Twitter doubles tweet length to 280 characters for some users

It’s the end of an era. On Tuesday, September 25, micro-blogging juggernaut Twitter lifted its longtime limit on tweets for a small group of beta testers. Instead of the traditional 140 characters per tweet, those users get 280 characters.

Aliza Rosen, Twitter’s product manager, claimed that the 140-character limit “[was] a major cause of frustration,” and that users who don’t have to worry about it typically tweet more. “When people don’t have to cram their thoughts into 140 characters and actually have some to spare, we see more people tweeting,” she wrote in a blog post.

Twitter’s character limit was originally designed for compatibility with SMS cellphone messaging, the Twitter app’s first supported medium, and became one of its defining characteristics. The first 20 of the 160 characters were originally reserved for the username, but Twitter has since carved out exemptions for it and other embedded forms of media including images, videos, attachments, and links.

Rosen said that the character 140-character limit disproportionately impacted users of English, which requires more characters to convey the same meaning as compared to denser, more expressive languages like Japanese. Japanese Twitter users butt up against the 140-character limit just 0.4 percent of the time, according to Twitter, compared to 9 percent of the time for English users.

“[In] languages like Japanese, Korean, and Chinese you can convey about double the amount of information in one character as you can in many other languages, like English, Spanish, Portuguese, or French,” Rosen said.

It’s not the first time Twitter has experimented with expanded tweet lengths. In 2016, the social network considered introducing tweets up to 10,000 characters in length before ultimately deciding against it, according to Recode. And in early September, it began testing a “tweetstorm” feature that let users draft multiple tweets as part of a single thread.

Twitter says it won’t flip the switch on expanded character limits right away. Instead, it will collect data over the next few months before rolling the test out to other “languages impacted by cramming (which is all except Japanese, Chinese, and Korean).”

“Although we feel confident about our data and the positive impact this change will have, we want to try it out with a small group of people before we make a decision to launch to everyone,” Rosen said. “What matters most is that this works for our community – we will be collecting data and gathering feedback along the way. We’re hoping fewer tweets run into the character limit, which should make it easier for everyone to tweet.”

After 4 years of sticking to the plan, Sony is ready to change its phone designs

No-one can accuse Sony of not sticking to the plan. Since 2013 and the Xperia Z, it has applied a design ethos called OmniBalance to its smartphones, where other manufacturers change designs every year. However, this may change in the near future when Sony introduces a complete new look for its premium devices. Sony’s Kenichiro Hibi, who heads up the company’s operations in India, said in an interview that the next generation of Sony phones will have a, “a complete new design.”

What will this new design look like? Sony’s obviously not giving anything away so far, but Hibi does add that the new design will feature on, “a new generation of products,” indicating we will see more than one new device. He also chose to discuss the two big trends affecting smartphone designs in 2017: Bezel-less screens with an 18:9 aspect ratio. Samsung and LG have pushed this design into the public’s awareness, and other bezel-less screens from Apple, Xiaomi, and Essential have changed the way we expect flagship phones to look.

Sony’s most recent phones, such as the Xperia XZ1, have very large bezels compared to the Galaxy S8 and the LG V30, making them look less modern. Sony obviously feels it’s time for a change, but it’s not certain it’ll adopt the bezel-less style. It’s also unknown if it will shift too far away from the square corners and boxier design that defines OmniBalance. Whether you like it or not, it’s impossible to mistake a Sony phone for any other.

It’s not the first time hints have been dropped about a Sony re-design. A mid-September forum post by a user, in a section dedicated to Sony rumors, claimed redesigned Sony phones will arrive at Mobile World Congress in 2018, and the new design language will be named Mirai, a Japanese meaning future. There’s no source to this, but as it came before Hibi’s interview, it does have a degree of credibility.

Sony has launched smartphones at Mobile World Congress in the past. The 2018 show is scheduled to take place at the end of February next year.

Leak at Ignite 2017 suggests when the Surface Pro 2017 LTE model will land

Why it matters to you

If you were thinking about buying the latest Surface Pro from Microsoft, you may want to wait and see when exactly the LTE version will hit the market.

After briefly popping up for customers to pre-purchase through an online U.K retailer last week, the LTE version of Microsoft’s latest Surface Pro 2017 2-in-1 will reportedly be made available on December 1, 2017. The launch date was spilled by a Microsoft spokesperson during one of the many developer sessions at the company’s Ignite 2017 conference in Florida.

Panos Panay, the head of Microsoft’s Surface division, is slated to hold a keynote during the Microsoft Future Decoded event in London starting October 31. He’s expected to announce the launch date of the LTE-based Surface Pro 2017 model at that time. But the Microsoft representative speaking during the recent Ignite 2017 session claims the LTE versions are already listed on Microsoft’s online storefront. If so, we have yet to find them.

Based on the brief listings in the U.K. last week, Microsoft may limit cellular support to its current two Core i5 models. If you have yet to purchase Microsoft’s fifth-generation Surface Pro 2-in-1s, the Core i5 versions only come in two flavors: 256GB of storage and 8GB of system memory for $1,300, and 128GB of storage with 4GB of system memory for $1,000. Expect those prices to be higher with the added support for cellular connectivity.

Here are the overall specs if you missed them:

Screen size:
12.3 inches with 10-point touch input
Screen resolution:
2,736 x 1,824
Processor:
Intel Core i5-7300U
Graphics:
Intel HD Graphics 620
Memory:
4GB or 8GB
Storage:
128GB or 256GB SSD
Connectivity:
Wireless AC
Bluetooth 4.1
Ports:
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x MicroSD card reader
1x Headphone jack
1x Mini DisplayPort
1x Cover port
1x Surface Connect port
Camera:
1x Infrared camera
1x 5MP front-facing
1x 8MP rear-facing
Audio:
2x 1.6-watt speakers
Dolby Audio Premium
Battery:
Up to 13.5v hours
Dimensions:
11.50 x 7.93 x 0.33 inches
Weight:
1.70 pounds

The latest Surface Pro (5) 2-in-1s made their debut in May 2017. After Microsoft said that LTE-based models would arrive before the year’s end, rumors surfaced that the units would center on an ARM-based processor instead of the current Intel CPUs. But then the two Surface Pro LTE models showed up last week sporting the Core i5-7300U processors offered in the current Wi-Fi models, killing that theory. The listings didn’t show any major changes in the two Core i5 configurations save for the added LTE cellular connectivity.

On the pricing front, we’re still playing the guessing game with Microsoft’s LTE models. Their former U.K. listings showed the 4GB/128GB model priced at 944 British pounds before taxes, or $1,269 in American dollars. Meanwhile, the 8GB/256GB model was priced at a meatier 1,169 pounds before taxes, which translates to $1,571. That’s a significant price increase over the Wi-Fi models for added cellular connectivity, but there’s more going on inside the Surface Pro than just adding a SIM card slot and antenna.

That said, LTE versions of the Core i7 models may not even be an option to keep the price ceiling under control. The Core i7 1TB/16GB model nearly hits the $3,000 roof as it is, so we can’t imagine the added pricing LTE support could bring.

Deal: Get unlimited talk, text & data from ROK for just $50 a month

ROK Mobile’s offering the cheapest unlimited data plan on the nation’s most reliable network.

Anyone interested in an affordable unlimited data plan and top-notch nationwide coverage should check out the latest offer from ROK Mobile.

Currently, you can bring your own CDMA-compatible phone to ROK Mobile and pay just $50 a month for unlimited talk, text & data on the “nation’s most reliable network” (AKA Verizon’s network).
The $50 deal is $25 a month cheaper than Verizon’s $75 Unlimited plan. Plus, with the ROK unlimited data plan, you’ll even get roadside assistance included free of charge.

ROK vs. Major Carriers

Unlimited talk & text & high-speed LTE data, speeds may temporarily slow down at 20GB only during times of high network traffic.

• This soft speed limit known as data deprioritization is common across carriers: Sprint’s is 23GB, AT&T/Verizon’s 22GB and T-Mobile’s 50GB

Video streaming in SD (standard def) 480p with the option of turning ‘data stretcher’ feature off for higher streaming speeds.

• Only Sprint’s Unlimited data plan offers HD video streaming. T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon’s base Unlimited plans have SD streaming.

Access to 30 million WiFi hotspots via MyROK App

• This is not tethering, but the option to use more WiFi access points. ROK does not offer tethering (mobile hotspots)
• Sprint’s the only carrier to offer 10GB of high-speed mobile hotspot as part of its plan. AT&T’s base plan offers no hotspots. Verizon and T-Mobile offer unlimited hotspots at 3G speeds.

No contracts or credit checks required

• Most of the carriers no longer offer service contracts and most of the prepaid carriers don’t run credit checks or have contracts due to the fact that phones and services are paid for upfront.

Roadside assistance

• This is a unique feature to ROK and could save you the cost of an annual membership for a typical motor club.

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How to sort the Galaxy Note 8 launcher app drawer alphabetically

Organizing your app drawer can be done alphabetically.

Keeping all of the apps you download onto your Galaxy Note 8 organized can be a daunting task. Between email, messaging services, social media, and more, there are always apps you need to find easily. Thankfully, Samsung has made this easier, by letting you sort all of the apps in your app drawer alphabetically in its default TouchWIZ launcher. We’ve got the details on how to do it below!

Note: This guide applies only to the default TouchWIZ launcher that ships with the Galaxy Note 8.

How to sort your app drawer alphabetically

The easiest way to get your app drawer organized is to just go ahead and do it alphabetically. This can be done in just a moment or two, and makes finding new apps easy without much hassle on your end.

At the home screen, swipe up to open your app drawer.
Tap the overflow icon in the upper right corner. It looks like three vertical dots.
Tap Sort.

Tap Alphabetical order.

Questions?

How do you like to sort your app drawer? Does sorting your apps alphabetically help you find what you’re looking for? Do you still have questions about sorting your app drawer? Let us know in the comments below!

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

• Galaxy Note 8 review
• Complete Galaxy Note 8 specs
• Galaxy Note 8 vs. Galaxy Note 5
• Which Note 8 color is best?
• Join our Galaxy Note 8 forums

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T-Mobile
Sprint
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The Morning After: Wednesday, September 27th 2017

Hey, good morning!

Welcome to the day of the hump. Amazon is gearing up for a big reveal by, well, removing content from devices and teasing the return of Apple TV sales to its retail site.

Nothing to see.
Amazon’s Echo Show loses its access to YouTube

In an unexpected turn, Amazon’s Echo Show has suddenly lost its ability to stream videos from YouTube. The Verge points out the ability disappeared this afternoon, quoting Amazon and Google blaming each other for the issue. While YouTube claims that the Echo Show feature “violates our terms of service, creating a broken user experience,” Amazon says “there is no technical reason for that decision.”

Coming next spring.
Inside the NBA’s big eSports push

The NBA 2K League (no longer eLeague) is taking shape rather quickly, and its managing director Brendan Donohue revealed some launch details to Edgar Alvarez. Right now, the league is scheduled to start gamer tryouts early next year, ahead of its inaugural draft in mid-March. In the first season, 17 NBA teams will back virtual squads, and according to Donohue “four or five” others have reached out about joining in season two.

Naturally, it’s in preparation for the Prime Video app.Apple TV briefly returned to Amazon after a two-year exile

No wait, it’s gone again. According to rumors, expect it to return once more after Amazon announces its video service for the TV box.

The crowdfunding campaign launches on Indiegogo this fall.The Ataribox will cost under $300 and ship next spring

We heard you like tiny retro consoles.

A VR experience you share with others.
AMC will install room-scale VR in some of its theaters by 2019

The theater chain is investing $10 million in Dreamscape Immersive, a startup that builds VR multiplexes capable of hosting up to six people at once. Also, it’s backing “up to six” of its installations, whether they’re at AMC cinemas or standalone locations in the US and UK. Other investors include Hollywood heavy hitters like Steven Spielberg, and plans point to content that “complements” rather than replaces movies.

It’s pretty much the same as Steam’s policy.
You can get a refund on Oculus Rift and Gear VR games and apps

The likes of Apple, Steam and Google Play offer refunds for accidental, untouched purchases, and now virtual reality company Oculus has made it clear that you can get a refund for an app or game purchased digitally for the Rift or Gear VR.

Oculus adheres to the same timeline as Steam does, offering a full refund through Oculus “for any reason” if you request it within 14 days of purchase and haven’t played more than two hours.

The pilot project might spare them from having to certify products.
Apple, Alphabet and Fitbit test FDA fast track for health apps

The US Food and Drug Administration has named several companies involved in a recently-instituted “pre-certification” program that determines whether or not they meet baseline quality standards for health software. Apple, Fitbit, Samsung and Alphabet’s Verily are among the firms that will help the FDA set the benchmarks and decide just how much information companies need to send if they’ve been pre-cleared.

The FDA will elaborate further as the pilot goes forward, including a workshop slated for January 2018. If pre-certification happens, it could lead to a faster turnaround for health apps and features in the US.

But wait, there’s more…

• Tesla switches from NVIDIA to Intel for its infotainment systems
• Plex News launches to keep cord-cutters informed for free
• Sirin is developing a $1,000 blockchain smartphone
• Microsoft plans to release Office 2019 late next year
• The DHS plans to monitor immigrants’ social media accounts
• Politwoops points out President Trump deleting tweets that supported a losing candidate

Samsung leak reveals a Windows Mixed Reality headset

Ahead of Microsoft’s mixed reality (MR) event next week, images have surfaced showing what appears to be Samsung’s MR headset offering. There are no specification details on offer, but the pictures show a device with two cameras on the front, AKG-branded headphones and six degree-of-freedom tracking, similar to other Windows MR headsets, suggesting Samsung could be one of Windows’ partner brands in its MR endeavour. Microsoft has made MR a core component of its Windows 10 operating system, and with Samsung on board it could give the tech prominence among other major brands that are generally focused on virtual reality instead.

Via: WalkingCat, SamMobile

Google Pulls Access to YouTube on Amazon’s Echo Show Smart Speaker

Google pulled access to YouTube through Amazon’s display-based Echo Show smart speaker on Tuesday, a move that appears to have angered Amazon and led to conflicting public statements by both companies over the sudden move.

“Currently, Google is not supporting Youtube on Echo Show.” That’s the message Alexa started giving Echo Show owners yesterday afternoon when they tried to access the video service. An Amazon spokesperson later confirmed to The Verge that YouTube was no longer available on Echo Show devices, and offered a statement implying that Google’s decision had been an unwelcome surprise.

Google made a change today around 3 pm. YouTube used to be available to our shared customers on Echo Show. As of this afternoon, Google has chosen to no longer make YouTube available on Echo Show, without explanation and without notification to customers. There is no technical reason for that decision, which is disappointing and hurts both of our customers.

Google issued its own statement to The Verge shorty afterwards, contradicting Amazon’s assertion that the move had been made without fair warning.

We’ve been in negotiations with Amazon for a long time, working towards an agreement that provides great experiences for customers on both platforms. Amazon’s implementation of YouTube on the Echo Show violates our terms of service, creating a broken user experience. We hope to be able to reach an agreement and resolve these issues soon.

The move comes as a blow to Amazon’s hopes for its Echo Show smart speaker, given that it has been marketed with a heavy emphasis on the device’s display, which lets users see details related to their Alexa queries and watch online video – food recipes for instance, which are often hosted on YouTube.

Google’s decision to pull access reflects similar moves by the company to protect its vision of how the YouTube service should function and appear to users. Earlier this month, Google forced popular iOS app ProTube off the App Store after serving the developer multiple takedown requests because it said the app violated YouTube’s terms of service.

Tags: Google, Amazon, YouTube, Amazon Echo
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AirPods Shipping Estimates Improve to 3 to 5 Business Days

Apple is closing in on its aim to achieve supply/demand balance for its AirPods, with the popular earphones now shipping from the online Apple Store in just three to five business days in the United States, Canada, U.K., Australia, and several other countries around the world.

According to Apple’s U.S. website, AirPods ordered today will be delivered between October 4 and October 6, while U.K. customers ordering today are being quoted delivery dates between October 3 and October 5. These are the best estimates Apple has offered since the AirPods launched in December 2016.

AirPods have been in extremely short supply since they became available for purchase, with a typical wait time of six weeks from order to delivery. Only in August did stock begin steadily improving, with shipping estimates dropping to four weeks and then two to three weeks. Earlier this month, estimates improved to one to two weeks, before hitting three to five business days today.

During Apple’s third quarter earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple had boosted AirPods production capacity and was “working very hard” to get AirPods to customers as quickly as possible.

Occasionally, Apple retail stores have received stock and third-party retailers like Best Buy have been able to offer AirPods with faster shipping on a regular basis, but those stocks have usually run out fast.

Costing $159, Apple’s “truly wireless” AirPods have gained popularity due to their long battery life, capacious charge case, infrared sensors that detect when they’re being worn, touch-based gestures, and a built-in W1 chip that improves Bluetooth connection. AirPods are also relatively inexpensive compared to rival “truly wireless” earbuds that have launched in recent months.

Tag: AirPods
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Tesco’s mobile payments app is now called Pay+

Tesco is a special breed of highstreet staple that just refuses to broadly support contactless payments — unless you use its in-house mobile payment app, that is. PayQwiq has been around for a few years now, but was only accepted in all Tesco stores from the beginning of this year. PayQwiq also doesn’t roll off the tongue all that well, but today it assumes a new name: Tesco Pay+.

New name, same feature set. It keeps track of your Clubcard points and receipts, but its main purpose is allowing you to brandish your phone at checkouts to pay for up to £250 of shopping. So, kind of like Apple Pay or Android Pay, just a tad less convenient.

Source: Tesco