Adobe Portfolio can now upload entire Lightroom collections at once

Why it matters to you

The new integration options help speed up the process of showcasing creative projects online.

Building a photography portfolio just got a bit easier for Lightroom users — on Thursday, October 5, Adobe announced new integration features with Lightroom and Behance.

With the new Lightroom integration, photographers can publish images to an Adobe Portfolio using Lightroom collections. Inside of Adobe Portfolio, heading into Manage Content and selecting Integrations offers different options for uploading entire collections from Lightroom. The option allows users to add any Lightroom Collection as a page on the online portfolio.

Collections are automatically added to a photo grid on the new page. Once uploaded, the user has access to different customization options, including deleting single images from the page, rearranging images, and adding text, videos, or other content.

The change is designed to streamline and speed up the process of updating a photography portfolio online. While there isn’t yet a way to upload to Adobe Portfolio directly from Lightroom, keeping collections intact and uploading them all at once should simplify photo uploads, since there’s no Lightroom exports necessary and the images are automatically sorted into a responsive gallery that adjusts to the viewer’s screen size.

A second integration allows users to automatically import any future Behance projects into Adobe Portfolio, without actually going back in to upload. Found on the same integrations options menu, connecting a Behance account allows for projects to automatically upload as a separate page.

With the new integration features, Adobe is also adding tools to help avoid duplicate content. Badges now appear next to the page’s title if the content was imported as part of those new integrations. Clicking on the badge allows users to take a number of different actions.

The features expand Adobe Portfolio, a website builder designed specifically for creatives without coding experience. Portfolio launched at the start of 2016. Designed specifically for photographers, artists, graphic designers and other creatives, the platform launched with a few tools specific to the industry, like the option to disable right clicks to help prevent image theft.

While Adobe Portfolio allows users to choose themes and create more custom websites, Behance remains a somewhat different platform that’s designed for uploading and sharing work with others. With the latest update, now mixing Behance with Adobe Portfolio is automatic for artists who use both options.

Adobe Portfolio is included with Creative Cloud subscriptions.

New type of microscope can peer into the brain of a living, moving creature

Why it matters to you

A new type of microscope could help shed more light on how our own brains function.

It’s not every day that scientists invent a whole new type of microscope, but that’s exactly what researchers in Germany have achieved with a new project. A collaboration between Helmholtz Zentrum München, Technical University of Munich, the Department of Nuclear Medicine, and Munich School of Bioengineering, the so-called NeuBtracker is an open source microscope that allows people to observe neuronal activities in the brain of a zebrafish larvae without affecting its behavior.

That’s exciting for scientists who want to better understand the brain because it makes it possible to look at how neurons behave, while at the same time tracking natural behavior. The results could have serious implications for everything from building more brain-like computers to testing out drugs.

“NeuBtracker works by synchronizing two cameras,” Gil Westmeyer, a professor at Helmholtz Zentrum München, told Digital Trends. “One looks at the entire arena in which the larvae are freely swimming and measures the position, speed, velocity, as well as tail and fin movements of the larva; the other camera stays centered on the brain of the zebrafish and provides a magnified view of the fluorescence signals showing the brain activity. This ‘tracking’ of the brain by the fluorescence camera is achieved via a galvanometric mirror system that obtains the information on the position and likely swimming direction of the larva from the first camera. Importantly, NeuBtracker thus works without moving stages, objectives or light beams, which may be perceived by the larvae and perturb their natural behavior.”

Because zebrafish are vertebrates, they share important features with the body plan of humans, although their neuronal circuits are much simpler than our own. That gives researchers the chance to understand how specific sets of stimuli are converted into behaviors by certain neuronal networks in the larval brain. These could be used to extract principles regarding which network architectures and patterns of network activity can support different types of “computation.

Dr. Antonella Lauri

“We hope that the open source instrument NeuBtracker will be applied, adapted, and improved by other laboratories in the world to study these fundamental research questions by enabling simultaneous neuro and behavioral imaging across the entire nervous system in an intact organism,” Westmeyer continued. “Another more applied line of research that NeuBtracker empowers is to screen for the combined effects of pharmacological compounds on the behavior and brain activity simultaneously. Since zebrafish larvae are swimming in water, such screens can be conducted very efficiently and can provide important filters and initial hypotheses on which compounds may have desired neuroactive effects that could be further tested for future medical applications.”

A paper describing the work was recently published in the journal Nature Methods.

Essential Phone receiving update for 40% faster camera performance

Essential is promising 40% faster capture speed, better low-light performance, and more with this latest update.

The Essential Phone has left a lot to be desired since its release last month, but regular software updates have slowly been resolving one of the device’s biggest pain points — its camera. Essential just announced that it’s pushing out a new software update for the device and Essential Camera app, and there are some big promises being made this time around.

For starters, Essential says that this latest update will improve the brightness of photos and the quality of shots taken in low-light scenarios. Low-light performance is definitely one of the Essential Phone’s weaker points when it comes to the camera, so any upgrades here are greatly appreciated.

Along with this, Essential is also promising a 40% faster capture rate for regular and low light photography. That’s a substantial increase, and one that we’re sure many will be thankful to have considering that the Essential Phone’s camera has never been considered a fast performer.

40% faster capture speed should be a substantial improvement.

Essential is also throwing in some improvements for its 360 Camera attachment, including spatial sound when shooting 360-degree footage (supported locally and on Facebook and YouTube), a countdown timer, and the ability to use the volume rocker as a shutter button when you’re in 360 mode.

As for future updates, Essential says that it’s working on adding more HDR upgrades, the ability to livestream in 360 to Facebook and Periscope, filters and animated stills for 360-degree footage, as well as a Portrait and Pro Mode.

The latest software update will change your build number to NMI81C, and once you’ve done that, be sure to update the Essential Camera app through the Play Store to ensure that you’re able to access all of the new goodies that are included here.

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Google Pixel 2 vs. Samsung Galaxy S8: Let’s argue about bezels

This one’s set up for a serious fight.

When it comes to phone comparisons that people love to get passionate about, looking at the latest offerings from Google and Samsung is about as good as it gets. Google just announced the new Pixel 2, a proper flagship phone with a smaller-than-most display. The Galaxy S8 may have been announced earlier on in 2017, but it’s still the go-to flagship phone today, and with price drops in the last six months it’s gotten even more enticing.

Let’s take a look at the Pixel 2 and Galaxy S8 to see where they’re matched, where they differentiate and which one is best for you.

What’s the same

There’s more shared between these phones than you might think at first glance. Set them side-by-side and you’ll notice they’re actually roughly the same dimensions. The Pixel 2 is a tad shorter, wider and lighter — but when you hold these two together you won’t notice a difference in those terms.

The rising tide of hardware has lifted both phones.

Going inside, these two tick many of the same basic boxes when it comes to the specs. You get a Snapdragon 835 and 4GB of RAM running the show, and for most people getting 64GB of storage with an SD card slot in the Galaxy S8 is about a wash with the 64 or 128GB available out of the box with the Pixel 2. They both have AMOLED displays with high, which is definitely a “thing” some people look for because they just don’t like LCDs — and though their resolutions aren’t the same, they both have plenty high pixel densities. The Pixel 2’s 10% smaller 2700mAh battery is a concern, for sure, but the hope is that the aforementioned 1080p screen resolution helps balance it out.

Both phones are water- and dust-resistant, which is something Google is just now getting to in this generation but any Samsung owner will tell you is a wonderful to have feature. You’ll be able to use either one in the rain and not immediately panic if you drop it in the sink or splash it when you’re at the beach.

With so much of the industry going toward dual cameras (including Samsung on the Note 8), these phones are notably the same when it comes to the overall approach to photography. You’ll find a ~12MP sensor on both, with familiar “dual pixel” auto focus and a fast aperture — f/1.7 for the Galaxy S8, and f/1.8 for the Pixel 2. Google now offers OIS as well, matching Samsung, and while the Galaxy’s electronic stabilization in videos isn’t as good as Google’s it’s there helping smooth things out.

What’s different

Take a look at the Pixel 2 and Galaxy S8 from the front, and you get a real discussion starter. It’s all about the screen bezels here, folks. As noted these phones are almost the same size overall, but the Galaxy S8’s 18.5:9 5.8-inch display is much larger than the Pixel 2’s 16:9 5-incher. Credit to Google keeping the side bezels small … but the top and bottom bezels are quite massive. Functionally, it doesn’t really create many problems on a phone that’s still relatively compact — but people are already screaming over the aesthetics of the whole thing.

Getting less screen for the same size phone rubs some people the wrong way.

But perhaps it’s mostly just the optics of the whole setup. The Pixel 2, releasing at the end of 2017, has a “conventional smartphone” look — and aside from front-facing stereo speakers, there isn’t a whole lot extra to show for it. The Galaxy S8 has all of the same hardware capabilities, plus retaining the headphone jack, all while offering more screen real estate in the same basic overall size. Google showed it could even split the difference nicely with the Pixel 2 XL, which has the same sort of layout as the Galaxy S8 (well, the S8+ at least) but with stereo speakers.

But for many Google phone lovers, there’s a reason to put up with the bezels and somewhat bland design: the software experience. Even with improvements in the past couple generations of the “Samsung Experience” software suite, it just doesn’t match the Pixel 2 when it comes to smooth, consistent and clean daily use. Google’s apps and services are on the whole better than Samsung’s options, and they work even better on a Pixel when they aren’t competing for space with duplicates and imitations.

Bottom line

Landing at about the same price, and well underneath their top-end counterparts, both the Pixel 2 and Galaxy S8 will be on the radar for late-2017 phone buyers. And the great part about this decision is how much they share: the base specs, overall size and core features can be found in both. Which one is right for you comes down to just a few decisions on aesthetics, specific hardware features and feelings about software.

It comes down to screen size and software experience.

The Galaxy S8 is probably the default choice for so many people who are familiar with Samsung phones or are simply drawn in by its beautiful design. There are also legitimate spec and feature reasons to buy the GS8: a larger (and higher resolution) screen in a compact size, a larger battery, wireless charging and an increasingly rare headphone jack.

Anyone drawn to a Pixel 2 from the start probably has a relationship with Google’s software experience and services — and these people won’t be disappointed. There are fewer hardware and spec compromises in this phone than its predecessor, and Google has stepped up its game with things like waterproofing, an even better camera, a better display and more base storage at the same starting price. The choice to go with a Pixel 2 starts and ends with how much you value the clean, simple and hassle-free experience of a phone with one brand on the box: Google.

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This is BlackBerry Motion, the next TCL-built BlackBerry

BlackBerry Mobile’s next phone won’t have a keyboard, but it will have a huge battery.

According to known leaker Evan Blass, better known as @evleaks, the device formerly known as Krypton will be released as BlackBerry Motion.

The phone has been making its way through certifications and is largely expected to be announced at some point this month based on comments from François Mahieu, head of global sales for TCL. When it comes to specs, here’s what is currently rumored:

• Snapdragon 625 (or newer 626) processor
• Full HD 1920X1080 display
• 4GB of RAM
• 4000mAh Battery
• Home button with built-in fingerprint scanner
• IP67 water and dust-resistant

Needless to say, we’ll have to wait and see how accurate the spec rumors pan out but feel free to let us know in the comments what you think about how it’s shaping up and what you think of the BlackBerry Motion name, everyone always has strong opinions about the names the devices end up with, so let’s hear it.

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Apple Music tunes are now available inside Facebook Messenger

We’ve known for a while that both Spotify and Apple Music were coming to Facebook Messenger. Spotify was integrated as a chat extension this past August with an AI-powered group playlist feature. Now Apple Music is getting its own presence as the streaming music service has officially launched inside the social network’s Messenger system.

To use the extension, simply tap the plus icon to the left of the chat field and add Apple Music to any conversation. You can also interact directly with the bot in a chat just like you would any other of your friends. Simply search for “Apple Music” from the Messenger home screen and start talking to it to discover new artists and genres. You can even send an emoji to the chatbot and it will suggest a playlist to match. It’s so 2017.

Even if you don’t have an Apple Music subscription, you’ll be able to listen to and share 30-second clips from any track you discover. As you might expect, you can sign up for Apple Music right in Messenger, which will then let you share and listen to full tracks after you commit to monthly payments.

Source: Facebook

YouTube reportedly alters search algorithm after Las Vegas shooting

YouTube has updated its search engine in an effort to promote more authoritative videos, hoping to diminish the reach of conspiracy theories, harmful messages and misinformation on the platform, The Wall Street Journal reports. The changes follow the mass shooting in Las Vegas this week, wherein a gunman killed 58 people and wounded more than 500 others at a music festival on the Strip. After the shooting, videos propagating conspiracy theories and misinformation started climbing the ranks in YouTube’s search results — Google and Facebook faced similar problems this week.

For example, The WSJ says on Tuesday night, the fifth result for “Las Vegas shooting” on YouTube was a video titled, “Proof Las Vegas Shooting Was a FALSE FLAG attack — Shooter on 4th Floor,” a rumor that has been repeatedly refuted by authorities.

YouTube rolled out the changes on Wednesday night, accelerating its existing plans to tweak the search engine. The update targets search results about major news events — including the NFL protests — and is designed to keep inaccurate videos at bay. The company didn’t provide details about how it defines “authoritative” sources, The WSJ says.

Google and Facebook both scrambled to fix their own news algorithms this week after promoting troll threads and false stories about the Las Vegas shooting.

“Unfortunately, early this morning we were briefly surfacing an inaccurate 4chan website in our Search results for a small number of queries,” Google said in a statement. “Within hours, the 4chan story was algorithmically replaced by relevant results. This should not have appeared for any queries, and we’ll continue to make algorithmic improvements to prevent this from happening in the future.”

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Chevy is building a hydrogen fuel-cell transport vehicle for the Army

Chevy’s venture into working with the Army on alternative-fuel vehicles isn’t stopping with the Colorado ZH2. No, the pair are pushing forward with the Silent Utility Rover Universal Superstructure (SURUS) that takes the ZH2’s hydrogen fuel cell power plant and mates it with what Defense One describes as a “flatbed truck trailer or even a railroad flatcar.” The idea behind SURUS — named for Hannibal’s war elephants — is to be an adaptable form of transport that can do anything from carrying injured troops to moving large amounts of cargo like diesel-powered generators in the theater of war.

Of course, the truck can also be outfitted with guns and rockets. Other plans include the potential for remote control or autonomous driving, rather than having a human behind the wheel. The head of GM’s fuel cell division, Charlie Freese, noted how capable SURUS is and that the truck has the potential to reduce the amount of vehicles the Army needs to keep on hand.

And since it’s powered by a near-silent fuel cell engine rather than in internal combustion one, SURUS will be able to travel behind enemy lines with decreased chance of being discovered. “They’re basically able to get 10 times closer without being detected,” Freese said. Unlike the ZH2, this sounds like it was built from the ground up for military applications, versus retrofitting fuel cell tech onto an existing truck like an off-road-equipped Colorado. It also shows that the military is pretty happy with the ZH2 so far.

The SURUS will be on display at next week’s Army AUSA trade show and convention in Washington, DC.

Source: Defense One

Russian hackers reportedly stole NSA cyber defense material

The Wall Street Journal reports today that Russian hackers stole documents detailing how US agencies defend their networks against cyberattacks, how they breach foreign networks and the computer code they use to do so. Sources told the publication that the stolen files were identified through Kaspersky security software used by an NSA contractor that had taken classified material from the NSA and saved it on his come computer.

The theft, discovered last spring, occurred in 2015 and those familiar with the incident told the Wall Street Journal that having this information could help inform Russian officials how to protect their networks against the NSA and possibly how to break into US networks. The NSA hasn’t confirmed this breach, and Kaspersky Lab told the Wall Street Journal that it “has not been provided any information or evidence substantiating this alleged incident, and as a result, we must assume that this is another example of a false accusation.”

Whether Kaspersky itself played a role in the breach is unclear as is how its antivirus software pinpointed the NSA documents. But Kaspersky Lab and its software have been a major focus of US government investigations this past year following Russian-led hacks into US election systems and political candidate networks. In June, the Senate proposed a bill that would ban the Department of Defense from using Kaspersky software and a US House of Representatives committee began looking into a number of agencies’ use of the company’s products this July. In August, reports surfaced that the FBI was actively warning companies against using Kaspersky software, which Best Buy stopped selling last month. And recently, the US government went ahead and banned the software in all federal agencies.

The contractor that opened the documents up to the hackers isn’t thought to have done so purposefully though he would have known that removing the material was against NSA policy. It’s unclear if he’s still employed by the NSA or if he’s set to be hit with criminal charges. Sources say the investigation is ongoing.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Netflix’s next original is a personal kind of superhero story

Finding superhero stuff on Netflix isn’t difficult whatsoever, but the streaming service and actor Michael B. Jordan have a new type of origin story in mind. Raising Dion asks what it’d be like to, as its name suggests, raise one from childhood. Dion has telekinetic powers, can summon blue flames in his hands (perfect for roasting marshmallows indoors), make himself literally invisible and teleport. He’s still very much a seven year-old boy though, and doesn’t quite have a handle on the hows and whys of his powers. For example, he asks his mom why his poop isn’t invisible too. It’s a fair question.

The only thing that might turn some folks off is that, at least based on the video below, a lot of the footage could be handheld and from various cameras Dion’s mom has placed around her apartment. So it might have a sort of found-footage or faux-documentary feel to it. That might change, as the clip is actually for a short film of the same name. Variety reports that Netflix has ordered 10 episodes of the show. No date was given for when it’ll premiere, but if you’re curious for an early look, you could always take a peek at the comic book the show and short film — written by showrunner Dennis Liu — is based on.

Via: Variety

Source: Raising Dion, Netflix