Instagram is testing a standalone messaging app because why not

Available now as part of a test in six select countries.

After starting out as a simple way for sharing photos with friends, family, and random followers, Instagram has grown into a fairly bloated app these days. Along with your regular feed, there’s the Instagram Explore Tab for finding photos the app thinks you’re interested in, a Stories feature taken straight from Snapchat, live streaming, and the ability to send direct messages to other users.

According to The Verge, Instagram is playing with the idea of taking that last feature out of its main app and moving it to a standalone one by the name of “Direct.”

Direct is currently available for download as part of a test for Android and iOS in Chile, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Turkey, and Uruguay, and the reason for this move is to get more people using Instagram’s direct messaging service while letting the core Instagram app be a place to share your photos and videos with the entire world.

Instagram Direct opens to the camera viewfinder like Snapchat upon launching it, but you can also choose to swipe down to type out a text-based message. The page to the left is where you’ll find all of your account/app settings, and the one on right is home to your inbox of ongoing conversations. The app itself sounds pretty barebones, but the transition Instagram’s built between the two sounds incredibly sleek.

The new Direct app.

When you’re in Direct on your Inbox page, starting to swipe again the left will reveal an Instagram logo, and completing this swipe will automatically open up the main Instagram app. The direct messaging feature is removed from Instagram once Direct is downloaded, but you can easily access it by swiping once again to the left in Instagram to see the Direct logo and then jump right to it.

It’s unclear if Instagram will bring Direct to other countries following its initial testing, but seeing how successful Facebook has been with Messenger after removing direct messaging from its core app, an expansion of Direct to other countries in the coming months wouldn’t be all that surprising.

Instagram adds option for ‘remixing’ photos that friends send to you

The iOttie Easy One Touch 2 car mount is down to just $12 right now

Hold the phone!

This iOttie car mount phone holder is down to $11.95 on Amazon. It usually sells for around $20. Previous drops have only occurred around the big shopping days like Prime Day and Black Friday. This is unusual timing on this deal and it probably won’t last long.

Features include:

• Easy one touch mounting system locks and releases the device with just a push of a finger
• Super sticky gel pad sticks securely to most surfaces, yet is still easily removable (please note, most likely will not work on leather/ vinyl dashboards)
• New telescopic arm adds 2 inches to allow for closer device viewing
• Now includes the new iOttie Sticky Gel Dashboard Pad which allows more flexibility as well as a smooth surface on textured and curved surfaces.
• 3.2-inches maximum width (good enough for the iPhone 6 Plus)

This is a super popular car mount with more than 14,000 user reviews giving it 4.1 stars

See at Amazon

The Mustang GT adds brains to the brawn

The Mustang personifies the American muscle car. Folks who have zero interest in the Camaro and Charger are in awe of the design of the Ford that landed on roads in 1964. Besides a few design hiccups (ugh, the Mustang 2), it’s been coveted, sung about, restored — and as of 2016 — purchased more than 9.5 million times. But, it’s never been that smart — until now.

The 2018 Mustang GT Fastback Premium is loud, fast and sure to put a smile on the face of its fans. The growling (and it’s nearly always growling) car has 460 horsepower and 420 pounds of torque supplied by a 5.0 liter V8. Its base price is $39,000 but the test car given to us by Ford was tricked out with the GT performance package, MagneRide damping suspension and a tuned exhaust, which bumps the price up to $49,000.

But all that cash (and it’s a lot of cash) doesn’t just pay for brute force. It also powers a car that’s smarter than you would expect. While the exterior, tire-spinning power and roar of the car make it seem like a big dumb (but fun) animal, the pony has gotten an impressive tech upgrade.

The highlight is the 12-inch all-digital dashboard display. Ford has taken the simplicity of its muscle car’s dashboard cluster and translated it into something that’s easy to read, navigate and has wealth of features that unleash, or tame, the beast under the hood.

All of these features are accessible via the Mustang logo on the steering wheel. Press it and you’re dropped into a menu system filled with ways to customize the car. From adjusting the color scheme of the dash cluster to raising the volume of the exhaust system — all of it is a few taps away.

There’s even the ability to schedule the car to start quietly instead of unleashing a thundering roar when the start button is depressed. Something that will make your neighbors and family happy when you have to leave for work at 5 am. Basically, you’re telling the car to use its inside voice.

The in-dash mode selection system also makes it simpler to drive, well, like a maniac. The car’s five modes include normal, sport, snow and ice, track and drag strip. That’s right, there’s a drag strip mode for those nights when you’re at the track racing against Camaros, Teslas, Corvettes and tricked-out Hondas. In this mode, with launch control on, Ford states the Mustang can do zero to 60 in under four seconds. It’s crazy quick. By comparison, the Honda Civic Sport goes from zero to 60 in 7.5 seconds.

In track mode, the traction control is off by default, which makes for some fun rear-wheel-drive drifting that you should only do on a track. In fact, both of these modes come with a warning to check the manual to see how they affect the car. They take an already aggressive car and focus that power. But for the average driver, you’ll be more than happy with sport mode. It’s louder, faster and more fun than normal mode. To be honest though you’ll end up using normal mode most of the time if you live in any urban area.

Beyond the power and how it’s controlled, the car ships with an eight-inch touchscreen Sync display, but you should upgrade to Sync 3. It’s still one of the best infotainment systems on the market with virtually zero latency and an easy to use (but slightly bland-looking) UI. It worked flawlessly with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

I do have one issue with the car’s center console and that’s the metal effect toggle switches. They look cheap and most of them don’t even toggle. They just go up, which is a pain when you’re switching car modes and you go past your desired setting. Instead of pressing down, you have to press up until it appears again. While the rest of the interior looks outstanding, it’s hard not to focus on those ugly switches.

If you’re lucky, the comfort of the front seats will take your mind off the weird toggle switch decision by Ford designers. The back seats might also be comfortable, I’ll never know since no one over five-foot-three should ever attempt to sit in them.

On the whole, the Ford Mustang GT a blast to drive while using current technology to enhance that experience. No, you won’t get semi-autonomous features. The cruise control isn’t even adaptive. The V8 monster of an engine is also pretty much the furthest you can get from the hybrid with a 15 city and 25 highway per gallon ratings.

Yet, when you sit behind the wheel, shift it into first and stomp down on the accelerator — for folks who truly love driving — it’s a love letter from Ford of a bygone era. The Mustang GT is an insanely fun driving experience that merges power with technology in way that should appease fans of old-school muscle cars while giving new fans that have lived all their lives with tech-filled cars a chance to understand why the Mustang has persevered all these decades.

‘Streets of Rage’ comes to mobiles with local multiplayer

Sega Mega Drive classic Streets of Rage is now available on mobile, thanks to the Sega Forever retro games service, so you can get your dose of denim-clad muscle brawling wherever you are. It also supports local, two-player co-operative raging over Wi-Fi, and works cross-platform between iOS and Android, so you can also bring a touch of nostalgia to your holiday celebrations by battling your siblings and then getting into trouble with your mom when one of you punches the other IRL.

It’s the first emulated Sega Forever game to offer multiplayer, and can be played for free if you’re willing to put up with ads, or for a couple of dollars if you’d rather enjoy the retro experience ad-free. Sega has also announced that cross-platform multiplayer functionality will be added to its versions of Golden Axe and Altered Beast in the coming weeks.

Via: eurogamer

Tesla can sell EVs in Missouri again after court win

Auto dealership’s in Missouri really don’t want Tesla on their turf, and last year got a judge to ban the automaker from getting a license in the state. However, the Missouri Court of Appeals has overturned that verdict, allowing Musk & Co to resume selling cars directly to consumers. “We have been serving customers in Missouri for almost five years and have contributed to the state economy and jobs for Missourians — something that will now continue,” Tesla said in a statement.

The judge pointed out that the Missouri Auto Dealers Association (MADA) was effectively a Tesla rival trying to avoid competition, not a body looking after the public interest. As such, it didn’t have any standing to sue. He added, though, that if the state legislature was to update its licensing rules, the legal situation might change. “We will continue to explore the legal avenues available,” MADA told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

We have been serving customers in Missouri for almost five years and have contributed to the state economy and jobs for Missourians — something that will now continue,” Tesla said in a statement

Tesla’s problems came about in the first place after Missouri lawmakers, at the behest of the powerful auto dealer lobby, sneaked a clause into a bill that essentially banned its direct sales model. Most states have laws that forbid a franchisor (like Ford) from competing against franchisees (Ford dealers). Tesla had complied with the original law because it only does direct-to-consumer sales.

However, the updated bill reclassified any manufacturer as a franchisor, meaning Tesla could be banned. “To be clear: this is worse than a mere case of dealers trying to protect an existing monopoly –- this is a case of dealers trying to create a monopoly,” said Tesla at the time.

Tesla had closed its stores in Universal City and Kansas City after the initial ruling, but was allowed to re-open them shortly afterwards during the appeal process. “The decision today is a victory for Missouri consumers who want the choice to learn about and purchase their Tesla in their home state,” the company said.

Via: Clean Technica

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

A fifth of startup founders think sexism reports are ‘overblown’

Despite the pervasive issue of sexism and harassment in Silicon Valley gaining prominence in recent times, it seems the industry still has a long way to go in acknowledging the problem. A survey by venture firm First Round Capital polled 800 startup founders and found that 19 percent of respondents (that’s nearly a fifth) believe sexual harassment in tech has been “overblown” by the media, while 40 percent say the issue is “more significant than the media is reporting”. Meanwhile, 53 percent say they, or someone they know, has personally experienced sexual harassment in the workplace.

Only 17 percent of those polled identified as women, so it’s no surprise that the majority of them believe the issue can be rectified by bringing more female venture capitalists into the industry. Men, on the other hand, claim the answer is sensitivity training and, curiously, more media coverage. Clearly, then, these figures aren’t telling the whole story, which could explain why, when asked how long they believe it will take for the tech workforce to become representative of the general population in terms of race and gender, a third said more than 20 years. Depressingly, several complained that the question didn’t include an option for “never”.

Via: Wired

Source: First Round Capital

‘PUBG’ reveals its second map, Miramar

As PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds creeps towards version 1.0 and its console debut on Xbox One next week, it’s about to double its number of maps. “Miramar” has a desert setting intended to serve as the opposite of its first map Erangel which was set in the forest. Sparse terrain dotted by dense urban areas should force players to mix up their strategies if they want to make it to the end of the Battle Royale. It will be playable in the “final test round” before 1.0, so we are expecting to see it this month, and there will be a gameplay preview shown during tonight’s Game Awards show.

There are several towns with locations like a casino, death bowl for motorcycle racing, rail yard and more. On Twitter developers revealed a new weapon, the Win94 rifle, plus new vehicles like a pickup truck that will be exclusive to this map, and a jet ski-like watercraft called the Aquarail that’s coming to both maps.

• Los Leones

  • The largest city in the region, Los Leones features ample shopping, a skyline filled with new construction, and a glorious, golden-hued City Center. Players should secure high vantage points by exploring the numerous construction sites, and loot for gear in the cavernous, abandoned commercial buildings.
• El Pozo
  • El Pozo is a city known for its large industrial and entertainment districts. Players can test themselves against all comers in the Luchador Arena, put their motorcycle skills to the test In the death bowl, or hunt in the ruins of the long dead textile factories.
• Monte Nuevo
  • Monte Nuevo is the picture of a town besieged. Ramshackle walls built to protect its residents now allow players ample cover to explore the well-stocked compound.
• Valle del Mar
  • Valle del Mar is a colorful oceanside town bisected by the De Toro bridge. To the West of the bridge is a quaint school, and to the East, a beautiful church. The key to holding this town is bridge control, as it’s the only direct route between mainland and the island.
• La Cobreria
  • The shipping and transport capitol of Miramar, La Cobrería’s most prominent feature is it’s enormous Rail Yard. Here, players will hunt and be hunted among the half-buried cargo of a long dead industry. Careful players should loot the schools and campuses that dot this town before attempting to hold the Yard.
• San Martin
  • San Martín is located just west of Hacienda Del Patrón. Checkpoints and barriers have transformed this once-quiet small town into a war zone. Both sides of the town have overlooks, socareful players should scout first, before charging into town.
• Pecado
  • Once a tourist destination featuring the largest casino in the region, Pecado continues to thrill players to this day with its mix of high-value loot and dangerous sightlines. Aggressive players will immediately loot the Arena and Casino, but savvy players should check out the 4 story hotels between them.
• Chumacera
  • Chumacera is the husk of Miramar’s once thriving textile industry. Long abandoned factories overlook a main road lined with residential and commercial buildings. Verticality in both the buildings and terrain make this town an exciting location to loot- high risk, high opportunity!

New vehicle coming soon. Exclusive to the desert map. #ThisIsBattleRoyale pic.twitter.com/iL2dn6qTdq

— PLAY BATTLEGROUNDS (@PUBATTLEGROUNDS) December 5, 2017

Source: Steam

Google puts celebrities to work answering your search questions

It’s easy to find celebrity info if you’re determined to look for it, but wouldn’t you rather hear it straight from the source? You just might. Google is adding a feature to mobile searches in the US that has celebrities answering questions in selfie-style videos. If you want to know Gina Rodriguez’s favorite movie or whether Will Ferrell can play the drums, you’ll see a video that can take over the full screen.

Other celebrities answering questions on launch include Nick Jonas, Priyanka Chopra, James Franco, Tracee Ellis Ross and Seth MacFarlane, among others. That’s definitely not a comprehensive celeb list, but Google is promising more videos from both up-and-coming and well-known stars in the “next few months.” There’s no mention of international availability.

The feature is intended to offer a “surprise” to searchers. At the same time, it’s also a slight competitive edge for Google. If you’re a Nick Jonas devotee, wouldn’t you rather hear answers from him on Google instead of reading text on Bing? So long as you like the videos in the first place, this could keep you coming back just in case your favorite star has a custom Google answer.

Source: Google

Honeywell’s Home Security System Now Compatible With HomeKit

Honeywell today announced that its Lyric Controller home security system is now compatible with Apple’s HomeKit platform.

HomeKit support can be enabled with a free software update available to both current and future Lyric Controller customers, allowing the home security system to be controlled with Apple’s Home app or Siri on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

By using Siri, homeowners can control the security system’s personalized presets and automate scenes for energy saving and security.

Honeywell’s Lyric Controller has a seven-inch touchscreen and a built-in camera. If a Lyric sensor or motion detector detects an unusual situation, the system will provide visual and audible alerts and send notifications to an iPhone or iPad.

The home security system can be purchased on Amazon for $288 in the United States and is available at select other resellers around the world.

Tags: HomeKit, Honeywell
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Instagram Testing Standalone Direct Messaging App, Hinting at Potential Removal of DMs From Core App

Following in the footsteps of parent company Facebook, Instagram is beginning a test in six countries today that will see the launch of a new standalone app called “Direct,” which will be solely focused on direct messaging friends and family members. As reported by The Verge, this could be the “first step” toward potentially removing messaging features from the main Instagram app.

Chile, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Turkey, and Uruguay will get Direct on iOS and Android today, and if you download the app there and link it to your Instagram account, then your inbox in the core Instagram app “disappears” and can then only be accessed in Direct. Instagram currently has “no timeline” for a global launch outside of these countries, but said that its reason for segmenting off Direct in a test is to create a “best-in-class” experience for private messaging, which could not be possible inside a social-sharing application.

Image via The Verge

“We want Instagram to be a place for all of your moments, and private sharing with close friends is an important part of that,” Hemal Shah, an Instagram product manager, told me. “Direct has grown within Instagram over the past four years, but we can make it even better if it stands on its own. We can push the boundaries to create the fastest and most creative space for private sharing when Direct is a camera-first, standalone app.”

Direct is said to open to a camera like Snapchat, encouraging you to send photo messages to friends, and then you can swipe to go left to see your profile and settings, or right to navigate to your list of recent contacts. Direct also includes all of the usual filters, doodle tools, and photo effects Instagram has launched in stories and picture editing over the past year, as well as four new exclusive filters. “That’s the whole app,” according to The Verge, which also reported on a new way to easily jump between Direct and Instagram.

Still, there are some nice touches. Designers built what might be the niftiest app transition I’ve ever seen: If you start swiping to the right of the Direct inbox, an Instagram logo pops begins to peak out from the side of the app. Swipe all the way to the right and Direct will open Instagram. Similarly, you can swipe right in Instagram to reveal the Direct logo — a modified version of the paper-plane logo Instagram has long used for messages — and completing your swipe will take you back to Direct.

Since Facebook broke off Messenger into its own app in 2014, the company has added in chat bots, games, location sharing, ephemeral stories, online friend statuses, group video chat, and more. It’s expected that Direct will also expand in a similar way if Instagram goes through with a global launch of the new app, which is starting off barebones in its test, leaving room for the company to “make it even better,” according to Instagram product manager Hemal Shah.

Tag: Instagram
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