YouTube TV app arrives for newer Samsung smart TVs

YouTube TV arrived in April of this year, making it Google’s de facto live television service. It’s available in over half of the homes in the US, and we’ve been waiting patiently for the rumored big screen TV app so we could stop sending live TV from our phones to our Chromecasts and Apple TVs. The Xbox and Android TV versions of the app have been out for a few weeks, now, while Google tweeted out the availability of the YouTube TV app specifically for owners of newer model Samsung sets.

This one’s for you, @SamsungUS viewers.

YouTube TV is now available on 2016 & 2017 Samsung TV models https://t.co/uXs8Uw9rXY pic.twitter.com/NvZ3NolF9o

— YouTube TV (@YouTubeTV) November 16, 2017

According to Google’s blog post, you can see YouTube TV via a native app on Android TV (but not Xiaomi’s Mi Box), all three flavors of Xbox One and 2017 and 2018 Samsung and LG smart TVs. It will also show up “soon” on 2014 and 2015 Samsung and LG TVs, Sony Linux TVs, and Apple TV.

Source: Google

Facebook’s Creator app will help video ‘stars’ create more ‘content’

Facebook’s future is all about TV, and the company has been slowly giving video content creators the tools to participate in (and monetize) that future. Now the social media giant is launching the Facebook Creator App, a “one stop shop” to make original video, go live with exclusive visuals and also keep an eye on audience response with an “insights” feature for analytics. The new app is available on iOS now (with Android coming soon) for individuals with a Facebook Page or profile.

The new app has camera effects and frames, and lets users crosspost to other platforms (like Instagram and Twitter, we assume). There’s access a “creative kit,” too, that can add custom stickers, frames, intros and outros to live broadcasts to give the audience a consistent look and feel for a brand. There’s a community tab for connecting with fans and collaborators, along with an inbox specifically to put all messages from Facebook, Instagram and Messenger in one place.

Facebook is also launching a new web portal for creators to get tips about creating compelling video content, which makes sense if the company wants to encourage more people to fill the site with stuff.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Facebook

Wirecutter’s best deals: Jabra Move Bluetooth headphones for only $50

This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read their continuously updated list of deals here.

You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends at 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.

Jabra Move Bluetooth Headset

Street Price: $100; Deal Price: $50 w/ code BFTEASER

The Jabra Move Wireless Headset is on sale for $50 off through Jabra. Already discounted to $60 from $100, use code BFTEASER at checkout to get an extra $10 off, bringing the final sale price to just $50. US ground shipping is free. The Jabra Move is available in black, blue, and red at this price, the lowest we’ve ever seen on this wireless headset. We aren’t certain how long this sale will last, so grab these while you can. If you would rather purchase this item through Amazon it’s still on sale for $60 there.

The Jabra Move Wireless Headset is the top pick in our guide to the best wireless Bluetooth headphones. Lauren Dragan wrote, “The Jabra Move Wireless came out on top again for several reasons. First, it sounds about 75 percent as good as many luxury Bluetooth headphones for less than one-fifth of the price, and it sounds great for phone calls, too. Second, it features easy-to-use-and-understand controls, rather than the confusing buttons and frustrating touchpads of other headphones. Third, its soft earpads, padded headband, and swivel earcups make it a comfortable fit for most people. And finally, the battery gives you eight-plus hours of talk/listen time (we measured 15 hours) and 12 days of standby time, and the headphones still function while charging. All of this may sound basic, but you’d be surprised how many Bluetooth headphones fall short in one or more of these aspects.”

Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD Battery Pack and Charger

Street Price: $110; Deal Price: $87

At $87, this is the lowest price we’ve seen on the Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD Battery Pack and Charger. Usually $110, this is only the second drop we’ve seen for it. The notable thing about this battery, and why it typically goes for over $100, is its ability to charge laptops via USB-C, so if you have a laptop that uses USB-C for charging and don’t want to worry about setting up near an outlet when you’re on the move, this could be for you. A wall charger that can be used to charge the battery pack or a USB-C device is also included in this bundle.

The Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD Battery Pack and Charger is our best for USB-C laptops pick in our guide to the best USB-C battery packs and power banks. Mark Smirniotis wrote, “Few USB-C Power Delivery–capable batteries are available right now, and they’re limited to charging speeds best suited for laptops 13 inches or smaller—larger computers will charge much more slowly. Still, if you want to charge a USB-C–powered laptop such as a MacBook, look to the Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD Battery Pack and Charger Bundle, which will give you the capacity, charging speed, and reliability to keep working or playing on your laptop for at least one whole charge when you’re away from a wall outlet.”

iRobot Roomba 690

Street Price: $325; Deal Price: $275

At $275, this is the lowest price we’ve seen on our more durable robot vacuum pick, the iRobot Roomba 690. We posted previously when we saw it drop to the new street price of $325. At $50 less, this vacuum is well worth a look and matches the predicted Black Friday pricing we’ve seen for it.

The iRobot Roomba 690 is our more durable pick in our guide to the best robot vacuum. Roomba Liam McCabe wrote, “…we think it’ll last longer than those models because it’s based on the same design as the Roomba 650, our main pick from 2013 until early 2017, which has a years-long track record for reliability and owner satisfaction. It’s meant to be repaired over time, and the brand has always done an excellent job keeping replacement parts available. On balance, the Roomba 690 cleans and navigates about as well as the EcoVacs Deebot N79 and Eufy RoboVac 11. It can also connect to Wi-Fi, so you can control it with your phone or with Alexa voice commands.”

Krinner Tree Genie XXL

Street Price: $100; Deal Price: $80

Just in time for the upcoming Christmas season, the Krinner Tree Genie XXL is back on sale via Amazon for $80, matching the previous deal price we saw for it. With a street price around $100, this a nice deal on our top pick. Although we’ve seen the same low price recently from Amazon, this product doesn’t drop below $90 very often and we’re not sure how long it will stay at this price.

The Krinner Tree Genie XXL is the top pick in our guide to the best Christmas tree stand. Ed Grabianowski, Erica Ogg and Doug Mahoney wrote, “A unique design makes clamping a tree in the Krinner far easier than any kind of stand we’ve found. The Krinner grips the tree trunk with five claws that you tighten by stepping on a ratcheting foot pedal, instead of turning a set of bolts into the bottom of the tree trunk, like nearly every other tree stand. This means average-size and smaller trees, around 6 to 7 feet tall, can be set up with just one person. No other tree stand does anything like it. The Krinner can handle a wide range of trunk diameters (even very small ones), it’s extremely stable and it’s attractive, and the enclosed 2½-gallon reservoir has a gauge to show you its water level. Priced at around $100, the Krinner is not cheap, but it’s so superior to the competition, we feel it’s worth the investment.”

Because great deals don’t just happen on Thursday, 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 thewirecutter.com.

Apple Watch Nike+ Series 2 Models Drop to $244 in 38mm and $274 in 42mm at Dick’s Sporting Goods

Dick’s Sporting Goods has discounted the aluminum Apple Watch Nike+ Series 2 by about 33 percent today, marking a notably low price point for the second-generation device ahead of Black Friday. The deal is part of the retailer’s holiday flash sale, with 38mm aluminum cases priced at $243.98 while 42mm aluminum cases are at $273.98. There were non-Nike+ models on sale, but most have now gone out of stock.

Visit Dick’s Sporting Goods’ website here to check out all of the models on sale, which as of writing include a few colorways of the Apple Watch Nike+ in 38mm and one version of the 42mm. The flash sale ends tonight at 10 p.m. ET, or while supplies last, so be sure to take advantage of the deal quickly if you’re interested.

This is the latest price drop for Series 2 devices this fall, with the last major sale hitting Best Buy with 38mm cases at $270 and 42mm cases at $300 — a deal that’s still going on today. While Series 2 models lack the LTE capabilities and faster processing speeds of the latest Series 3 device, last year’s edition is still a reliable investment and could be a cost-cutting gift alternative for those looking to save some money over the holidays.

In regards to upcoming Black Friday deals on the Series 2 models, we haven’t yet heard anything specific, but there will likely be some discounts at the major resellers and retail locations. A notable discount for the Apple Watch Series 1 has been confirmed, however, with these devices starting as low as $179.99 at Target and Macy’s on Black Friday. Visit our Black Friday Roundup for information on Apple Watch sales and more coming next week.

For other sales happening now ahead of the shopping holiday next week, head over to our full Deals Roundup.

Related Roundups: Black Friday, Apple Deals
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Facebook Launches New ‘Creator’ App for Video Makers

Facebook today announced the launch of a new “Facebook Creator” app and accompanying website, both of which are designed for people who want to create videos.

Facebook Creator sounds similar to the tools available on YouTube. It is described as a “one stop shop for creators of all kinds,” allowing users to create original video, stream live video, and connect with their community on Facebook.

Creator is actually a rebranding of the existing Mentions app, which was something that was previously only available to verified public figures. With the revamp, the app is available to all users.

The app includes a Live Creative Kit, with tools that Facebook says are meant to make it easy to create live broadcasts with a personalized feel. There’s an option to create and add intros and outros to live broadcasts, custom live stickers, graphic frames, and more.

With the Community Tab, video makers can connect with their fans and collaborators with a unified inbox that includes comments from Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger.

A Camera & Stories section lets content creators add “fun camera effects and frames” to videos, and it also allows videos to be crossposted to other social networking platforms. Finally, an Insights option provides content creators with metrics to allow them to custom tailor their videos to meet fan demand.

The accompanying Facebook for Creators website includes tutorials to “make content shine,” answers to creator-specific questions, and a community of creators to interact with.

Facebook Creator is launching globally today on iOS devices, and while the app is still showing up as Facebook Mentions, it should be updated soon. [Direct Link]

Tag: Facebook
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Apple Maps Vehicles to Begin Surveying Croatia and Portugal

Apple Maps vehicles will begin surveying Croatia and Portugal for the first time in a few weeks from now, according to Apple’s updated list of locations.

In Croatia, the Apple Maps vehicles will be in Split-Dalmatia County and Šibenik-Knin County beginning November 20. The vehicles will begin surveying the Alentejo region of Portugal starting December 4.

Since 2015, Apple has been driving vehicles around the world to collect data for Apple Maps. The vehicles have surveyed over 35 states in the United States, in addition to parts of France, Ireland, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.

Apple said it will blur faces and license plates on collected images prior to publication, suggesting that it could be working on adding a Street View feature to Apple Maps, similar to what Google Maps has offered for several years.

When Apple’s fleet of vans first hit the streets, speculation arose about the vehicles serving as the basis of an Apple Car. But those rumors quieted down after the vans were later labeled with Apple Maps decals.

Some industry observers still believe the vans are at least partially related to Apple’s autonomous driving project, but the evidence is inconclusive.

Tag: Apple Maps vehicles
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Apple to Stop Accepting Updates to watchOS 1 Apps on April 1, 2018

Apple today reminded developers to update their Apple Watch apps to take advantage of features introduced in watchOS 4 and Apple Watch Series 3, like increased performance, new background modes for navigation and audio recording, direct connections to Core Bluetooth, and more.

Apple also announced that starting on April 1, 2018, updates to watchOS 1 apps will no longer be accepted. All updates must be native apps built with the watchOS 2 SDK or later. Newly submitted watchOS apps should be built with the watchOS 4 SDK or later.

Apple first began requiring new apps to use the watchOS 2 SDK in June of 2016, and now that will also apply to app updates that are submitted. watchOS 1 apps that are not rebuilt using watchOS 2 SDKs or later will no longer be able to be updated after the April 2018 deadline.

Apps built with the native support features that were first introduced in watchOS 2 are able to run more quickly and operate more smoothly on the Apple Watch.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
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Apple Releases iOS 11.1.2 With Fix for Unresponsive iPhone X Display in Cold Temperatures

Apple today released iOS 11.1.2, the seventh official update to the iOS 11 operating system. iOS 11.1.2 comes just one week after Apple released iOS 11.1.1, an update that addressed a pesky and widespread autocorrect bug.

The iOS 11.1.2 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the update, go to Settings –> General –> Software Update.

The iOS 11.1.2 update addresses bugs and issues that have been discovered since the release of iOS 11.1.1. According to Apple’s release notes, the update addresses a bug that caused some iPhone X displays to become temporarily unresponsive when exposed to cold temperatures.

iOS 11.1.2 includes bug fixes for your iPhone and iPad. This update:
– Fixes an issue where the iPhone X screen becomes temporarily unresponsive to touch after a rapid temperature drop
– Addresses an issue that could cause distortion in Live Photos and videos captured with iPhone X

iOS 11.1.2 comes as Apple works on the iOS 11.2 update, which introduces Apple Pay Cash, support for faster 7.5W wireless charging on iPhone X, 8, and 8 Plus, and several bug fiexes and minor interface tweaks.

For more on iOS 11 and its updates, make sure to check out our iOS 11 roundup.

Related Roundup: iOS 11
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Create interactive photos with DESCRIPIX

Sometimes you want to present a visual that has different ‘layers’ to it. While your main visual conveys on overall sense of understanding, there may be more nuanced details within the frame that you’d like to expand on. But, it can get confusing to continually switch between multiple frames to tell your story concisely.

What you’d like is to be able to “zoom in” to your frame, to show your audience the details necessary to fully state your case.

You can do just that with the app DESCRIPIX, from the French developer Vmotion. It’s a free app (with a paid “Pro” version, of course) that lets you annotate a visual (photo, graphic, etc) with text, web links, and even other photos. The key difference here is that the annotations are displayed pop-up style; hidden with different colored markers. Only by touching a marker does it bring up the full annotation. This means that you can have several annotations as-needed on a single image, without making the main visual overly busy and complicated.

A great example is the server rack in the video above. To add all the text, links, and other stuff onto this single image would be nearly impossible. But the small markers retain the usability of the main image, while offering a plethora of ancillary information at the viewer’s fingertips.

App Usability

Starting a new project….

You can download the DESCRIPIX app for free from the Play Store. Once downloaded, you’re presented with a pretty simple menu. Each main image is called a “project”. You can open existing projects, or start a new one. New projects can be either an image on your device, or you can take a new photo on the fly and start building from there.

You simply tap on a spot in your main image, and choose whether you want to add text, a web link, or a pop-up image. Once your drop your marker, you can move it more precisely with the help of a magnifier (see below), and also rotate the marker itself, to maximize its usefulness in your main image (also below).

Place the marker EXACTLY where you want it.

Customize the marker itself.

Creating these markers and annotations was pretty intuitive and pain-free. In fact it’s so easy you can get carried away pretty easily; in messing with different projects I had to teach myself to scale it back. That said, you can get pretty dense with the markers before it gets visually distracting.

The main app menu is equally minimal, with space to manage projects and individual files, share the app, and upgrade to the “Pro” version. These last two points are key, as after you create your annotated masterpiece, you need your audience to also have the app installed to actually utilize the pop-up functionality…..so sharing the app with your audience members is vital to getting what you want out of the app (obviously).
There is a ‘save to .pdf’ function, but when doing this you get what I call a ‘notes’ version of your image (very similar to a Powerpoint presenter view, with all the behind-the-scenes notation), in lieu of a polished annotated image.

Pretty clean-cut menu.

Upgrade!

The free app will only let you send fully editable versions of your projects.  If you don’t others able to mess with your presentation, you may also want to upgrade to the Pro version ($5.49), which allows the sending of read-only projects.
In the app you can directly share your project, but it goes out as a proprietary .vsaf file, so again, your recipient/audience needs to have DESCRIPIX installed for it to be of any use.

Conclusion

Overall DESCRIPIX is a fun app that could be very useful. It’s obviously main limiting factor is that the interactive files are proprietary to the app itself, so you need a good install base within your target audience for your projects to be very useful. But if you need to share multi-layered visual information to a consistent group of people, DESCRIPIX could be just the tool for the job.

Download DESCRIPIX from the Play Store here.

Habla español? Now Google Assistant does too, on phones at least

Si hay algo frustrante en el mundo de la tecnología para aquellas personas que no hablan inglés, es la limitación que imponen usualmente los servicios en tecnología que no hablan otro idioma además del inglés.

Esa limitación se hace mucho más evidente, cuando se evidencia que las grandes empresas de tecnología quieren que utilicemos sus Asistentes hasta en la sopa, pero cuando los vamos a utilizar nos damos cuenta de que no entiende nuestro acento extranjero cuando hablamos inglés.

Google quiere cambiar esta situación y acaba de anunciar que el Asistente de Google por fin estará disponible en español, aunque claro está, únicamente en los celulares por ahora.

La actualización llegará en las próximas semanas a algunos celulares que funcionen con sistema operativo Android 6.0 o posterior, que tengan 1.5 GB de memoria y 720p de resolución y a finales de este año, llegará a los iPhone de Apple.

Un vocero de Google nos confirmó que la actualización se limitará por ahora a los teléfonos Android, pero añade que en el futuro llegará también a las bocinas de Google como la Google Home y la Google Home Mini, aunque no se sabe exactamente cuándo.

El idioma español estará disponible en Español de los Estados Unidos, Español de México, de España y con esta actualización, también estará disponible en italiano. Según el comunicado de Google, puedes pedirle al Asistente que reproduzca tu canción favorita, que te diga la temperatura local, o incluso podrás preguntarle cosas chistosas como si sabe nadar.

La Asistente de Google ya habla francés en Canadá y Francia, alemán en Alemania, inglés en Australia, portugués en Brasil y por supuesto, inglés en los Estados Unidos, Canadá y Australia.

Sin duda es un paso muy importante y ambicioso para Google y no nos aguantamos las ganas de probar la Asistente en nuestros celulares apenas la actualización esté disponible. Por supuesto, les estaremos contando qué tal funciona este sistema de inteligencia artificial de Google.

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• Google Home, Home Mini y Home Max: aquí te contamos cuál te conviene
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• Google abrirá sus tiendas Pop-up en Nueva York y Los Ángeles
• Los audífonos Google Pixel Buds pueden traducir cualquier idioma en un instante