Messenger goes immersive with new 360 photo compatibility

Messenger now allows you to share immersive views with your friends. In an update announced on Tuesday, April 3, Messenger added support for 360 photos as well as upgrading to high-definition video. The 360 support allows for both uploads from a 360 camera as well as 360 apps and even panoramas from the native camera app.

Sharing a 360 photo follows a nearly identical process as adding an image with a standard aspect ratio. First, make sure you have a 360 image inside your camera roll. Facebook supports 360 cameras and 360 photo apps, but you can also shoot a panorama with the native camera app and Facebook will do the immersive conversion for you.

Inside a message, tapping on the photos icon will bring up the camera roll. Select the 360 image, and Facebook will process that file before sharing with the person or group in the message. Like 360 images inside the newsfeed, tapping on the image will enable the motion control, where moving the smartphone or tablet will allow you to explore all the angles of the image. On a desktop computer, moving the mouse will pan around the image.

Three-sixty images are marked with a circular icon in the bottom right corner.

The update also ups video resolution from standard definition to a high-definition 720p. In 2017, Facebook updated photos to a 4K resolution and is now bumping up video resolution, though not to the same level as stills. 720p is on the lower end of high definition compared to 1080p, but users may notice a quality improvement to videos shared on Messenger. Videos that are already at least 720p are automatically shared at that new higher resolution.

The update comes as visuals become increasingly important in messaging apps — just look at Snapchat’s emphasis on the camera. Facebook may not be done with the visually focused updates either, since visuals are on the company’s list of trends for 2018 for Messenger. The platform is predicting a growth for visual sharing inside the app this year. Videos and images have been growing in popularity on social networks and that trend is migrating to chat platforms.

Users worldwide are gaining that 360 photo capability. The HD video update is available in 18 countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Canada and Australia. Both updates are for both iOS and Android platforms.

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Intel decides not to patch Spectre vulnerability for older processors

Court Mast/Intel via Getty Images

Intel revealed that it will not be issuing Spectre patches to a number of older Intel processor families, potentially leaving many customers vulnerable to the security exploit. Intel claims the processors affected are mostly implemented as closed systems, so they aren’t at risk from the Spectre exploit, and that the age of these processors means they have limited commercial availability.

The processors which Intel won’t be patching include four lines from 2007, Penryn, Yorkfield, and Wolfdale, along with Bloomfield (2009), Clarksfield (2009), Jasper Forest (2010) and the Intel Atom SoFIA processors from 2015. According to Tom’s Hardware, Intel’s decision not to patch these products could stem from the relative difficulty of patching the Spectre exploit on older systems.

“After a comprehensive investigation of the microarchitectures and microcode capabilities for these products, Intel has determined to not release microcode updates for these products,” Intel said. “Based on customer inputs, most of these products are implemented as “closed systems” and therefore are expected to have a lower likelihood of exposure to these vulnerabilities.”

Because of the nature of the Spectre exploit, patches for it need to be delivered as an operating system or BIOS update, and if Microsoft and motherboard OEMs aren’t going to distribute the patches, developing them isn’t much of a priority.

“However, the real reason Intel gave up on patching these systems seems to be that neither motherboard makers nor Microsoft may be willing to update systems sold a decade ago,” Tom’s Hardware reports.

It sounds bad, but as Intel pointed out, these are all relatively old processors — with the exception of the Intel Atom SoFIA processor, which came out in 2015 — and it’s unlikely they’re used in any high-security environments. The Spectre exploit is a serious security vulnerability to be sure, but as some commentators have pointed out in recent months, it’s not the kind of exploit the average user needs to worry about.

““We’ve now completed release of microcode updates for Intel microprocessor products launched in the last 9+ years that required protection against the side-channel vulnerabilities discovered by Google Project Zero,” said an Intel spokseperson. “However, as indicated in our latest microcode revision guidance, we will not be providing updated microcode for a select number of older platforms for several reasons, including limited ecosystem support and customer feedback.”

If you have an old Penryn processor toiling away in an office PC somewhere, you’re probably more at risk for a malware infection arising from a bad download than you are susceptible to something as technically sophisticated as the Spectre or Meltdown vulnerabilities.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Apple protects MacOS Sierra, El Capitan from Meltdown, lists Google bugs
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• Grab this Microsoft update now if your PC was affected by the Spectre fixes
• Did I do that? Intel is going to make a killing fixing its own Meltdown
• Intel’s 9th-generation ‘Ice Lake’ CPUs will have fixes for Meltdown, Spectre

Nest Secure can now be armed using Google Assistant

Available as part of the latest Nest Secure software update.

Google and Nest products have always worked well together, and now that Nest is part of Google’s hardware division, that point should be even more prevalent going forward. Most recently, Nest finally added Google Assistant integration for its Nest Secure home security system.

This functionality is available as part of an update to Nest Secure itself, and the next time you open the Nest app you should see a notification saying that “a client has been updated.” Assuming this is the one for Google Assistant support, review the permissions that are required for it to work, tap the “allow” button, and say “Hey, Google, sync my devices.”

Once this is done, you’ll be able to control the entirety of your Nest Secure system using just your voice. A few examples of voice commands that Neset recommends include:

• Hey Google, set Nest Secure to Home and Guarding
• Hey Google, what’s the status of my security?
• Hey Google, cancel security (must be done within seconds of arming the system)
• Hey Google, set security to Away

This update is rolling out to the Nest app now.

Nest Hello review: The smartest doorbell

Best Verizon Wireless Deals of April 2018

No matter what T-Mobile says, you can actually find some pretty great deals on Verizon.

Verizon Wireless has some of the largest coverage for customers in the United States, and although T-Mobile likes to continually poke fun at the carrier for having high monthly rates, there are actually some really solid deals to be found if you know where to look.

You can typically find quite a few deals being run by Verizon at any given time, but if you only want to look at the best of the best and don’t have time to sift through the garbage, that’s where we come in.

These are best deals on Verizon Wireless right now.

Get 50% off the Pixel 2, two months of YouTube TV, and a free Home Mini + Chromecast

The Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL are two of the finest Android phones you can buy, and right now Verizon’s offering one of the best deals for them that we’ve seen yet.

As long as you trade in an eligible device, you can get up to 50% off the cost of a Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL. You’ll also get two free months of YouTube TV, as well as a free Google Home Mini and Chromecast.

This deal goes live on April 5, and you’ll need to pay for the Pixel 2/2 XL on a monthly installment plan.

See at Verizon

Buy one Galaxy S9, get another for free

If you’re in the market to buy a new phone, chances are the Galaxy S9 is at the top of your shortlist. The S9 and S9+ both bring a lot to the table, including the ultra-fast Snapdragon 845 processor, top-of-the-line Super AMOLED displays, and a rear camera with a physically changing aperture for gorgeous low-light photographs.

As long as you add a new line of service, Verizon is letting you buy one Galaxy S9 or S9+ and get another one completely free. No trade-in is required to take advantage of this deal, and your savings are applied over the course of 24 months via bill credits.

The free phone you get must be of equal or lesser value, meaning if you choose one S9 and one S9+, you’ll pay for the more expensive S9+ and get the regular S9 for free.

See at Verizon

Get a $150 prepaid card when you switch to Verizon

Thinking about switching to Verizon but waiting for the perfect time to do it? Your lucky day has arrived!

When you switch to Verizon and port over an existing number, the carrier will send you a free $150 prepaid gift card that you can do with as you wish. The card will arrive within 8 weeks after you’ve made your claim for the deal, and you’ll need to buy a new 4G LTE phone, too.

There are a number of devices that are part of this promotion, including the Galaxy S9, Pixel 2, Moto Z2 Play, and others.

See at Verizon

Buy a Moto Z2 Force, get a free Alexa Moto Mod and $50 gift card

Motorola’s Moto Z series continues to be one of the most unique in the smartphone space, and the current flagship for it is the Moto Z2 Force. The Z2 Force is not a perfect phone, but if you’ve been dying to finally experiment with Moto Mods, Verizon’s got a killer deal just for you.

When you buy a Moto Z2 Force on Verizon for its regular price of $31.50/month, you’ll get a free Moto Mod Smart Speaker with Amazon Alexa at no extra cost. Even better, Verizon will also throw in a $50 prepaid Visa gift card that you can use to buy more Moto Mods, pay your monthly bill, or virtually anything else.

See at Verizon

Save $50 on the Samsung Fast Charge Power Bundle

Should you take advantage of the first deal and get two brand-new Galaxy S9s for the price of one, that’s not all Verizon has to offer.

As long as you buy it and a Galaxy S9 or S9+ in the same transaction, you can get the Samsung Fast Charge Power Bundle for $50 off — bringing its final price down to just $99.

For $99, you’re getting an official fast wireless charger from Samsung, 5,100 mAh battery bank with Fast Charge, and a Fast Charge car charger.

See at Verizon

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• Join the Discussion

Updated 4/3/2018 – Added new deals for April!

Apple hires Google’s former AI leader

Apple has regularly been accused of lagging behind Google in AI development, but it just scored a major victory that could help it turn things around. The iPhone maker has hired Google’s just-departed AI and search chief, John Giannandrea, to head up its “machine learning and AI strategy.” He’ll report directly to Tim Cook. It’s not certain if Apple has specific plans for the new exec, but Cook observed in a message to staff (obtained by the New York Times) that Giannandrea shared “our commitment to privacy and our thoughtful approach.” In other words, don’t expect him to widen Apple’s data collection just because of his Google history.

When Giannandrea stepped down, initial reports indicated that he would stay at Google in a position that gave him more “hands on” time. It’s apparent that he’d either had a change of heart or had planned to jump to Apple for a while. Whatever his reasons, Giannandrea has been crucial to Google in recent years. He ran the efforts to make AI technology central to the company’s products. He clearly succeeded — Assistant is everywhere, and machine learning plays a role in everything from mobile photography to visual search. We’d expect that cross-disciplinary approach to continue at Apple.

Between this, a Siri-related hiring spree and earlier high-profile hires like Carnegie Mellon’s Russ Salakhutdinov, one thing is clear: Apple is determined to improve the AI in its products. The company was the first to introduce a modern, conversational AI helper to smartphones with Siri, but that lead quickly eroded as Amazon, Google and Microsoft hopped in. Siri isn’t as adept at answering general questions as its rivals, to the point where its limitations became a drawback for the HomePod. Giannandrea might not give Siri directly comparable intelligence (Google has the luxury of its own search engine), but he could close the gap and help Apple keep pace.

Source: New York Times

OnePlus confirms some of the 6’s key specs

It’s that time again: OnePlus wants to drum up hype for its next phone, and that means dribbling out specs to entice fans. CEO Pete Lau has confirmed some of the rumored specs for the OnePlus 6, and it’s clear the company will keep up its tradition of bordering-on-overkill specs. The nearly-all-screen handset will tout the expected Snapdragon 845 processor and up to 8GB of RAM (the latter an option on the OnePlus 5T), but it’ll also carry up to 256GB of internal storage instead of the 5T’s 128GB. That capacity certainly isn’t unheard of among giants like Apple and Samsung, but it’s relatively rare among smaller brands.

Previous rumors had the 6 shipping with a 6.3-inch, 2,280 x 1,080 screen, 20- and 16-megapixel rear cameras and a front 20-megapixel cam. Importantly, the base model with 6GB of RAM would ship with 128GB of storage, or twice as much as the outgoing 5T and many other flagships. We’d take these claims with a grain of salt, but they’re at least consistent with OnePlus’ past practices.

You probably don’t have long to wait to learn more. While OnePlus hasn’t announced an event yet, it usually runs these teaser campaigns in the few weeks before it unveils a new phone. The big question is the cost. OnePlus prices have steadily climbed upward, and it won’t be surprising if the 6 is more expensive than its ancestors.

Via: 9to5Google

Source: OnePlus

Apple Hires Google’s Chief of Search and Artificial Intelligence

Apple has snapped up John Giannandrea, who today stepped down from his position as the head of Google’s search and artificial intelligence unit, reports The New York Times.

According to Apple, Giannandrea will run Apple’s overall “machine learning and A.I. strategy,” reporting directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook.

In an email sent out to employees and obtained by The New York Times, Cook had high praise for Giannandrea. “John shares our commitment to privacy and our thoughtful approach as we make computers even smarter and more personal,” he said. “Our technology must be infused with the values we all hold dear.”

Giannandrea’s hiring comes as Apple has recently faced criticism for Siri, the AI-based personal assistant built into products like Macs, iPhones, iPads, the Apple TV, and the HomePod. Many believe Siri has serious shortcomings in comparison to AI offerings from other companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google due to Apple’s heavy focus on privacy.

The Information, for example, recently shared an in-depth look at Siri and how it has become a “major problem” for the company due to rushed development and poor communication between teams.

At Google, Giannandrea, a senior vice president, was involved in the push to integrate artificial intelligence throughout Google products, including internet search, Gmail, and Google Assistant.

Prior to joining Apple, Giannandrea spent 10 years at Google, joining the company following Google’s acquisition of Metaweb, a startup where he worked as a chief technology officer.

In recent years, Apple has been bolstering its artificial intelligence team. In 2016, the company hired Carnegie Mellon researcher Russ Salakhutdinov to lead a team focused on artificial intelligence, and in October, Apple acqui-hired the team from Init.ai, a customer service startup focused on creating AI with natural language processing and machine learning to analyze chat-based conversations between humans.

There has also been an uptick in the number of positions Apple has recently offered on its job website that mention the term “Siri,” suggesting a ramp up in AI hires.

Tags: Siri, Google, artificial intelligence
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Apple Seeds First Beta of macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 to Developers

Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 update to developers, just under one week after releasing the macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 update.

The new macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 beta can be downloaded through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store with the proper profile installed. The update does not appear to be listed in the Apple Developer Center at the current time, but it is available for developers who previously installed the macOS High Sierra beta profile.

It’s not yet clear what improvements the fifth major update to macOS High Sierra will bring, but it’s likely to include bug fixes and performance improvements for issues that weren’t addressed in macOS High Sierra 10.13.4.

We are waiting on several features to come to macOS and iOS, including Messages on iCloud, a feature that was in the iOS 11.3 beta but later pulled. Messages on iCloud has been reintroduced in the iOS 11.4 beta and is likely in macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 as well.

The previous macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 update brought support for external graphics processors (eGPUs) along with Business Chat in Messages and several other bug fixes and smaller feature improvements.

We’ll update this post should any new features be discovered in macOS High Sierra 10.13.5.

Related Roundup: macOS High Sierra
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Apple Executives Receive Stock Worth Up to $22 Million as RSUs Vest

Seven Apple executives this week received major stock awards after restricted stock units or RSUs awarded in 2014 and 2015 vested.

Apple issues RSUs to its executives as bonus compensation, with the restricted units vesting after a set period of time as long as the employee stays with the company.

Phil Schiller, Dan Riccio, Jeff Williams, and Eddy Cue all received 130,117 shares, worth more than $22 million at Apple’s current price per share. Luca Maestri, Angela Ahrendts, and Craig Federighi all received ~77,000 shares.

Shares received by each were originally awarded on March 3, 2014; October 17, 2014; and October 5, 2015, with Riccio, Williams, Cue, and Schiller receiving stock from all three dates and Maestri, Ahrendts, and Federighi receiving stock from the October awards. The March 2014 award has now fully vested for employees who received it, while employees who received the other two rewards will see additional shares vest on April 1, 2019 and April 1, 2020.

A portion of each award was withheld by Apple to satisfy tax withholding requirements on vesting of restricted stock units.

Tag: Stock
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Nine innovative indie games for when you want to try something different

Independent games may sometimes be ignored for their bigger-budget brothers, but this trend usually leads to indie developers investing more effort into creating innovative gameplay and design. While mainstream franchises are often predictable, indie games tend to manipulate the regular ingredients needed to make a game, in order to create a completely new experience.

Google itself has recognized the power of indie games when last year, it created a special Indie Corner in the Play Store, with the aim of allowing users to discover new titles more easily.

Even so, new indie titles are being added to the Play Store constantly, so even if you constantly check the section, some games might still slip through the cracks. So for the purpose of this article, we rounded up some cool, innovative indie games that we believe might pique your interest.

Mekorama

What it is:

A puzzle game by Martin Magni featuring expertly crafted graphics and up to 50 free levels to go through.

Why it’s fun:

• As the player, your task is to help guide an adorable lost robot get home, through a series of miniature mechanical dioramas. Each diorama can be rotated 360-degrees, to be viewed from all sides.
• As you progress, the levels get more maze-like and the quirky mechanics start to reveal themselves.
• The game includes the ability to create your own levels with modular components, in the vein of Minecraft.
• The game is based on the “pay what you want” system. If you want to contribute to the game you’re welcome to do so, but nothing is locked and there’s no energy or life that needs to be replenished so you can keep playing.

Install Mekorama

Alto’s Adventure

What it is:

A visually stunning adventure game in which you join Alto and his friends on an endless snowboarding odyssey.

Why it’s fun:

• It’s an addictive snowy endless runner challenge in which you race down the mountain, leap over chasms and rescue runaway llamas.
• Controls are easy, single touch, but the game keeps things challenging with various missions and obstacles.
• The animations and backgrounds are gorgeous, making the game not only fun to play but mesmerizing to watch. The soundtrack also provides an ambient immersive experience.

Install Alto’s Adventure

The Battle of Polytopia

What it is:

A simple yet engaging strategy game with cute low poly graphics. It’s the first game developed by Stockholm-based indie game studio Midjiwan.

Why it’s fun:

• Super-easy gameplay: just pick a tribe and do your best to spread across the map and conquer other tribes.
• Evolve – the more settlements you conquer, the more starts you get. In turn, you can use these stars to unlock new technologies and buildings.
• Each tribe starts off with a technological advantage of its own. For example, the Xin-xi can climb mountains.
• You get multiple gaming modes (including Domination or Perfection) and difficulty modes.
• Maps are almost never the same, as they are generated at random just like in Minecraft.

Install Battle of Polytopia

GeoTap

What it is:

An unusual relaxation game, which wants to help you channel tranquillity every time you play it.

Why it’s fun:

• Who says you have to get competitive while playing a game? GeoTap proves a game can have a soothing effect. Simply tap on the geometric figures to color the sides, while you enjoy the soothing soundscapes.
• Unlock up to 30 unique shapes, as you play.
• You get 3 unique gameplay “mood modes” including Classic, Tranquil and Focus. More will be added soon.
• Helps players test their patience and dexterity.

Install Battle of GeoTap

My Oasis – Relaxing Sanctuary

What it is:

A simulation game that provides users who need a break from life with a serene pastime that will calm their minds and souls.

Why it’s fun:

• Trying to relax after a bad day? My Oasis aims to help you forget about your busy life by placing you in a beautiful virtual oasis.
• Tap on tap on stuff and see what happens and upgrade your oasis. Collect hearts in order to be able to do so.
• Some animals have a musical note hovering over their head. Tap on them and enjoy listening to the melodic voice of nature.

Install Battle of My Oasis – Relaxing Sanctuary

Infamous Machine

What it is:

A beautiful point-and-click adventure game with a creative storyline for those with a love for alternative history.

Why it’s fun:

• You play as Kelvin, the apprentice of a mad scientist who build a time machine. Now Kelvin must stumble through time to help geniuses across history complete their masterworks.
• Superb graphics which will leave you craving more.
• The dialogue is funny and the puzzles are moderate in difficulty.
• Meet iconic characters from history like Beethoven, Da Vinci and Newton.

Install Battle of Infamous Machine

Fluffy Fall

What it is:

Another endless runner game in which you control a cube-like creature as it falls down-down the rabbit hole through an endless series of obstacle-filled tubes.

Why it’s fun:

• Survive the danger-filled tubes and earn as much Gold as you can. Use it to unlock more adorable cube-like monsters.
• There’s a total of 60 fluffy creatures to unlock
• The amazing 3D animation is guaranteed to offer hours of fun.

Install Battle of Fluffy Fall

Rusty Lake Paradise

What it is:

A point-and-click adventure with super interesting graphics and a unique story-line. Perfect for mystery fans!

Why it’s fun:

• Lovers of dark, twisted tales will love Rusty Lake Paradise and its surreal atmosphere. The plot is based on the story of the ten plagues of Egypt.
• Each plague brings with it its unique atmosphere and a series of Rusty Lake brain teasers.
• Every plague has its own theme song and variations.

Install Rusty Lake Paradise

Astra

What it is:

A mystic arcade game inspired by Greek mythology for those who love to solve puzzles and discover secrets.

Why it’s fun:

• The story revolves around Hemera, the goddess of daylight. You need to step in and help her fight darkness and discover the secrets of the Astra universe.
• Astra is an orbital runner. Hemera speeds walks, and when you tap the screen it causes her to jump. Tap the screen twice and Hemera begins her ascent to the nearest world.
• The leaping around is spiced by the presence of wolves, fire-spewing spaceships, and other things to bounce into or destroy.

Install Astra

Have you tried any of these games before? If not which one has caught your attention first?

Know any good indie apps that weren’t included below? Drop us a comment and let us know.