Video editors can work better together in Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects

Why it matters to you

A new Essential Graphics panel in Premiere Pro simplifies motion graphics for video editors with customizable templates.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show opens on April 22, but some of the film and video industry’s biggest brands are already revealing what they have in store for the show. On April 19, Adobe released significant updates to several of its popular Creative Cloud video apps, including Premiere Pro and After Effects. The updates unify the apps around a core focus on collaboration and workflow efficiency, a theme Adobe has been bringing up increasingly often.

While any Creative Cloud video user should have reason to download the updates immediately, the new features will be most appreciated by those working in teams. Adobe is looking to make it easier than ever for editors, motion graphics animators, and sound designers to collaborate, with the new Team Projects. Currently in beta, the tool will allow Creative Cloud Team and Enterprise account members to work together on a single project, saving and transferring changes between users, even with team members located in multiple remote locations. In a live online demonstration, Adobe showed us how an After Effects user in the U.S. could correct blurry video received from a colleague in Europe, who could then open the corrected clip directly in Premiere Pro and continue editing, without having to ever leave the app.

Adobe has also replaced Premiere Pro’s Live Text templates with Motion Graphics templates found in the entirely new Essential Graphics panel. Motion Graphics templates can be created in either Premiere Pro or After Effects and seamlessly shared between both applications. The main benefit here is that an After Effects specialist can create templates that allow video editors to later customize specific aspects without needing a deeper understanding of how they were made. For example, an animated title sequence can be created that lets an editor change the text and color, while the timing and other attributes remain locked. An After Effects users can also save multiple styles of a template that an editor can quickly cycle through to choose the one they prefer.

Several smaller improvements have also been made to Premiere Pro and After Effects, such as improved support for virtual reality (VR) and high dynamic range (HDR) content. Adobe Stock video integration has also been updated, with users now able to scrub through stock videos and even publish their own footage to the collection directly from within Premiere Pro.

Like all Creative Cloud updates, the new features are included for any users on the $50 per month plan. Users can also opt to subscribe to Premiere Pro only for $20 per month. Visit Adobe’s Video page for more information.

Google Voice now filters out unwanted calls, thanks to update

Why it matters to you

Google Voice is a useful tool that was ignored for too long, but with January’s major update and its new anti-spam measures, it’s now more powerful than ever.

The major update that hit Google Voice back in January was mostly aesthetic, as it brought the app up to date with the company’s Material Design standard, but didn’t add much in the way of new features. Many of those faithful to the long-running call forwarding service were just excited to see it get any attention from Google at all, after being largely ignored for a number of years. Fortunately, Google is keeping the updates coming with the announcement of improved spam filtering for Voice users.

Last summer, Google took the initiative of adding anti-spam features to Nexus, Pixel, and Android One phones, allowing your device to warn you if you were receiving a ring from a “suspected spam caller.” Now, Google Voice is receiving the same functionality.

These measures have resulted in twice as many caught spammers, 20 percent fewer spam reports from customers, and 40 percent more calls correctly identified as spam, according to Google. The steps to enable spam filtering in Voice have been laid out on the company’s support site.

Previously, many of Voice’s features were added, over time, to Hangouts. Hangouts began as a messaging and internet-based calling app designed for regular users, but in recent months Google has decided to re-purpose it for enterprise customers. As a result, the app has dropped longstanding features like SMS support, and Google is propping up Voice to be its replacement for calling features — several years after it replaced Voice.

All the features that made Voice groundbreaking back when it launched more than seven long years ago are still on board, such as the ability to text from the same number from any device, including your computer; voicemail transcription, and call recording. That last one in particular is still shockingly absent as a stock feature on smartphones, and Google’s app remains one of the only free and convenient ways to do it.

Upcoming Instagram update will let you browse photos while offline

Why it matters to you

Instagram’s offline features could help spur the service’s growth in developing nations and let you browse the app without a connection.

Instagram, the picture-focused network of food photographers and budding models, recently learned a new trick: The ability to work offline. At the F8 developer conference in San Jose, California, on Tuesday, parent company Facebook announced an update that will enable browsing on Instagram without the need for an internet connection.

Currently, Instagram downloads images on the fly — when you launch the app on your phone, tablet, or computer, it queries Facebook’s servers for new content. The upgraded Instagram app, by comparison, taps a cache — if you open a section (like your feed, Explore, or Instagram profiles) of the app, it will store the newest photos in that section on your device. Next time you connect to the internet, that section will update automatically.

Instagram’s offline mode goes further still. You can compose comments, like and save photos, and follow and unfollow profiles — the app will queue those actions and perform them next time you connect to the internet.

Facebook said 80 percent of its users are outside the U.S. and many lack access to a stable internet connection. It thinks offline features could help Instagram grow in developing nations where data connections are cost prohibitive — or non-existent.

It’s approach the social network took last year when it released a slimmed-down version of the Facebook app — Facebook Lite for low-powered devices. It shot past 200 million users in less than a year.

Separately, Facebook’s Internet.org platform seeks to provide users in Asia, Latin America, and Africa access to the web, with a particular focus on job listings, healthcare, and education. Facebook said that as of November, the free connectivity program reaches more than 40 million people.

Facebook isn’t the only one investing heavily in developing markets.

This year, Twitter debuted Twitter Lite, a mobile web app designed to minimize data usage and load quickly on slower connections. A new data saver mode further reduces the amount of mobile data used.

At events in India and Brazil over the past two years, Google launched versions of its existing services tailored to internet-constrained regions. Chrome can store webpages so you can view them without Wi-Fi. The Google Search app on Android queues up searches when you don’t have a connection, and automatically alerts you with results when a connection comes back online. Google Play Music uses artificial intelligence to cache music it believes you will like. And YouTube in India lets viewers download videos at night, when data costs are cheaper, and share clips via Bluetooth.

Logitech’s new G413 mechanical gaming keyboard juggles price, performance

Why it matters to you

Here’s a new mechanical keyboard for PC gamers that crams advanced features into a peripheral without a heavy price tag.

After we just reviewed the Logitech G Pro mechanical keyboard sporting Logitech’s proprietary Romer-G mechanical switches, Logitech now offers a cheaper mechanical keyboard for PC gamers called the G413. Costing $90, the peripheral includes a pass-through USB 2.0 port, a brushed 5052 aluminum-magnesium alloy faceplate, and static per-key LED illumination.

Technically, there are two versions of the new Logitech G G413 keyboard: one “Carbon” unit with “elemental red” backlighting, and one “Silver” unit with “iconic white” backlighting, the latter of which can only be purchased through Best Buy if not bought from Logitech’s online shop. However, save for the different backlit colors, both models are the same on a hardware level, packing a full-size 144-key form factor.

Here are the technical details of both:

Part numbers:
G413 Carbon – 920-008300
G413 Silver – 920-008348
Dimensions:
5.12 (H) x 17.5 x 1.4 (D) inches
Weight:
2.4 pounds without cable
Cable length:
6 feet
LED brightness levels:
5
Switch Type:
Romer-G
Switch durability:
70 million keypresses
Actuation distance:
1.5mm
Actuation force:
45g
Total travel distance:
3.0mm
Connection type:
USB 2.0 Type-A
Pass-through USB port:
Yes, USB 2.0 Type-A
N-Key Rollover:
26
Dedicated media keys:
No
Dedicated macro keys:
No
Special keys:
FN + F7 = Backlight toggle
FN + F8 = Game Mode
FN + F9/F10/F11/F12 = Media controls

Note that because Logitech didn’t toss dedicated media keys into the design, users are required to handle media playback using the FN button and four function keys (play/pause, stop, forward, and backward). Volume control appears to be locked down to the SCRLK and Pause buttons when hitting the FN key, but Logitech indicates that all function keys are customizable using the company’s free Logitech Gaming Software utility.

The Game Mode aspect means users can disable the annoying Windows key by pressing FN + F8. However, users can load up Logitech’s utility to disable any key when Game Mode is on so that you’re not accidentally firing up an email client while trying to fight off highly annoying opponents. The software can even be used to assign macros to the function keys to make those multi-key commands easier on the fingertips.

The 26-key rollover aspect indicates the keyboard can correctly register up to 26 keys simultaneously. If that weren’t the case, users could experience wrong key entries in their multi-key commands, as if a ghost were typing along with the user (aka ghosting). Providing 26-key rollover support is somewhat of an overkill, but at least Logitech has your back when executing those long commands. The company even throws in a keycap puller and a set of 12 “raised” caps to replace the default caps used in the WASD area.

“We spent a lot of time carefully designing and engineering this keyboard to deliver advanced performance with just the right feature set, at the right price point,” said Ujesh Desai, vice president and general manager of Logitech G. “We created this keyboard with features like USB passthrough, backlit keys, and a metal finish. With the G413 we believe we’ve achieved the perfect balance of high-performance features and attractive design.”

Both models are available now for a mere $90.

Aukey KM-C4 review

Research Center:
Aukey KM-C4

The hype around gaming mice makes it difficult to see the reality for the hyperbole. You can spend $60 or more for industry-standard pointing devices, such as the Razer DeathAdder Elite, or choose less costly alternatives like Logitech’s G602. Yet there’s an even less expensive, highly customizable, lesser-known alternative — $36 Aukey KM-C4 Gaming Mouse, which regularly retails for as little as $20.

The Aukey gaming mouse might seem a little too humble if you’re into impressive specifications like 16,000 DPI sensors and tracking speeds of 450 inches per second. However, most gamers don’t need incredible hardware in a gaming mouse. Aukey’s not the only company that knows this. It faces competition from Logitech’s G300 and Corsair’s Harpoon, a pair of well-known mice from major brands.

Built for speed and comfort

The KM-C4 measures 5.1 inches long by 2.4 inches wide by 1.6 inches high, and weighs 5.8 ounces. Aside from the scroll wheel, which is made of textured aluminum, the top of the mouse is encased in hard gray plastic, with a black strip separating the right and left buttons. In the black strip resides two plastic silver DPI buttons and the AUKEY logo, that by default rotates through illuminated red, green, blue, and purple. Users can also program it to display colors corresponding with the current DPI setting.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

On both sides of the mouse are two comfortably textured finger grooves. On the right side, at the top of the thumb groove, are the usual Front and Back buttons, and between them is a disk-shaped double-click button. The underside is also made up of aluminum, and embedded in the metal are four plastic pads that provide smooth movement. Also on the underside is a button for turning off the mouse’s lighting, as well as a small compartment that holds up to four small cylindrical metal weights that allow customization of the KM-C4’s heft, for greater comfort.

Aukey KM-C4 Compared To

Razer Turret

Evoluent VerticalMouse C Right

Cougar 450M gaming mouse

Razer Diamondback (2015)

Razer Mamba (2015)

Mionix Castor

Razer Mamba Tournament Edition

Cougar 300M

Cougar 550M

Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop

Genius Gila GX

Logitech G600 MMO

Roccat Isku and Kone+

Apple Magic Trackpad

Motormouse 2.4G

The KM-C4 connects with a USB cable encased in nylon braiding, which is not only quite sturdy, but also tangle resistant. Our initial impression that the Aukey KM-C4 is a sturdy, well-constructed device, held up to scrutiny.

Everything is customizable

The KM-C4 can be used simply by plugging it in. However, to use all its functions and change options, such as individual button functions, polling rates, and DPI, Windows software must be installed from an included optical disc. (Unfortunately, at time of this writing, Aukey did not provide a downloadable version).

We found it just adequate for most of the games we play.

As with most mice, the KM-C4 allows you to change or reassign the functions of all its eight buttons, including the left and right ones, as well as when you depress the scrolling wheel. You can also configure the buttons to allow you to change polling rates and DPI on the fly, or as you play, to provide the appropriate accuracy in specific gaming scenarios. The KM-C4’s DPI resolutions include: 800, 1,000, 3,200, and 4,000. It also has four polling rates of 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, and 1,000Hz. The gaming sensor inside is an ADNS 3050, which can detect up to 60 IPS (Inches per Second) and up to 2,000 CPI (Counts per Inch).

Compared to the DeathAdder Elite and its DPI of up to 16,000, with 450 IPS, the above specs may not seem so spectacular. But the average gamer really doesn’t need all this horsepower. Besides, many experts agree that at a certain point, added sensitivity becomes overkill.

Nothing’s perfect

Overall, we were impressed with the Aukey gaming mouse, as well as how easy it is to install and use. But we did encounter a snafu when installing the software. At completion, the installation program put three icons on the PC, one on the desktop, one on the Start menu, and one in the Windows hidden icons tray.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Unfortunately, we couldn’t launch the software from the two more obvious shortcuts, the icons on the desktop and the start menu. When we clicked either of them, a Windows prompt asked to allow the software to make changes to your PC. Clicking either yes or no did nothing readily perceptible, though we did find an instance of “Gaming Mouse” running in the Windows’ Services control panel. We made Aukey aware of this, and they assured us that a software update is in the works. However, the software issue was not resolved in time for this review’s publication.

Warranty information

Aukey’s warranty provides what the company calls “worry-free ownership” for two years. In other words, if it stops working under normal use within the first two years, Aukey will replace it.

Our Take

While the Aukey gaming mouse’s DPI and polling rate specs are not off-the-chart, they’re plenty high enough for the everyday gamer. The KM-C4 is well-built, highly configurable, and quite comfortable to use. It’s just a shame about the software.

The DT Accessory Pack

Das Keyboard Model S Ultimate Clicky MX Blue Mechanical Keyboard

$114.68

SteelSeries QcK Gaming Mouse Pad

$9.99

Aukey mechanical Keyboard with Blue Switches

$64.99

Is there a better alternative?

The number of mice available at the Aukey’s price point is incredible, but we do know of a few favorites. Redragon’s M601, priced at $14, is a reasonably comfortable choice that works well out-of-the-box, and has a racier look. We also like the simple, sensible Logitech G300, and the Corsair Harpoon.

How long will it last?

Aukey guarantees the mouse for two years, and says that it has a tested lifespan of 10 million clicks. It certainly feels durable and long-lasting to us.

Should you buy it?

No. We like it for the average gamer and as a comfortable solution for somebody who spends a lot of time on his or her computer. However, the software problems were troublesome, and never resolved to our satisfaction. There are a lot of gaming mice currently on the market near the $20 price point, and many do not share these issues.

Intel may accelerate its CPU timeline in response to Ryzen, report says

Why it matters to you

The rivalry between Intel and AMD is heating up once again, which will hopefully mean that users get both companies’ best offerings faster and at a better price.

Since its launch in February, Ryzen has proven to be a major boon for AMD, prompting speculation that the company is in the midst of a major comeback. That seems to have triggered a response from its biggest rival, as Intel is apparently making preparations to accelerate its release schedule.

Sources in the Taiwanese computing industry are reporting that Intel will lift the lid on its Basin Falls platform at Computex 2017, according to Hexus. This event begins at the end of May, which means that the reveal is coming a few months earlier than previously anticipated.

Basin Falls is comprised of the Skylake-X and Kaby Lake-X processors, as well as the X299 chipset. Skylake-X will apparently consist of three 140W processors that utilize architectures with six, eight, or 10 cores. A 12-core variant will apparently follow in December. Basin Falls is expected to launch at E3 2017 in June, several weeks after it is scheduled to be unveiled at Computex.

Meanwhile, Intel is also amending its plans for the release of the 14nm Coffee Lake architecture. The first chips produced as part of the line were expected to be made available in early 2018, but it now seems that they could be released as early as August.

Intel has apparently increased its manufacturing capacity by purchasing five new EUV machine sets from Dutch photolithography specialists ASML. This hardware will be used to make several K-series Core i3, i5, and i7 processors and Z370 chipsets available later this year, with further CPUs and H370, H310, and B360 chipsets set to follow in subsequent months.

If Intel’s amended schedule is accurate, the company is poised to showcase Basin Falls at two major conferences related to the computing and video game industries. As its years-long rivalry with AMD continues, all eyes will be on Basin Falls over the next few months.

Verily’s Baseline study seeks to build a perfect model of human health

Why it matters to you

Verily’s Baseline study could have huge implications for medicine, if things pan out as planned.

Verily Life Sciences, formerly Google Life Sciences division, wants to build a model of perfect human health. To do so, it is launching Baseline, a multi-year study with thousands of volunteers who will regularly supply metrics on sleep, fitness, heart rate, genomics, and more.

Baseline, which Google announced in 2014, seeks to “create a map of human health” — an “early discovery platform” that will nail down key correlations between physiological changes and disease. Verily, which is undertaking the study with Duke University and the Stanford Unversity School of Medicine, will enroll about 10,000 participants from half a dozen study sites in California and North Carolina. That is up from a pilot in about 200 people that began three years ago.

“What we are really aiming to do is figure out how do we identify people who have a change in their health where we can make an intervention so they don’t come into the hospital?,” Adrian Hernandez, a professor of medicine at Duke, told Business Insider.

Researchers will recruit subjects across a range ethnicities and age groups, including groups at risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease, to build a nationally representative sample. Participants will have their genomes sequenced and get blood work done at study sites run by Duke and Stanford. Over the course of a year, they will respond to survey questions and upload data from the Study Watch, a digital timepiece that measures electrodermal activity and heart rate.

Verily’s current plan calls for a four-year study, the findings from which will be made available to “qualified researchers.” Jessica Mega, the chief research officer at Verily,  told The Verge that an “executive committee” will review and approve requests for data. Initially, the scope is limited to cancer and heart disease, but researchers hope to extend its length. That will depend on funding, partially — Bloomberg pegs the Baseline study’s cost at $300 million.

Baseline may be Verily’s largest project yet, but it is far from its only one. The health spinoff, which has attracted funding from Singapore investment firm Temasek Holdings and pharmaceutical companies like GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Johnson and Johnson, Biogen, and Dexcom, has been developing glucose-monitoring and autofocus contact lenses. It makes tableware designed to make it easier for people with hand tremors to eat independently, and it’s partnered with a surgical robot spin-out company and a bioelectronics company working to develop ways to use electric signals to treat chronic illnesses.

Verily’s Baseline study seeks to build a perfect model of human health

Why it matters to you

Verily’s Baseline study could have huge implications for medicine, if things pan out as planned.

Verily Life Sciences, formerly Google Life Sciences division, wants to build a model of perfect human health. To do so, it is launching Baseline, a multi-year study with thousands of volunteers who will regularly supply metrics on sleep, fitness, heart rate, genomics, and more.

Baseline, which Google announced in 2014, seeks to “create a map of human health” — an “early discovery platform” that will nail down key correlations between physiological changes and disease. Verily, which is undertaking the study with Duke University and the Stanford Unversity School of Medicine, will enroll about 10,000 participants from half a dozen study sites in California and North Carolina. That is up from a pilot in about 200 people that began three years ago.

“What we are really aiming to do is figure out how do we identify people who have a change in their health where we can make an intervention so they don’t come into the hospital?,” Adrian Hernandez, a professor of medicine at Duke, told Business Insider.

Researchers will recruit subjects across a range ethnicities and age groups, including groups at risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease, to build a nationally representative sample. Participants will have their genomes sequenced and get blood work done at study sites run by Duke and Stanford. Over the course of a year, they will respond to survey questions and upload data from the Study Watch, a digital timepiece that measures electrodermal activity and heart rate.

Verily’s current plan calls for a four-year study, the findings from which will be made available to “qualified researchers.” Jessica Mega, the chief research officer at Verily,  told The Verge that an “executive committee” will review and approve requests for data. Initially, the scope is limited to cancer and heart disease, but researchers hope to extend its length. That will depend on funding, partially — Bloomberg pegs the Baseline study’s cost at $300 million.

Baseline may be Verily’s largest project yet, but it is far from its only one. The health spinoff, which has attracted funding from Singapore investment firm Temasek Holdings and pharmaceutical companies like GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Johnson and Johnson, Biogen, and Dexcom, has been developing glucose-monitoring and autofocus contact lenses. It makes tableware designed to make it easier for people with hand tremors to eat independently, and it’s partnered with a surgical robot spin-out company and a bioelectronics company working to develop ways to use electric signals to treat chronic illnesses.

Android users can now live-stream to Facebook in 360 with Giroptic’s iO camera

Why it matters to you

The Giroptic iO is a simple and affordable 360 camera add-on that’s now available for Android. Collaboration with Facebook could help push 360-degree capture among consumers.

The Giroptic IO, an easy-to-use 360-degree camera that connects directly to an iPhone, is coming to Android. On April 19, the company announced the Android launch of its camera during the Facebook F8 conference.

The Giroptic iO is a 360 camera that aims to make creating immersive photos and videos as simple and as connected as possible. The iOS version makes short work of live-streaming in 360 and now that same capability is coming to Android. Giroptic says the 360 add-on camera is the first of its kind for Android devices (although Insta360 might argue against that).

The company, in fact, worked with Facebook to ensure compatibility, though the device is also compatible with live-streaming to other media platforms and social networks, such as YouTube. Thanks to that cooperation, attendees at the F8 Facebook conference will receive an iO (Android or iOS), to further promote Facebook’s 360 platform – particularly Facebook Live, which now supports 360-degree viewing.

“We worked closely with Facebook to ensure that the iO would deliver a smooth 360 degree live-streaming experience,” Richard Ollier, co-founder and CEO of Giroptic, said in a press release.

While the iOS version uses a Lightning port, the Android version comes with either a Micro USB or USB Type-C connector, depending on the device. Otherwise, both cameras’ guts are the same: The Android version maintains the original’s simplicity and portability, with a dual-lens design for capturing 360 stills and footage.

“We believe putting the iO in the hands of F8 attendees and the developer community will unlock even more exciting uses for 360,” said Pascal Brochier, president and COO of Giroptic, said in the same release. “The freedom of field of view offered by 360 coupled with live-streaming technology enables people to experience moments in an unprecedented way. We are grateful for our partnership with Facebook and excited to see the new ways people will capture and share key moments of their lives in 360.”

Both iOS and Android cameras will retail at $249 price tag. You can click here to read our full review of the iOS version.

Homemade tarantula-inspired robot can slowly scamper over uneven ground

Why it matters to you

This homemade DIY. spider robot was designed to scamper over uneven surfaces. According to its creator, it could be used for search and rescue missions.

“It’s a terrifying robot tarantula, run for your liiiii — oh, it’s slow. Maybe just walk for your life, then!”

The MX-Phoenix isn’t really that scary at all. It’s a six-legged, spider-inspired robot — yes, we know that spiders have eight legs — that uses 18 different motors to crawl over uneven ground.

Unlike most of the impressive robotics projects we see, MX-Phoenix didn’t spring from a top-flight university or Google-owned research lab, but rather from the garage of Norwegian amateur robot maker Kåre Halvorsen, aka Zenta.

An engineer at the Assistive Technology Centre for Rogaland in Bergen, Norway, Halvorsen’s robotics career is relegated to evenings and weekends.

“MX-Phoenix is a six-legged hexapod walking machine with three motors on each leg,” Halvorsen told Digital Trends abouthis latest creation. “Almost all parts are 3D printed in ABS plastic. It’s remotely operated using a custom-made remote controller. Unlike most of the hexapod robots, MX-Phoenix is able to walk on rough terrain, not just flat and level floor. All 18 motors are controlled using advanced control algorithms that are computed inside an onboard microcontroller.”

The robot has been in development since last November, but only took its first (surprisingly fluid) steps recently. The advantage of a hexapod robot is that it is more stable than two or four legged robots, and can keep moving even if a leg is disabled.

“My main goal is to have fun, and keep learning and developing new robots,” Halvorsen said. He added that a few potential uses for this particular bot could include “search and rescue” missions, or as some kind of animatronics tool for movies.

“My future plan is to work more on the gait algorithm and do some minor modifications,” he said.

There’s no word yet on whether he plans to market and sell this particular creation any time soon, but it’s certainly something we’d love to have crawling around our apartment.