Canary Now Charging for Previously Free Security Cam Features Due to ‘Significant’ Cloud Expenses

Home security camera company Canary has updated the features included in its free and paid subscription packages over the past few days, removing multiple camera abilities that were once free to all users and placing them behind the company’s $9.99/month paywall. Subscriptions increase to $14.99/month for 2-3 cameras, and an additional $4.99/month for each added device.

Many Canary customers have emailed and Tweeted us over the past few days pointing out the changes, and now Canary has provided a statement to The Verge regarding its motivations.

The Canary Flex and Canary cameras
Under the terms of the new “Free Service,” Canary users can no longer use Night Mode if they aren’t paying, meaning they can’t set their camera to record clips when motion is detected in the nighttime while they’re home. Canary Free Service members can no longer record videos or receive motion alerts in Home Mode, nor can they record a full clip from when motion is detected to when the motion ends. Instead, for Free Service members the Canary Cam automatically cuts off the clip ten seconds after the first motion is seen. Canary calls these “digestible video previews.”

Canary Free Service members also can’t download and share videos from the iOS app, but can bookmark an unlimited amount of video previews to their timeline. All of these are features that were previously free, and now require users to become a paid “Canary Member.” As MacRumors readers have pointed out on Twitter, this means that even if you bought a Canary device months ago under the impression of not needing a paid subscription for basic features, you will now have to pay the company to keep on using the most useful abilities of the security cameras, or attempt to return or sell them.

Despite the marketing on their box said “no monthly plan” pic.twitter.com/NUUpntxxmm

— Cyril (@cyrildorsaz) October 4, 2017

Some basic features of the cams remain intact for Free Service members, like watching a feed live while in Home Mode without needing to switch to a different “Away” mode. Canary has updated the timeline as well, so that multiple cameras in one home have 24 hours of history for each individual device, instead of those 24 hours being divided up across devices.

According to Canary’s FAQ page, the membership update comes with a change in its cloud service implementation, and the prior Free Service tier “will no longer be available.” Understandably, the frustrations of many users center around Canary’s last-minute announcement of the changes (September 28), which came less than one week ahead of the official implementation (October 3).

Can I keep my legacy plans rather than switching to the new Free Service?
No. All customers who are not on Canary Membership will shift to our new Free Service experience. This is a change in our cloud service implementation, and the prior Free Service experience will no longer be available.

Canary co-founder and chief design officer Jon Troutman issued the following statement on the situation to The Verge:

“Today we stream nearly 500 million video clips per day. Most Canary users rely on notifications, Watch Live, and their timeline images to determine what is happening in their homes or businesses, which means that hundreds of millions of recorded videos travel through our platform unwatched, making the system slower, and costing Canary a significant amount in cloud expenses. To address this, we have aligned all free users on a plan that provides Video Previews that are still maintained on a 24-hour timeline. We have also introduced a faster Watch Live experience that can now be enabled while Canary devices are set to Away or Home mode. Our goal with these changes was to maintain a highly-competitive free service option while enabling continuous innovation and new feature development for all users.”

Canary’s stance appears to consistently state that too many recorded videos were traveling through the Canary platform “unwatched,” leading to a slowdown of the service for some users, as well as “costing Canary a significant amount in cloud expenses.” As such, the company has adjusted the Free Service tier by paring down to ten second video previews, removing Night Mode, and preventing users from downloading and sharing videos within the Canary app.

Amid all of the turmoil over the new subscription plans, there’s also still no word from Canary about when HomeKit support will launch with the Canary Plus. Canary first announced the HomeKit-enabled camera in June 2016 for a release sometime that fall.

Tag: Canary
Discuss this article in our forums

Netflix Increasing Standard $9.99/Month Plan to $10.99/Month for U.S. Users This November

Over a year after grandfathered subscribers on Netflix’s original $7.99/month plan were introduced to the new $9.99/month pricing, Mashable reports that the standard streaming plan will be increasing by $1 starting for U.S. subscribers in November. This means that those who now pay $9.99/month to stream on two screens at once (the standard tier) will be paying $10.99/month soon.

The top tier option, which provides streaming on four screens at once and allows access to Ultra HD videos, is also increasing from $11.99/month to $13.99/month. The service’s basic plan is staying at $7.99/month, letting users stream only in standard definition on one screen at a time.

The exact time that the new prices will show up will vary depending on each subscriber’s billing cycle, but starting on October 19 Netflix will send out emails with “at least” 30 days of notice ahead of the bump in price. Regarding the changes, Netflix provided the following statement:

“From time to time, Netflix plans and pricing are adjusted as we add more exclusive TV shows and movies, introduce new product features and improve the overall Netflix experience to help members find something great to watch even faster.”

For the last price change, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings wrote a letter to company investors about an “unexpected” loss of subscribers following the price hike from $7.99 to $9.99. At the time, Hastings said that, “Whatever the price is for something, people don’t like for it to go up,” while still claiming that the new price tiers were “working great” for new members who were not grandfathered into the $7.99/month model.

Tag: Netflix
Discuss this article in our forums

Instagram tool finally lets you cross-post Stories to Facebook

You’ll probably have a lot more Facebook Stories to watch in the near future… except you can also watch most of them on Instagram. According to TechCrunch, the social network has begun rolling out a feature that allows you to cross-post Instagram Stories to Facebook Stories if you’re in the US. The company began testing the feature in August, but as always, only a handful of people were lucky enough to get access to it. Now that it’s officially out in the US, the feature will arrive on your Instagram app in the near future if it hasn’t yet, giving you an easy way to share what’s going on with your life with nan and pop.

The social network also told TechCrunch that while you can only cross-post from Instagram to Facebook, it hasn’t ruled out the possibility of building a tool that could do the opposite. Instagram Stories has amassed over 250 million users, though, surpassing even Snapchat’s version that’s been around longer. Considering Facebook Stories is reportedly not doing as well, building a cross-posting tool from Facebook to Instagram might not be a priority for the social network.

Source: TechCrunch

Google is paying publishers to be on its Snapchat clone

Snapchat has turned its Discover section into a popular destination for its 166 million users, and a money-spinner in its own right. Google, the web’s biggest ad company, thinks it can go one better. Word’s already leaked that the search giant is working on its own take on Snapchat’s popular media tab, which will similarly be stocked with news and entertainment content from partner publications. And now, Recode is reporting that Google is using its large stockpile of cash to attract media outlets to its fold. The service, dubbed “Stamp,” is reportedly built around its faster-loading AMP mobile webpages. As with Discovery, visitors will be able to swipe through a slideshow-style format made up of text, photos, and video.

Google is apparently using the payouts to cushion the costs publishers encounter as they produce articles specifically for the new product. No details are available on exactly how much Google is doling out to the likes of Conde Nast, Hearst, Time Inc., Mashable, Mic.com, CNN, The Washington Post, and Vox Media (all of which are reportedly involved with Stamp). And, the publishers will also benefit from the exposure that comes with top billing on Google’s search results (where it will reportedly be placed).

Naturally, ads will play a role. If the final product is anything like Instagram Stories (itself a Snapchat clone), then they will likely pop up in-between slides. However, Recode claims Google is not planning on selling ad inventory itself at present. Instead, its partners will be able to work with marketers directly to line their pockets and disrupt your viewing pleasure. Google is declining to comment on the info. But, it did previously tell Engadget that it’s in “constant collaboration with publishers…working early on upcoming features.”

Google is not the first tech titan to use financial incentives to help publishers make the leap to a new platform. Before Facebook pinned its video hopes on original shows, it was offering celebs and media outlets tens of millions of dollars to create clips for its Facebook Live feature. The same goes for Snapchat, which has struck its fair share of deals with high-profile companies, including CNN, MTV, and NBC, among others.

Source: Recode

Sky Q is getting system-wide voice control

Back in March, Sky finally introduced voice search for its next-gen Sky Q service. With it, you can request specific TV shows and movies, or look through its vast library by mumbling the names of actors, directors and film genres. Now, Sky is going a step further with “enhanced Voice Control.” The update will let you change channels, play recorded TV shows and fast-forward or rewind with simple commands like “skip back 30 seconds” and “watch from the start.” You’ll also be able to nip around the Sky Q menu with “go to Sky Store,” “go to Sky Sports” and similar phrases.

Sky says the update will roll out “over the coming weeks.” In addition, Sky is adding a Favorites section to the TV Guide. As you might expect, this will be a personalised home for your most frequently watched channels. (You can also edit them at any time.) If you have the premium Silver box you’ll also notice a new, dedicated Ultra HD section that acts as a home for all of Sky’s 4K content. These include Sky Original productions, such as Tin Star and Riviera, as well as blockbuster movies and Premier League matches.

Source: Sky (Press Release)

Google’s AR ambitions push VR to the back seat

When Google announced its Daydream View headset last year, it was a sign that the search giant was ready to take VR to the masses. It’s dabbled in VR before with Cardboard, but the View was a much more serious effort, with its fabric-clad design and user-friendly remote. Which is why it’s such a surprise that Google didn’t really spend a lot of time on VR at its Pixel 2 event. The company mentioned the new Daydream View — now in colors! — but didn’t really say much more beyond that. Instead, Google was much more excited to talk about something else: AR.

Even though Google announced ARCore, its augmented reality platform, a couple of months ago, the Pixel 2 event was the first time the search giant could talk about it at length on a public stage. As a reminder, ARCore is essentially Android’s answer to Apple’s ARKit. With it, developers can create and test AR apps with a regular phone, no specialized hardware required. Last month, Google showcased several ARCore examples that let you travel the world, plan home renovations and desaturate the world around you.

At the Pixel 2 event, Google’s Aparna Chennapragada showed off even more ARCore tricks. You can use it to view a showroom from Houzz right in your own living room, watch a League of Legends match play out on your dining table, or even create virtual models with Lego pieces. “It’s a powerful way to bring physical and digital together,” she said.

But aside from relying on partners, Google has made its own AR product too. It’s called AR Stickers and it’s built right into the Pixel’s camera — indeed, for now, AR Stickers are exclusive to the Pixel hardware. They’re essentially animated emoji that you can place in your photos and videos — the demo on stage showed a woman posing next to a giant animated coffee cup on a park bench.

Google didn’t stop there, however. It also teamed with several content partners to create AR Sticker “packs.” One exciting example that Google demonstrated on stage included AR Stickers from Netflix’s Stranger Things. The demo placed cartoon versions of the demogorgon (the monster from the series) as well as Eleven (the young girl) on stage and before long, the two started to fight — and Eleven destroyed the demogorgon in a blink of an eye. Chennapragada said that we can expect more AR Sticker packs from SNL, YouTube, NBA as well as the upcoming Star Wars movie in the future.

What’s more, the latest Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are optimized for AR. The cameras on both are designed for robust tracking of low-light conditions and have 60 fps rendering. Seeing as both Pixel phones were likely on Google’s product roadmap for a long time, it’s no longer easy to dismiss ARCore as simply a knee-jerk reaction to Apple’s ARKit. With roots in Project Tango — Google’s other AR platform — the company has probably been working on phone-based AR for quite some time.

Which brings us back to why VR was only a blip in today’s event. While Google is still working on bringing VR content onto Daydream — examples include Ed Sheeran in “Austin City Limits Backstage” and Discovery’s new TRVLR series — AR is just so much more accessible. There’s no need for a special headset, or even a cardboard-based one; all you need is your phone. And, pretty soon, ARCore will be available on most if not all modern Android phones with Oreo installed.

Apple has certainly jumped on this bandwagon too, going so far as to say that AR is the way forward, and not VR. Google, on the other hand, is not quite so quick to give up on VR — it’ll continue to invest in virtual reality and Daydream. Yet, it’s clear from today’s event that Google’s betting more on AR than VR to win over the masses. And that might not be such a bad idea.

Lenovo’s anniversary ThinkPad marries retro design and modern tech

Today is the Lenovo ThinkPad’s 25th birthday, and the computer company is doing something special to celebrate. They’re releasing a limited-edition anniversary version of the laptop called (creatively) the ThinkPad Anniversary Edition 25, which is inspired by the design of the first ThinkPad. We first discussed this familiar looking computer a few weeks ago, when WinFuture reported on the retro look.

The styling may be retro, with a blue “Enter” key and multicolor logo, but the hardware and features are definitely modern. It sports an Intel Core i7-7500U processor with a discrete graphics card, the NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, a seven-row backlit keyboard and a 14-inch HD touch screen display. While there are no further specs in the release, the initial leak reported 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD hard drive, a Thunderbolt-rated USB-C port, three regular USB ports, an SD card slot, an Ethernet port and an HDMI port.

The laptop will be available in limited numbers, and only in select countries — Lenovo hasn’t yet specified which ones. You can also order one of these laptops on their website Lenovo.com and through business partners. It retails for $1899.

Source: Lenovo

Instagram Widely Rolling Out Ability to Post Your 24-Hour Stories Directly To Facebook

After beginning as a small test in Portugal in September, Instagram this week is beginning to roll out a feature that lets you automatically share the same Instagram Story to your Facebook Story with the tap of a button. TechCrunch spotted the cross-platform Story syncing, and Instagram parent company Facebook subsequently confirmed the feature’s rollout will be coming to all United States users this week.

Instagram Stories has grown to become a big success for the company in the 14 months since it launched, with 250 million users interacting with Stories every day as of last June. In April, Instagram Stories surpassed rival Snapchat in terms of daily active users. The feature is the same across platforms, allowing you to post a picture or a video that disappears after 24 hours.

Image via TechCrunch

“You now have the option to share your Instagram Stories to your Facebook Stories. We’re always working to make it easier to share any moment with the people who matter to you” a Facebook spokesperson told TechCrunch.

While Stories on Instagram have been a hit, Facebook’s launch of its own Stories tab has been less successful, with many users pointing out that little to none of their friends share on the platform. Likely because of this, Facebook soon after the feature’s launch began populating the Stories tab with grayed-out profile pictures of friends so this section of the app wouldn’t be as empty.

With the new update, Facebook Stories should see an uptick in user engagement since it’ll be easier than ever to share a quick picture or video Story from Instagram, without having to open Facebook. For now, however, you won’t be able post to Instagram Stories from Facebook Stories, but the company “hasn’t ruled out” introducing such an update in the future.

Besides its main app and Instagram, Facebook has also added disappearing Story-like abilities into Messenger and WhatsApp.

Tags: Facebook, Instagram
Discuss this article in our forums

Tim Cook Shares Tribute to Steve Jobs on Sixth Anniversary of His Death

Apple CEO Tim Cook has shared a tribute to late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs on the sixth anniversary of his death today.

“Remembering Steve today,” Cook tweeted, alongside a picture of Jobs in his younger days. “Still with us, still inspiring us.”

Remembering Steve today. Still with us, still inspiring us. “Make something wonderful, and put it out there.” pic.twitter.com/7aOCPkwU0U

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) October 5, 2017

Jobs, who created Apple in 1976 with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne, introduced three of the company’s most iconic products in its history: the Macintosh in 1984, the iPod in 2001, and the iPhone in 2007.

He stepped down as CEO permanently on August 24, 2011 due to health complications, and he passed away October 5, 2011, just one day after Apple introduced the iPhone 4S, its first device with Siri.

His passing resulted in an outpouring of grief from family, friends, coworkers, Apple customers, and leaders around the world, ranging from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates to former U.S. President Barack Obama.

Jobs actually had a 12-year hiatus from Apple starting in 1985. During that time, he founded computer and software company NeXT, and funded Lucasfilm’s computer graphics division eventually known as Pixar.

Apple acquired NeXT in 1997, bringing Jobs back to the company. Under his leadership, Apple went from flirting with bankruptcy in the late 1990s to becoming the world’s most valuable company just before he died.

Apple named the Steve Jobs Theater in his honor at its new Apple Park headquarters in Cupertino, California. Cook reflected on Jobs’ legacy and showmanship during Apple’s first-ever event at the theater last month.

Steve meant so much to me and so much to all of us. There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t think about him. Memories have especially come rushing back as we prepared for today and this event. It’s taken some time, but we can now reflect on him with joy, instead of sadness. Steve’s spirit and timeless philosophy on life will always be the DNA of Apple. His greatest gift, his greatest expression of his appreciation for humanity, would not be a single product. Rather, it would be Apple itself. We dedicated this theater to Steve because we loved him, and because he loved days like this, where we can share our latest products and ideas with the world.

Jobs was 56 years old.

Tags: Tim Cook, Steve Jobs
Discuss this article in our forums

Adidas robots are making running shoes that fit with where you live

Why it matters to you

If you’re a serious runner with a serious desire for the perfect shoe, this Adidas offering may be the perfect fit (though you’ll have to live in one of five cities).

The first major project undertaken by Adidas’s automated Speedfactory plant in Germany is underway, with the robot army pumping out the new AM4 shoe aimed at runners.

Adidas said the factory, located in Ansbach in the south of the country, will help the firm “to explore, test and co-create with consumers, as well as constantly invent and reinvent design, and define the future of how the brand creates.”

Speaking of co-creating with consumers, the robot-made AM4 will appear in several city-specific editions following interviews with local athletes about their running habits and styles, as well as the running conditions in the places where they live.

We’ve asked Adidas to offer up some details about the design of the AM4(LDN) shoe and how the consultations with London runners influenced its design, and will update when we hear back. For now, though, let’s assume the interviewees got around to mentioning the U.K.’s  rainy weather, which hopefully led to the inclusion of some waterproofing in the final design.

Adidas

Adidas said that as each shoe has been designed using feedback from athletes, “the AM4 project will be a constant beta mode, with insights taken from consumers following each product launch used to shape future designs.”

Yes, it may sound like a rather elaborate marketing ruse to some, but perhaps each city-specific pair really will suit the highly tuned feet of experienced runners who pound the streets of their particular city day in, day out. But if you do end up swearing by them, you may feel compelled to fork out for additional pairs should you ever jet off to any of the other cities where Adidas’s AM4 shoe will become available.

These include Paris, where the AM4PAR will be released later this month, followed in the coming months by launches in Los Angeles (AM4LA), New York (AM4NYC), Tokyo (AM4TKY), and Shanghai (AM4SHA). Pricing is yet to be announced.

Adidas’s 15,000-square-foot Speedfactory in Germany is now fully operational and the company has plans to pump out as many as 500,000 pairs of shoes a year.

A second facility — much larger at 74,000 square feet — will also open shortly in Atlanta. The production of AM4 footwear for all markets will be supported by both locations, but each facility’s main focus will be localized production, Adidas said, adding that with its cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, the U.S. factory will enable it “to create products in increasingly high volumes with advanced complexity in color, materials, and sizes.”