WhatsApp lets you doodle on photos and videos
Even a straightforward messaging service like WhatsApp isn’t immune to the allure of adding Snapchat-style features. The Facebook-owned app is introducing the option to draw on photos and videos, including emoji. If you don’t think that puppy photo is charming enough by itself, you can easily doodle on it to make your point. More interested in improving the quality of the shots themselves? Don’t worry, you’re getting a couple of upgrades as well.
The native WhatsApp camera now supports front-facing flashes, so you can take those nighttime self-portraits without turning to another app. And the Snapchat-like recording controls that made it into Instagram have spread to WhatsApp — you can double-tap to switch between front and back cameras, and swiping up and down will zoom while you’re capturing videos. You can check out all the new additions right away if you’re using an Android device, and they should be coming to iOS “soon.”
Source: WhatsApp, Google Play
Huawei reportedly turned down Google’s new phone strategy
You may be wondering why Google appears to be going with HTC for this year’s Pixel phones instead of Huawei. Wasn’t the Nexus 6P a rousing success? Apparently, Huawei and Google aren’t getting along quite as well as you might think. An Android Police source understands that Huawei bristled at Google’s plan to take more control over its Android hardware, which included erasing any mentions of the phone builder’s name. Huawei wanted a larger footprint in the US, and it wasn’t going to get that by being reduced to a contract manufacturer.
The decision to back out wasn’t helped by trouble with the Nexus 6P launch, according to the tipster. Google had originally promised deals with all four big US carriers, but that never happened. Talks broke down, and the grand launch (which would have included a “multi-hundred-million dollar” ad strategy) was reduced to sales through Google and Huawei stores. Neither this nor the Pixel problem appears to have permanently soured the relationship between the companies (there may even be a Huawei-made Google phone in 2017), but Huawei would undoubtedly be frustrated.
The incidents may be hints of a broader problem with Huawei’s US division. Reportedly, the only device to get any significant traction is the cheap-but-capable Honor 5X. The GX8 (which shares ties with the Honor phone) has seen virtually no sales, while the MateBook is an “absolute flop.” There are hints that Huawei ousted most of its American leadership and has otherwise gone through major management changes in a bid to turn things around.
We’ve asked Huawei for comment on the report. Whether or not the Google stories are accurate, though, it’s no secret that Huawei hasn’t had the best time in the US. Outside of the Nexus 6P and Huawei Watch, the company doesn’t have much stateside recognition or a fiercely competitive lineup. Unlocked phones (beyond Google’s lineup) don’t garner nearly as much attention as their carrier-bound counterparts, and it’s hard to argue for the MateBook when the Surface Pro 4 is both better-known and better-built. In short, it’s not enough to show up — Huawei has to demonstrate that it compete with its biggest rivals on their home turf.
Source: Android Police
Twitch rolls out video uploads, clip editing on iOS and Android
While Amazon-linked Prime features are the big news out of TwitchCon, the livestreaming service is bringing some long-promised new features to users. Starting today, users can upload videos directly to Twitch. That means streamers can apply their video editing and production skills to archived clips for their audiences, without having to take them somewhere else, like YouTube Gaming. The feature was announced at TwitchCon last year, but at least it’s here now in beta form.
Upload videos directly to Twitch! Available RIGHT NOW as an open beta #TwitchCon
Read Now: https://t.co/CUKP2gHyjE pic.twitter.com/UR6sD4MueP
— Twitch (@Twitch) September 30, 2016
Uploaded videos will stick around “indefinitely” instead of expiring, and will notify followers just like new broadcasts. While streamers will surely appreciate that, on the viewing end we’re also looking forward to its HTML5 player being available to everyone. Another new tweak is the ability for viewers to easily create video highlight clips from within the Twitch iOS or Android mobile app. Check below for a full list of things announced during today’s keynote speech.
Create, view and share clips right in the Twitch app. Available on both iOS and Android right now! #TwitchCon pic.twitter.com/EfxtVdYQKQ
— Twitch (@Twitch) September 30, 2016
Twitch Keynote Announcements:
- Uploads: Any user can upload videos to Twitch for anyone to watch. Streamers may also download past streams and use the footage to create and upload on demand videos for their viewers to watch whenever they want.
- Clips on mobile: Viewers on iOS and Android can create and share clips from live streams and videos directly within the Twitch app.
- Transcodes: Video quality options will begin rolling out to even more streamers so viewers with all levels of Internet speeds can view streams seamlessly. Video quality options will be automatically applied based on a channel’s expected viewership.
- Curse Voice and Twitch integration: Users of Curse Voice and Twitch may link their accounts to access all global and non-global emotes from Twitch on Curse Voice. As an added bonus, Curse Voice users will also get a Twitch-themed color customization option on the client.
- HTML5: HTML5 is now available to ALL Twitch users.
Coming in October 2016:
- Clip trimming: Allows viewers to more accurately capture the perfect moment by adjusting the start and end time of their clip.
- Loyalty subscription badges: Viewers can soon show the extent of their loyalty to a Partner and Partners will be able to reward subscribers accordingly with custom chat badges based on length of a subscription. Badge tiers for one, three, six, 12, and 24 month subscriptions will be available to Partners for design.
Source: Twitch Blog (1)
Google Maps will show where your next Calendar appointment is
Google has been all about change for its suite of productivity apps this week, and now we’re seeing what happens when some of the disparate services combine. On Android, Maps and Calendar are joining forces to give a quick visual reference for where your various appointments will take place. You need to be signed into both apps with the same account, of course, but other than that it all seems pretty easy to set up and use. Just put the event’s address in the “where” box when creating a Calendar entry and you should be good to go according to Google’s Keyword blog. Maps information has cross-pollinated into Calendar previously, so it’s pretty cool to see this go the other way, too.
Via: VentureBeat
Source: Google Keyword blog
Hands-free ‘Ok Google’ commands come to Google Maps
The “Ok Google” command has expanded since the debut of Android KitKat, allowing devices to respond in various smart ways to those two words. Now, Google Maps on Android has this ability too, whether you’re in the middle of a road trip or doing something else. Once it’s enabled in settings, you can choose whether it works only while Maps is open or from any screen. Say the magic phrase then follow it up with something like “find a gas station” or “How’s traffic ahead?” and it will let you know.
Existing Google Maps voice commands like “What’s my ETA?” work too, plus new addition like the ability to turn traffic display on or off. You can control whether or not the phrase works on your phone via settings in the Google Search app (make sure you have the latest version for that and Maps first), to turn on “Ok Google” everywhere, or just in Maps, if you’d prefer it that way. You can find a list of commands here, or just give it a try and see what works.
Whether or not you use the voice commands, it’s another example that while the Google Now / Now on Tap branding may be taking a backseat, the features are actually spreading further throughout the OS. Google’s new Assistant AI helper is built around conversational responses to any “Ok Google” query, and we’re expecting to hear more about it during the October 4th “Made by Google” event.
Source: Google Maps Blog
Download Android Wear apps right from your wrist
Android Wear smartwatches aren’t yet completely independent of your phone, but they just took one giant step in that direction. Google is releasing a third developer preview of Android Wear 2.0 that offers Google Play Store access on your watch, complete with support for paid downloads, beta tests and multiple accounts. Browsing is limited to recommend apps and keyword searches, but you can choose to install apps only on the watch — important when some Android Wear 2.0 apps won’t be available on phones in the first place.
You’ll have to be comfortable with running unfinished software if you’re going to install this on your own watch, of course. Otherwise, you’ll have to be patient. Google isn’t expecting 2.0 to reach wearables until early 2017, so the preview program will be the only way you can try the new Android Wear experience this year.
Source: Android Developers Blog
Meerkat team confirms it created the mysterious Houseparty app
Those rumors of Meerkat’s creators quietly developing a group video chat app, Houseparty, were well-founded. The company (actually called Life on Air) has confirmed to The Verge that it built Houseparty under a pseudonym, Alexander Herzick, for about 10 months. The company even admits to creating fake Facebook and LinkedIn pages to maintain appearances. Meerkat’s crew reportedly wanted to both avoid criticism for changing its strategy and to reduce the pressure after becoming a sensation, albeit a short-lived one after Twitter’s Periscope invaded its turf.
The strategy appears to have worked, although it very nearly fell apart. Houseparty gained a strong following after Meerkat staff showed the app to college student groups, but it grew so quickly that connection problems soon overwhelmed the service. It’s bouncing back, though, and now has close to 1 million users — not bad for an app that couldn’t lean on its developer’s reputation to get a head start. While Houseparty probably won’t get much help from Meerkat’s name at this point (Periscope has long since eclipsed it in the livestreaming world), it might not need that boost to enjoy success.
Via: The Verge
Source: Houseparty
Qualcomm dives deeper into IoT with two new Snapdragon chips
Snapdragon processors have long been a staple in Android mobile devices but they will soon spread to more than just smartphones. Qualcomm Incorporated announced on Wednesday morning that it is not only producing a pair of new chips, the 410E and 600E, designed specifically for embedded and IoT devices. It is also teaming with Arrow Electronics to make these stand-alone processors available to small and medium-size manufacturers.
The 600E is a 1.5GHz quad-core chip with Bluetooth 4, an 802.11 a to ac radio and GPS capabilities. It’s geared towards more resource-intensive applications like 3D graphics rendering. The iViz ultrasound machine from Fujifilm Sonosite utilizes the 600E, for example. The 410E, on the other hand, runs at 1.2Ghz with a Adreno 306 GPU (compared to the 320 in the 600E). It supports Bluetooth 4.1 but only supports 802.11 b/g/n and GPS. So while it doesn’t have quite the same graphics chops as the 600E, the 410E’s low power draw makes it more suitable for IoT devices like the Open-Q 410 Wearable Camera Reference Design from Intrinsyc.
What’s more, Qualcomm also announced that it is pairing with Arrow Electronics. This partnership will enable the chip maker, which normally produces processors by the millions for customers like Samsung, to now offer these two chipsets in far smaller numbers. That’s going to allow small- and mid-size companies to incorporate them into their devices without needing enormous production runs — in fact, they’ll be able to order as few as 100 at a time. Plus, Qualcomm is guaranteeing that they’ll produce these two models at least through 2025 so developers won’t have to worry about needing to swap them out for newer iterations any time soon.
Mastercard is offering free Tube travel with Android Pay
In a bid to boost mobile payments, Mastercard kicked-off a series of promotional events last year where it would pay for Londoners’ travel if they used its cards to tap in and out of the Tube with Apple Pay. It must have been a success, because today the card giant confirmed that it will do the same for cardholders with Android devices, allowing you to travel on London’s travel networks for free every Monday throughout October.
All you need to do is have a Mastercard loaded onto your Android Pay wallet and then use it to touch in and out, like you would an Oyster or contactless card. The offer is available on October 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th and covers travel up to £30.50 across bus, Tube, tram, DLR, Tfl Rail, London Overground routes and most National Rail services in London. It even covers Emirates Air Line cable car and the MBNA Thames Clippers River Bus service.
If that wasn’t enough, Mastercard has also teamed up with Caffè Nero to offer a free coffee or hot drink on those dates. For both offers, you will need to pay for your travel and drinks initially, but Mastercard will refund the fare (which could take up to 28 days).
Source: Mastercard
Pixel 2 joins the few Chromebooks that can run Android apps
Prior to a few days ago, anyone wanting to run Android apps on their Chromebook had to be an early adopter. Google finally released a stable build of Chrome OS that included a Play store in beta that would allow users to run mobile apps…but only on the Acer Chromebook R11 and ASUS Chromebook Flip. Since the only one other machine supporting Android apps in beta Chrome OS releases was the Chromebook Pixel 2, we predicted it would be next in line — and we were right.
Starting today, users of that sadly out-of-production machine can run the Play store on a stable Chrome OS 53 build and load up Android apps. Which Chromebook will get cleared next is unclear, though Google does have a list of dozens that will get added at some point “later in 2016/2017.”
Source: Android Police
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