Google’s Pixel 2 portrait photo code is now open source

Of all the AI-related features inside the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, the portrait mode is arguably the most impressive — Google manages to produce dramatic-looking depth-of-field effects without relying on dual cameras or other exotic hardware. And now, it’s sharing some of those secrets with the rest of the world. The company has opened up the source code for DeepLab-v3+, the AI-based image segmentation technology that helps Pixel 2 phones separate the foreground and background. It uses a neural network to detect the outlines of foreground objects, helping to classify the objects you care about in a scene while ignoring those you don’t.

This doesn’t guarantee that new phones or camera apps will take Pixel 2-quality portraits, although it does open that possibility. And really, phone photos aren’t the point. Google researchers are hoping that both academics and industry figures will use the source code to not only improve on the technology, but find uses that Google hasn’t anticipated. This could be used for object detection and many other tasks where spotting boundaries could come in handy.

Via: The Verge

Source: Google Research Blog

Netflix Nixes Feature That Gave Patches to Kids for Watching TV

Netflix has decided to stop testing a new gamified TV streaming experience for children, which offered kids “patches” (aka stickers) for watching episodes of certain television shows.

Netflix started testing the feature in February, but it received widespread attention last week after the beta test was highlighted by various media sites. Given the negative attention Netflix received over the feature from parents concerned about their children watching too much TV, Netflix has decided not to move forward with development.

Image from Twitter
In a statement to BuzzFeed, Netflix said the testing for patches has ended and the feature will not be implemented.

“We’ve concluded the test for patches and have decided not to move forward with the feature for kids. We test lots of things at Netflix in order to learn what works well – and what doesn’t work well – for our members.”

During the beta testing period, there were several complaints about the feature from users who encountered it, with customers sharing their negative opinions on Twitter and other social networks. Netflix was accused of attempting to turn children into “binge watchers” through the patch program.

Hey @netflix! If this becomes a thing, my kids are not going to be allowed to watch Netflix any more. We don’t need you to drive engagement for them to *watch more TV*. https://t.co/Eb9sEBy3oV

— aprotim (@aprotim) March 12, 2018

@netflix hi. i have been a netflix subscriber for over ten years. i will cancel my subscription if patches stick around. i don’t need you actively encouraging my child to waste time in front of the television.

— The Ape of God (@simiadei) March 12, 2018

Netflix was testing the feature with a small number of users, with patches provided for shows like “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” “Trolls,” “Troll Hunters,” Fuller House,” and more. Netflix said the feature was aimed at providing collectible items for a “more interactive experience” and to “expand the storytelling world for the show.”

Users who were part of Netflix’s test group will no longer be seeing patches when watching TV shows.

Tag: Netflix
Discuss this article in our forums

Walmart says its grocery delivery will hit 100 new cities this year

Walmart and Amazon’s rivalry is alive and well. The former announced today that it plans to expand its Online Grocery Delivery service — currently available in six markets — to over 100 metro areas across the US this year. Additionally, Walmart’s Online Grocery Pickup service, which is available in 1,200 stores as of now, will reach 1,000 additional stores throughout 2018. The company says that with its planned delivery expansion, that service would then be available to over 40 percent of US households.

Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen Amazon and Walmart clap back at each other quite a bit, testing out new ways to get their goods to customers more efficiently, more cheaply and more quickly. While Amazon has explored drive-up and automated grocery stores, Walmart has tested out automated grocery kiosks. Both have tried out letting couriers place delivery orders inside customers’ houses. And while Walmart has played with having employees deliver your packages on their way home from work as well as sending them through Uber and Lyft, Amazon recently launched free, two-hour Whole Foods delivery in some markets. Both are also now offering meal kits.

While Amazon works on expanding its Whole Foods delivery service, it scaled back its Amazon Fresh service at the end of last year. Meanwhile, Walmart bought an NYC startup last year so that it could start offering same-day deliveries in the city.

Walmart says that it already employs over 18,000 personal shoppers that gather and pack customers’ online orders and thousands more will be hired this year as its online grocery shopping offerings expand. The delivery service requires a $30 minimum order and comes with a $10 fee. “Ninety percent of Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart store, and we serve more than 150 million customers a week, which gives us a unique opportunity to make every day a little easier for busy families,” Tom Ward, Walmart’s VP of digital operations, said in a statement. “Today, we’re expanding this promise by helping even more customers save time and money without leaving their homes.”

Via: Ars Technica

Source: Walmart

EA adds a new battle mode to four-year-old ‘Plants vs Zombies 2’

Plants vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time was pretty highly anticipated when it came out in 2013. The title got a couple expansions early on, but we really haven’t heard much about the lane-based castle defense game since then. Now, however, it looks like publisher EA and developer PopCap have a completely new high-score comparing player-vs-player system called Battlez mode. If nothing else, this might give us all a reason to hop back into the four-year-old title and try something a little new.

As you can tell from the explainer video, you’re not taking on your opponents directly, Instead, when you choose another player to compete against, you’ll set up plants in your backyard, then launch a massive wave of zombies. You’ll gather points from the number of zombies that you kill as well as how far back on the playing field you kill them. You can watch the score comparison change in a new banner set at the top of the Battlez stage. When the battle is over, you can see which plants your enemy used, which might give you some hints as to which plants to use in future battles. You’ll also get a progressively better reward the more games you win in a row.

Source: EA

Overcast adds a smarter way to dive back into a podcast

Marco Arment’s Overcast has a reputation as the podcast connoisseur’s iOS app of choice thanks to its inclusion of features you don’t even find in Apple’s official client, such as the automatic removal of dead air. That trend is continuing with the newly released Overcast 4.1, whose improvements might be extra-helpful if you find yourself lost whenever you return to a podcast. The new version adds a Smart Resume feature that not only skips back a few seconds when you hit play, but tweaks resumes and seeks so that they land on silences. You’ll ideally remember the context of what was being said before you paused, and won’t be as likely to resume playback in mid-sentence.

The update should also help if you’re the sort who tends to revisit podcasts soon after you’ve listened to them, but not much longer than that. Overcast previously either deleted podcasts the moment you were finished, or kept them for posterity. Now, there’s the option of holding on to podcasts for 24 hours before they’re removed from your device. You can also subscribe to private feeds that might need a login, such as a Patreon creator’s backers-only podcast. All told, you should have considerably more control over what you listen to and when.

Source: App Store, Marco.org

Amazon’s first debit card arrives in Mexico

Amazon has taken a number of steps to help you shop online without a bank card, and now it’s taking those efforts to their logical conclusion: the internet retailer has launched its first debit card, Amazon Rechargeable, in Mexico. Unlike a conventional debit or credit card, you can top it up using cash — you can load it with the equivalent of $967 US every month. You get a virtual card the moment you sign up (you only need to supply basic name, gender and date of birth info), and anyone who loads Rechargeable with the equivalent of $27 or more will get a physical card.

The card isn’t limited to Amazon, either. You can use it at other online stores, or to take advantage of outside internet services like Netflix, Spotify and Uber. Physical card owners can shop in retail stores. And if you need cash in a pinch, you can withdraw it from ATMs.

As with Amazon Cash and similar efforts, there’s one clear objective: making Amazon accessible to a wider swath of the population. Under a third of Mexican adults have credit cards, according to the government’s latest report, and that greatly limits their ability to shop through websites that frequently insist on credit. Rechargeable theoretically lets many more people buy from Amazon — and since it’s relatively open, gives them much more overall purchasing power.

Via: Reuters

Source: Amazon.com.mx (translated)

Apple Promotes iMac Pro as ‘Most Powerful Mac Ever’ With Series of Short Films

To demonstrate how the iMac Pro is the most powerful Mac ever, Apple recently invited a group of filmmakers, CG artists, and graphics designers to create a series of short films using its advanced technologies.

The artists include creative director Erin Sarofsky, motion graphics designer Esteban Diácono, 3D artist Luigi Honorat, director and designer Michelle Dougherty, design and motion studio ManvsMachine, and an integrated collective of designers, artists, and storytellers from production company Buck.

From concept development through final preparations for render, Apple says the iMac Pro was at the center of the creative work. The fine print does note that additional equipment was used for final rendering of 3D content.

Each film is accompanied by a behind-the-scenes video showing how the iMac Pro fit into the creative process, alongside a list of software tools used and testimonials about how great the iMac Pro is. Apple hasn’t shared the films on its YouTube channel yet, so it’s unclear if they’ll double as TV ads.

iMac Pro was described as “blazingly fast” in an early review. Based on benchmarks, the mid-range model with a 10-core 3.0GHz Intel Xeon processor is up to 45 percent faster than the high-end 2013 Mac Pro. The 10-core iMac Pro is also up to 93 percent faster than the latest top-of-the-line 27-inch 5K iMac.

Watch the Films: “iMac Pro: The most powerful Mac ever. Pushed to the limits.”

Related Roundup: iMac ProBuyer’s Guide: iMac Pro (Buy Now)
Discuss this article in our forums

How to Set a Custom Lock Screen Message on Your Mac in Case It’s Lost

You can set a custom message to appear on the lock screen of your Mac, which is super useful if you ever misplace or lose your Mac. It lets people see who the Mac belongs to as soon as it’s opened up, and there’s no question about ownership.

You will need an administrator account to create a lock screen message on your Mac, but it’s super easy to do.

Click on the “” icon in the menu bar.
Select System Preferences.
Choose Security & Privacy.
Select the “General” tab.
Click on the lock icon at the bottom of the window.
Enter your admin name and password.
Choose “Set Lock Message…”
Enter your desired message. It’s useful to add contact details here, like your email address and phone number or the email address and phone number of someone who can easily get in touch with you in an emergency situation.

What the lock screen message looks like when your Mac is locked.
If you misplace or Mac or have it stolen, this puts your contact information front and center as soon as your Mac is opened up, so whoever has it can see who it belongs to even before you activate Lost Mode using iCloud. It’s also potentially useful in an emergency if someone needs to know who you are and how to get in contact with a loved one.

I’m personally always paranoid about losing my MacBook or having it taken at some location like an airport security lane, so this is a nice way to have instantly identifiable info readily available.
Discuss this article in our forums

Quick Takes: ‘Why Hasn’t Samsung Ditched the Headphone Jack Yet?’

In addition to our standalone articles covering the latest Apple news and rumors at MacRumors, this Quick Takes column provides a bite-sized recap of other headlines about Apple and its competitors on weekdays.

Wednesday, March 14

– Why hasn’t Samsung ditched the headphone jack yet? Daring Fireball’s John Gruber remains convinced that headphone jacks are going the way of the floppy drive, but he explains why Samsung might not be ready to ditch the 3.5mm port yet, as Apple did with the iPhone 7 a few years ago.

Samsung is more of a “do what the customer is asking for” company; Apple is a “figure out what they’re going to want” company. Samsung’s customers aren’t asking for the headphone jack to be dropped, so the path of least resistance is to just keep the jack. But looking at what’s available on the market, a big problem facing Samsung (and the rest of the Android world) is that the USB-C headphone market is a mess — and expensive to boot. “No-name brand headphones at high prices” is a hard sell.

Commentary: Apple arguably has an advantage in this space thanks to its custom W1 chip, which provides a quick and seamless connection between Apple devices and its wireless headphones like AirPods and BeatsX.

– Dutch bank hints that Apple Pay could launch in the Netherlands next week: Dutch mobile bank bunq was recently added to the list of Apple Pay participating banks in Italy. When contacted by the Dutch blog iCulture.nl about the possibility of Apple Pay launching in the Netherlands, the bank said it could not share any details before a press conference it is holding March 20.

Commentary: During its earnings calls, Apple usually mentions a list of countries where Apple Pay is coming soon, and the Netherlands hasn’t been one of them. If this rumor proves true, however, hopefully it signals a wider expansion of Apple Pay to other European countries like Germany and Poland.

– Amazon considered buying Texture before Apple deal: “Next Issue Media LLC, owner of Texture, hired investment bank Moelis & Co. in the past year to advise on a sale process, said the person.”

Commentary: Amazon already operates a Texture-like service called Kindle Unlimited, which provides subscribers with access to over one million e-book titles, thousands of audiobooks, and select magazines on Kindle Fire, iOS, or Android smartphones and tablets for $9.99 per month.

– Apple details Intelligent Tracking Prevention 1.1: All partitioned cookies are treated as session cookies and are not persisted to disk. Domains with a pending purge will not be able to set new cookies and their existing cookies are not sent in requests. These updates are available in Safari 11.1 on iOS 11.3 beta and macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 beta, as well as in Safari Technology Preview.

Commentary: Intelligent Tracking Prevention is a Safari privacy feature which detects domains that have the ability to track the user cross-site and either partitions or purges the associated website data. The feature is designed to stop companies from invasively tracking customer web browsing habits across websites.

For more Apple news and rumors coverage, visit our Front Page, Mac Blog, and iOS Blog. Also visit our forums to join in the discussion.

Tag: Quick Takes
Discuss this article in our forums

Vivo injects A.I. into its new Super HDR photo tech for more beautiful pictures

Artificial intelligence inside our smartphones has so far mainly been exploited by the camera, due to its prowess with scene recognition, and the latest to smarten up its camera tech this way is Vivo. It has launched Super HDR, a supercharged version of regular HDR where the A.I. works to set the correct exposure across more frames than usual, then intelligently merges the best ones together, creating a single, more natural and beautiful, final image.

When you take a photo with a Super HDR-equipped Vivo phone, a total of 12 images are taken in burst-style ultra-fast sequence — more than are taken with regular HDR modes — and using a greater exposure (up to 14 EV, says Vivo) value. The A.I. steps in to assess each aspect of a scene, setting the exposure for different areas after recognizing shape, texture, and lighting conditions. Vivo demonstrates this in several example images, showing how Super HDR reveals detail throughout a scene, despite being backlit by a bright light source.

It’s not just for wide scenes shot agains the sun, or in other environments where the lighting is very challenging. Super HDR is also designed for portrait photography, and because the A.I. knows it’s looking at a person, it will focus on lighting the subject properly, before adjusting background lighting to complement the scene. Vivo says Super HDR is about taking more detailed, clearer photos, with better colors and a more natural look.

Vivo’s A.I.-enhanced Super HDR mode means it now joins Huawei and LG in adding artificial intelligence to the camera app. Huawei has been most successful in its efforts, and uses scene recognition to great effect on the Mate 10 Pro, while LG is only experimenting with a similar system onboard the LG V30S ThinQ. Google hasn’t embraced A.I. for the camera yet, but has its own impressive HDR+ technology inside the Pixel 2 phones, which increases dynamic range and improves colors, but also reduces noise.

Vivo hasn’t announced when we may see Super HDR technology on a phone, if it will require special camera hardware to operate, or if it will be made available as a stand-alone camera app. The company is known for introducing cutting-edge technology ahead of many of its competitors, so this may also be a look at where the industry as a whole may be headed. We’ve contacted the company to find out more details, and will update here when we know more.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Google unlocks the Pixel 2’s HDR+ skills in third-party apps like Instagram
• The best HDR monitors
• HDR monitors are here, but don’t get your wallet out yet
• Dell’s new ultrathin displays bring HDR to your PC without emptying your wallet
• What is HLG HDR, and do you need it in your new TV?