Facebook at Work officially launches as ‘Workplace’
Right on schedule, Facebook’s private social networks for companies officially launched today. After several years in private beta, the company’s Slack and Yammer competitor is now known simply as “Workplace,” and is available to companies, non-profits and educational institutions of any size.
According to Facebook’s announcement, more than 1,000 organizations around the world are already using Workplace, with India, the US, Norway, UK and France leading the top five countries. With the public release, the company hopes features like Messenger chat, Facebook Live and Groups will become indispensable to companies, rather than just a daily distraction. (And, because Workplace accounts are completely separate form Facebook accounts, the discussions should be a little bit more focused to begin with.) Aside from those familiar elements, Workplace has a few new corporate tricks like dashboard analytics, single sign-on and better IT integration to make it even more office-friendly. There’s also a separate Work Chat app for iOS and Android so employees can keep in touch while they’re out of the office.
On a more general note, Facebook is rolling out “Multi-Company Groups” which allow employees from different organizations to work together without using their personal Facebook accounts, as well as a Workplace Partner Program that lets large companies serve as ambassadors for Menlo Park’s latest product. New companies can get a free three-month trial period for signing up, but after that Facebook Workplace has a tired pricing structure that costs $3 per month per user for companies with less than 1,000 active users, or as low as $1 per month for companies with over 10,000 users. For non-profits and Educational Institutions, Workplace is completely free.
Source: Facebook
You can now pre-order Oculus Touch controllers for $199
At last week’s Oculus Connect, the virtual reality company revealed that its Touch motion controllers would arrive December 6th. You don’t have to wait until then to make your purchase though, Oculus is now accepting pre-orders ahead of that date. If you also pre-ordered and purchased a Rift headset from the company’s website, using the same email will allow you to jump to the front of the line for the accessories if you commit before October 27th.
Touch pre-orders will include a second sensor and a connector for Rock Band VR. They will also come bundled with The Unspoken and VR Sports Challenge so you’ll have some options for gaming immediately. Speaking of titles, Oculus says Touch will launch with 35 game options in total.
Other items up for pre-order include those $49 Rift Earphones that will also ship in early December. If you’re in need of extra sensors to properly outfit a large room, they’ll be up for pre-order on October 31st for $79 each. And as you might expect, they’ll also ship on December 6th along with the rest of the new gear. The Touch controllers will set you back $199 or if you haven’t yet purchased a Rift headset, buying the whole lot costs $798. To part with your funds, hop over to the Oculus store right here.
Source: Oculus
Google Assistant is getting a sense of humor from ‘The Onion’
As Google Home gets closer to launch, the AI assistant is not only getting smarter, but also a little more friendly and — hopefully — a whole lot funnier. As the Wall Street Journal’s Christopher Mims notes in a piece about friendly AI like Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant, Alphabet’s big play for the space includes hiring up comedy writing alumni of Pixar and The Onion.
While none of the major AI assistants on the market today or coming soon are truly “artificial intelligence” (that is: the device itself doesn’t actually understand the conversation) people have a natural tendency to form an emotional connection with the little robot voice in the kitchen speaker. So, subtle improvements like a witty joke or unexpected bit of humor can go a long way to improving the user experience, especially as voice and conversation becomes the interface itself. Although Siri and Alexa already have a few jokes in their repertoire, they tend to be pretty bad and definitely don’t have quite the same punch as the topical humor of “America’s Finest News Source.”
Since Amazon and Alphabet’s endgoal is to get Alexa and Google Assistant into any connected device within earshot, then it’s good to know those devices will at least have a sense of humor about listening to us humans 24 hours a day.
Via: CNET
Source: Wall Street Journal
UK targets doxxing, hashtags and more in online troll crackdown
Over the course of the year, the UK government has attempted to crack down internet abuse by introducing new guidelines for prosecutors and forming a new troll-hunting police unit. Those updates ensured that anyone creating websites or fake online profiles with the intention to humiliate someone could be punished, but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has today added a new list of offences aimed at bringing trolls to justice.
Prosecutors have been told that anyone indulging in “virtual mobbing” campaigns — where a person encourages others to target and abuse users on Twitter or Facebook — can now be charged under the Serious Crime Act 2007.
The CPS also wants to bring the hammer down on “doxxers,” where someone shares personal information like an address or telephone number to promote harassment of the victim. The hashtag, often seen as a way to bring people together for good causes, also makes the list. Now, if a social media user creates a “derogatory” hashtag with the intention to humiliate someone, they too can be charged under the same act.
The CPS also announced specific guidance on hate crimes and violence against women and girls. If a social media user is found to be “baiting” a person online by “labelling them as sexually promiscuous,” they will be charged. The same can be said of users who Photoshop or digitally alter images of people on Facebook, Twitter and other social apps with the intention to demean them.
“Social media can be used to educate, entertain and enlighten but there are also people who use it to bully, intimidate and harass,” says Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders. “Ignorance is not a defence and perceived anonymity is not an escape. Those who commit these acts, or encourage others to do the same, can and will be prosecuted.”
While the guidelines come into force today, they will be subject to a 13-week consultation. That consultation will include the subject of “sexting,” which the CPS said today will not become a prosecutable offence for people under the age of 18. Sexting isn’t considered to be in the public interest, as long as images aren’t sent under duress or in cases involving “exploitation, grooming or bullying.”
Via: BBC News
How to watch the second US presidential debate
The second US presidential debate promises to draw even more attention than the first. On top of giving Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump a chance to adjust their strategies, there’s a switch to a town hall format based on public questions. And then there’s both Trump’s video apology and Clinton’s leaked comments to banks — how will the candidates deal with these curveballs? Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to follow the drama online. We’ve aggregated many of the internet viewing options so that you won’t have to miss a moment when the debate kicks off at 9PM Eastern.
You practically know the drill by now — Facebook Live will play a major role in debate coverage, with numerous major news outlets using it as their streaming platform of choice. ABC News’ agreement with Facebook will make it the star of the show between its ad-free stream and viewer-influenced commentary, but it’s not the only choice. BuzzFeed, CNBC, C-SPAN, Fox News, the New York Times, PBS, Telemundo and Univision should also be streaming on Facebook, although the presentation you’ll get will certainly vary.
Twitter is once again determined to be a one-stop shop for live debate coverage. Its partnership with Bloomberg will deliver the debate itself, on-air analysis and the obligatory never-ending stream of tweets from viewers. You can watch on the web at debates.twitter.com, and Twitter’s official mobile apps will help you tune in when you’re on the move.
YouTube
You’d better believe that you’ll have an abundance of YouTube streams to watch. Bloomberg, Fox News, NBC News, PBS, Telemundo and the Washington Post should all have live feeds on Google’s video site, complete with commentary in many cases. And if you’re more interested in observation than raw candidate banter, outfits like Complex and The Young Turks can help you out.
Conventional media outlets
Naturally, some of the bigger names in conventional media are streaming the debate through their own portals alongside (or in some cases, instead of) third-party services. ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox Business and Reuters should have streams through their websites and mobile apps. As in previous debates, though, you may need to authenticate your TV subscription when using certain apps, such as ABC’s regular app.
Images: AP Photo/John Minchillo; AP Photo/Patrick Semansky; Reuters/Lucy Nicholson; AP Photo/John Locher
Facebook Launches Standalone Calendar-Based ‘Events’ App
Facebook yesterday announced the launch of a standalone iOS app that lets users of the social network directly access its “Events” features, which the company says have more than 100 million daily users.
Today we’re announcing Events from Facebook, a new app we designed for event seekers who are passionate about keeping up with nearby events and finding things to do with their friends. Whether you’re looking for something to attend this weekend or just wondering what’s happening in your area, Events will help get you there.
The app offers a feed of events that are created or followed by users’ Facebook friends, including any updates to events that users have confirmed they’re going to, as well as those promoted by any commercial pages they follow.
Events can be searched based on time, location, and interest, and upcoming events can be browsed via an interactive map. To keep track of events, the app also offers a calendar view, to which existing Google and iCloud calendars can be added, so it’s easier for users to make plans.
Facebook events is a free download for iPhone and iPad from the U.S. App Store, but availability in other regional stores remains patchy as of Saturday. [Direct Link]
Tag: Facebook
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Donald Trump’s video apology goes out over Facebook, Twitter
Hours after the Washington Post published a video of Donald Trump in 2005 stating, among other things, that “And when you’re a star, they let you do it…You can do anything. Grab them by the p—y,” the candidate issued a video response that went out over social media. Despite Trump’s reputation as a heavy Twitter user (in 2012 he tweeted “I love Twitter…. it’s like owning your own newspaper— without the losses.”) it was published first on Facebook and then later on Twitter.
Just another example of how different this election has been from any before, those platforms allow the campaign to reach followers en masse — more than 11 million on Facebook and 12 million on Twitter — without having to worry about annoyances like anchors or journalists asking questions. Even with a debate coming up Sunday night, there was no need to face questions tonight about women who report being assaulted by Trump in specifically the manner described; instead, the candidate focused on the husband of his opponent.
As social media giveth, it also taketh away, and discussion of the #TrumpTape has been spirited on all platforms. A number of prominent Republican politicians tweeted that the videotaped comments were “indefensible” and “despicable” with a few going so far as to withdraw endorsements for Trump or push for him to withdraw from the campaign. Senator Mike Lee of Utah responded with a Facebook Live broadcast from his own home — we’re sure a Periscope or two will be right behind.
Source: Donald Trump (Facebook)
Oculus Avatars turned me into a creepy VR mannequin
While yesterday’s Oculus announcement centered mostly around VR hardware and games, the company also rolled out a few new features that’ll let you socialize with the rest of your Rift-owning pals. Central to this concept is the Oculus Avatar, which is essentially a representations of your virtual self. Think of it as a VR version of Xbox Avatars or the Nintendo Mii. I had a chance to create my very own Oculus Avatar at the event and it’s unlike any other video game character I’ve created before.
For one thing, the avatars are more like floating busts with hands. They’re monochrome, but you can choose to deck them out in a variety of colors, from a mellow blue to a glistening pink. Using the Rift and the Touch controllers, I could pick out my choice of face, along with hairstyle, eyewear and clothing. Just grab onto your selection with your hands and throw them on your face to try it on. Oh, and eyewear isn’t optional with Avatars. A spokesperson told me that otherwise, the eyes would just be empty sockets.
On the whole, the avatar creation process was pretty basic. I didn’t have to pick out the exact shape of my nose or adjust the positioning of my mouth or anything fiddly like that. I just scrolled through the different face and head options and went with what I thought was best. I also found it interesting that there was no need to choose a gender; just pick with what fits you best and go.
The Avatar system will go live in December, and it looks like you’ll be able to use the Avatar in a few different games and apps. One of those apps is Oculus Rooms, which is essentially a virtual hangout space for you and your friends.
Right now, the Avatars are fairly basic with no facial expression, so I looked a little like a creepy mannequin, or the bad guy from Terminator 2. But I imagine as Oculus perfects its avatar software, you’ll soon be able to gesture emotions and actions the same way Facebook is doing with its own social VR effort.
Facebook’s Events app helps you find stuff to do
There’s no shortage of event-finding apps for your smartphone. YPlan, Eventbrite, Songkick — the list goes on and on. Facebook’s dream of being your go-to event planner is no secret, and today it’s taking a huge swipe at its specialized competitors with a new, standalone app of its own. Available first on iOS, the aptly named “Events” gives you a filtered feed with all of your friends’ activity. So if they’ve said they’re “interested” in a nearby food market, you’ll see it immediately — no need to trawl through the News Feed, or hunt for the appropriate section inside the main Facebook app.
There’s a search tab too, which lets you filter events by time or location. An image-heavy carousel sits further down with suggestions, pulled presumably from your Likes, history and geographical whereabouts. Finally, there’s a search box if you want to get specific. The calendar tab, accessible at the bottom, will give you an overview of everything you’ve signed up for. It’s not a full calendar app — but if you’re struggling to keep up with your Facebook-related engagements, maybe this can help.
Events’ utility is obvious. Facebook has a massive audience, one that’s attracted almost every type of business and event organiser. That interest has led to a huge number of listings, which could appeal to an equally huge number of people online. Facebook’s job is to pair the two groups together — a simple challenge, you might think, but one that’s grown harder as the platform’s priorities have broadened. Video, livestreaming, friendship anniversary reminders — it’s easy for events to get lost amongst the rest of the social noise. A standalone app could bring them back to the fore.
Source: Events (iOS)
NFL could fine its own teams for social media posts
Sports reputation as being DVR-proof has led some leagues to try and tightly control how and where their highlights show up online. While the NBA is relatively loose about allowing its clips on YouTube or Twitter, the NFL has gone after websites for posting video or GIFs before, and the Olympics banned outlets from posting GIFs this summer. Now, a leaked memo obtained by TheMMQB and Mashable reveals how the NFL can go after its own teams for posts by their social media accounts. Now, teams can be fined for exceeding the limits on video and any moving content (read: GIFs) posted during the 60 minutes before a game or during the game.
As noted by Pro Football Talk, these new rules actually loosen restrictions that had existed on using video from games, and recorded at the stadium on gameday. But the penalties put in place mean that for a first-time violation, a team could be fined $25,000 for an offending post, which ramps up to $50,000 the second time, and $100,000 plus the loss of rights to post league content for a third strike.
Mashable revealed that banned behavior includes tweeting video during the restricted time period, other than resharing video from official league accounts. While the ban on gametime GIFs (even for content that’s not from the game itself) could be reviewed going forward, it seems likely that your preferred team’s social media account will become a lot less personal while the game is happening. The big question however, is whether the NFL just wants more control over valuable game video and reach when the most people are paying attention, or if it’s worried about ratings that, through the first quarter of the season, have noticeable declined?
Source: TheMMQB, Mashable, Pro Football Talk
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