Instagram Stories Expand to the Web

Instagram Stories, the feature that allows users to upload ephemeral photos and videos to a special daily timeline, is expanding to the web on both desktop and mobile devices, the company announced today.

As with Instagram Stories in the mobile app, on the web, Stories will be featured at the top of the page. Clicking or tapping into a story will allow it to be viewed. For now, Instagram Stories is view only, but in the future, Instagram plans to allow Stories uploads from the web on mobile devices.

Instagram launched Stories just over a year ago in August of 2016 to compete with Snapchat, and the feature has been highly popular with Instagram users. As of April, Instagram Stories has more daily active users than Snapchat.

The feature allows users to post photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. Like Snapchat, it includes filters, stickers, emoji, and other image enhancement tools. Today’s update also includes new weather-related filters that can be applied to photos.

According to Instagram, Stories on the web is rolling out starting today, but it will take a few weeks for the feature to show up to all users. Posting from the mobile web will be implemented in the coming months.

Tag: Instagram
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‘8mm Vintage Camera’ Available for Free as Apple’s App of the Week

Each week, Apple chooses an “App of the Week” to highlight in the App Store, making it free to download for seven days. This week’s pick is a camera app called 8mm Vintage Camera, which is normally priced at $1.99 on the iPhone and iPad.

8mm Vintage Camera is a photo editing app that’s been around for awhile, but this is the first time that it’s been made available for free since its 2010 launch.

The app is designed to capture the “beauty and magic” of old school vintage movies using a selection of virtual lenses and films that include 1920, Noir, 60s, 70s, Sakura, XPro, Siena, Pela, Indigo, Tuscan and Two-Color. Apple’s App Store editors had this to say about the app:

Shooting movies on film may be a dying art, but just because we live in the digital age doesn’t mean we have to abandon our analog past. We get warm, nostalgic fuzzies from 8mm Vintage Camera’s grainy, flickery film filters and lens effects, conjuring up memories of vacation travelogues screened in wood-paneled basements. It’s not just about old-school kicks, though–this powerful suite of tools can give any video an authentic period look.

When capturing video with 8mm Vintage Camera, you can see the live effect displayed right in the app. It supports up to 1080p HD video recording and includes features like a jitter button to imitate frame shakes and a sound switch to add a projector sound.

8mm Vintage Camera can be downloaded for free for the next seven days, and after that, a new App of the Week will be chosen. There are separate versions for iPad and iPhone. [Direct Link: iPhone] [Direct Link: iPad]

Tag: App of the Week
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The Wirecutter’s best deals: Save $30 on a Ring Video Doorbell

This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, they may earn affiliate commissions that support their work. Read their continuously updated list of deals here.

You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends at The Wirecutter. Now, from time to time, we’ll also be publishing their recommended deals on some of their top picks. Read on, and strike while the iron is hot — some of these sales could expire mighty soon.

Ring Video Doorbell

Street price: $180; MSRP: $180; Deal price: $150

Here’s a nice deal, matching the lowest price we’ve seen, on our video doorbell runner-up. The Ring Video Doorbell is aging a bit (2nd gen, Ring 2, is now available at a cost of $200), but still offers excellent value at this deal price of $150. This price is available for the Satin Nickel finish only – all the other finishes are still $180, the typical street price of this item. Shipping is free.

The Ring Video Doorbell is our runner-up pick in our guide to the best smart doorbell cameras. Stacey Higginbotham wrote, “…our runner-up doorbell camera is the Ring Video Doorbell, which is better known because it’s been available longer than the SkyBell HD. Its video and sound quality aren’t as good, but it has the basic features that anyone buying a connected doorbell could want, including motion detection, the ability to connect to the doorbell for a live view of what’s happening at the door, and night-vision capability. It does require you to pay a small monthly service fee to see the events you may have missed, though.”

Osprey Syncro 15 Hydration Pack

Street price: $130; MSRP: $130; Deal price: $90

This is the lowest price we’ve seen in a year on the Osprey Syncro 15 Hydration Pack. In fact, at $90, this drop matches the lowest price we’ve seen, period. This Hydration pack typically costs $120 and has rarely budged from there, so at $30 off, grab one while you can. Blue Racer, Meteorite Gray, and Velocity Green colors are available. Shipping is free.

The Osprey Syncro 15 Hydration pack is our runner up pick in our guide to the best hydration packs for day hikers. James Meigs and Jennifer Stern wrote, “The Osprey Synchro 15 is a great choice for people who might be hiking in hotter climates or who want to use one hydration pack for multiple sports. Unlike the Skarab and Skimmer, but like Osprey’s larger packs, the Synchro rides on a mesh back panel that provides excellent ventilation and comfort. Although designed in the long, narrow shape of a cycling pack, it has plenty of room for hiking gear.”

Aukey Latitude EP-B40 Bluetooth Headphones

Street price: $30; MSRP: $40; Deal price: $17 w/ code AUKEYEP7

This is a great deal and lowest price we’ve seen on our new budget pick for best wireless workout headphones. We normally see these headphones stick pretty close to their $30 street price, so this drop down to $17 is a big one. Make sure to use code: AUKEYEP7 in order to get the deal price. Only available until 9/4.

The Aukey Latitude EP-B40 are our budget pick in our guide to the best wireless workout headphones. Lauren Dragan wrote, “If you’re a casual gym-goer, the Aukey Latitude EP-B40 is the best cheap option. These earbuds are the only sub-$50 pair we tested that sounded pretty good and fit comfortably while still being able to take some abuse. The silicone wings and tips keep the earbuds secure, while the IPX4 rating means the Latitude won’t quit when faced with a little sweat. Magnets in the earbuds allow you to clip the Latitude around your neck when you aren’t using it, and the eight-plus-hour battery life will get you through more than a week of hour-long workouts before you have to recharge. Additionally, a two-year warranty protects against manufacturing defects. That said, the Latitude headphones aren’t nearly as durable against moisture as our top picks, and the long cable will have a tendency to bounce annoyingly when you jog and to tug a bit as you turn your head.”

Osprey Youth Jet 12 Backpack

Street price: $50; MSRP: $50; Deal price: $38

Here’s a nice deal on our upgrade kids camping backpacks for smaller kids. This backpack hits this $38 price periodically, with this drop matching the previous low price we featured in May and last November. We see these backpacks go on sale a few times a year, but it should be noted that we haven’t really seen this backpack on sale for any lower than this, so this is still the best price we’re likely to see. This deal is available in red and teal. Shipping is free.

The Osprey Youth Jet 12 is our upgrade pick for smaller kids in our guide to the best camping and hiking backpack for kids. Kalee Thompson wrote, “Osprey’s kid packs are identical in size to REI’s and have most of the same features. The Osprey packs cost more but arguably offer a couple of appealing upgrades to the REI designs that may be worth the extra cost if your kid is a more serious hiker and/or spends time hiking in hot weather. One, while the REI pack’s bladder pocket is on the inside of the bag’s main compartment, Osprey puts the bladder pocket on the outside of the bag. This has a couple of advantages. If the bladder were to leak, it’s less likely to get other gear wet. The design also makes it a tad quicker to refill (no need to unzip the main pack) and ensures that any splashed water ends up on the outside of the pack rather than the inside. Second, the pack is designed to be more breathable, with a piece of mesh-covered foam separating the back of the pack from the back of the child. (Osprey calls this the “airscape” system.) These advantages are probably relevant only if your child is using a hydration system or if they’re sweating a lot—in short, if they are a more serious hiker who is spending time in hot conditions.”

Because great deals don’t just happen on Thursdays, sign up for our daily deals email and we’ll send you the best deals we find every weekday. Also, deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go to The Wirecutter.com.

We wish ‘Destiny 2’ looked as good as this live action trailer

Are you getting excited about the upcoming launch of space-shooter Destiny 2? If the impactful shared-world experience doesn’t grab you and the themed PS4 Pro bundle is out of your reach, this new trailer might help ratchet up your anticipation. Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts of Kong: Skull Island fame, the Destiny 2 live-action trailer has robot Nathan Fillion exhorting three new recruits to find the big guns and take back the Earth from “a psycho rhino named Ghaul.”

While the amazing battle scenes and Fillon’s charmingly funny voiceover won’t be in the game, this is a fantastic short film that hits all the right exciting notes. The slow motion leaps with flaming swords, the massive alien monsters chasing our heroes down a narrow hallway and (yes) the use of the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” all contribute to the feels. Here’s hoping the humor from this trailer ends up in the game, too. So, when the game comes out September 6th on consoles and October 24th on PC, you can do it “for the puppies!”

Source: Bungie/YouTube

Logitech Craft with ‘creative input dial’ is crowned new flagship keyboard

Why it matters to you

Logitech’s Craft keyboard might be expensive, but its touch-sensitive turn dial is an interesting input mechanism for a professional keyboard.

Logitech has announced a new flagship keyboard with a business focus: The Logitech Craft. Sporting a clean look and a “creative input dial” just north of its escape key, it’s designed to augment software like Photoshop, Premiere, and Office. When you’re not working, you can use that same dial for more personal applications, changing playlists on Spotify, scrolling through tabs, or use it as a volume control.

Seemingly inspired by the Microsoft Surface dial, the Craft is designed to give the keyboard’s owners a new way to control their various applications. While many keyboards in the past have had volume control wheels, the Craft’s “crown,” as it’s known, is a customizable and intuitive input mechanism for various applications and uses.

The dial itself will automatically adjust what it does depending on which program you’re using, letting you adjust brightness in Adobe Photoshop, change stroke weight in Illustrator, enlarge text in PowerPoint and more. The Craft dial supports both turn, touch, and tap gestures, so there are plenty of interactive opportunities through the tool — though it doesn’t seem able to do fingerprint ID logins.

A number of Logitech profiles are available for this keyboard in the Options back-end software. There you can also make your own customizable profiles and functions for the Craft’s dial, remapping it for any number of applications. Logitech also promises an SDK for the keyboard in the near future, which will help application developers customize the experience for Craft users, offering even more detailed interactions through the dial.

Like many gaming keyboards, the Craft supports backlighting, though it is only white LEDs — no RGB coloring here. Although you can adjust the brightness automatically, the keyboard features a built-in light sensor so it can also automatically adjust its own brightness depending on the environment’s lighting.

Another noticeable change over most keyboard designs is the concave nature of the keys. Although most keyboards have a slight dip to them, Logitech’s caps feature obvious spherical depressions, which we’re told aid efficiency in typing.

The Logitech Craft is also wireless, so you can use it away from your desk if you like, or at least untethered from the usual wires. It has a range of up to 10 meters in an ideal environment and the connection is encrypted to make sure no one can track your keystrokes remotely.

With support for Windows PCs and Macs, you can even have the keyboard connected to multiple devices simultaneously, jumping between each system with the touch of a button.

The Logitech Craft is available now from Logitech’s own store with a price tag of $200.

Windows 10 Fall Creators Update may arrive on October 17th

We’ve known that Microsoft planned to release a large Windows 10 update this fall, but the company has been mum on the exact date. The Fall Creators Update is slated to feature some big changes, too, including built-in AI to fight malware, new Cortana features and handwriting recognition. While many expected bi-annual updates for Windows 10 starting in September, PC World reports that hardware partner Lenovo leaked a Windows 10 ship date of October 17th on a since-deleted product page for its upcoming two-in-one PC, the Miix 520.

Of course, this isn’t an official date; we’ve reached out to Microsoft for comment on the matter, and will update this post when we hear back. Still, a fall release makes sense, given the name of the update itself. PC World‘s Mark Hachman thinks that Microsoft needs more time for its mixed reality technologies, but again, it’s just speculation at this point.

Source: PC World

Garmin reveals three new wearables, introduces Garmin Pay

Why it matters to you

Garmin is giving you three new options with a bevy of features to help you keep track of your fitness levels.

At IFA 2017, Garmin added three new smartwatches to its Vivo lineup of wearables — taking on both Fitbit’s Ionic smartwatch and the upcoming new Apple Watch. Most noteworthy among the new additions is the Vivoactive 3 equipped with an updated look, NFC payment system, and more.

As a successor to the Vivoactive HR, the Vivoactive 3 has a round-faced Chroma display with a single side-facing button. Built into the device is GPS, along with heart sensors for constant monitoring during workouts. In terms of battery life, the device should be able to last a full week or 13 hours if you have the GPS on.

A new mechanism on the Vivoactive 3 is “Side Swipe,” which comes in handy when your hands are too sweaty to touch the display. You can instead scroll through menus by swiping the side of the watch case.

Similar to Fitbit’s new smartwatch, Garmin introduced contactless payment for the device as well. But rather than building a payment system from the ground up, Garmin Pay is powered by a third-party developer known as FitPay. It works with MasterCard, Visa, and other credit cards with select banks, so you can load your cards onto it and make purchases even if you leave your wallet at home.

There are also 15 different indoor and outdoor sports apps to choose from, as well as support for third-party apps like Uber. Since the Vivoactive 3 is a fitness watch, it also includes VO2 max — to track your body’s ability to import and transport oxygen which produces energy aerobically.

The Vivosport, on the other hand, is the more stripped-down version of the Vivoactive 3. It’s aimed toward those who don’t prefer wearing a smartwatch while working out. It still includes fitness monitoring tools like VO2 max and built-in sports apps but is limited when it comes to other high-end features like Garmin Pay.

As far as customization, you cannot change the bands and will also be stuck with a smaller display. Based on available features, it looks like you won’t be able to download additional apps or watch faces from the Garmin Connect IQ app store either. But one feature that sets it apart from wristbands is the LiveTrack tool which lets you share your location with family and friends while working out.

Last in the lineup is the Vivomove HR — a fashion-forward option amongst all three of the new devices. It still keeps the same sophisticated design and traditional watch face as the Vivomove before it, but now includes a touchscreen. Regardless of the fancier look, the device can still be used as both a smartwatch and an activity tracker.

The “hybrid” device allows you to scroll through information such as steps taken, weather updates, heart rate, and texts or email alerts, among others. With Garmin’s heart-rate monitor built in, you can track anything related to your pulse whether it’s all-day heart rate or VO2 max. Even though there is no GPS, it is also water-resistant and will last you for up to five days when it comes to battery life.

All three of Garmin’s new devices will be available for purchase later this year. The Vivoactive 3 will run you anywhere from $300 to $330 based on the build. The Vivosport comes in at $200, while the Vivomove HR starts at $200 for the Sport version and $300 for the leather-strapped Premium version.

DJI announces Mavic Pro Platinum and Phantom 4 Pro Obsidian drones

Why it matters to you

Two primary concerns with consumer drones are noise and flight time and the new Mavic Pro Platinum addresses them both.

Professionals and enthusiasts after the best possible aerial image quality in a compact drone now have even more options to fit their needs and tastes. On Thursday, DJI unveiled two drones at the IFA electronics show in Berlin, the Mavic Pro Platinum and Phantom 4 Pro Obsidian.

The Obsidian is just a regular Phantom 4 Pro redone in a stealthy, matte-gray shell. It looks fantastic, but is otherwise no different from the standard version, with the same physical and camera specifications, including 30-minute flight time and a 1-inch-type sensor that is good for 4K video at 60p. We are certainly not complaining; the Phantom 4 Pro was one of the best drones we ever tested.

The Mavic Pro Platinum, however, gains a few key features over the original Mavic Pro . First, flight time is now a solid 30 minutes on the Platinum, an increase of three minutes (or 11 percent) over the standard Mavic Pro. Operational noise has also decreased by four decibels, which DJI is hailing as a 60-percent reduction. Both the longer flight time and quieter operation are thanks to new electronic speed controllers (ESCs) and redesigned propellers that are more aerodynamic. The updated ESCs also provide sinusoidal current for smoother, more stable flight control. DJI says the new propellers will also work on the original Mavic Pro, albeit without the increased stability of the Platinum’s ESCs.

In addition to the two new drones, a firmware update for the DJI Spark, the company’s smallest drone, adds a new Sphere mode. In this mode, the drone will take a panoramic photo with a “fisheye-lens effect” that can be viewed as an interactive sphere through supported social media platforms, like Facebook, presumably. As for availability of the new feature, DJI simply says it is coming soon.

The two new drones are expected to begin shipping in September, with the Mavic Pro Platinum currently available for pre-order at a price of $1,099, $100 over the standard version of the drone. The DJI Phantom 4 Pro Obsidian will sell for $1,499, the same price as the regular model.

Lenovo Explorer headset joins Microsoft’s Windows Mixed Reality party

Why it matters to you

In October, you have yet another choice in low-cost Windows Mixed Reality headsets with the Lenovo Explorer.

Microsoft’s Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) platform has been in the news lately, with the company providing additional details about its features and system requirements and Microsoft’s original equipment manufacturers releasing more information on the headsets they are bringing to market this holiday season. Lenovo has joined the party by announcing at IFA 2017 its own WMR headset, the Lenovo Explorer.

Like all of the WMR headsets, the Explorer is intended to provide an immersive virtual reality experience at a relatively low cost and without the need for a high-powered, expensive PC. Accordingly, the Explorer will be priced at a $349 and the Explorer with its optional Motion Controllers will cost $449.

Here are the Lenovo Explorer’s specifications:

Dimensions:
185 x 94.8 x 102 mm
Weight:
380 grams
Camera
2x 6DOF Tracking Camera
I/O
HDMI 2.0, USB 2.0
Control
Motion controller, 6DOF controller, keyboard & mouse
PC Min. Spec.
Intel Core i5, Intel HD 620 graphics

In addition, the Explorer supports the two levels of WMR PCs that Microsoft recently announced. That means that a base WMR PC equipped with integrated graphics will be able to drive the Explorer in running immersive content at 60 frames per second (FPS) while a WMR Ultra PC will be able to enable 90 FPS performance. Here are the minimum required specs for each level of performance:

Performance: 
90Hz
CPU:
Intel Core i5 (NB), Intel Core i3 (DT)
GPU:
Discrete Nvidia GTX 965M, AMD RX 460M
Connectivity:
HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2
RAM:
8GB
Storage:
More than 10GB additional free space
USB:
USB 3.0 Type-A or USB 3.1 Type-C Port with DisplayPort
Bluetooth:
Bluetooth 4.0 for accessories

Performance:
60Hz
CPU:
Intel Core i5 (NB), Intel Core i3 (DT)
GPU:
Integrated Intel HD 620
Connectivity:
HDMI 1.4 or DisplayPort 1.2
RAM:
8GB
Storage:
More than 10GB additional free space
USB:
USB 3.0 Type-A or USB 3.1 Type-C Port with DisplayPort
Bluetooth:
Bluetooth 4.0 for accessories

Like other WMR headsets, the Explorer needs no external sensors for its basic functionality. Thus, it’s simply plugged into a PC’s USB and HDMI ports via the built-in Y-cable. The optional Motion Controllers provide for more natural and fine-grained actions when in mixed reality environments, while an Xbox controller can also be used for navigating through some VR games.

Lenovo also touts enhanced productivity by using the Explorer with a keyboard, mouse, and Cortana voice commands, while accessing the WMR “cliff house” VR environment provides access to more than 20,000 Windows apps available in the Microsoft Store. Users can, therefore, get work done in VR, and then switch over to the virtual Escape and Play theatre to take a break from working by accessing 3D, 360-degree, and 4K content. In addition, Lenovo is providing access to more than 100 upscaled VR games through the Lenovo Entertainment Hub.

Lenovo plans to make the Explorer available in October, at $349 for the headset alone and $449 with the Motion Controllers.

Lenovo Yoga, Miix PCs invade IFA sporting 8th Gen Intel Core and 3D cameras

Why it matters to you

Lenovo is beefing up its 2-in-1 and detachable portfolio with Intel’s 8th Gen Core processors so you can get things done faster when on the go.

Lenovo has introduced a trio of new devices — the Lenovo Yoga 920, the 12.5-inch Yoga 720, and the Miix 520 — at the IFA 2017 show in Berlin. The Yoga 720 is the only model in the trio that doesn’t rely on Intel’s new eighth-generation Core processors, nor does it offer a built-in camera with 3D capabilities. Pricing starts at $650, but you won’t see these 2-in-1s and detachables until October 2017.

Lenovo Yoga 920

Lenovo has not provided a detailed list of processorsthat  it’s using for this model, but says preset configurations will include up to an eighth-generation Intel Core i7 processor. That could reach back into its seventh-generation Core i3/i5/i7 families, as well as the four eighth-generation Core i5/i7 chips Intel revealed just before the solar eclipse. You won’t see a discrete graphics chip here, thus the screen is powered by the integrated component each CPU provides.

The Yoga 920 ships with a 360-degree watchband hinge so you can configure it to meet your current needs, such as laptop, tent, stand, and tablet form factors. It supports Windows Ink and Lenovo’s optional Active Pen 2 peripheral, so you could fold the Yoga 920 into a tablet to make handwritten notes during a presentation, or illustrate a scene when visiting the park.

What you won’t find on the new Yoga 920 is a handful of ports. Instead, it supplies one standard USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A port and two Thunderbolt 3 Type-C ports. With the latter two, you can expand the 2-in-1’s connectivity using optional adapters, such as DisplayPort and HDMI video output, gigabit Ethernet, and more. Your best bet would be to purchase a Thunderbolt 3 dock providing all of these connections in one external device.

The new Yoga 920 includes a configuration with Lenovo’s WorldView camera, which you can use to capture real-world objects in 3D. These objects can be thrown onto an overlay in your digital content using the included Magic Window app.

Lenovo said it plans to ship limited-edition models packing Gorilla Glass cover designs. There will be three in all: Vibes, Star Wars Special Edition Rebel Alliance, and Star Wars Special Edition Galactic Empire.

Here are the specifications:

Screen size:
13.9 inches
Screen type:
In-plane Switching (IPS) with Touch
Screen resolution:
3,840 x 2,160 (UHD)
1,920 x 1,080 (FHD)
Processor:
Up to an 8th Gen Intel Core 7 CPU
Graphics:
Integrated Intel component
Memory:
8GB DDR4
16GB DDR4
Storage:
256GB PCI Express M.2 SSD
512GB PCI Express M.2 SSD
1TB PCI Express M.2 SSD
Audio:
2x JBL speakers
Dolby Atmos via headphones
Connectivity:
Wireless AC (up to 867Mbps)
Bluetooth 4.1
Ports:
2x Thunderbolt 3 Type-C
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A (charges)
1x Headphone / microphone combo
Camera:
720p fixed focus
Far field microphones
WorldView camera (optional)
Backlit keyboard:
Yes
Battery:
70WHr
Up to 15.5 hours via FHD
Up to 10.8 hours via UHD
Dimensions:
12.72 x 8.8 x 0.55 inches
Starting weight:
Starting at 3.02
Colors:
Platinum Silver
Bronze
Copper
Other options:
Active Pen 2 (Core i7 model only)
Fingerprint reader
Availability:
October 2017
Starting price:
$1,330