1.0V on the chipset.

Overclocking provided some benefits in our tests, but not nearly the kind of stunning boosted performance we saw on the Ryzen 7 1700. The downsides, at least with a stock cooler, seem to outweigh the benefits. Disabling XFR prevents potentially higher clock speeds during single-core tests, and temperatures were much lower, and more consistent, without enabling the overclock mode.

Unless fit it with an aftermarket cooler, you’re better off leaving it in normal mode, unless there’s a specific situation that necessitates turning off cores temporarily.

Warranty information

AMD covers the Ryzen 5 1600X with an industry standard three-year warranty. That doesn’t cover damage due to installation issues or improper overclocking, so make sure to handle with care.

Our Take

AMD continues to strike at Intel’s most popular chips with the Ryzen series, and the Ryzen 5 1600X renders a powerful cleave to the unlocked enthusiast Intel Core i5 and Core i7 chips. Packing competitive performance, extra cores, and a modern feature set into a $250 price point is no small feat, but the red team has taken on the challenge with noteworthy success.

The DT Accessory Pack

Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler

$30

Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB DDR4 DRAM

$125

ASUS ROG Crosshair VI Hero Motherboard

$255

Samsung SM951 M.2 NVME SSD

$200

Is there a better alternative?

Within AMD’s own ranks, the Ryzen 5 1500X sits at just $190, with a lower 65W TDP and only four cores. The performance doesn’t keep up with this chip though, and the minor savings it offers isn’t worthwhile. Intel offers the Core i5-7600K for $20 less, but with the Ryzen 5 1600X falling so close to the Intel Core i7-7700K in terms of performance, AMD’s six-core option is worth considering.

How long will it last?

With six cores and a modern feature set, the Ryzen 5 1600X is built to last. Six cores may not mean as much now, but if multi-core reliance increases, this chip will be sitting pretty. AMD has also promised to continue using the AM4 socket at least through 2020, so you have a clear upgrade path a few years down the line.

Should you buy it?

Yes. Whether you’re encoding video, streaming and recording while gaming, or compressing and uncompressing large files, you’ll see a benefit from the extra cores and higher power draw on the Ryzen 5 1600X. Add that to a precisely targeted price point, and the result is a mid-range champion that’ll appeal to just about everyone looking to put together a powerful, yet affordable, PC.

Want a job at McDonald’s? Send them a ‘Snaplication’ via Snapchat

Why it matters to you

Brands have been turning increasingly to social media to reach their younger customer base, and now McDonald’s is using social media to hire, too.

Who says Snapchat isn’t a serious app? It’s certainly serious enough to land you a job. That is, if you want your job to be at McDonald’s.

In what can only be described as a sign of the times, McDonald’s in Australia (where it’s known as Macca) is now using Snapchat as part of its job application. As first reported by news.com.au, the global fast-food purveyor now has its own Snapchat filter that allows prospective McDonald’s employees to virtually don a uniform and submit a 10-second video application.

Known as “Snaplications” (really, you can’t make this stuff up), this is the first time that Snapchat has been part of the recruitment process, and the first time McDonald’s has taken to social media in this capacity to gain new employees. But don’t worry — you won’t be hired based on your Snaplication alone. Once you pass that first test, McDonald’s will send you to the actual online careers hub where you can fill out a more traditional application.

More: You can now search for Snapchat Stories thanks to advanced machine learning

“I’ve learnt a lot about Snapchat recently from my 14-year-old daughter,” said Shaun Ruming, chief operating officer of McDonald’s Australia, in an interview with news.com.au. “We think this is actually a world first. Snaplications is basically a Snapchat ‘lens’ that gives users the ability to apply for a job — or at least commence that process — by sending a 10-second snap. We’re the largest employer of youth in the country, so we’re trying to look for new and innovative ways to recruit crew people.”

And given that much of working on the fast food industry is all about your people skills, Ruming believes that Snapchat could be a good first filter in finding suitable applicants. “We’re looking for that positivity, bubbly personality, someone we think would be good in a customer service role. Based on what my daughter sends to her friends, you do get a bit of a glimpse [from a 10-second video],” he explained.

So get ready, friends. You could soon be applying to jobs via social media. And we’ve only ourselves to blame (or thank).