Google team will bring Smart Replies to more chat apps

If you’ve wanted to use Google’s canned Smart Replies in chat apps, you’ve been limited to using Allo or (if you’re on the right carrier) Android Messages. But what if you’re one of the many, many people using something else? Don’t fret: Google’s experimental Area 120 group is working on a Reply project that, as the name implies, will bring Smart Replies to many messaging clients (currently just for Android). Hangouts is logically on the list, but so are third-party apps like Facebook Messenger, Skype, WhatsApp and even Twitter’s direct messages. You’d only have to tap a button in your notifications to confirm that you’re on your way or say you’re doing well.

Reply should have some intelligent features as well, such as a “sorry I can’t talk” driving mode and a vacation responder to stop coworkers from bugging you when you’re off the clock. It should also punch through silent mode if there’s an urgent message demanding your attention.

The effort is very early — Area 120 is still soliciting users willing to give it a shot. It’s going to be a while before it arrives, and it might not support every app on the list. If it works as promised, though, it could make Smart Replies a mainstay across Android, not just within Google’s ecosystem. As cold and impersonal as they can be, they do the job when you just need to acknowledge a message.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Google

SpaceX to launch its satellite internet prototypes this weekend

For years, Elon Musk has been talking about his plans to launch thousands of low-orbiting satellites that will be able to provide high speed internet to people around the globe. While the details of those satellites have been kept largely under wraps, we’ve known that the first round of prototypes were nearing a launch date, and according to a letter posted on the FCC’s website yesterday (and spotted by CNET), the first two test satellites will be placed into orbit this weekend.

SpaceX’s vice president of satellite affairs told Congress last year that the company planned to launch its first two demo satellites at the end of 2017 and the start of this year, and if everything went well, the first operational satellite could be launched as early as 2019. In its recent letter to the FCC, SpaceX says that two experimental satellites — Microsat-2a and -2b — will launch on one of its Falcon 9 rockets, which will also be carrying Paz, a radar observation satellite belonging to the Spanish government. A static fire of that rocket took place this weekend and Paz, Microsat-2a and Microsat-2b are currently scheduled for a February 17th liftoff. The Falcon 9 will launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base at 6:17AM Pacific, according to a notice on the base’s website.

Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete—targeting February 17 launch of PAZ from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 11, 2018

Really looking forward to this one 🛰🛰 https://t.co/LSnusj78b6

— Joy Dunn (@RocketJoy) February 11, 2018

While these things are always subject to delays, SpaceX plans to have all of its internet-providing satellites up in orbit by 2024. And though the project is expected to cost around $10 billion, Musk expects it to generate quite a bit of revenue once it’s up and running. Naturally, that revenue will be funnelled to Musk’s larger goal — Mars. In 2015, he said about the project, known as Starlink, “This is intended to generate a significant amount of revenue, and help fund a city on Mars. So in looking in the long term, and saying what’s needed to create a city on Mars, well, one thing’s for sure: a lot of money. So we need things that will generate a lot of money.”

Via: CNET

Source: FCC, Vandenberg Air Force Base

Adobe focuses on speed — but just how fast is the new Lightroom 7.2?

Lightroom photographers have been pestering Adobe with one big request: make Lightroom faster. Answering the call, Adobe’s latest update to Lightroom Classic focuses largely on performance, boosting the asset manager and photo editor as newer cameras increase both the file size and the editing time. On Feb. 13, Adobe launched Lightroom Classic 7.2, a speed-focused software update that both enhances performance and gives photographers a handful of organizational tools to find photos faster.

For photographers using computers with at least 12GB of RAM, Lightroom 7.2 means faster batch processing because the software is optimized to scale across multiple cores, creating a more efficient use of the computer’s memory. The update brings faster imports with preview generations and grid loading. Switching between images in loupe view, rendering adjustments in Develop, and merging HDR images and panoramas also see a speed boost, along with faster exporting.

So just how fast is the latest update? In our early access to the build, importing images was around 20-percent faster when building a 1:1 preview and smart preview during the import. The difference in exporting wasn’t as significant, but short 10-image exports were a few seconds faster.

Performance, however, will vary significantly based on the hardware — computers with faster memory see a bigger increase than systems on the low-end (below the 12GB requirement). Our test results were using a Mac with 16GB of RAM. The update was also tested with a new catalog and a freshly cleared cache. A fully decked-out computer, in Adobe’s tests, saw a 30-percent increase in import speeds, while users at that lower end of the 12GB requirement will see a smaller increase.

A 30-percent increase is fairly significant, while a 10-to-20-percent improvement for machines with less power is not as obvious unless you’re sitting with a timer. The update is a step forward for performance, however small, and Adobe says more speed-focused updates are coming.

Adobe says the update also addresses an issue which users said investing in a faster computer didn’t offer the same amount of improvements to Lightroom speed. Another fix corrects an issue that meant Lightroom Classic slowed over time for some photographers.

Outside of the performance enhancements, the update also aims to save time simply through new workflow tools. Photographers can now create collections based on folders — a request from users who wanted easier syncing with the mobile-centric Lightroom CC. Lightroom Classic also now allows for creating a collection of images taken in the same location, using the map module by right-clicking on a pin or pin group.

For sorting through those images, a new filter option allows photographers to separate edited images from the unretouched shots, or to create a Smart Collection of only edited photos or only non-edited photos. The search tool has also been enhanced, allowing users to filter the results to include only a certain folder, or to search only folders marked as favorites.

The Lightroom Classic update is rolling out now, alongside an update to Lightroom CC.

Editors’ Recommendations

• If Lightroom is still slow for you, Adobe promises help is on the way
• Adobe narrows the gap between Lightroom CC and Classic with new tools
• Bid farewell to lengthy Photoshop cutouts with new AI-powered tool
• Adobe just made it easier to download Lightroom files from the cloud
• Darktable, the free Lightroom alternative, is available for Windows

Lightroom CC adds distortion-fix tools, voice control in latest update

Adobe is once again narrowing the gap between Lightroom Classic and the edit-anywhere, mobile-centric Lightroom CC. On Feb. 13, Adobe announced updates that add more stability to the entire Lightroom CC ecosystem, along with migrating several tools from Classic and even voice control function using Google Assistant.

Lightroom’s perspective distortion tools are now available on mobile versions of Lightroom CC. The guided upright tool allows users to fix distortion created from the shooting angle or from using a wide-angle lens, by using sliders to adjust distortion vertical and horizontal alignment. A new Auto Upright tool applies the distortion adjustments automatically. Both distortion corrections are accessible from the geometry tab, but for now, the tool is Android only. Adobe says an iOS update with the feature will be launching soon.

Lightroom CC now makes it easier for photographers to protect their copyright. On the desktop version, photographers can now set up the software to automatically add copyright info to the metadata of every imported image. The option is available by heading to Preferences > General and checking the box for “add copyright to imported images” and typing in the appropriate information.

If the hidden metadata copyright isn’t enough, mobile users can export images with a text-based watermark. The feature first launched on iOS but is now available to Android users as well. The mobile watermark option is text-only.

Lightroom is also gaining some voice control on devices with Google Assistant, thanks to Adobe Sensei, the company’s artificial intelligence platform. The compatibility allows users to conduct voice searches, like saying, “Search mountains in Lightroom” from inside the Google Assistant app. The search option is only available with an internet connection and a device running Android Marshmallow or later.

Another enhancement allows for faster movement between apps. A new “Add to LR” option allows users to send a photo directly to the Lightroom app from a handful of other apps. Adobe says the update also brings additional stability to the app family.

The update continues to bring features from Lightroom Classic, the desktop-only version many photographers are more familiar with. While Lightroom Classic remains the more powerful of the two, these new features, like a previous update that brought curves and split toning, brings more parity between the two.

In related news, Lightroom Classic also received an update.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Adobe focuses on speed — but just how fast is the new Lightroom 7.2?
• Darktable, the free Lightroom alternative, is available for Windows
• Adobe narrows the gap between Lightroom CC and Classic with new tools
• VR Stabilizer plug-in brings 360 stabilization to Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects
• Photoshop streamlines the photo-editing process with one-click selections

Corel VideoStudio 2018 aims for simpler, faster video edits

Corel’s budget video editor series VideoStudio is designed to mix quality and speed — and the new VideoStudio Ultimate 2018 improves on both. On Tuesday, February 13, Corel VideoStudio Ultimate launched with workflow improvements and new tools designed for non-professionals.

Previous VideoStudio users will recognize the user interface but that same layout now offers more controls and tools for speeding up those video edits. While the layout may look familiar, portions of the interface can now be detached from the usual view, allowing for a more custom view when working with two monitors. A new dual-window view displays both the video and that video’s properties at once.

The video timeline, the visual representation of all the clips, audio and effects, now has new options to change the height and transparency to make the text easier to read. A new keyboard shortcut allows users to mark the spots in the video to easily go back and find the right moment in the clip later.

Along with enhancements to the user interface, VideoStudio Ultimate 2018 also gains two new tools. A new split-screen template allows video editors to display multiple clips at once. The split screen editor allows users to start with a template or design their own, then mix videos with a drag-and-drop interface. The software also introduces a 3D video title editor that allows users to change the position of the text on a keyframe basis, which allows for custom motion effects.

The latest reiteration of VideoStudio also sees several smaller enhancements across the program’s list of features. The existing pan and zoom controls have more options for setting a start and end point to create a pan or zoom effect. Lens correction tools are now easier to use with manual adjustments or by choosing the lens that shot the video from a drop-down menu for camera-specific calibration. The 360 compatibility introduced in 2017 gains support for more formats, including equirectangular, along with playback options and direct exporting to YouTube and Vimeo. Additional premium effects and plugins are also available with the update.

Despite the new list of features, the program is around 5 to 15 percent faster at tasks like previewing and rendering video, while users with the best graphics cards could see up to a 20 percent performance boost compared to the earlier version.

VideoStudio Ultimate 2018 joins Corel’s Pinnacle Studio line designed for advanced users as a simpler interface for non-pros. After a pre-launch to current customers, the new VideoStudio Ultimate is now available, retailing for about $100.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Snapchat now lets you create custom, wacky AR Lenses with new fee-based tool
• Bid farewell to lengthy Photoshop cutouts with new AI-powered tool
• Adobe narrows the gap between Lightroom CC and Classic with new tools
• Imgur adds looping GIF feature, new iOS news feed before big desktop redesign
• Here is what users are saying about that new Snapchat redesign

The first wave of Google’s Pixelbook Pen holder finally starts shipping

Google’s mysterious looped pen holder accessory for the Pixelbook Pen is now shipping for customers who took advantage of the free offer in mid-January. It serves as an alternative to the weak magnet already provided just beneath the back of the Pixelbook’s screen. It attaches to the bottom of the Pixelbook using a sticky surface and reportedly holds the pen firmly in place. 

Google launched its Pixelbook in October with a starting price of $999. It’s the first Chromebook with native Google Assistant support, packing a seventh-generation Intel Core processor, up to 16GB of system memory, up to 512GB of SSD-based storage, and a 12.3-inch screen with a 2,400 x 1,600 resolution. The only inputs and outputs you’ll find are two USB-C ports and a headphone jack. 

You also won’t find the Pixelbook Pen bundled with Google’s latest Chromebook. It’s a $99 accessory that relies on an AAAA battery (read: small) and a single button that supports Google Assistant — just press the button and then circle text or images to get relevant answers. 

Unfortunately, there is no built-in socket for storing the Pixelbook Pen. Instead, Google supplies a weak magnet under the surface of the lid to temporary store the pen when it’s not in use while you’re seated at Starbucks, in the office, and so on. Actually storing the pen means sticking it into a briefcase, pocket, or purse, which could prevent its use simply because it is not in your line of sight. 

To fix this problem, Google began offering the Pixelbook Pen loop accessory in mid-January for free on a special landing page. Those who took advantage of the offer only needed to fill out a form: No payment was necessary. But once customers submitted the required form, Google didn’t provide any confirmation, nor did the company say when or if the pen loop accessory would even ship. 

That said, there were no real signs of the accessory until one Google Plus member posted screenshots, confirming receipt. According to the post, the accessory appeared around two weeks after submitting the form on Google’s website. Although it attaches to the bottom of the Pixelbook via a sticky surface, Google’s premium Chromebook still sits flat on a table or desktop despite the accessory’s added thickness.  

A closer look at the Google Plus post shows that another individual received the Pixelbook Pen holder, too. So far there is no indication that Google will provide the pen holder for free again, simply sell the attachment through Google Play, or bundle it with the Pixelbook Pen in the near future

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best Chromebooks you can buy right now
• Samsung Notebook 9 Pen hands-on review
• Everything you need to know about the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL
• Addition of Google to the Universal Stylus Initiative may improve Pixelbook Pens
• You can use Google’s new Fuchsia operating system on the Pixelbook

Asus ZenBook 13 UX331 billed as the ‘thinnest laptop with discrete graphics’

Asus announced a new ZenBook 13 at CES 2018 that was fairly thin and fairly light, but also a bit similar to one of our favorite budget notebooks, the ZenBook UX330UA. Apparently, that similarity was a bit much, because now Asus has performed a little tap dance and is pushing out the ZenBook 13 UX331UN instead. Rather than just serve as a slightly premium version of essentially the same laptop, this ZenBook 13 has a meaningful difference.

Specifically, the ZenBook 13 UX331UN that Asus announced on February 13 is very much like the machine it previewed at CES, only it packs in a discrete Nvidia GeForce MX150 GPU. According to Asus, that makes the ZenBook 13 UX331UN the “world’s thinnest laptop with discrete graphics.” We’re in the process of reviewing that notebook as we write this, and we’ll report soon on whether Asus managed to properly meld a thin and light design with the thermal requirements of the MX150.

In terms of its overall specifications, the ZenBook 13 is thin but not exceedingly so at 0.55 inches, which is a bit chunkier than competing machines like the Dell XPS 13. It weighs only 2.47 pounds, which is rather remarkable for such a potentially potent notebook. Equipped with an eighth-generation Intel Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD, the ZenBook 13 UX331UN should provide solid productivity performance and some decent creativity performance in more demanding tasks like video editing. A 50 watt-hour battery should provide close to a full working day’s worth of work away from a plug.

Screen size:
13.3 inch touch display

Screen resolution:
1,920 x 1,080

Operating system:
Windows 10 Home

Processor:
Intel Core i5-8250U

Graphics:
Intel UHD 620 Graphics

System memory:
8GB RAM

Storage:
256GB SATA SSD

Webcam:
HD web camera (facing)

Connectivity:
Wireless AC (2×2)
Bluetooth 4.1

Audio:
Harmon Kardon audio system with 2x speakers and smart amplifier

Battery:
50 Watt-hour

Ports:
1x Micro SD card reader
1x Microphone/headphone combo jack
2x USB-A 3.1
1x USB-C 3.1 Gen1
1x HDMI

Size:
12.20 x 8.50 x 0.55 inches

Weight:
2.47 pounds

The ZenBook 13 follows the usual ZenBook aesthetic, with the same spun-metal finish adorning the Royal Blue all-aluminum chassis. A special nano-imprinted lithography (NIL) process was used to cover the notebook with a “crystal-like gloss coating” that adds some sophistication to the look. The bezels around the 13.3-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) resolution display are 6.86mm on each side, creating an 80 percent screen-to-body ratio.

Finally, connectivity comes by way of a USB-C 3.1 Gen1 port, two USB-A 3.1 Gen1 ports, an HDMI port, and a microSD card reader. Wireless connectivity comes via the usual 2×2 MU-MIMO 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1.

If the combination of a thin and light chassis with a discrete GPU tucked away inside appeals to you, then you can pick up the Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN for $1,000. It’s available at Amazon, the Asus Store, Newegg, and other retailers.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Asus shows off Zenbook 13 with up to 15 hours of battery life and Intel 8th-gen
• Lenovo’s updated ThinkPads include T480s with Nvidia MX150, affordable X-Series
• Dell’s refreshed Latitude laptops get to work with 8th-gen Intel Core, 4G LTE
• Dell XPS 13 vs. Asus ZenBook 13: Two thin and light 13-inch notebooks face off
• The best Linux laptops you can buy

How to use VRChat with Samsung Gear VR

You don’t need a pricey PC-based VR setup to enjoy VRChat.

VRChat, the social VR space that allows you to take on just about any avatar and act out your wildest dreams, is usually accessible by Windows Mixed Reality (WMR), HTC Vive, or Oculus Rift. These are undoubtedly pricey options just to get in on some VRChat fun, but there is another way! If you have a Samsung Gear VR and a PC, I’ll show you how to stream VRChat between the two.

See Gear VR at Amazon

• What you need to use VRChat on your Gear VR
• How to get VRidge set up on your PC
• How to get VRidge set up on your phone
• How to stream VRChat to your Gear VR
• Dealing with latency issues

What you need to use VRChat on your Gear VR

Before getting into the VRidge/Riftcat installation stuff, you need to have Steam, SteamVR, and VRChat installed on your PC. You might already have these running since VRChat can be played on a standard 2D monitor, but if that’s not the case, you can download everything through these links. It’s all free!

• Download Steam
• Download SteamVR
• See VRChat at Steam

How to get VRidge set up on your PC

Before getting your phone set up, you need to get Riftcat installed and running on your PC. There are some minimum and recommended specs straight from the Riftcat website.

As long as your PC can run it, follow these steps:

Navigate to the Riftcat website.
Click Download.

Click Run.

Click Accept.

Click Install.

Click Start Riftcat.

Click I Accept.

It’s now time to turn attention to the phone.

How to get VRidge set up on your phone

Now that your PC is ready and waiting to connect, we will run through similar steps on your phone.

Launch the Google Play app.
Search for “VRidge”.

Tap VRidge 2.0.

Tap Install.

Tap Open.

The VRidge app should attempt to make a connection with your PC. Ensure that your phone is using the same Wi-Fi network as your PC.

How to stream VRChat to your Gear VR

Once you have the VRidge app installed on your phone and Riftcat set up on your PC, a connection will automatically be attempted. You should see a prompt pop up on your PC. At this point, you can place the phone inside your Gear VR and proceed on your computer.

Click Yes if this is indeed your phone.

Click the Play button. SteamVR should automatically launch.

VRChat can be launched from your PC or through SteamVR Home that you can now see in your Gear VR. That’s it! To get around in VRChat, it’s recommended you use a gamepad, though you can work things out with the PC’s keyboard and mouse.

Best Gamepad for Samsung Gear VR

Riftcat/VRidge is free to use for a limited amount of time. Following that, there’s a €15 price tag to use it without restriction.

See at Riftcat

Dealing with latency issues

Because you’re likely streaming this content over Wi-Fi, choosing the 5GHz band (if possible) should cause far less latency issues.

If wireless just isn’t cutting it and you have a Samsung Galaxy S8, you can always grab a USB-C to Ethernet adapter and run a cable to your Gear VR. This isn’t the most elegant solution, but it might be necessary. For about $12, this one from CableCreation should do the trick.

See at Amazon

More resources

Need a bit more info about VRChat? Check out these other guides!

• Beginner’s guide to VRChat
• Tips and tricks to get the most out of VRChat

Scrutiny is good [#acpodcast]

Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, and Jerry Hildenbrand are not lawyers, but they play them on podcasts.

As the team gird their collective loins for Mobile World Congress, OnePlus remains in the crosshairs of Internet outrage. But is all the anger justified? Also, who should the responsibility and cost associated with security updates fall to? Carriers? Phone manufacturers? Should customers have to pay extra for guaranteed updates? So many questions!

The crew also discuss the redesign expected for Android P, Oreo updates for the Galaxy S8, Essential’s USB-C headphones, new emoji via Samsung Experience 9.0, and more. Listen up!

Listen now

• Subscribe in iTunes: Audio
• Subscribe in RSS: Audio
• Download directly: Audio

Show Notes and Links:

• OnePlus’ real problem is getting heard above the noise
• Cheap Android phones shouldn’t be disposable
• Essential Earphones HD: $99 for one of very few USB-C headphone options
• Google just made the Pixel 2 the best camera for Instagram and Snapchat
• The Pixel Visual Core, explained
• Android P will feature a ‘dramatic redesign’ and support notch displays
• Samsung is finally rolling out the Oreo update to the Galaxy S8/S8+
• Oreo update for Galaxy S8 does not support Project Treble
• Samsung Experience 9.0 makes emoji on Galaxy devices less awful

Sponsors:

• Thrifter.com: All the best deals from Amazon, Best Buy, and more, fussily curated and constantly updated.
• GameStash: Hundreds of awesome games on your Android phone. Try it free for 14 days!

Grab Anker’s pocket-sized LED flashlight for $8

Stash one of these anywhere you might need some light.

Anker’s Bolder LC40 LED flashlight drops to just $7.99 at Amazon when you enter promo code 24WL5MJO at checkout. That code discounts the flashlight’s price by $5.

We haven’t seen a deal on Anker’s powerful-but-small LC40 flashlights since mid-December. This price matches that one. If you missed it the last time, you can get a couple of these flashlights for use around the house, while camping, or for the glove compartment when you drop stuff underneath the passenger car seat.

The LC40 has a powerful light but is small enough to fit easily into your purse or pocket. It will get the best results (six hours of life and the full 400 lumens) from an 18650 rechargeable battery. You can get this set of two with a charger for $14.99.

You can also get the Anker LC90 LED flashlight on sale for $19.99 with code LFQ8D5YD. It is normally $26. It’s got 900 lumens compared to the LC40’s 400 lumens. It also comes with the 18650 battery you need for the best light output.

See at Amazon