YouTube is testing floating picture-in-picture videos on the web

YouTube might bring one of its mobile apps’ most useful multitasking features to the desktop version. The platform has started testing picture-in-picture playback on desktop, a feature that continues playing your video inside a small floating panel when you navigate to other parts of the site. So long as what you’re watching is currently playing, YouTube will minimize and place it on the lower right-hand corner while you browse other videos.

Since it’s just a test, though, it’s only live for very small number of accounts — only one Engadget editor has access to it at the moment. That editor has an ordinary account with no YouTube Red subscription, so it’s safe to say that the platform isn’t giving Red subscribers the special treatment. As you can see in the GIF below, the minimized panel has Pause, Play and even Next controls, so you can keep playing video after video in the background. Clicking on the title underneath the small panel takes you to that video’s page.

If that sounds like a great feature to have, you’ll have to cross your fingers and hope for the best. Like any other YouTube or Google test, the feature might or might not see wider release in the future.

Google is reportedly acquiring Lytro for around $40 million

Lytro burst onto the scene in 2011 with its then-unprecedented “light field” technology that powered an oddly-shaped camera with the ability to refocus pictures after they’re taken. The first $400 camera arrived in 2012, however, after a pivot to virtual reality (where its technology creates photographs and videos that you can move around in to experience from different angles) and pro cameras, TechCrunch reports the company will be acquired by Google. According to unnamed sources, Google is mostly grabbing the company’s technology and patents for about $40 million, with some employees having already departed.

So what could Google have in mind? Light field technology has a lot of implications for virtual reality, and just last week Google launched a “Welcome to Light Fields” app on Steam with “navigable stills” where users can “experience real-world reflections, depth, and translucence like never before in VR.” Lytro’s tech is perfect for this application, and for videos where users could change their perspective in VR. TechCrunch also points out that Lytro itself recently acquired Limitless, developer of the Reaping Rewards VR experience, to work on technology to blend animation with light-field captured live action video.

All of that could come in handy as Google takes on Facebook (with its upcoming Oculus Go mass-market VR device), Magic Leap and all the rest.

Source: TechCrunch

‘Hyper Light Drifter’ is another indie game coming to Switch

Nintendo wasn’t done with the indie game announcements after its #Nindies live stream earlier today. At an event and on social media it revealed three more ports coming to the Switch soon: Hyper Light Drifter, Nidhogg 2 and Crashlands. All three are GameMaker Studio titles, so it’s not surprising they’re coming to Nintendo’s convertible console now that the development tool has Switch support built-in.

Hyper Light Drifter is confirmed due this summer in the eShop — after missing out on a hoped-for Wii U release — while the other two are scheduled to arrive later this year. Abylight Studios is in charge of the port, and said it’s working with GameMaker creator Yoyo Games since this title “pushed the technical envelope.” If you’d like an early peek, the original developer tweeted a brief, blurry clip of the game running on Switch.

Journey through a beautiful, vast world riddled with dangers when #HyperLightDrifter launches on #NintendoSwitch #eShop this summer! #Nindies pic.twitter.com/8tUu8Q4RVo

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 20, 2018

Alright so NOW I can finally say we are coming to Nintendo Switch! 2018, here we go

— Skeletons Inside (@HeartMachineZ) March 20, 2018

Dash dash pic.twitter.com/gVxfg4kGMY

— Skeletons Inside (@HeartMachineZ) March 20, 2018

Switch the way you play Nidhogg 2 later this year! @Nintendo @NintendoAmerica @NintendoEurope pic.twitter.com/72oyR2ih0T

— Mark Essen (@messhof) March 20, 2018

Switch the way you play Nidhogg 2 later this year! @Nintendo @NintendoAmerica @NintendoEurope pic.twitter.com/72oyR2ih0T

— Mark Essen (@messhof) March 20, 2018

Source: Nintendo (Twitter), Abylight Studios

How to delete your Facebook account

The recent fiasco with Cambridge Analytica is a perfect example of how Facebook slithers through the lives of every individual whether they know it or not, and why many people simply want to be done with the social network.

Thankfully, deleting your Facebook profile can be done in a matter of minutes. Whereas deactivating your account will only put some of your information on temporary hiatus, deleting it indefinitely will permanently rid the site of your data, from photo albums and Likes to status updates and timeline info, with no option for recovery. After 14 days, it will be like you were never there to begin with.

Ready to free yourself from social media fatigue? Scroll down a bit if you want to learn how to protect your personal data without actually deleting Facebook. If you’ve really had enough though, follow the instructions below.

Delete your account for good

Deletion Episode 1: Pack your bags

Much like anything you don’t necessarily need to do, but desire to do, there’s always a moment of hesitation before you pull the trigger. You’ve likely built up a wealth of Facebook content since you stumbled onto the site all those years ago, a good deal of it in the form of candid photos, messages and other content that speaks highly (or not so much) about you as an individual.

Luckily, Facebook allows users to download an archival volume of your data for offline use, including photos, posts you’ve shared, ads you’ve clicked and a host of other data not accessible simply by logging into your account. It’s quick and easy to download, and though it won’t be as exciting as navigating your actual timeline, at least it’s there should you want to virtually stroll down memory lane.

Step 1: Click on the down arrow button next to the question mark icon on the navigation bar. 

Step 2: Click “Settings.” 

Step 3: On the resulting “General Account Settings” page, click on the “Download a copy of your Facebook data” link listed directly under “Manage Account.” 

Step 4: On the “Download Your Information” page, click on the green “Start My Archive” button. 

Step 5: Enter your password in the pop-up box and hit “Submit.” 

Step 6: Click the blue “Start My Archive” button in the popup. 

Step 7: Facebook will send a link to the archive via email when it’s ready.

Step 8: After receiving Facebook’s email, click on the link.

Step 9: On the resulting page, click on the green “Download Archive” button and re-enter your password. 

Step 10: Select the location where you want to locally store the data and click the “Save” button. 

Deletion Episode 2: Sever your ties

Now that you have a local copy of your Facebook account, you can move to delete it from the social website. But that’s a drastic step: one that Facebook intentionally buries within its Help Center. You can deactivate your account for any amount of time, but getting to the process of actually ridding yourself of Facebook forever is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Facebook’s grace period is a double-edge sword. When you request to delete your account, you’ll be given 14 days in which you can login and immediately reactivate your account. While this may sound convenient should you change your mind within the two-week span, it’s not exactly convenient if you’re trying to delete your account once and for all.

That’s because there’s a slight problem. Third-party apps you’ve previously linked to your Facebook account — such as Instagram, Spotify and Twitter — will automatically log you into Facebook, regardless if you’ve chosen to delete your account. That being said, it’s best to remove any linked accounts from the social network prior to deletion. Just make sure to login to the app next time using its respective login credential, not your soon-to-be-deleted Facebook info.

Step 1: Click on the down arrow button next to the question mark icon on the navigation bar. 

Step 2: Click “Settings.” 

Step 3: On the resulting “General Account Settings” page, click the “Apps” category in the menu on the left. 

Step 4: On the resulting “App Settings” page, you’ll see a handful of listed apps. To see all connected apps, click on the “Show All” to list (surprise!) an insane number of connected apps. 

Step 5: To delete apps individually, move your mouse over the app and click on the “X” to remove. 

Step 6: In the pop-up box, click on the blue “Remove” button. 

Step 7: Rinse and repeat as necessary. 

Deletion Part 3: Hasta lavista, baby

Once you’ve downloaded your data and unlinked all third-party ties with Facebook, it’s time to actually delete your account. Again, there’s no going back once the 14-day grace period expires, so make sure deleting your account is the right decision for you. Jot down those birthdays and ask your online friends for contact info outside of Facebook. Deleting your Facebook account doesn’t have to mean you’ll drop of the face of the Earth.

Step 1: Simply head here to the Help center.

Step 2: Click on the blue “Delete My Account” button. 

Step 3: In the following pop-up box, enter your password, enter the provided CAPTCHA code, and hit the white “OK” button. 

Step 4: In the following pop-up window, Facebook will state that the account will be deleted within 14 days. Click the blue “OK” button to confirm. So long, Facebook! 

Step 5: Avoid Facebook at all costs until account deletion. Feel the freedom. 

Most importantly, do not access the website using your desktop browser, mobile device or through any third-party app or service that’s still active using Facebook’s credentials. Your account will be permanently deleted after the given amount of time. If you do login accidentally, repeat the deletion process and ensure you’ve disconnected all third-party software from Facebook.

Protect yourself without deleting Facebook

Alternative #1: Remove Facebook from apps 

This first alternative removes Facebook from connected apps. You’re essentially turning the platform off so third-party apps don’t have access to your account and its information. Here’s how to block them:

Step 1: Click on the down arrow button next to the question mark icon on the navigation bar. 

Step 2: Click Settings. 

Step 3: On the resulting “General Account Settings” page, click the “Apps” category in the menu on the left. 

Step 4: On the resulting page, locate “Apps, Websites and Plugins” listed under the apps and click the “Edit” button. 

Step 5: On the pop-up, click the blue “Disable Platform” button. 

Alternative #2: Block specific data used by other apps 

With this method, you’re controlling the data friends and family take with them to other apps, such as your birthday, relationships, education, employment, and so on. Here’s how you can cut off their data supply:

Step 1: Click on the down arrow button next to the question mark icon on the navigation bar. 

Step 2: Click Settings. 

Step 3: On the resulting “General Account Settings” page, click the “Apps” category in the menu on the left. 

Step 4: On the resulting page, locate “App Others Use” and click the “Edit” button. 

Step 5: On the pop-up window, choose the data you allow other people to bring with them in their apps. 

Step 6: Click the blue “Save” button. 

Alternative #3: Turn off Facebook’s data collection on other websites 

Finally, our third alternative pertains to your Facebook information used for advertisements. These include your use of websites and apps, and advertisements paired with your social actions. Here’s how to nuke this use of your data:

Step 1: Click on the down arrow button next to the question mark icon on the navigation bar. 

Step 2: Click Settings. 

Step 3: On the resulting “General Account Settings” page, click the “Ads” category in the menu on the left. 

Step 4: On the resulting “Your ad preferences” page, scroll down to “Ad Settings.” 

Step 5: Switch on or off “Ads based on your use of websites and apps.” 

Step 6: Switch on or off “Ads on apps and websites off of the Facebook Companies.” 

Step 7: Choose “Only my friends” or “No One” for “Ads with your social actions.” 

Step 8: While you’re here, scroll up to “Your information” and switch off the available settings to your preference. 

Still want to delete your Facebook account? Fine then. Let’s move on.

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Ubisoft fights off takeover by entertainment giant Vivendi

Ubisoft is finally free of Vivendi. The entertainment titan behind the Universal Music Group and Dailymotion kept buying more and more Ubisoft shares since 2015 to the point that it became the video game publisher’s largest stakeholder. While Vivendi said that it was only interested in a seat in Ubisoft’s board, the video game publisher sees its aggressive purchase as a hostile takeover and has been thinking of ways to fight it off for years. Now, it looks like Ubisoft will safely remain a Guillemot family business with help from (PDF) Tencent, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and other investors.

The Assassin’s Creed developer successfully convinced Vivendi to sell all of its 30.5 million stocks — that’s 27.3 percent of Ubisoft’s share capital — and to agree not to acquire any within the next five years. Tencent has agreed to purchase 5.6 million shares at US$81 each, while the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan has committed to buy 3.8 million. Ubisoft considers them both as long-term investors, but their purchase won’t grant them a seat in the publisher’s board. In addition, Ubisoft is buying millions of its own shares and selling millions more to various investors.

If you’re wondering why Vivendi agreed to the deal, it might be because it’s getting around $2.47 billion from the transactions, more than double the $919 million it paid for Ubisoft’s stocks over the past few years. We doubt Ubisoft minds, especially since its deal with Tencent also comes with a partnership agreement that will widen its franchises’ reach in China.

Via: Rolling Stone

Source: Ubisoft

Huawei’s P20 Pro reportedly packs a 40MP camera

Do you still have a hole in your heart where Nokia’s camera-centric Lumia 1020 used to be? It might be filled very shortly. WinFuture sources have claimed that Huawei’s upcoming P20 Pro will include an ultra-high resolution 40-megapixel rear camera in addition to an 8MP telephoto shooter and a 20MP black-and-white sensor. It’s not certain just what this extreme sensor will do (besides providing extremely detailed images), but the Lumia 1020 used its 41MP sensor to offer zoomed-in photos and videos without sacrificing too much detail.

The Pro would offer the equivalent of 3X optical zoom through its telephoto lens, and is expected to shoot 960 frames per second slow motion. Whether that’s brief slow-mo like the Galaxy S9 or continuous like the Xperia XZ2 isn’t clear. The front camera reportedly snaps 24-megapixel images for those who need extra-detailed selfies.

Huawei is poised to unveil the Pro on March 27th alongside the regular P20 and P20 Lite. Provided WinFuture is accurate, we now have a better sense of how it’ll distinguish each model. It’ll ultimately come down to how much you value photography — the Pro would be for mobile shutterbugs, while its siblings would be aimed at everyday users who would be fine with “just” two cameras on the back.

Via: The Verge, TechRadar, Pocket-Lint, XDA

Source: WinFuture (translated)

Apple’s Face ID is two years ahead of Android, say parts suppliers

According to reports from multiple suppliers, Android devices are at least two years behind Apple when it comes to setting up face-identifying tech on the level of Apple’s Face ID.

Apple introduced Face ID in last year’s iPhone X as a replacement for the absence of the long-running Touch ID. Face ID uses an array of cameras and sensors housed in the iPhone X’s notch to quickly identify your face and unlock your phone. It’s not just simple face-recognition — the TrueDepth tech actually sees the 3D model of your face, and will only unlock if it recognizes you perfectly.

It’s not perfect, and it’s not always faster than Touch ID — but it’s still a heck of a technological feat and one that Android phones may have to wait up to two years to emulate, according to statements from suppliers whose parts are integral to the tech used in Apple’s Face ID setup.

What was the key to Apple’s lead? Simply, Apple’s aggressive strategy in monopolizing as much of the supply of these components as possible. According to parts manufacturers Viavi Solutions Inc, Finisar Corp and Ams AG, there simply aren’t enou-gh parts to go around yet, and that “bottleneck” will mean that mass adoption of 3D-sensing tech will be pushed back at least a year. The report points out that vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, or VCSELs, are particularly scarce, with Viavi being the only major supplier of the required optical filters.

Other aggressive moves from Apple include the investment of $390 million into VCSEL-maker Finisar that ensured Apple’s supply of that particular tech, and similar moves to secure cobalt needed for batteries.

It’s clear that most companies in that particular area are gearing up for a large expansion in the coming years. Tech research firm Gartner predicts that 40 percent of all smartphones will be equipped with 3D-sensing tech by 2021, and component makers are reacting according, with Lumentum and Finisar, in particular, expecting to see large growth during the opening months of 2019.

Android phones have had some form of face-sensing tech for years — however, Apple’s Face ID has been lauded for taking it to the next level, with true 3D-sensing capabilities that is harder to fool than traditional tech. While Samsung introduced a new hybrid biometric that combines iris and face scanning in its Galaxy S9, it’s still a far cry from Face ID.

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Check out the best affordable Samsung phones for March 2018

Although there are lots of Android phone makers out there today, Samsung is still the king. The company’s hugely popular Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series continue to dominate the Android market, but Samsung also offers a lot of lesser-known (but still great) non-flagship models that you can grab on the cheap.

We’ve picked out the best cheap Samsung phones out there right now, including some of the most popular and readily available models. These offers run the gamut from budget-friendly and midrange devices to affordable previous-gen flagships. Also be sure to check out our updated smartphone deals roundup for some more great discounts on newer Samsung phones like the Galaxy S8 and S9.

Samsung Galaxy J Series

The Galaxy J series was introduced in 2013 as Samsung’s entry-level line of mobile Android devices. Although the original J and J1 have been discontinued, the J2, J3, J5, and J7 have continued to get refreshes each year since 2015, with the new 2017 models available at very attractive price points.

The Galaxy J2 and J3 run on quad-core mobile processors, while the Galaxy J7 and the new J5 boast beefier 1.6GHz octa-core CPUs. The latest Galaxy J models all come loaded with Android Nougat as well. Among the 2017 refreshes, the Galaxy J2 features a 4.7-inch 540p AMOLED display and 1GB of RAM, both the J3 and J5 come with a 720p display (5-inch for the J3 and 5.2-inch for the J5) and 2GB of RAM, and the larger J7 boasts a 5.5-inch 1080p screen and 3GB of RAM.

For last-gen 2016 devices, you’ll be limited to 2GB of RAM, 720p displays, and Android Marshmallow, even with the J7. The Galaxy J2 is your best bet if you want the best cheap Samsung phone you can find, although the 2017 model only comes with 8GB of internal storage (compared to 16GB for the other J devices). No matter which device you pick, however, we’ve got the best available deals on the currently available Galaxy J phones right here:

Samsung Galaxy J2 Deals

$115 from Ebay

$117 from Amazon

$117 from Walmart

Samsung Galaxy J3 Deals

$125 from Amazon

$110 from Ebay

Samsung Galaxy J5 Deals

$190 from Amazon

$160 from Ebay

$170 from B&H

Samsung Galaxy J7 Deals

$219 from Amazon

$185 from Ebay

$320 from Best Buy

Samsung Galaxy A Series

After the J series debuted in 2013, Samsung rolled out the first Galaxy A smartphone the following year. The A lineup represents the company’s midrange Galaxy mobiles and features the sturdy metallic housings that Samsung first debuted on the Alpha, the predecessor to the Galaxy A.

The 2017 Galaxy A revisions come with either Android Marshmallow or Nougat. The A3, A5, and A7 are the most commonly available models, with each one featuring an octa-core CPU (1.6GHz inside the A3 and 1.9GHz in the A5 and A7). The Galaxy A3 comes loaded with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory, while the A3 and A5 both feature 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.

The A series covers a wide range in terms of size: The pocket-friendly A3 boasts a 4.7-inch 720p display, the A5 features a 5-inch 1080p screen, and the larger phablet-style A7 has a 5.7-inch 1080p display. All use rugged Gorilla Glass 4 and vibrant AMOLED technology. The A3 also has a 13MP rear camera with a 8MP cam in the front, and the A5 and A6 both have impressive 16MP front and rear shooters.

If you’re looking for a nice midrange Android device with premium glass and metal construction, then the A series is a great choice, and we’ve got the best cheap Samsung phone deals right here on available models:

Samsung Galaxy A3 Deals

$170 from Amazon

$246 from Ebay

Samsung Galaxy A5 Deals

$328 from Amazon

$329 from B&H

$326 from Ebay

Samsung Galaxy A7 Deals

$340 from Amazon

$360 from B&H

$329 from Ebay

Samsung Galaxy C Series

The Galaxy C family was rolled out in China in 2016 to replace the A lineup in that region, but you can find some deals on these cheap Samsung phones floating around among U.S. retailers. Like the A devices, the Galaxy C smartphones are glass- and aluminum-clad, and 2017 models are loaded with Android Nougat mobile OS (as with the other cheap Samsung phones on our roundup, the 2016 releases run on Android Marshmallow).

The Galaxy C5 comes with a 5.2-inch 1080p AMOLED display, while the C7 is a bit larger with a 5.7-inch 1080p screen. Both feature 16MP front and rear cameras, Qualcomm Snapdragon octa-core processor units, and 4GB of RAM. The C5 and C7 are also available in both 32GB and 64GB variants, so you’ve got plenty of internal storage for your apps and files.

The Galaxy C5 and C7 are very similar in specs to the A series, and considering that international models are readily available from online retailers, either one will suit your needs if you’re in the market for the best cheap Samsung phones that offer improved features and build quality over the entry-level J devices. We’ve got up-to-date deals on them right here:

Samsung Galaxy C5 Deals

$222 from Amazon

$220 from Ebay

$290 from Walmart

Samsung Galaxy C7 Deals

$244 from Amazon

$246 from Ebay

Samsung Galaxy S5 and S6

Most of these cheap Samsung phones come from the company’s non-flagship lines, but you can also score some great deals on slightly older high-end models like the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S6 – two of our all-time favorite Android devices that give the iPhone a run for its money.

The Galaxy S5 and S6 both launched sporting 5.1-inch AMOLED touchscreens, with the S5 display boasting an HD resolution of 1080p and the S6 featuring a 1440p display. Hardware specs vary a bit depending on specific model and LTE compatibility, but they all run on quad-core CPUs and come with 2GB or 3GB of RAM. The S5 offers 16GB or 32GB of internal storage and the S6 is available with between 32GB and 128GB of memory.

The Galaxy S5 and S6 were highly successful and extremely popular upon release, so they are still readily available from numerous online outlets. If you don’t want to shell out the cash for the newer S8 or S9, then we’ve picked out the best deals going right now on cheap Samsung Galaxy S5 and S6 phones:

Samsung Galaxy S5 Deals

$177 from Amazon

$140 from Ebay

Samsung Galaxy S6 Deals

$260 from Amazon

$230 from Ebay

Samsung Galaxy Note Series

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Part of the reason that Samsung has managed to retain the largest market share among Android phone makers is the company’s ability to innovate and stay ahead of trends. The Galaxy Note series is a standout example, as this lineup all but pioneered the “phablet” phone format, with larger displays that make these devices much more useful for enjoying things like Android games and videos.

As Samsung’s secondary flagship line, the newest Note models will cost you a pretty penny, but older models like the excellent Note 4, Note Edge, and Note 5 can be had for much cheaper and still feature solid hardware. As you probably guessed, these phones boast large displays that measure in at 5.7 inches and feature a crisp HD resolution of 1440p. The Edge also notably features a unique curved sidebar for app shortcuts and notifications.

Under the hood, the Note 4, Note Edge, and Note 5 feature similar hardware to the S5 and S6, which makes sense considering they were launched alongside one another. All run on quad-core CPUs, though the Note 5 also uses an octa-core processor in certain models. The Note 4 and Note Edge have 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, while the Note 5 has 4GB of RAM and between 32GB and 128GB of space.

If you’ve gotta have a large phone, then the Note series is the one to get, and we’ve smoked out the best cheap Samsung phones from this phablet lineup that are available online right now:

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Deals

$260 from Amazon

$229 from Ebay

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Deals

$338 from Amazon

$287 from Ebay

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge Deals

$257 from Ebay

Looking for more great stuff? Our curated deals page has everything you need, or you can sign up for our deals newsletter for weekly updates.

We strive to help our readers find the best deals on quality products and services, and choose what we cover carefully and independently. If you find a better price for a product listed here, or want to suggest one of your own, email us at dealsteam@digitaltrends.com.Digital Trends may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers.

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The Google News Initiative aims to step up the fight against fake news

Google is taking its fight against fake news to the next level. The company has announced two new initiatives aimed specifically at supporting journalism and fighting the spread of misinformation on the internet.

The first new effort is called the Google News Initiative, and it’s similar to the company’s Digital News Initiative in Europe. Google has three goals with the Google News Initiative — to highlight journalism while fighting misinformation, to help news sites continue to grow, and to give journalists new tools to do their jobs. How serious is it about these efforts? Well, it has pledged to invest a hefty $300 million into them over the next three years.

In particular, it seems that Google wants to stop the spread of fake news during a breaking news event. The company acknowledges that it can be easy for false information to spread when news outlets are scrambling to get information on an event — only to accidentally publish false information that they may have gotten from bad actors attempting to mislead. To prevent that, Google says that it’s putting a heavier emphasis on authoritative factors, rather than things like freshness. The company will continue to train its system to better recognize content that could be misleading, and demote it in favor of the display of accurate results.

Google says it’s also working with organizations like First Draft to launch “Disinfo Lab,” which is aimed at combatting fake news during elections or when there is breaking news. According to the company’s blog post, Disinfo Lab will employ journalists to “leverage computational tools to monitor misinformation in the run-up to and during elections.”

The company also wants to make it easy to subscribe to your favorite news websites — like The New York Times or The Telegraph — with “Subscribe with Google.” Instead of having to subscribe on the outlet’s website, Google will allow you to subscribe directly from news pages, and payments will be handled through your Google account — so you don’t have to go through the process of subscribing and paying each individual outlet separately. Once subscribed, you’ll be able to see subscription content whenever you’re logged into your Google account. Not only that, but when you subscribe to a publication, Google sees that as an indication that you value and trust that brand’s content — so it will surface those sources in Search.

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No gimbal? Insta360 One says app update offers better stabilization anyway

The smartphone add-on 360 camera Insta360 One is powering more mobile capabilities, including stabilization and on-the-go editing. On Tuesday, March 20, Insta360 announced an app update that brings FlowState stabilization, along with mobile editing options. The update will roll out to the Insta360 One app on iOS and Android this week.

The FlowState option adds stabilization to the camera using a firmware update — the company even claims that the technology creates a video smoother than a smartphone gimbal. As a software update, there’s of course no change to the add-on camera’s hardware to integrate optical stabilization. But, stabilizing 360 video is an entirely different beast from steadying a standard camera.

Insta360 didn’t share its insights into how the new tech works, but with the entire view available, algorithms could potentially just adjust the viewing angle. Unlike electronic stabilization that crops the video, 360 programs could use the rest of the image instead of cropping the view. The Insta360 One isn’t the first 360 to integrate stabilization — the Garmin Virb 360 uses on-board sensors to stabilize video.

The developers also say that the stabilization helps the Insta360 One to shoot better hyper-lapses, or a time-lapse where the camera is moving throughout the video.

Along with the stabilization, Insta360 One is also gaining several new editing tools for sharing 360 videos without a computer. New modes allow 360 videographers to choose the direction the viewer sees. With Pivot Points, the camera follows set points within the footage, making sure the viewer doesn’t miss out on any essential action because they were looking in the opposite direction. Viewfinder allows edits to manually control the view, editing how the video plays out by moving the smartphone. The SmartTrack option, which was previously available but is newly updated, will also direct where the viewer is looking, but follows a specific object.

The Insta360 One is a smartphone-attachable 360 camera that retails for about $300. Originally iOS only, the company launched an Android adapter late last year, expanding the app to Google Play. The camera can also shoot video while unattached from the smartphone. Using dual lenses, the camera can capture 4K at 30 fps or stitch together 24-megapixel stills.

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