Google gives users more control over the ads they see

Google announced today that it’s rolling out a couple of new tools aimed at making online ads a little less irritating. Its Ad Settings and Mute This Ad features are both getting updates that let users have more control over what ads they do and don’t see.

You know how you search for an item online and then for weeks, that particular item follows you around the internet, popping up in ads on nearly every website you visit? Those are reminder ads and Google says advertisers usually set them to show up for about a month from when you visited their websites. But now, Google is letting you mute those ads. You just have to head over to Ad Settings when signed into your Google Account, go to the “Your reminder ads” section and hit the “X” next to any ads you don’t want to see anymore. It’s a temporary solution — the muting only lasts 90 days — but since that’s substantially longer than most reminder ads stick around for, there’s a pretty good chance you won’t see them again.

In 2012, Google began allowing users to block certain ads they didn’t like. It’s now expanding that feature and it will start to become available on more apps and websites that partner with Google for advertising. And now, it will also work across devices. So if you mute an ad on your phone, it will also be muted on your laptop.

Google isn’t the only company changing how users experience ads. Last year, Apple announced that High Sierra’s Safari would stop advertisers from tracking users as they visit different sites, which also got around the reminder ad problem. And Google has said that this year, new versions of Chrome will automatically block annoying ads like pop-ups, autoplaying ads, countdowns and large ads. Chrome 64 is also expected to have an option for users to mute websites that have autoplay videos.

Google’s new ad tools are rolling out today but keep in mind, they only work on ads delivered by Google.

Image: Google

Via: Gizmodo

Source: Google

Apple will redesign iBooks for the first time in years

For the past few years, iBooks has been a bit of an afterthought for Apple. The app, which is available on iPhones, iPads and Macs, has a clunky interface and poor navigation for the ebook store. But now, Apple is putting books front and center with a renamed app and a much-needed redesign, according to Bloomberg. We’ve reached out to Apple for comment on what the app refresh will entail.

Developers can download iOS 11.3 now (its final version will be available in the spring), and many have noticed that iBooks has been renamed, simply, “Books.” It follows the example of the Apple Podcasts app, though that redesign hasn’t been met with much praise. The new Books app design will includes a section called “Reading Now” and a dedicated audiobook tab, according to Bloomberg’s sources.

Amazon has dominated the ebook market after the U.S. Department of Justice ruled that Apple conspired to raise ebook prices back in 2012. In 2016, Apple settled a class action lawsuit for $450 million. After these sanctions, Apple focused on other priorities.

In December, Apple hired Kashif Zafar, an SVP of Audible, which is the Amazon-owned ebook company, to turn the focus back to Books and lead the app refresh effort. It will certainly be interesting to see what it looks like, and whether the company can succeed in wresting some of the ebook market share away from Amazon.

Source: Bloomberg

Twitter may copy Snapchat to make video sharing easier

Poor Snapchat. Everything it does gets copied by everyone from Facebook to Skype to Google and now Twitter seems to be on the Snapchat-aping bandwagon. Bloomberg reports that the company is working on a feature that will make it easier for users to post videos than its current multi-step setup allows. Rather than tapping the compose button, then the camera button, then the record button, this new feature is reportedly more camera-centric and simpler to navigate.

Though Snapchat keeps pumping out innovative features that every other company then grabs for themselves, it has been struggling to gain new users. Last week it laid off 22 employees and reportedly consolidated its operations. But features that Snapchat pioneered have become some of the most popular features on other social networks. Last year, Instagram Stories users outpaced Snapchat users by tens of millions of people and Instagram has continued to expand its filter offerings. Along with short videos and stories, Snapchat’s AR objects and stickers have also spread across various other platforms.

There aren’t many details available about Twitter’s video feature, but sources told Bloomberg that the company has a working demo. They also said that it could change significantly before being launched and there’s no word yet on when that might happen. In 2016, speaking at a conference, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey called his own platform confusing and said, “I think [Snapchat’s] very modern. It’s recognizing that we’re going to press buttons less and gesture more.”

Via: Bloomberg

iOS 11.3 Finally Allows Sorting of App Store Reviews

Apple’s upcoming iOS 11.3 software update, the first beta of which was seeded to developers on Wednesday, finally adds the small but useful ability to sort App Store reviews on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

After tapping on See All under the Ratings & Reviews section in the App Store, users can now sort the reviews according to four categories, including Most Helpful, Most Favorable, Most Critical, and Most Recent.

• Most Helpful shows reviews that have received the most “Helpful” feedback from other users. Any user can designate a review as “Helpful” or “Not Helpful” by deeply pressing the text bubble via 3D Touch.
• Most Favorable shows reviews with the highest ratings, starting with five stars.
• Most Critical shows reviews with the lowest ratings, starting with one star.
• Most Recent shows reviews in reverse chronological order, with the most recently submitted reviews appearing first.

There is no way to sort App Store reviews on earlier versions of iOS 11, so this is a welcomed change, especially considering the App Store was showing old, irrelevant reviews from as early as 2008 for some users.

On earlier software versions like iOS 9, reviews could be filtered based on the latest version or all versions of an app, but these sorting options were removed when the section was streamlined on iOS 10 and later.

iOS 11.3 is currently in testing for developers, with a public beta to follow soon. The software update will be publicly released this spring.

Related Roundup: iOS 11Tag: App Store
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Sonos Announces Limited Time Sale Offering Two ‘Sonos One’ Speakers for $349

Sonos has announced a limited time sale launching tomorrow, January 26 in the United States and United Kingdom, bundling two of the company’s Sonos One speakers together for $349/£349. Individual Sonos One devices cost $199 in the U.S., so the company’s new sale offers $50 in savings.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Sonos. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

The sale offers two Sonos Ones for the same price as Apple’s $349 HomePod, and is debuting on the same day that customers will be able to pre-order the HomePod in the U.S., U.K., and Australia. With two Sonos Ones, users can have a stereo pair of speakers to enhance sound, or play music across multiple rooms — two features HomePod will not have at launch.

“Sonos One sounds incredible on its own, but the ability to have a stereo pair or have music in two rooms vs. one at $349 US feels like it’s an easy choice for those who truly love music,” said Joy Howard, chief marketing officer at Sonos. “We believe in freedom of choice and don’t want to lock people into a specific ecosystem – it’s why we support more than 80 streaming services globally and will take an agnostic approach to voice assistants as well.”

Sonos One supports Amazon Alexa, and the company previously confirmed that Google Assistant is coming later this year. Support for Apple’s AirPlay 2 protocol is planned for 2018 as well. Like other smart speakers, Sonos One can be controlled with voice and can read out information sourced from Alexa like the weather and news. Sonos launched the Sonos One in October 2017.

Sonos did not mention how long the new limited sale will last, but confirmed those interested will be able to take advantage of the offer on Sonos.com and through participating retailers. We’ll update this post tomorrow if the company creates a new landing page for the sale.

Tag: Sonos
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LG’s latest financials explain its shift in mobile strategy

Earlier this month, LG said that it would row back on its smartphone ambitions by abandoning an annual cycle of smartphone launches. Rather than releasing a flagship just because Samsung did, LG would only pump out a handset when it felt that it should. The report speculated that the move was in anticipation of more bad news for LG Mobile when its fourth-quarter financials were published. Now that the figures are out, it’s clear that LG’s patience for the division has worn thin, since it managed to lose $204.8 million in just three months.

Weirdly, such a loss actually looks pretty good on LG’s balance sheets, simply because LG Mobile lost even more — $331 million — in the previous quarter. The company could also point to a 9 percent bump in sales thanks to the V30 and the popular Pixel 2XL, which LG builds for Google. On the downside, the company cites the usual rocky market, increased component costs and tough competition. And the plan to recover from that, beyond abandoning regular premium phone launches, is to focus more on mass-market devices.

Which brings us to the G7 itself, which we were expecting to see pop out at MWC at the end of February. According to the Korea Herald, LG executive Jo Seong-jin ordered a dramatic redesign of the handset earlier this month. Apparently, designers were told to stop what they were doing and “review the new product from scratch,” so it’s likely it won’t appear for several months. The delay may help LG’s bank balance, however, since there’s speculation LG spends money it can’t afford on marketing new flagships.

Beyond mobile, however, LG’s a well-oiled, profit-making machine, making decent profits in home appliances and big money in home entertainment. The company claims that its slightly lackluster appliance profits were due to increased investment in its new Signature and ThinQ-branded products. TVs, meanwhile, were a big deal for the company thanks to increased sales in North America, Europe and Latin America. Overall, the Korean firm pulled in $344.7 million, which isn’t bad for a company trying to keep a head above water while anchored to a loss-making mobile division.

LG’s report also looks at the threats to its businesses in the future, including Chinese phone manufacturers and US trade protectionism. The latter is going to hurt LG pretty badly, since its popular (and Korean-made) washing machines are now subject to restrictive tariffs. The first 1.2 million imported into the US are subject to a 20 percent levy, while additional units will be subject to a 50 percent toll. It’ll be very interesting to see how this affects LG’s business in the next few months, especially as its phone division goes under a shift in strategy as well.

Source: LG (.PDF)

Apple’s iOS update brings AirPlay 2 with multi-room playback

This week Apple revealed exactly what we can expect from iOS 11.3 — which will roll out for iPhones and iPads this spring — and hidden among the new Animoji, improved resolution and Business Chat features is support for AirPlay 2, a long-awaited feature that Apple appeared to go quiet on following its announcement at WWDC 2017. And it officially supports multi-room playback, which means you can stream to multiple Apple TVs and speakers around the house direct from your iPhone.

Apple has also just announced that its HomePod will ship without multi-room support, so does Airplay 2’s presence in iOS 11.3 mean it’s changed its mind? That’s unclear at this stage. What’s important is that Airplay 2 represents the first major upgrade for the streaming feature since its launch a whopping seven years ago, and should do away with the lag and latency many users found frustrating. It’s still pretty buggy in iOS 11.3, which is understandable given it’s still in the first beta stage, but functionality will improve as new betas of iOS 11.3 and tvOS 11.3 roll out.

Source: 9to5mac.com

Sky replaces Now TV ‘Combo’ bundles with standalone broadband

Back in 2016, Now TV extended its Netflix-style streaming service with TV, broadband and landline “Combo” bundles. Now, it’s killing those packages and offering broadband as a standalone option. The entry-level package will offer speeds up to 17 Mbps and pay-as-you-go calls for £18 per month. The faster “fab” option (up to 38 Mbps) will cost £25 per month, while the top “super” tier (up to 76 Mbps) will set you back £35 per month. You can choose between a 12-month contract, which requires a £15 activation, and a rolling plan with a £50 upfront fee. Both come with a £10 postage and handling fee too (I’m not sure why it’s so expensive to post a router).

It’s a strange move. Sky, the company behind Now TV, already offers home broadband in the UK. The prices and download speeds are fairly similar — they’re almost identical, actually, save for the contract-free option offered by Now TV. That will, of course, appeal to homeowners that don’t want to be tied into long-term plans. Aside from Relish, which relies on a (not always) decent 4G signal, few broadband providers offer such a flexible service. The same was true, admittedly, with Now TV’s Combo bundles — but the inclusion of TV and calls meant it wasn’t as convenient as Relish.

Now TV and Sky broadband, then, appear to be direct competitors. And it’s unclear why you would choose Sky when the same speeds are available with easier cancellation options over at Now TV. We asked a Now TV spokesperson if we had missed something important, and they replied: “The packages are geared towards different audiences. The Now TV audience is more interested in a Freeview solution, while Sky customers opt for a dish.” Make of that what you will. Maybe, just maybe, it’s an early sign that Now TV is becoming a brand that’s as important to Sky, as Sky.

Twitter uses smart cropping to make image previews more interesting

Twitter’s recent character limit extension means we’re spending more time reading tweets, but now the site now wants us to spend less time looking at pictures. Or more specifically, less time looking for the important bit of a picture. Thanks to Twitter’s use of neural networks, picture previews will now be automatically cropped to their most interesting part.

In a blog post yesterday, the engineers behind the feature explained that the tool has been developed from basic facial recognition software. But while that was great for pictures of people, it didn’t help with images of objects, landscapes or animals. They then began exploring research into eye-tracking, which can be used to train neural networks and other algorithms to predict what people want to look at.

Once a neural network was able to pick out these salient areas, the team needed to find a way to make it work in real-time on Twitter. Picture cropping on the site is fairly broad — only a third or so of an image needs to be previewed — so it used a process called “knowledge distillation” to simplify the process, which made the neural network 10 times faster than its initial design. Saliency detection and optimized cropping now happens instantaneously.

The feature is being rolled out on iOS, Android apps and desktop now, so next time you upload a picture of Mittens you can be sure your followers will see his little furry face in all its adorable glory, whether they want to or not.

Via: The Verge

Source: Twitter

HomePod Disables Calendar, Messages, Notes, and Reminder Features When Owner Isn’t Home, But Apple Music Account Remains Accessible

Earlier this week Apple announced the official HomePod launch date and revealed more details about the Siri-equipped smart speaker, including a built-in speakerphone feature and support for third-party music app streaming via peer-to-peer AirPlay, both of which anyone in the home can use. However, Apple has yet to adequately clarify the extent of its multi-user functionality with regards to Apple Music and other iCloud integrations, leaving many readers wondering if the HomePod is the right fit for their home.

In possibly the first hands-on HomePod report since Apple’s launch date announcement, Refinery29 on Wednesday shed further light on the device’s multi-user capabilities. According to the article, many of Siri’s personal assistant features can only be tied to the individual iCloud account used to set up the HomePod. These features can be manually disabled by the account holder, but they also appear to be automatically disabled when said account holder isn’t home.

Although everyone in your apartment will be able to use the speaker, only the person who sets up HomePod on their iCloud account will be able to send texts, set up reminders, and get calendar notifications via voice commands.

If you do set up personal notifications on HomePod, these will only be available when you are on the network, so you don’t need to worry about your texts being read aloud at home when you are at work. If you don’t want them read aloud when you’re home, you can go into your HomeKit settings and turn off the notifications.

Apple hasn’t revealed how the HomePod detects when the owner of the iCloud account it is linked to is home, but the article suggests the speaker is able to keeps tabs on any iOS devices serving the same user account on the same local network. This function also appears to relate to how HomePod makes a (presumably single-user) Apple Music subscription accessible to other users at home when the owner is away, as revealed in documentation shared with Apple Store staff:

Everyone can enjoy music – After HomePod is set up, anyone in the home can enjoy music even when you’re not there. HomePod streams Apple Music directly so your iPhone doesn’t need to be nearby.

We already know that if no Apple Music subscription is linked to a HomePod during setup, users are still able to play content that’s been purchased from iTunes along with Beats 1 radio content and podcasts, but it remains unclear to what extent this content is available to others when the user of the iCloud-linked account isn’t home. Also still up in the air is how Apple Music’s personally tailored curation service will fare under the pressures of multi-user HomePod access, as well as how Apple Music Family subscriptions will factor in.

Otherwise, the Refinery29 article comments on the HomePod’s design and acoustic intelligence similar to what we’ve heard in previous hands-on reports, including its “crisper and clearer” audio quality when compared against speakers like the Google Home Max, the latest Amazon Echo, and Sonos One. However, it’s worth noting Google Home and Amazon Echo can recognize different voices and serve personalized content to multiple users, something which the HomePod doesn’t seem capable of at this stage.

At launch, HomePod will be available in the United States, UK, and Australia. In the U.S., it will be priced at $349, and it will cost £319 in the UK and $499 in Australia. Apple will begin accepting orders for the HomePod on Friday, January 26, with the device set to launch two weeks later on Friday, February 9.

Related Roundup: HomePod
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