Facebook Messenger works with 360-degree photos and HD videos

A few months after giving you a way to send 4K images on Messenger, Facebook has rolled out the ability to blast your friends with 360-degree photos and HD videos. Maybe you’d rather share whatever you take to a few people through the messaging app rather than posting it on Facebook. Or maybe you just want to to make sure friends who don’t frequent the social network are updated on what you’re up to. Whatever the reason is, you can send people panoramic photos and 720p videos like you would any other media.

Just take a panorama using your phone’s Camera app or another third-party app of your choice and send it like you’d usually send a normal photo from the app itself or from your gallery. Same goes for 720p videos, except you can also send them straight from your News Feed or from another Messenger conversation. The recipients will know they’re no ordinary media by the compass icon that appears next to panoramic photos and the HD and SD marker that shows up next to high-quality videos. They can view a 360-degree image by dragging it around on the screen or by moving their phones. As for the videos, recipients can use the marker to lower their quality in full screen mode in case they want to save mobile data or if their connection’s pretty bad.

You can send and receive 360-degree photos in Messenger wherever you are in the world and whether you’re on iOS or Android. However, you’ll only get the ability to send and receive HD videos if you’re in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the UK and the US.

Source: Facebook

Apple Working With TSMC to Develop MicroLED Panels for Future Apple Watch and Augmented Reality Wearable Device

Apple has plans in place to develop MicroLED panels for both small-size and large-size devices, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) providing support for producing smaller form factor applications, which could include future Apple Watch models and AR wearables, according to DigiTimes senior analyst Luke Lin.

Apple is working with TSMC to develop micro LED panels on silicon-based backplanes for use in the Apple Watch and an augmented reality (AR) wearable device, Lin noted.

MicroLED panels use different light-emitting compounds than the current OLED displays and should help to make future devices slimmer, brighter, and less power-hungry. Citing sources in the upstream supply chain, Lin claims Apple is preparing two sizes of MicroLED panel for small devices. They are said to include a 1.3 to 1.4-inch panel for future Apple Watch iterations and a 0.7 to 0.8-inch panel for an AR wearable device, potentially AR glasses.

Lin also believes Apple is working on developing large-size MicroLED panels on TFT-based backplates for use in products much larger than those in its current MacBook lineup, although he offered no specifics on what they might be.

Based on Lin’s sources, the MicroLED panel destined for a future Apple Watch may enter mass production in the second half on 2018 or in 2019, which would suggest its use in Series 4 or 5 models. The large-size panel could see production in 2019 or later, while the panel for the AR device is yet to have a production schedule, according to the analyst.

The cost of the new MicroLED panels are said to be 400-600 percent higher than OLED panels used in the current Apple Watch. As such, Lin believes Apple will initially only use the MicroLED panel in future “top-of-the-line” versions of Apple Watch, although whether that refers specifically to iterations of the Apple Watch Edition remains unclear.

Apple is understood to own a manufacturing facility in Santa Clara, California, where it is designing and producing test samples of its own MicroLED displays, with a view to eventually replacing largely Samsung-made OLED displays currently used across its product range.

Apple’s interest in the technology was revealed in its acquisition of MicroLED firm LuxVue back in 2014 and previous reports have also claimed Apple will introduce MicroLED technology in the Apple Watch first, with some rumors pointing to that happening as soon as this year.

However, Bloomberg believes that it will likely be a few years before Apple’s MicroLED displays will appear in shipping products – perhaps two years for the Apple Watch and three to five years for the iPhone.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4, Apple VR ProjectTag: digitimes.comBuyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
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OnePlus is teaming up with Marvel Studios over an Avengers-themed OnePlus 6

OnePlus is partnering with Marvel Studios to release an Avengers-themed OnePlus 6.

OnePlus got a lot of Star Wars fans excited last year when it rolled out a limited edition variant of the OnePlus 5T with Star Wars branding, and it looks like the company is set to do a similar collaboration with a Hollywood franchise with the OnePlus 6. According to a video posted on OnePlus India’s Facebook page, the company is teaming up with Marvel Studios to roll out an Avengers-themed variant of its upcoming flagship.

The teaser intercuts between the OnePlus and Avengers logos, and reveals the release date of the upcoming Avengers movie. Based on the text of the post, it looks like this was a test video that was erroneously published on Facebook. Nevertheless, it gives us a good idea as to what OnePlus is planning for its upcoming phone. The original video has been taken down, so here’s a mirror:

With Avengers: Infinity War set to hit theaters on April 27, it’s possible we’ll see the OnePlus 6 make its debut at around the same time. I love what OnePlus managed to do with the Star Wars variant of the 5T, and I’m excited to see what’s in store with the Avengers-themed model. At this point, it’s unclear whether the device will be limited to the Indian market, like the Star Wars-themed variant, or whether it will see a global release. We should know more in the coming weeks.

As for the device itself, we know that the OnePlus 6 will have a notch (albeit one smaller than the iPhone X), and it may feature various finishes for the back (including a wood option). The phone will be powered by the Snapdragon 845, and is likely to offer an option with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

What do you guys want to see from an Avengers-themed OnePlus 6?

Google Home picks up Gaana and Saavn integration, will be exclusive to Flipkart in India

Google Home now lets you play back music from India’s leading music streaming services ahead of April 10 launch.

Yesterday, Google confirmed that it was launching the Google Home and Google Home Mini in India, with a launch event scheduled for April 10. The landing page for the product is now live on Flipkart, suggesting the retailer will be the exclusive destination for Google’s upcoming smart speakers.

The Google Home also picked up Gaana and Saavn integration over the weekend. I was able to link my Saavn account without any hassle, and Assistant on the Google Home had no issues playing the tunes I requested from the service. We’ll likely see more and more local services added to the platform as we head closer to the launch.

As for availability, it’s no surprise that Google sided with Flipkart for the Google Home — after all, the Pixels have been exclusive to the retailer from the beginning, and the Daydream View VR headset is also sold exclusively on the platform.

There’s no mention of pricing, but an earlier leak suggested that the Google Home will retail for ₹9,999 in India, with the smaller Google Home Mini set to go on sale for around the ₹4,499 mark. With the launch just a week away, we should know more details next Tuesday.

If you’re interested in being the first to pick up the Google Home or Home Mini in India, head to Flipkart from the link below to register your interest.

See at Flipkart

New leak suggests LG’s 2018 flagship will be called the LG G7 ThinQ

LG needs to reThinQ its product naming decisions.

LG’s 2018 flagship is slated to launch sometime this quarter, and if a new leak from Evan Blass is any indication, the phone will be called the LG G7 ThinQ. LG said earlier this year that it was ditching the G-series branding in favor of a new naming convention, but it doesn’t look like the name will change all that much after all.

Goodbye, LG G7. Hello, LG G7 ThinQ.

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) April 3, 2018

The South Korean manufacturer has been using ThinQ branding for its smart home products for some time now, but with the LG V30S ThinQ, it decided to bring phones into the fold. The ThinQ moniker in the V30S alludes to the phone’s AI capabilities, with the camera picking up an AI-assisted feature that automatically switches to the optimal shooting mode based on lighting conditions.

The V30S also comes with the ability to control LG’s smart home appliances, and the phone has exclusive Google Assistant commands. With the G7 set to sport a similar branding, it’s likely we’ll see a similar set of features on LG’s upcoming flagship.

As for the hardware, recent leaks suggest the G7 will sport a notch at the top of the display, and the device is set to be powered by the Snapdragon 845. It could also feature an MLED+ screen, along with dual 16MP cameras, up to 6GB of RAM, 3300mAh battery with wireless charging, and a high-fidelity DAC.

Porsche Design Mate RS’ OLED panel is manufactured by LG

LG Display starts manufacturing OLED displays for Huawei.

According to a report on South Korea’s ETNews, LG has started supplying displays to Huawei, starting with the Porsche Design Mate RS. The 6-inch curved OLED display with in-display fingerprint sensor used in the $2,000 Mate RS is manufactured by LG, and it looks like the collaboration will extend to other Huawei phones in the future.

This is a landmark deal for LG Display, as the company has just two customers in the phone segment — LG and Xiaomi. LG’s mobile unit has been struggling for several quarters now, and although Xiaomi gained a lot of momentum in India, it doesn’t come close to the numbers posted by Huawei in the smartphone segment. With sales exceeding 153 million units in 2017, Huawei is the third-largest smartphone brand around.

LG’s display unit has faced setbacks in the past (notably with the LG-made Pixel 2 XL), but it’ll be interesting to see if it can turn things around in 2018. LG’s own flagship is slated to arrive sometime this quarter, with the phone set to use a new MLCD+ panel.

Acer’s Nitro 5 gaming laptop now packs a six-core Intel processor

Acer’s Nitro 5 gaming laptop has never been particularly remarkable outside of its price, but you might have reason to sit up and take notice after today. The PC builder is launching a version of the 15.6-inch portable with options for shiny new six-core Intel Core i7+ processors. If you’re playing CPU-heavy games or need some extra power for video editing, this might fit the bill without crushing your bank account.

Beyond that, the design is familiar — although that’s not entirely a bad thing. There’s both Intel Optane memory and NVMe-based solid-state storage (up to 512GB) to speed up load times, and GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics give you a modest amount of power for 3D games.

The refreshed Nitro 5 hits North America in May at $749 (€799 in Europe), although it’s safe to say you won’t be getting a Core i7+ at that price when there are more pedestrian processor options (including regular Core i7 chips) available. Regardless, this might reach your short list if you’re looking for a down-to-Earth gaming machine with a little more power than usual.

Source: Acer

Intel brings a six-core i9 CPU to laptops

With its latest batch of 8th-generation Core chips for laptops, Intel is focused on delivering even more desktop-like performance. Just take a look at its new six-core monster processor, the Core i9-8950HK. We were impressed that the company was able to bring quad-core chips to ultraportables with its first batch of 8th-gen CPUs, but the 8950HK lives up to the crazy specifications we’d expect from the i9 lineup (which includes Intel’s insane 18-core desktop chip).

Intel claims its Core i9 mobile CPU is 29 percent faster than its 7th generation i7 when it comes to general performance; 41 percent better while playing Total War: Warhammer II; and 59 percent speedier while editing 4K video in Adobe Premiere Pro. Naturally, it’s not the sort of processor that most consumers need, but it’s a godsend for game streamers and content creators. The 8950HK features single-core Turbo Boost speeds up to 4.8GHz, and it’s fully unlocked, so you’ll actually be able to overclock it easily. You’ve still got the option of the Core i7 8th generation CPUs as well, the Core i7-8750H and 8850H, the latter of which is partially unlocked too.

Intel

Additionally, Intel is also launching new 8th generation chips targeted at mainstream laptops and desktops today. They’re not nearly as exciting as the company’s higher-end options, or even its low-powered ultraportable options, but they’re still notable upgrades for average shoppers. They include new Core i3 and i5 chips, as well as an i7 with Turbo Boost speeds up to 4.5Ghz. On the desktop side, there are low power chips that would be ideal for home theater PCs and less demanding uses, along with new i3 and i5 models that’ll likely end up in computers on Walmart shelves. Many of those still offer six cores though, so they’re still an upgrade from the last generation.

Intel

All of the new processors and their accompanying chipsets will support Intel’s Optane technology, which are basically large cache memory modules that speed up the performance of your PC. They’re particularly helpful on laptops, since they can significantly speed up the performance of slower mechanical hard drives. Intel claims the technology helps game levels load 4.7 times faster on the Core i7 8750H while using a 1 terabyte hard drive and an SSD boot disk.

Google Drive will help you figure out who needs access to a file

One of the tricky things about coordinating an email chain is always making sure everyone has access to the right files, but Google said it’s making that easier in Drive. The next time you go to share a document or other file through email or a calendar invite its built-in access checker will be updated to show the names and email addresses of anyone you’re including who doesn’t already have permission to view it. Apparently it also “will anticipate who needs access to a file and intelligently default to sharing with those recipients only.”

Then you’ll see the new prompt above, or choose a different option. The key thing, though, is that now it won’t default to sharing via link, so hopefully making it smarter about specifying access will prevent any embarrassing leaks.

Via: 9to5Google

Source: G Suite Blog

MIUI 9.5 lets you restore data from a previous Android phone — and that’s a big deal

MIUI finally lets you restore data from a previous Android phone linked to your Google account.

The Mi Mix 2S is the first Xiaomi phone to come with Oreo out of the box, and it has a slew of new features that make it stand out from previous Xiaomi flagships. I talked about the hardware changes in my preview of the device, but there’s plenty to talk about on the software front as well. MIUI 9.5 now offers the option to restore from a previous Android device at initial setup, allowing you to restore apps and data from another phone linked to your Google account.

The restore feature was present since the Android 5.0 Lollipop era, but it wasn’t available on MIUI — with Xiaomi instead offering its own Mi Cloud restore option. Mi Cloud offers similar functionality, but is limited to Xiaomi phones. So if you’re making the switch from one Xiaomi phone to another, you could restore apps and settings to the new device, but if you were moving from another brand, you had to start from scratch.

There’s an easy explanation as to why the feature wasn’t included in the first place. For years, the global MIUI build had the same feature-set as its Chinese counterpart, but with English as the default option and Play services bundled. And with Google having no presence in China, Xiaomi introduced its own solution in the form of Mi Cloud.

Xiaomi is making MIUI more enticing to a global audience.

That changed with MIUI 9 — the Chinese ROM came with a virtual assistant and an intelligent image search feature that was limited to China, and the global ROM picked up a retooled notification pane with actionable notifications. With Xiaomi gaining ground in India, Indonesia, and other Asian countries, the global MIUI ROM is receiving features that don’t necessarily have a lot of use in the manufacturer’s home market.

MIUI 9.5 further reinforces the notion that the global MIUI ROM is bifurcating from the Chinese build. Xiaomi is slated to make its debut in the U.S. sometime later this year or early next year, and the recent additions to MIUI show that Xiaomi is focused on making its custom ROM more palatable to a global audience.