Adobe Unveils Project Rush, an All-in-One Cross-Device Video Editing App

Just ahead of VidCon, a conference designed for video makers, Adobe this morning unveiled Project Rush, an all-in-one cross-device video editing app that it plans to launch later this year.

Project Rush, unlike Adobe’s existing Premiere Pro video editing software, is designed to be easy to learn and easy to use, similar to Apple’s iMovie video editing software.

It will use technology from Premiere Pro and After Effects, but with simplified editing, color, audio, and tilting tools for a more intuitive user experience.

Adobe plans to make Project Rush available on both desktop machines and mobile devices, making video editing accessible no matter which device you happen to be using at the time.

With Project Rush, all of your editing projects will be synced to the cloud automatically, and it will also integrate with Adobe Stock and offer editable Motion Graphics templates for quick customization options.

Direct sharing tools with one-click publishing will let Project Rush content be uploaded right to YouTube and other social networks.

While Project Rush will launch later this year, Adobe is offering customers a chance to beta test the software. You can sign up for a chance to be a part of the beta on Adobe’s Project Rush website.

Project Rush will be previewed at VidCon this week, with a product demo available on June 23 at 11:00 a.m. in Room 260.

Tag: Adobe
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Ten One Design’s ‘Stella’ MacBook Power Cord Uses Light to Guide You to an Outlet

Ten One Design this morning debuted the Stella, a premium laptop cord that offers several compelling features over a standard extension cable for the MacBook, MacBook Pro, and other machines.

Made from a flexible fabric-covered material, the Stella has a built-in LED located near the plug prongs that activates when it’s near a power outlet, so you can easily plug in your Mac even when it’s dark.

Stella is able to detect faint electrical fields near common electrical receptacles, and when power is detected, the small LED turns on. Ten One Design says the Stella cord is safer to use because it eliminates temptation to feel around near live outlets when you can’t see.

Stella is available for Apple’s Mac lineup as a replacement for the standard power cable and for various 2-prong PC power adapters. For Macs, you can choose between a blue plug or an aqua plug.

A built-in slide-out clip is included in the version of Stella made for Macs so you can wind up the cable when not in use, storing it right with your power adapter.

Stella laptop charging cables can be pre-ordered from the Ten One Design website for $34.95. Ten One Design plans to begin shipping the cables in July.

In the future, Ten One Design plans to partner with other companies to bring its technology to additional products.
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TP-Link Announces New ‘Deco M9 Plus’ Mesh Wi-Fi System That Doubles as Smart Home Hub

The latest entry in the mesh router market comes today from TP-Link, which has announced availability of the Deco M9 Plus Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 2-Pack System. The router is TP-Link’s newest mesh offering and promises to eliminate Wi-Fi dead spots with dependable connections to “more than 100 devices” throughout a home, and it also doubles as a smart home hub for IoT products.

TP-Link says the Deco M9 Plus provides a “stronger and more dynamic” backhaul than rival systems, supplementing its dedicated 5 GHz backhaul with additional backhaul throughput from other Wi-Fi bands as network demand increases. The system automatically identifies the strongest connection for every device (4K streaming boxes, game consoles, etc) to keep the network running smoothly.

“From everyday activities like streaming Netflix and using smart voice assistants, to occasional video chats with friends or online gaming, our home lives are more connected than ever before,” said Derrick Wang, director of product management at TP-Link USA Corp.

“Today, families need Wi-Fi systems that can support the higher demands put on their network, delivering reliable performance in every room of the home. Deco M9 Plus is a powerful solution designed to meet the Wi-Fi needs of the modern smart home.”

The 2-pack provides Wi-Fi for homes up to 4,500 square feet, and a single pack can be purchased to add to the network. Once set up, the connected Deco App can limit and monitor internet usage for all devices connected to the system. In terms of security, TP-Link HomeCare provides antivirus and malware protection in an effort to safeguard every connected device on the network from outside malware and hackers.

More Deco M9 Plus features:

– Standard 2-pack offers coverage up to 4,500 sq. ft.
– Powerful AC2200 tri-band Wi-Fi
– Three Wi-Fi bands with a dedicated backhaul to support 100-plus devices
– Quad-core CPU with 4 GB eMMC Flash and 512 MB RAM
– Wireless speeds of up to 400 Mbps on 2.4 GHz + 867 Mbps on 5 GHz (1) + 867 Mbps on 5 GHz (2)
– 6 Wi-Fi antennas, 1 Bluetooth antenna and 1 ZigBee antenna inside each Deco Unit
– 1 USB 2.0 port (reserved) and 2 Gigabit ports
– Built-in smart home hub compatible with Bluetooth 4.2 and ZigBee HA 1.2
– Advanced Wi-Fi security and HomeCare powered by Trend Micro

In addition, the Deco M9 Plus is a smart home hub that users can set up to enable control of ZigBee, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi devices using the Deco App. TP-Link says this “eliminates the need for additional smart hubs in the home” and the system supports a collection of smart home brands like the company’s own light bulbs and switches, GE, Samsung SmartThings, Nest, and Kwikset. The Deco M9 Plus is also compatible with Amazon Alexa and IFTTT.

The TP-Link Deco M9 Plus Mesh Wi-Fi 2-Pack can be purchased for $299.99, while a 1-pack will run for $179.99.

Tags: wi-fi, TP-Link, mesh routers
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How to change from YouTube Music to YouTube Premium

Sign up for YouTube Music but want Premium instead? Here’s how to switch.

YouTube Music and YouTube Premium are Google’s two premier subscription services for digital music and video content, and while YouTube Music isn’t necessarily a bad deal at $9.99/month, you might as well go all the way with YouTube Premium at $11.99/month.

The added benefits and features that come with YouTube Premium for just $2 more each month is more than worth it, but what if you signed up for YouTube Music and are now longing to join the YouTube Premium club?

Lucky for you, changing your subscription is a piece of cake!

The process for changing from YouTube Music to YouTube Premium requires just a few taps, and without further ado, here’s how to do exactly that.

Open YouTube and tap on your profile icon at the very top right.
Tap Paid memberships.

Tap Manage under your YouTube Music card.

Tap Upgrade to YouTube Premium.
Tap the blue Try It Free button.

Tap Upgrade to confirm.

Tap the red Let’s go button to get started with your new membership.

Happy YouTube Premium-ing!

With all that said and done, you’ve now successfully switched from YouTube Music to YouTube Premium! If you have any questions or want to say “hey”, drop a line in the comments below!

YouTube Music review: A mixtape full of promise

Amazon Kindle Oasis review: The best e-reader you can buy

The Kindle Oasis ups the ante for e-readers.

There are plenty of options available if you’re interested in reading e-books. You can pick up an Android tablet for under $100, load up the Kindle app, and get started right away. A tablet is a great option for most users as it offers more versatility — you can browse the web, watch YouTube videos, or just play games in addition to reading books.

Or you can pick up a dedicated e-reader. E-readers come with significantly better battery life, and the e-ink display is much more conducive to reading text for an extended duration of time. Amazon has been selling Kindles for well over a decade now, and the retailer dominates this space.

You can pick up a Kindle for as low as $79, but if you want a premium option that offers much more functionality, you’ll want to take a look at the Kindle Oasis. Amazon launched the first-gen Kindle Oasis back in 2016, and late last year the retailer rolled out a new version with an updated design.

More importantly, the new Kindle Oasis is the first waterproof Kindle, with the IPX8 certification allowing it to be submerged for up to an hour. Simply put, it is the best e-reader you can buy today.

Amazon Kindle Oasis

Price: $269

Bottom line: The Kindle Oasis is the most feature-rich e-reader available today. The screen is larger, it has automatically-adjusting backlighting, and you can take it to the pool. If you’re not daunted by the asking price, the Kindle Oasis is the e-reader to get in 2018.

The Good

• Large 7-inch display
• Ambient light sensor
• Physical page turn buttons
• Audible integration
• Water resistance
• Outstanding battery life

The Bad

• Pricey
• No headphone jack

See at Amazon

Everything but the kitchen sink

Amazon Kindle Oasis Full review

The Kindle Oasis doesn’t look like any other Kindle on the market today — the first thing you notice is the asymmetrical design. There are thin bezels on three sides, and a larger bezel on the right that features the physical page turn buttons. Its squarish form factor is designed to mimic that of a book, and there’s a bulge at the back where the battery and components for the e-ink panel are housed.

By moving all the components to one side of the body, Amazon was able to trim the overall thickness, with the screen tapering to just 3.4mm. The design also ensures that the center of gravity is always on one side, making it easier to hold and use the Kindle Oasis one-handed for an extended duration of time.

There’s also a built-in accelerometer that changes the screen orientation, allowing you to use the Oasis right- or left-handed.

The Oasis features a larger 7-inch display, but the overall width is the same as the 6-inch Paperwhite. That’s down to the thinner bezels, and the Oasis is also 10g lighter in spite of sporting an aluminum chassis. The 7-inch e-ink Carta display has the same 300PPI pixel density as the Paperwhite and the Voyage, but it has 12LEDs for a more evenly-distributed backlight.

There’s also an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts brightness, like most modern phones. As you’d imagine, text on the Oasis looks crisp, and I particularly like the fact that the display is flush with the body. You’ll also be able to invert the colors — turn the background black and the text white, making it easier on your eyes at night.

You can use the physical page turn buttons or the sides of the display to flip through pages, and as the Oasis is also using a dual-core chipset for the first time, page turns are noticeably smoother and faster.

The Kindle Oasis also comes with Audible integration, but as the device lacks a headphone jack, you’ll have to pair a Bluetooth speaker or headphones to the device to listen to your favorite audiobooks. Another new addition with the Oasis is water resistance, which means you’ll be able to use the e-reader near a pool without any issues.

There’s plenty to like here if you’re coming from a Paperwhite.

Amazon advertises a six-week battery life for the Oasis — with a 30-minute daily usage — but battery longevity is entirely down to how much you use the e-reader. In the two months I used the Oasis, I averaged roughly two weeks between charges. That’s with at least two hours’ of reading time daily. Listening to audiobooks over Bluetooth will also result in the battery life taking a hit, but you should be able to get two to three weeks’ worth of usage with ease.

Coming from a Paperwhite, I love the Oasis’ design — the asymmetric body, larger display, and the physical page turn buttons. The Oasis’ design takes a while to get acclimated, but after a week or two you’ll start getting used to the asymmetric body. I preferred holding the Paperwhite with both hands, but the Oasis is much more comfortable to use one-handed.

A lot of that has to do with the weight: 10g may not seem like a lot, but it makes a difference when you’re holding the e-reader for several hours at a time.

The best right now

Amazon Kindle Oasis Bottom line

Amazon sells Kindles across a variety of price points, with the base model retailing for just $79. The entry-level Kindle lacks a backlight and comes with a 167PPI display, but the Kindle Paperwhite offers a backlight and a higher-res 300PPI screen for $120.

Then there’s the $199 Kindle Voyage, which offers pressure-sensitive haptics and a similar ambient light sensor as the Oasis.

With the Kindle Oasis, you’re getting the best that Amazon has to offer: the display is outstanding, the design is ideal for one-handed usage, Audible integration is a nifty addition, and the IPX8 certification makes it resistant to the elements.

The Kindle Oasis is available in two storage options: the model with 8GB of storage will set you back $269, and the variant with 32GB of internal memory retails for $299. Amazon says that the 8GB model will hold over 35 Audible audiobooks, with the 32GB version able to store over 160 audiobooks.

There’s also a model with cellular connectivity that is available for $350, and Amazon will cover the costs of the data plan for the life of the device.

4.5
out of 5

The Kindle Oasis offers features that you won’t find on any other Kindle, and is the best e-reader available in the market today. The $269 retail price is a lot for a Kindle, but it’s well worth it if you’re serious about e-books.

See at Amazon

UE’s powerful and long-lasting MEGABOOM Bluetooth speaker hits its lowest price yet

Got that boom boom pow!

As part of its Gold Box deals of the day, Amazon has the super powerful UE MEGABOOM on sale for $139.99, a savings of $110 from its regular price. This discount is only available on the Deep Radiance color option, which is multicolored and honestly, looks pretty great. It has an IPX7 waterproof rating so you can use it by the pool, at the lake, in the rain, and more. The MEGABOOM has 360-degree sound with deep bass and offers up to 20 hours of music playback per charge.

You can connect it with an Echo Dot for hands-free control of what’s playing, or connect it with up to 50 other UE speakers if you want to pretend like you’re at a concert venue. Most of the other color options are selling between $160 and $200 right now, so don’t miss out on this limited-time offer which saves you big.

See at Amazon

Even with the Pixel 3 on the horizon, the Pixel 2 is still worth getting

The AC forums sure do love the Pixel 2 🤗

In less than four months, Google is expected to announce the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. The rumors and leaks we’ve seen so far are pointing towards devices with dual front-facing cameras, much slimmer bezels, and all-glass designs.

There’s already a lot of hype and excitement surrounding Google’s third generation of Android phones, but even so, the Pixel 2 series is still holding up incredibly well.

One user in the Android Central forums asked if it was still worth picking up a Pixel 2 this late in 2018, and the response from the community was a resounding “YES!”

Morty2264
06-14-2018 10:57 PM

“

I would still recommend the Pixel 2 line today. Great software and form factors, excellent camera, and you can’t beat the smoothness of stock Android.

However, like the user above me stated, only you can make that decision for yourself. 🙂 Let us know what you decide!

Reply

Eggmundo
06-15-2018 02:19 AM

“

Definitely still worth either the 2 or 2XL if you find one at a great price (even back in December I got mine for only £529).

Reply

Ry
06-15-2018 06:03 PM

“

Even when the Pixel 3 comes out, I think it will still be worth it to get a Pixel 2 XL.

Reply

Mr Segundus
06-16-2018 08:01 AM

“

I think so. I just picked up a black and white Pixel 2 XL yesterday even though I know the Pixel 3 XL will be out in like 4 months. Quick security updates and great software + the best cameras still on a smartphone = no brainer there. The battery life on this device is so much better than the battery life on my S9+.

Reply

What do you think? Would you still get a Pixel 2 knowing the Pixel 3 is right around the corner?

Join the conversation in the forums!

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

• Pixel 2 FAQ: Everything you need to know!
• Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL review: The new standard
• Google Pixel 2 specs
• Google Pixel 2 vs. Pixel 2 XL: What’s the difference?
• Join our Pixel 2 forums

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How to Change a File Type’s Default App in macOS

Each document that you have on your Mac is associated with a default application which macOS uses to open the file whenever you double-click on its icon in Finder.

Sometimes you may have a legitimate reason for changing which app your Mac automatically launches when you open a common file type – when a newly installed app assumes control of it, or when you want to open AVI video files in VLC instead of QuickTime, for instance. The following steps show you how to do just that.

In a Finder window, right-click (or Ctrl-click) the file whose default launch app you want to change.
From the contextual menu, select Open With -> Other….

A new navigation window will appear for you to select an alternative app to open the selected file. In our example, we’re selecting the VLC media player app.

Tick the checkbox next to Always Open With to ensure your selection applies in future to all files with the same extension (AVI files, in our case). If you don’t see the checkbox, click the Options button at the lower left of the window and it should appear.
Click Open.If the app that you want to use to open the file type is greyed out, it’s because macOS doesn’t think there’s a valid association between the two. In most cases this is correct, but you can still override it by changing the Recommended Applications view to All Applications using the Enable: dropdown menu.

There’s another way you can change a file type’s associated app in macOS: Right-click (or Ctrl-click) on the file in a Finder window and select Get Info.

In the information dialog that appears, you should see the Open with: section immediately below the Comments: section (click the chevron buttons to expand individual sections). Select Other… in the drop-down menu of apps to select one not already in the list, and then click Change All… to apply the association to all files with the same extension.

Related Roundups: macOS High Sierra, macOS Mojave
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Adobe Scan App’s Latest AI Feature Converts Business Cards into Phone Contacts

Adobe Scan, Adobe’s document scanning app, was updated today with a new feature that lets users capture business cards and convert them into phone contacts.

AI enhancements courtesy of Adobe’s Sensei machine learning platform enable the app to recognize a business card when placed in view of the phone’s built-in camera. Once the card is recognized, the app presents a “Save Contact” button to the user.

Tapping the new option captures the information on the business card including the name, company, phone number, email address, and any image, and automatically imports it into the user’s contacts.

Adobe’s Sensei AI also gets to work on the original scan of the business card, automatically correcting for shadows, perspective distortion, and even cropping out any fingers holding the card in the captured image.

Along with the AI-focused update to Adobe Scan, Adobe also announced some new PDF creation tools today for Microsoft Office 365.

New shortcuts in the ribbon of Microsoft’s Word, Excel, and PowerPoint web apps let users convert documents into PDFs (and vice versa) with optional password protection. Likewise, Adobe PDF archiving, conversion, and distribution tools are also now available from within OneDrive and SharePoint.

Adobe Scan can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tags: Adobe, Office 365
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DroneCatcher upgrade lets this net-gun security drone stay in the sky

The popularity of hobby drones has led to an uptick in flights in restricted areas such as airports, prisons, and even government facilities.

It’s a headache for those responsible for the security of such places, though a growing number of startups have been developing technology aimed at keeping these locations free from the unauthorized flight incursions.

Dutch firm Delft Dynamics, for example, has been working on its DroneCatcher quadcopter for several years, launching its first model in 2017.

The machine uses radar, vision, and acoustic sensors to detect a rogue copter in the air. Once its trackers have locked on to the aircraft, the DroneCatcher operator can shoot a net from up to 20 meters away to disable it. Capturing it this way prevents the drone from crashing to the ground where vital evidence could be lost, and instead enables the DroneCatcher to bring the machine back to base in one piece.

The team has recently updated DroneCatcher, as per New Atlas, adding a power-giving cord from the ground so the machine can stay hovering pretty much around the clock.

At a place like an airport where even the shortest flight disruption can cost large amounts of money, every second counts — you only have to see how a single drone incursion at London’s busy Gatwick Airport last year caused untold chaos as multiple flights had to be diverted.

With the tethered DroneCatcher already fully powered and in the air, the machine can be guided toward its target the moment it’s identified. As it does so, the power cord automatically disconnects from the quadcopter so it can fly as far as it needs to before tackling the rogue drone.

Once the DroneCatcher begins flying sans cord, it can stay in the air for up to 30 minutes, which should be ample time for it to take down its prey.

There are plenty of different ways for airport and prison operators to tackle unauthorized drone flights. So far we’ve seen everything from bazooka-like bad boys and anti-drone “death rays” to drone shields and highly trained birds of prey.

Delft Dynamics‘ DroneCatcher isn’t the first drone we’ve seen that uses a net to capture illegally flown drones. Back in 2015, Japanese police unveiled a slightly different design that uses an open net dangling beneath it. Rather than shoot it at its target, this particular contraption has to chase down the rogue drone to ensnare it in the net. Though the system may seem rather crude, it looks effective enough in the demonstration video. But it clearly needs a skilled pilot to make the catch.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Some folks still think it’s a good idea to fly drones over wildfires
• Drone pilot gets hefty fine after flying his machine over an Ed Sheeran concert
• A single police drone has seriously impacted crime in a Mexican city
• There is a good reason why this drone flies near aircraft
• This bird-inspired morphing drone can slim down to fit through tight spaces