Google Translate can help you with text in 20 new languages
Let’s face it: Google Translate is a handy tool when traveling abroad or reading text on the web that’s written in a different language. The software already offered help with seven languages, and today Mountain View added 20 more. This means that you’ll be able to translate to and from English to Bulgarian, Czech, Dutch, Indonesian, Polish, Turkish and several others. You’ll also be able to leverage one-way translation from English to Hindi or Thai. And all of those are just for printed text.
You can also use the camera on your mobile device to snap a pictures of a sign or text that you need a hand with as Google Translate’s camera mode supports 37 different languages. To put the software to work, though, you’ll have to download a 2MB language pack for each one inside the app. Google also beefed up the voice conversation mode so that its real-time translation works well even on slower networks, which is particularly handy in developing areas. The updates are hitting both Android and iOS apps over the next few days.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Google
Source: Google
VSCO Cam adds Collections to curate photos from other users
VSCO Cam has offered some community features powered by its Grid tool on top of its regular photo-editing chops for some time now. Today, though, the company added a new way to interact with your fellow VSCO snapshot enthusiasts. With updates to both the iOS and Android apps, VSCO Cam delivered Collections: a feature that allows you to curate your favorite photos from other users. Grid provides a place to share your images in a minimalist format for all to see, but with Collections VSCO pulls in snapshots you like from other photographers to build a separate library. When you’re scrolling through the photos in Search or Explore, simply double tap to save one before publishing it to your Collection.
You’ll have the option to review the images you’ve selected before doing so, just in case you need to make some last-minute adjustments. If someone selects one of your photos for their Collection, you’ll receive a notification and you’ll have the option to remove it if you’d like. Updates for both Android and iOS are available now via Google Play and iTunes, respectively. And if you need a step-by-step tutorial, you can peruse that right here.
Source: VSCO, Google Play, iTunes
Twitter welcomes interactive notifications on iOS devices
Twitter has upgraded its notifications for iPhones and iPads, making them interactive to enable quicker responses. For instance, if you get pinged about a new message while using another app, the improved notification box that pops up allows you to favorite or reply to that tweet without leaving the program you’re using. In addition, the latest version of Twitter for iOS adds a button next to your avatar when you compose a tweet, which gives you easy access to drafts you’ve never gotten the chance to publish. Don’t bother unearthing old stolen jokes, though — Twitter’s bound to delete them anyway. You can download the update right now from iTunes; it might not be a major one, but both features are clearly useful if you’re always in a hurry.
Source: iTunes
Periscope for iOS can mute notifications
Periscope’s latest version for iOS comes with a handful of useful features, including one for folks suffering from notification overload. Now, you can “mute” broadcasters you follow so you don’t get pinged every single time they go live. Don’t worry about missing their shows, though — their updates will still appear on your feed. The global feed has also been revamped to feature broadcasts relevant to your interests and language preference. Plus, you can now take advantage of iOS 8’s Handoff feature, which means that you can start watching a show on an iPhone or an iPad and transition to a MacBook without issues, and vice versa. Android users might notice that the the revamped global feed is now also available on their devices, and Periscope promises that the mute option will soon follow it to Google’s platform.
Luxe valet service launches in Boston
Joining current cities San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle and New York City, the Luxe valet service is now available in the Boston area. Luxe offers commuters an option to valet park their vehicles at secure locations so that drivers do not have to deal with the frustration of finding parking themselves when visiting urban centers. Luxe also announced they plan to expand into the Washington, D.C., Austin and Philadelphia areas later this year.
To use Luxe, customers use the service’s mobile app to request valet service when they are departing for a destination. Luxe monitors your location and when you are close to your drop-off point, a valet is dispatched so they will be ready. Users then request when and where their vehicle will be returned to them, including locations other than the original drop-off point. Luxe will even drive the vehicle home for you if your activities include a night of partying that leave you unable to drive.
Although valet parking might sound like a luxury, Luxe’s rates are only $5 per hour with a $25 per day cap or overnight parking for an extra $10. Luxe assures potential customers their employees are background checked and go through a “rigorous” training process.
To celebrate their expansion into Boston, Luxe is offering a $30 credit to new users who sign up using the code “WICKEDGOOD.”
source: Luxe (PR)
Come comment on this article: Luxe valet service launches in Boston
Frontback shutdown shows that selfies don’t equal success
The selfie craze might not be slowing down any time soon, but that doesn’t mean that self-portraiture products are a license to print money. Need proof? Just look at Frontback. After two years of investment and hype from the likes of Reddit’s Alexis Ohanian and Twitter’s Jack Dorsey, the selfie-plus-rear-photo service is shutting down. The social network will wind down as of August 15th, and you’ll have until September 15th to download all your pictures. Frontback’s iOS client will be reduced to a camera app during the transition, while the Android version is disappearing.
As the creators note, there was a big difference between creating a selfie-oriented social platform and sustaining it. While Frontback did rack up 2 million users, it took newcomers “too much time and effort” to understand the app — people tended to use it on an “infrequent” basis after signing up. In other words, it’s not enough to use selfies as a main selling point. While big services like Instagram and Snapchat thrive on “here I am” snapshots, it’s really their simple concepts and strong community features that keep people hooked.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Frontback
Pinterest’s new button makes pinning easier on iPhones
It’s now a lot easier to pin links from iOS devices, thanks to the new button the social network has launched for the platform. Considering around 80 percent of Pinterest’s traffic comes from mobile devices, it’s a bit surprising that the company didn’t launch this earlier, but hey, at least it’s now available and promises to let you speed-pin from your phone or tablet. To activate the button, simply launch a mobile browser, click the Share button and then the ellipsis that says “More” underneath. Find Pinterest and toggle it on, and you’ll see its icon on the Share panel next time you want to save a web page. It worked not just on Safari, but also for Chrome when we tested it, so we recommend trying to add the button on your favorite browser first.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple
Source: Pinterest
Pinterest’s new button makes pinning easier on iPhones
It’s now a lot easier to pin links from iOS devices, thanks to the new button the social network has launched for the platform. Considering around 80 percent of Pinterest’s traffic comes from mobile devices, it’s a bit surprising that the company didn’t launch this earlier, but hey, at least it’s now available and promises to let you speed-pin from your phone or tablet. To activate the button, simply launch a mobile browser, click the Share button and then the ellipsis that says “More” underneath. Find Pinterest and toggle it on, and you’ll see its icon on the Share panel next time you want to save a web page. It worked not just on Safari, but also for Chrome when we tested it, so we recommend trying to add the button on your favorite browser first.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple
Source: Pinterest
YouTube has a new mobile app now, real 3D VR video coming soon
During a keynote speech tonight at the 6th annual Vidcon event, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki announced a new version of its mobile app. Available on Android and mobile web browsers now (iOS coming soon), it makes it easier for creators to publish and edit directly in the app, and easier for viewers to subscribe to a channel with just one button touch (and with ten million of those touches, channel owners can earn the new Diamond play button reward). The redesign even puts your subscriptions and profile right at the top for easy access. This is also the version that adds the ability to watch those vertical videos in full screen, so expect that to come your way soon if you don’t have it already. One thing that’s not there yet? Support for real 3D virtual reality video, like the kind we’ve seen from NextVR. That’s coming soon, to take things a step further than the current 360-degree support (with 360-degree ads). According to Wojcicki, watch time is up 60 percent across devices, and 100 percent on mobile from last year, so we’d expect there’s a lot more planned to keep that growth going.
Virtual reality is coming to YouTube with 3D, 360-degree video. More details soon! #VidCon pic.twitter.com/PVJ1ElLly5
– YouTube Creators (@YTCreators) July 24, 2015
Lights, camera, upload! The new YouTube app lets you edit and share from your phone. #VidCon pic.twitter.com/K1cT9SuHti
– YouTube Creators (@YTCreators) July 24, 2015
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Google
Source: YouTube Blog
Canadian city app has a voice assistant powered by Watson
Watson can beat human Jeopardy players, help people cook, critique their writing — and apparently, it can even help the citizens of Surrey, British Columbia with their everyday life. Software developer Purple Forge has tapped into the supercomputer’s capabilities to give the Canadian city’s app the capacity to answer spoken questions asked in natural language. Fast Company has dubbed the new My Surrey feature “Siri for cities,” and it can answer queries about parking, waste collection and animal control (such as “Why wasn’t my trash picked up this morning?” and “How many dogs can I keep on my property?”), among other municipal services.
While residents can ask the app whatever they want, it also has a frequently asked questions section for easy browsing. Since My Surrey is available for iPhones, iPads, Android devices and even Apple Watches, the local government’s hoping it can reduce calls made to city services, considering most people have access to smartphones these days. Purple Forge CEO Brian Hurley claims other Canadian municipalities want in on the Watson action, as well, so don’t be surprised if other local apps in the country debut their own voice assistant in the future.
[Image credit: Atomic Taco/Flickr]
Via: Fast Company
Source: Purple Forge, My Surrey app
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