Thứ Bảy, 8 tháng 10, 2016
One socially conscious company is making your emoji keyboard a little less perfect in an effort to tackle food waste. Hungry Harvest, a startup service that delivers "recovered produce" to consumers' doorsteps, has created a series of "ugly" fruit and vegetable emoji meant to get people thinking — and typing — about our preoccupation with aesthetically pleasing food. In late September, the company rolled out Ugly Produce!, an iOS app that gives every user a package of new emoji, including a slightly misshapen strawberry and an imperfect potato. Pretty produce is the standard in most U.S. supermarkets, meaning fruits and veggies that have visible variations from our standard idea of a robust apple or a snappy carrot are usually tossed. That means roughly 1 out of every 5 edible fruits and vegetables are thrown out every year — simply for appearing a little out of sorts. Roughly 1 out of every 5 edible fruits and veggies are tossed every year. This adds up to a lot of wasted food — but it's not only an American problem. About one-third of all food produced worldwide is wasted or lost between the process of food production and consumption, worth around $1 trillion annually. All this waste is disheartening when you consider the realities of hunger and food insecurity across the globe. But high rates of discarded food also have adverse impacts on the environment. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, organic waste is the second highest component of landfills in the U.S., contributing substantially to methane gas emissions that warm the atmosphere. Image: Hungry Harvest/Itunes Hungry Harvest wants you to use its emoji to make an impact. But it isn't stopping with just an opt-in app. The company is taking its mission further, currently petitioning to encourage Unicode, Apple and Google to adopt the imperfect produce into their standard emoji keyboards. While it isn't likely that these massive tech companies will change their faultless emoji fruit for something a little more flawed, iPhone users who want to make a difference can tackle the issue through tech. At the very least, it will make you think twice next time you scoff at a misshapen melon.
Thứ Hai, 26 tháng 9, 2016
DarkSky, the popular iPhone and Android weather app with dazzling graphics and hyper-specific forecasts, has made a transition onto your desktop. The company launched DarkSky.net earlier this month in an effort to bring its design philosophy and forecasting prowess to a broader audience. Like the app, the website features local forecasts presented in a deterministic way, meaning it will tell you when it will rain, rather than a probability of precipitation. DarkSky is the product of a team of six people, none of whom are meteorologists. The Boston-based company would not reveal any user figures to Mashable, but anecdotal evidence gathered through social media suggests it has a sizable, cult-like following. Adam Grossman, the co-founder of DarkSky, told Mashable the website is in part a marketing move to boost name recognition of the app. DarkSky.net UV index map. Image: darksky.net “The biggest reason we launched this website is DarkSky is an app and a 'for pay' app," Grossman said. "We have a lot of users,” he said, but “it doesn’t get a huge lot of exposure that say a website would.” “We tried to make, spend a lot of effort making beautiful maps. There’s something different about having it on a big screen,” he said. DarkSky relies on two different streams of information to produce the weather forecasts its users rely on. For precise estimates of rain or snow start and stop times, the company projects the movement of radar echoes from federal government weather radars. “We take in the raw radar data from the NWS in the U.S. and the Met Office in the UK,” he said. For the longer-range forecasts that DarkSky offers, the company pulls in data from about 10 weather models, including the U.S. Global Forecast System, or GFS model, and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts model, or ECMWF. The company then compares historical weather data to the computer model projections and gives each model solution a weighted average based on how accurate their computers calculate each model is for a particular point. Grossman said the company's trademark is its precision rainfall forecasts, which other, more popular weather apps aren't doing, or aren't doing well. In fact, when DarkSky first launched, all it offered were minute-by-minute precipitation forecasts out to one hour in advance. The first time the app says it will rain in five minutes, and then it does, it "kind of feels like magic," Grossman says. “That’s our hook, that’s what the app is all about. Having that kind of constrained focus gives something for users to latch onto and appreciate.” DarkSky visualization of wind speed and direction. Image: DarkSky.net Plans for the website include adding different maps, including snowfall accumulation forecasts. "Our goal with the maps is to make them clear and easy to understand," Grossman wrote in a blog post on the company's website. "The whole purpose of weather maps is to provide context for the forecast, to give you a bigger-picture view of what’s happening. So often, though, weather maps serve only to confuse and obfuscate, with weird lines, befuddling isobars, and garish colors. So we’ve designed ours to be an aid to understanding, and I think they turned out downright gorgeous." Interestingly, the company's philosophy that weather maps should be visually striking, and not necessarily complicated, has not earned it many fans in the weather industry itself. While meteorologists generally are not in favor of overly complicated maps, to them, isobars (lines of equal air pressure) and other data are crucial to understanding the weather. That's why meteorologists have flocked to high-cost, fully loaded apps like RadarScope, which gives users the ability to access multiple parameters from live Doppler radar feeds in the U.S. and Canada, plus lightning strike data. For forecasters, raw data like that is more useful, even if it's somewhat more complicated and less elegant in presentation. RadarScope's creators were even honored by the American Meteorological Society in 2015.
Thứ Sáu, 26 tháng 8, 2016
Though Google and Apple have introduced caller ID and spam protection features for their users in their upcoming OS updates, third-party app Truecaller offering similar service continues to gain popularity. And now the seven-year-old Sweden-based company is partnering with Huawei to expand its global presence. Truecaller says its service is now being used to make half-a-billion calls per month. The announcement comes four months after the company shut down its Truedialer app and added its features to the core Truecaller app. Truecaller previously focused on providing its Android and iOS users the ability to know who was calling them. But in 2014, the company launched Truedialer, a dialer app for Android which enabled users to make calls through the app (it only served as the interface for your calls) and see information of people in real-time as they typed a phone number. It also let users check availability of their friends (that is, whether they are free to take a call), duration of calls, and the ability to block spammers. But Truecaller remains unfazed. The company earlier said that it would take years for the vast majority of Android users to get to Android Nougat, and smartphones with older versions of Android will likely never get those features.
The company also has partnered with Huawei to pre-install the app in the Chinese brand's smartphones. The integration will be rolled out in America, Middle East & North Africa, as well as South East Asia and India by end of September 2016. The move could help Truecaller grow its presence in some of the regions where it does not have a significant user base. As of earlier this year, Truecaller had 250 million users, of whom India alone accounted for over 100 million users.
The move comes at a time when Google and Apple themselves have introduced features to block spammers and identify callers on their respective mobile operating systems. Android Nougat, which began rolling out to select Nexus smartphones earlier this week, can tell a user about the caller if the number is not stored in the phone's contacts. Apple is also introducing a similar feature with iOS 10.
Spam calling remains a major issue worldwide. But in emerging regions such as India, where the telecom regulations and awareness about them aren’t as strict as they are in some other places, people receive many calls from telemarketers. Over 300 million spam calls are placed in India every month, according to Truecaller.
Thứ Hai, 22 tháng 8, 2016
Democratic party presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has an app for voters so it's only natural that her GOP opponent, Donald Trump, would roll out his own as well. The America First app was quietly launched Thursday and since its release there's been very little chatter about it, which may be due to app's relatively unremarkable offerings. As you might expect, it allows you to receive updates on the campaign's event schedule, get messages from Trump's social media feed and offers links to the campaign's Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter accounts. All fairly standard political app fare. Image: america first But where the app gets interesting is user engagement. After spending some time with the app, it appears that rumblings from some that Trump's presidential campaign is doubling as his own reality show aren't far off the mark. Here are just a few examples: 1. On the app's badges page (you accrue points for certain actions, which earn you badges), the entry-level badge labels users as Apprentice. That's right, the same name of the reality show (The Apprentice) Trump is most famous for. Coincidence? 2. In the Trivia section of the app, the questions mostly revolve, appropriately, around politics. However, one question really stands out: "Which city does NOT have a Trump Tower?" That has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with branding. Real estate branding in the Trump for president app, go figure. 3. Let's go back to the badges page. The top badge, which requires the most points, is called Big League, and is represented by a White House icon. Right below that? Merch! The second highest level is dubbed MAGA (presumably, representing Trump's catchphrase, "Make America Great Again") and the icon is the now famous hat bearing his well-known slogan. So in the realm of app user achievements, the only level comparable to winning the White House level is represented by commercial swag from Trump. Again, it appears that branding "trumps" politics in this app. Image: america first In a report published in June, Vanity Fair editor Sarah Ellison claimed that, at one point, Trump sought permission from NBCUniversal to continue hosting The Apprentice even if he won the White House. In that context, the app's branding approach makes a lot more sense. Overall, the app is fairly well done, but when we tried to send an invite to a colleague to join the app, it ended up in her spam email filter. Make of that what you will. The app is available as a free download in the Apple App Store and on Google Play and, to be fair, it enjoys a favorable user rating on both platforms. However, your mileage may vary.
Thứ Năm, 18 tháng 8, 2016
Now that Uber doesn’t have to worry about China, the American cab-hailing service is paying more attention to India. Uber is making it easier for Indian riders to book a cab on its platform. The company has announced a web app version of its service called “Dial an Uber” allowing people to book a ride without installing the app on their phone. Instead of downloading the app, users can just to go to dial.uber.com to book a cab. It is likely to come handy to those who use a basic smartphone or might not even have a Google account to download apps from the Play Store (yes, that happens!). The best thing is users do not even have to create an Uber account and they just need to enter their phone number to authenticate. They can settle the payment in cash at the end of the trip. This would encourage first-time users to experience Uber's services or even those who don't use a cab regularly but might need one when, for instance, they land at an airport or a railway station. Uber entered India in 2013, and has since expanded its service to over two dozen cities. The second India specific feature is letting users to "Request a Ride for Others". With this feature, users will be able to specify whether the ride they are booking is for them or someone else. In case it is for someone else, users will be able to share the rider's location and phone number with the driver directly via the app. The rider meanwhile will get the driver's contact details via a text message. The feature is available in every city where Uber operates in the country. This feature would be appreciated by many, especially when they are stuck in an area of spotty internet coverage and can't book a cab. They will now be able to ask someone to book one for them. Uber, though, is targeting it at elders who might not have Uber accounts or even an internet connected smartphone to book a cab. Uber entered India in 2013, and has since expanded its service to over two dozen cities. The company competes with Ola, which is the largest cab aggregator in the country with services in over 90 cities. Though Uber has been aggressively expanding its operation in the country from the beginning, fighting back Ola with car-pooling and competitive fares that are extremely crucial in a price sensitive place such as India, it has seemingly grown more focused in the country in recent times. The company recently hired three new executives in the country, and was reportedly planning to spend an additional $1 billion in India on top of the $1 billion CEO Travis Kalanick had promised during his India visit earlier this year.
Thứ Sáu, 12 tháng 8, 2016
Grindr, the gay hookup app, is officially coming to a T-shirt near you. The brand, the most popular app for gay men for a few years now, is now venturing into a fashion brand. Image: GRINDR Starting now, the app, in collaboration with Print All Over Me, will offer 30 items including sweatshirts, bandanas, track pants and jockstraps. Called The Varsity Collection, all proceeds from the brand (ranging from $25-$130) will support Athlete Ally's Principle 6 campaign. The campaign started in 2014 to fight anti-gay laws prior to Sochi's winter Olympics. Image: GRINDR "As we keep evolving, we are looking for ways to combine things people enjoy with ways to help the community globally," Grindr's creative director, Landis Smithers said in a statement. "The collection feels sexy, cheeky, fun, but in the end, all profits are going to an amazing group that helps athletes with the issues the gay community faces all around the world. It felt like a different way to approach sports, and every partner in the mix has been amazing." Image: GRINDR It's no stretch for the app, one that pushed toward fashion in a big way earlier this year. In January, it was reported that the app was linking forces with fashion PR powerhouse, PR Consulting. A month later, the brand launched a live viewing of J.W. Anderson's fall fashion show. No surprise, as the app's founder and CEO, Joel Simkhai's own brother is Jonathan, a CFDA/Vogue fashion fund winner. Image: Grindr All clothing can now be purchased at Grindrstore.com.
Thứ Ba, 9 tháng 8, 2016
The internet connection speed measuring website created by Netflix has just been launched as an app. SEE ALSO: The 'Netflix tax' is starting Back in May, Netflix debuted Fast.com to help users, Netflix subscriber or not, to determine the connection speeds. On Tuesday, the company expanded the service's reach with a free iOS and Android app designed to do the same thing. Like the website, the mobile version is incredibly simple, immediately calculating your connection speed as soon as you open the app. To calculate your speed, the app executes several download tests from Netflix's servers in the background. And since you're using a mobile device, the app provides a handy refresh button alongside your results to allow you to quickly retest your speed if your device switches to a new wireless connection in a different location. In addition to launching the app, Netflix also posted a message on its blog detailing much of the technical aspects behind how the company built and maintains the Fast.com service. "We continue to monitor, test and perfect fast.com, always with the goal of giving consumers the simplest and most accurate tool possible to measure their current internet performance," wrote Netflix team members Sergey Fedorov and Ellen Livengood. "We plan to share updates and more details about this exciting tool in future posts."
Thứ Bảy, 6 tháng 8, 2016
You've probably already seen the magic of Prisma, an app that transforms your photos into artsy images designed to mimic human-created art styles. Now an app called Aristo has taken that dynamicto the next logical area, video. The app only allows you to take 10 seconds of video, but once that footage is recorded you have access to an array of filters that turn the video into something entirely different. From a simple style like Blue Dream to more elaborate aesthetics like In The Fire (a flame effect) and Neural Art (a surrealist look), the app has already won over an enthusiastic and growing user base. Released by the Russian internet company Mail.ru, Artisto has apparently beaten Prisma to the video space just weeks after Prisma promised a video version of its popular still image app. Nevertheless, the product is buggy and the effects aren't as smooth and detailed as Prisma's still imagery, so Prisma may still have a chance to win this round if it releases a video version soon. The Artisto app is free and available on both iOS and Android.
Thứ Năm, 4 tháng 8, 2016
Apple Music for Android has graduated out of "beta" status after its introduction in November 2015. Version 1.0.0 of the app is now available to download from the Google Play Store for Android devices running 4.3 and higher. There aren't many new noteworthy updates to Android's Android Music app. The change log in the big 1.0 version includes: "This update includes equalizer settings and a variety of performance, playback, and stability improvements." One reason to like the Apple Music Android app is that it actually uses a more Android-like design language. Apple Music for Android didn't launch to great fanfare, especially for non-Apple fans. The app was hit with 1-star reviews just because. But it looks like most Android fans using Apple Music and writing reviews are enjoying it. The app currently has a 3.3-star (out of 5) rating. One reason to like the Apple Music Android app is that it actually uses a more Android-like design language. Compare that to how Google designs its apps for iOS, which uses its Material Design guidelines and doesn't work like an iOS app, with icons and fonts that just clash. Apple's decision to go with a native app shows the company was serious about getting all the details right and respectfully courting Android users. Launched a little over a year ago, Apple music has grown to number 15 million subscribers. In comparison, Spotify has over 100 million subscribers. Let the streaming music wars continue.
Thứ Ba, 28 tháng 6, 2016
A lot has changed since 2013. Three years ago, it was hard to image the tech and tech-habits that are now normal today. These innovations have become intrinsic parts of our lives today and have changed so much – from the way we pay for groceries to the way we stay fit. We decided to take a short trip down memory lane and compile the 10 most exciting tech advances that have not only revolutionised our lifestyles, but have also allowed us to live fuller lives. A perfect example of when tech meets fashion, the smart watches can do anything its developers decree. It can connect to your phone and display mobile notifications, flashing up anything from texts to messaging apps, social account notifications to calendar reminders. These watches even allow owners to make calls and reply to messages using only their voice. And back in 2013, who would have thought that a watch could help you stay fit by tracking your heart rate and steps, standing time and daily activity, and reminding you to stand up regularly? Virtual reality devices are so much more than funny-looking goggles. While they were initially marketed purely as a gaming device, but in their short time in our consciousness they have already offered a lot of practical uses. VR headsets are being used for making the virtual experience feel so real that you forget the computer, headgear and accessories and act exactly as we would in the real world. Three years ago, nobody could imagine standing on Mars while wearing some intricate goggles in your kitchen. You can take virtual tours of the dream home you’ve been eyeing to buy, defend a goal for your favourite professional football team, and even help yourself overcome anxiety over public speaking. Mobile wallets are getting more and more popular among the youth in the India. Digital payments are moving beyond recharges – they can now pay for everything from online food delivery to cab rides to even booking a new home. In 2013, this may have sounded like a ridiculous idea, but it has become a new normal these days. The most popular social media network among teenagers, Snapchat allows users to send photo messages that automatically delete themselves shortly after being viewed. The app has kept itself fresh and interesting by expanding features such as more video and picture filters, Stories, as well as the popular face-swapping feature. It has also engaged users with the platform's Discover channels, which feature content from well-known publishers like Mashable, and debuting live coverage at widely watched TV events. Selfie was merely a buzzword in 2013, but it went on to become a cultural phenomenon within a year. These unique photos have exploded in popularity among a wide variety of people, such as business leaders, A-list celebrities and even the President of the United States. One product that has made this photo technique even more attainable is the selfie stick, which enables you to position your smartphone beyond arms’ reach to get better photo angles. Even though in the short time they've been around they have annoyed many people, selfie-specific products aren't going anywhere. In fact, selfie drones, aka "dronies," are poised to become the next big thing. Facebook introduced a new and immersive way for sharing compelling stories by bringing the viewer inside a different world through 360 photos and videos. A 360 video allows audience to choose exactly which angle they want to see a visual. So, if you’re watching a 360 video on your laptop/ PC, you need to drag it with your cursor. On mobile devices, you can drag it using your finger – or even just by turning your device. If you want to share a 360 photo, simply take a panorama with your phone or capture a 360-degree photo using a 360 photo app or 360 camera, and then post it on Facebook as you would a normal photo. Your friends will be able to experience the moments in 360 as if they were actually there with you, from trekking to a hilltop, to wandering through a heritage site, to attending a wedding. Over the years, download speeds have gotten faster and faster, and the ultimate in speed these days is 4G technology. The fact that 4G is relatively new to India hasn’t affected its popularity. 4G not only boosts your upload and download speeds, but also minimises your buffering time even while streaming HD videos. After all it is five times faster than existing 3G services. You used to need a hefty amount of money to pull off these kind of things. Luckily, now we have Dubsmash, an app that lets you seamlessly mouth words to famous quotes and lyrics from movies or songs. This typically results in hilarious videos and provides endless hours of entertainment. You can actually choose your favourite excerpts from popular TV shows, cult movies, popular chart hits, musicals, and even operas, and star in them. You can then share the ‘dub’ via social media networks. Bots are simple artificial intelligence software that can converse with you to answer questions or simply natter to you in an extremely lifelike way. Most of us have used chatbots; we just don’t know them. If you have ever asked Apple's Siri or Microsoft's Cortana for a movie show time, you have conversed unknowingly with a bot. Facebook recently made its own bot news when it announced that companies will eventually be able to build and release their own chatbots into Messenger to interact with customers. Bots are meant to make people's lives easier, but there’s still much to be learned about harnessing the technology and applying it. And we're pretty excited about the possibilities. Remember how most of us dreaded the idea of having a post-paid connection till about a few years ago? Receiving a bill that was way too expensive because the plan offered ‘benefits’ that were actually of no use to you was a major setback. Thankfully, now there are ways of paying for only what you need in a post-paid plan. For example, consider Airtel’s MyPlan, which ensures you get the flexibility to opt for benefits that you need as against a pre-set benefits that you may never even use. So if you’re someone primarily using mobile apps like WhatsApp or Hike for texting, there's not point to having hundreds of free SMS in the plan. Why not have the options of trading the free SMS of the existing plan for talk time or Internet data? While we couldn't have imagined this kind of freedom three years ago, we're glad that this advancement exists now. If there are things in this list you haven’t tried before, go ahead and try them. We hope they make your life easier and smarter.1. Tracking fitness with a watch
2. Experiencing something without actually being there
3. Paying without having cash or cards
4. Sending photo messages that automatically delete themselves
5. Being in a picture that you took yourself
6. Choosing the angle you want to watch an online video from
7. Downloading videos at a lightning speed
8. Creating your own movie scenes and music videos with your phone
9. Chatting with computers through written or spoken text
10. Being able to pay your mobile bill only for the services you used
A lot has changed since 2013. Three years ago, it was hard to image the tech and tech-habits that are now normal today. These innovations have become intrinsic parts of our lives today and have changed so much – from the way we pay for groceries to the way we stay fit. We decided to take a short trip down memory lane and compile the 10 most exciting tech advances that have not only revolutionised our lifestyles, but have also allowed us to live fuller lives. A perfect example of when tech meets fashion, the smart watches can do anything its developers decree. It can connect to your phone and display mobile notifications, flashing up anything from texts to messaging apps, social account notifications to calendar reminders. These watches even allow owners to make calls and reply to messages using only their voice. And back in 2013, who would have thought that a watch could help you stay fit by tracking your heart rate and steps, standing time and daily activity, and reminding you to stand up regularly? Virtual reality devices are so much more than funny-looking goggles. While they were initially marketed purely as a gaming device, but in their short time in our consciousness they have already offered a lot of practical uses. VR headsets are being used for making the virtual experience feel so real that you forget the computer, headgear and accessories and act exactly as we would in the real world. Three years ago, nobody could imagine standing on Mars while wearing some intricate goggles in your kitchen. You can take virtual tours of the dream home you’ve been eyeing to buy, defend a goal for your favourite professional football team, and even help yourself overcome anxiety over public speaking. Mobile wallets are getting more and more popular among the youth in the India. Digital payments are moving beyond recharges – they can now pay for everything from online food delivery to cab rides to even booking a new home. In 2013, this may have sounded like a ridiculous idea, but it has become a new normal these days. The most popular social media network among teenagers, Snapchat allows users to send photo messages that automatically delete themselves shortly after being viewed. The app has kept itself fresh and interesting by expanding features such as more video and picture filters, Stories, as well as the popular face-swapping feature. It has also engaged users with the platform's Discover channels, which feature content from well-known publishers like Mashable, and debuting live coverage at widely watched TV events. Selfie was merely a buzzword in 2013, but it went on to become a cultural phenomenon within a year. These unique photos have exploded in popularity among a wide variety of people, such as business leaders, A-list celebrities and even the President of the United States. One product that has made this photo technique even more attainable is the selfie stick, which enables you to position your smartphone beyond arms’ reach to get better photo angles. Even though in the short time they've been around they have annoyed many people, selfie-specific products aren't going anywhere. In fact, selfie drones, aka "dronies," are poised to become the next big thing. Facebook introduced a new and immersive way for sharing compelling stories by bringing the viewer inside a different world through 360 photos and videos. A 360 video allows audience to choose exactly which angle they want to see a visual. So, if you’re watching a 360 video on your laptop/ PC, you need to drag it with your cursor. On mobile devices, you can drag it using your finger – or even just by turning your device. If you want to share a 360 photo, simply take a panorama with your phone or capture a 360-degree photo using a 360 photo app or 360 camera, and then post it on Facebook as you would a normal photo. Your friends will be able to experience the moments in 360 as if they were actually there with you, from trekking to a hilltop, to wandering through a heritage site, to attending a wedding. Over the years, download speeds have gotten faster and faster, and the ultimate in speed these days is 4G technology. The fact that 4G is relatively new to India hasn’t affected its popularity. 4G not only boosts your upload and download speeds, but also minimises your buffering time even while streaming HD videos. After all it is five times faster than existing 3G services. You used to need a hefty amount of money to pull off these kind of things. Luckily, now we have Dubsmash, an app that lets you seamlessly mouth words to famous quotes and lyrics from movies or songs. This typically results in hilarious videos and provides endless hours of entertainment. You can actually choose your favourite excerpts from popular TV shows, cult movies, popular chart hits, musicals, and even operas, and star in them. You can then share the ‘dub’ via social media networks. Bots are simple artificial intelligence software that can converse with you to answer questions or simply natter to you in an extremely lifelike way. Most of us have used chatbots; we just don’t know them. If you have ever asked Apple's Siri or Microsoft's Cortana for a movie show time, you have conversed unknowingly with a bot. Facebook recently made its own bot news when it announced that companies will eventually be able to build and release their own chatbots into Messenger to interact with customers. Bots are meant to make people's lives easier, but there’s still much to be learned about harnessing the technology and applying it. And we're pretty excited about the possibilities. Remember how most of us dreaded the idea of having a post-paid connection till about a few years ago? Receiving a bill that was way too expensive because the plan offered ‘benefits’ that were actually of no use to you was a major setback. Thankfully, now there are ways of paying for only what you need in a post-paid plan. For example, consider Airtel’s MyPlan, which ensures you get the flexibility to opt for benefits that you need as against a pre-set benefits that you may never even use. So if you’re someone primarily using mobile apps like WhatsApp or Hike for texting, there's not point to having hundreds of free SMS in the plan. Why not have the options of trading the free SMS of the existing plan for talk time or Internet data? While we couldn't have imagined this kind of freedom three years ago, we're glad that this advancement exists now. If there are things in this list you haven’t tried before, go ahead and try them. We hope they make your life easier and smarter.1. Tracking fitness with a watch
2. Experiencing something without actually being there
3. Paying without having cash or cards
4. Sending photo messages that automatically delete themselves
5. Being in a picture that you took yourself
6. Choosing the angle you want to watch an online video from
7. Downloading videos at a lightning speed
8. Creating your own movie scenes and music videos with your phone
9. Chatting with computers through written or spoken text
10. Being able to pay your mobile bill only for the services you used
Thứ Hai, 27 tháng 6, 2016
A lot has changed since 2013. Three years ago, it was hard to image the tech and tech-habits that are now normal today. These innovations have become intrinsic parts of our lives today and have changed so much – from the way we pay for groceries to the way we stay fit. We decided to take a short trip down memory lane and compile the 10 most exciting tech advances that have not only revolutionised our lifestyles, but have also allowed us to live fuller lives. A perfect example of when tech meets fashion, the smart watches can do anything its developers decree. It can connect to your phone and display mobile notifications, flashing up anything from texts to messaging apps, social account notifications to calendar reminders. These watches even allow owners to make calls and reply to messages using only their voice. And back in 2013, who would have thought that a watch could help you stay fit by tracking your heart rate and steps, standing time and daily activity, and reminding you to stand up regularly? Virtual reality devices are so much more than funny-looking goggles. While they were initially marketed purely as a gaming device, but in their short time in our consciousness they have already offered a lot of practical uses. VR headsets are being used for making the virtual experience feel so real that you forget the computer, headgear and accessories and act exactly as we would in the real world. Three years ago, nobody could imagine standing on Mars while wearing some intricate goggles in your kitchen. You can take virtual tours of the dream home you’ve been eyeing to buy, defend a goal for your favourite professional football team, and even help yourself overcome anxiety over public speaking. Mobile wallets are getting more and more popular among the youth in the India. Digital payments are moving beyond recharges – they can now pay for everything from online food delivery to cab rides to even booking a new home. In 2013, this may have sounded like a ridiculous idea, but it has become a new normal these days. The most popular social media network among teenagers, Snapchat allows users to send photo messages that automatically delete themselves shortly after being viewed. The app has kept itself fresh and interesting by expanding features such as more video and picture filters, Stories, as well as the popular face-swapping feature. It has also engaged users with the platform's Discover channels, which feature content from well-known publishers like Mashable, and debuting live coverage at widely watched TV events. Selfie was merely a buzzword in 2013, but it went on to become a cultural phenomenon within a year. These unique photos have exploded in popularity among a wide variety of people, such as business leaders, A-list celebrities and even the President of the United States. One product that has made this photo technique even more attainable is the selfie stick, which enables you to position your smartphone beyond arms’ reach to get better photo angles. Even though in the short time they've been around they have annoyed many people, selfie-specific products aren't going anywhere. In fact, selfie drones, aka "dronies," are poised to become the next big thing. Facebook introduced a new and immersive way for sharing compelling stories by bringing the viewer inside a different world through 360 photos and videos. A 360 video allows audience to choose exactly which angle they want to see a visual. So, if you’re watching a 360 video on your laptop/ PC, you need to drag it with your cursor. On mobile devices, you can drag it using your finger – or even just by turning your device. If you want to share a 360 photo, simply take a panorama with your phone or capture a 360-degree photo using a 360 photo app or 360 camera, and then post it on Facebook as you would a normal photo. Your friends will be able to experience the moments in 360 as if they were actually there with you, from trekking to a hilltop, to wandering through a heritage site, to attending a wedding. Over the years, download speeds have gotten faster and faster, and the ultimate in speed these days is 4G technology. The fact that 4G is relatively new to India hasn’t affected its popularity. 4G not only boosts your upload and download speeds, but also minimises your buffering time even while streaming HD videos. After all it is five times faster than existing 3G services. You used to need a hefty amount of money to pull off these kind of things. Luckily, now we have Dubsmash, an app that lets you seamlessly mouth words to famous quotes and lyrics from movies or songs. This typically results in hilarious videos and provides endless hours of entertainment. You can actually choose your favourite excerpts from popular TV shows, cult movies, popular chart hits, musicals, and even operas, and star in them. You can then share the ‘dub’ via social media networks. Bots are simple artificial intelligence software that can converse with you to answer questions or simply natter to you in an extremely lifelike way. Most of us have used chatbots; we just don’t know them. If you have ever asked Apple's Siri or Microsoft's Cortana for a movie show time, you have conversed unknowingly with a bot. Facebook recently made its own bot news when it announced that companies will eventually be able to build and release their own chatbots into Messenger to interact with customers. Bots are meant to make people's lives easier, but there’s still much to be learned about harnessing the technology and applying it. And we're pretty excited about the possibilities. Remember how most of us dreaded the idea of having a post-paid connection till about a few years ago? Receiving a bill that was way too expensive because the plan offered ‘benefits’ that were actually of no use to you was a major setback. Thankfully, now there are ways of paying for only what you need in a post-paid plan. For example, consider Airtel’s MyPlan, which ensures you get the flexibility to opt for benefits that you need as against a pre-set benefits that you may never even use. So if you’re someone primarily using mobile apps like WhatsApp or Hike for texting, there's not point to having hundreds of free SMS in the plan. Why not have the options of trading the free SMS of the existing plan for talk time or Internet data? While we couldn't have imagined this kind of freedom three years ago, we're glad that this advancement exists now. If there are things in this list you haven’t tried before, go ahead and try them. We hope they make your life easier and smarter.1. Tracking fitness with a watch
2. Experiencing something without actually being there
3. Paying without having cash or cards
4. Sending photo messages that automatically delete themselves
5. Being in a picture that you took yourself
6. Choosing the angle you want to watch an online video from
7. Downloading videos at a lightning speed
8. Creating your own movie scenes and music videos with your phone
9. Chatting with computers through written or spoken text
10. Being able to pay your mobile bill only for the services you used
A lot has changed since 2013. Three years ago, it was hard to image the tech and tech-habits that are now normal today. These innovations have become intrinsic parts of our lives today and have changed so much – from the way we pay for groceries to the way we stay fit. We decided to take a short trip down memory lane and compile the 10 most exciting tech advances that have not only revolutionised our lifestyles, but have also allowed us to live fuller lives. A perfect example of when tech meets fashion, the smart watches can do anything its developers decree. It can connect to your phone and display mobile notifications, flashing up anything from texts to messaging apps, social account notifications to calendar reminders. These watches even allow owners to make calls and reply to messages using only their voice. And back in 2013, who would have thought that a watch could help you stay fit by tracking your heart rate and steps, standing time and daily activity, and reminding you to stand up regularly? Virtual reality devices are so much more than funny-looking goggles. While they were initially marketed purely as a gaming device, but in their short time in our consciousness they have already offered a lot of practical uses. VR headsets are being used for making the virtual experience feel so real that you forget the computer, headgear and accessories and act exactly as we would in the real world. Three years ago, nobody could imagine standing on Mars while wearing some intricate goggles in your kitchen. You can take virtual tours of the dream home you’ve been eyeing to buy, defend a goal for your favourite professional football team, and even help yourself overcome anxiety over public speaking. Mobile wallets are getting more and more popular among the youth in the India. Digital payments are moving beyond recharges – they can now pay for everything from online food delivery to cab rides to even booking a new home. In 2013, this may have sounded like a ridiculous idea, but it has become a new normal these days. The most popular social media network among teenagers, Snapchat allows users to send photo messages that automatically delete themselves shortly after being viewed. The app has kept itself fresh and interesting by expanding features such as more video and picture filters, Stories, as well as the popular face-swapping feature. It has also engaged users with the platform's Discover channels, which feature content from well-known publishers like Mashable, and debuting live coverage at widely watched TV events. Selfie was merely a buzzword in 2013, but it went on to become a cultural phenomenon within a year. These unique photos have exploded in popularity among a wide variety of people, such as business leaders, A-list celebrities and even the President of the United States. One product that has made this photo technique even more attainable is the selfie stick, which enables you to position your smartphone beyond arms’ reach to get better photo angles. Even though in the short time they've been around they have annoyed many people, selfie-specific products aren't going anywhere. In fact, selfie drones, aka "dronies," are poised to become the next big thing. Facebook introduced a new and immersive way for sharing compelling stories by bringing the viewer inside a different world through 360 photos and videos. A 360 video allows audience to choose exactly which angle they want to see a visual. So, if you’re watching a 360 video on your laptop/ PC, you need to drag it with your cursor. On mobile devices, you can drag it using your finger – or even just by turning your device. If you want to share a 360 photo, simply take a panorama with your phone or capture a 360-degree photo using a 360 photo app or 360 camera, and then post it on Facebook as you would a normal photo. Your friends will be able to experience the moments in 360 as if they were actually there with you, from trekking to a hilltop, to wandering through a heritage site, to attending a wedding. Over the years, download speeds have gotten faster and faster, and the ultimate in speed these days is 4G technology. The fact that 4G is relatively new to India hasn’t affected its popularity. 4G not only boosts your upload and download speeds, but also minimises your buffering time even while streaming HD videos. After all it is five times faster than existing 3G services. You used to need a hefty amount of money to pull off these kind of things. Luckily, now we have Dubsmash, an app that lets you seamlessly mouth words to famous quotes and lyrics from movies or songs. This typically results in hilarious videos and provides endless hours of entertainment. You can actually choose your favourite excerpts from popular TV shows, cult movies, popular chart hits, musicals, and even operas, and star in them. You can then share the ‘dub’ via social media networks. Bots are simple artificial intelligence software that can converse with you to answer questions or simply natter to you in an extremely lifelike way. Most of us have used chatbots; we just don’t know them. If you have ever asked Apple's Siri or Microsoft's Cortana for a movie show time, you have conversed unknowingly with a bot. Facebook recently made its own bot news when it announced that companies will eventually be able to build and release their own chatbots into Messenger to interact with customers. Bots are meant to make people's lives easier, but there’s still much to be learned about harnessing the technology and applying it. And we're pretty excited about the possibilities. Remember how most of us dreaded the idea of having a post-paid connection till about a few years ago? Receiving a bill that was way too expensive because the plan offered ‘benefits’ that were actually of no use to you was a major setback. Thankfully, now there are ways of paying for only what you need in a post-paid plan. For example, consider Airtel’s MyPlan, which ensures you get the flexibility to opt for benefits that you need as against a pre-set benefits that you may never even use. So if you’re someone primarily using mobile apps like WhatsApp or Hike for texting, there's not point to having hundreds of free SMS in the plan. Why not have the options of trading the free SMS of the existing plan for talk time or Internet data? While we couldn't have imagined this kind of freedom three years ago, we're glad that this advancement exists now. If there are things in this list you haven’t tried before, go ahead and try them. We hope they make your life easier and smarter.1. Tracking fitness with a watch
2. Experiencing something without actually being there
3. Paying without having cash or cards
4. Sending photo messages that automatically delete themselves
5. Being in a picture that you took yourself
6. Choosing the angle you want to watch an online video from
7. Downloading videos at a lightning speed
8. Creating your own movie scenes and music videos with your phone
9. Chatting with computers through written or spoken text
10. Being able to pay your mobile bill only for the services you used
Thứ Hai, 13 tháng 6, 2016
Despite months of varying complaints about Apple Music, the service has nevertheless garnered a healthy following, well over 15 million paid subscribers according to Apple. On Monday, Apple announced an update to the app coming in iOS 10 (expected in the fall) that may help millions of existing and potential new users get more out of the app. SEE ALSO: Live from Apple's WWDC 2016 keynote The app has been redesigned from the ground up. The new design is meant to be more intuitive and simple, an interface shift that many users have been requesting. Now when you open the app the first thing you'll see is your music Library, which gives you access to a new section called Downloaded Music. Apple has also added lyrics to the app's music selections (when you scroll down from the top of the currently playing song), which was demonstrated on stage by Apple Music's head of global marketing, Bozoma Saint John, using the song "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugar Hill Gang. The company also showed off daily curated Playlists. Additionally, the Connect section allows you to follow the feeds of your favorite artists. Apple also demonstrated the new, more simplified looks of Browse, Top Charts, Radio and Stations. Will it be enough to convince some users not already on Apple Music to give it a try? Only time will tell, but this early look at the new Apple Music is indeed a lot more attractive and as a result could be a little easier to user. Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
Thứ Năm, 5 tháng 5, 2016
We've all woken up and thought, "Should I call in sick again?" Shine wants to give you the motivational boost you need. The daily texting service launched Tuesday with the goal to inspire millennials with fun and relatable text messages throughout the day. "Millennials are increasingly seeking ways to connect with themselves and set their days and their lives up for success. It's called intentional living and they are all about it," says the founders in email to Mashable. What started as a "side hustle” for Naomi Hirabayashi and Marah Lidey in 2015 became full time when they left positions at DoSomething.org to focus on Shine. "We had working sessions every weekday morning (hello, 6 a.m. Google Hangout) and every weeknight, as well as Sunday working sessions at our apartments,” Lidey says. "One Sunday, months before we knew we had funding, we took an extra long gulp of rosé and said 'let's do this.'" As two women of color, Lidey and Hirabayashi say they are "dedicated to diversifying the world of tech and entrepreneurship." Silicon Valley, the heart of the tech industry, is known for its diversity problems, and women entrepreneurs statistically receive less funding. Image: marc fusco The founders saw the problem with using social media, even its seemingly uplifting hashtags, like "Motivational Monday" or "Throwback Thursday," for encouragement. Studies have shown constant social media use can contribute to depression; comparing ourselves to other people on Instagram may not be the healthiest motivation. "While social media helps us connect with others, it often only shows the 'highlight reel' of our friends or celebs, which adds to the pressure," says Lidey. "They are not alone...what they are experiencing is 100% normal." On Shine, each day has a different theme, with topics surrounding ways users can be happier, healthier and encourage them to be more confident and productive. The texts often include a GIF, quote or pop culture reference. Each includes a link to an article relating to the theme of the text. The text is sent at 8:30 a.m. based on the user's timezone. Because the language aims to be relatable, the service feels like an encouraging friend rooting for you to have a good day. "There are articles, books and pricey career or life coaching, but nothing that is bite-sized and approaches you like a friend would (with ample Olivia Pope GIFS in tow). Shine is for millennials who are thinking about their work and life decisions 24/7 and have highs and lows throughout the week," says Lidey. Image: shine Users can respond up to five times a day for further inspiration: Image: shine Early user reviews are mostly positive. TY for the confidence booster @ShineText, perf timing: 1 day before my 5K, 7 days before I give a speech #ShineOn pic.twitter.com/F0Oe0Z2CzI — Julia Becker Collins (@JuliaRivka) April 29, 2016 So @ShineText is sending @rihanna gifs and what if your day peaks the moment it starts? — Caitlin Strandberg (@strandby) April 22, 2016 Users can sign up for the free texting service on the website. Standard texting rates apply. Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
It's not just you if you woke up this morning, searched through Apple's App Store and noticed the results were goofed up. The App Store has been experiencing search-related issues since around 5 a.m. ET. At the time of this writing, Apple's system status website states "service is not working as expected for all users" for the App Store. Mashable has confirmed there are indeed issues. For instance, we searched for Spotify, Instagram and Google and the App Store returned completely unrelated apps. App Store is still busted rn pic.twitter.com/6EBuVTkVbk — Raymond Wong (@raywongy) May 5, 2016 Searching for Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat, however, returned the correct apps. But when we closed the App Store app, and searched for them again, we got different results. Disgruntled reacted on Twitter to bring the issue into the light: The App Store is failing in several countries. Search functionality gone down the tubes in UK. C'mon @AppStore get it fixed. — Gareth Morgan (@Gareth_D_Morgan) May 5, 2016 Yep, App Store search is completely broken now. I'm actually curious how much this will affect sales. pic.twitter.com/FhgAKsRBAL — Ole Zorn (@olemoritz) May 5, 2016 Is it me, or is the App Store Search completely broken? #AppleStore #iTunes — Edwin Bosire (@edwinbosire) May 5, 2016 Uh oh, App Store search is completely broken — Chris O’Shea (@chrisoshea) May 5, 2016 Is the app store search broken for anyone else? A lot of big names missing, instagram, tweetbot, candy crush etc — Matt Davenport (@treeba) May 5, 2016 App Store Search seems to be broken, searching for TicBits or Sudoku gives no results :S — Fredrik Wahrman (@edilator) May 5, 2016 Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
Thứ Ba, 3 tháng 5, 2016
First there was YouTube stars, then came Vine fame. Now, the new wave of Internet-born celebrity is by way of Facebook Live. While a lot of big brands and publishers are focused on creating content for Facebook’s livestreaming platform, some of the best broadcasts we’ve seen are made by regular people. SEE ALSO: Facebook Live is the next big thing in media — after the last big thing (and the thing before that) Whether it’s a lifestyle blogger sharing style tips or a World Champion bodyboarder taking you inside waves in real time, Facebook Live is emerging as the hot new platform for users to show what's happening in their world. We’ve seen some pretty important broadcasts around job training workshops and events for Syrian refugees, too. Let’s take a look at some of the most compelling Facebook Live storytellers headed toward web-celeb fame: There’s something mesmerizing about watching Dallas-based tattoo artist Liz Cook, 33, ink customers in real time on Facebook Live. With more than 1 million followers, it’s impossible not to be entranced by her live tattooing sessions, which range in creativity from an intricate lion to a portrait of Marilyn Monroe. Her Facebook Live videos bring in tens of thousands of views each time. Who doesn't want to take a break from the workday to watch some adorable pups? The small pet goods e-commerce startup puts dogs in the spotlight as a part of a larger effort to get them adopted. While Barkbox teams up with local shelters to introduce them to its Facebook followers, the real stars, of course, are the dogs themselves — like this 11-week old puppy named Luc playing with tennis balls in the video above. Brian Barcyzyk isn't exactly a nobody — you may recognize him from Discovery Channel's show Venom Hunters. His job is to find, capture and extract venom from all types of snake species. Once a week, he'll take you behind the scenes of his fascinating work on Facebook Live. You'll squirm, you'll gasp, you won't want to look away. Baking blogger Kara Andretta goes live on her Kara's Couture Cakes Facebook page to walk fans through creative baking recipes and tutorials. She teases upcoming "bake along" broadcasts too, so you can make pastries and cakes with her in real time. She's as charming as the food looks delicious. We can only assume the life of a Broadway producer is pretty fabulous, and Jordan Roth proves this theory correct. Roth is the president and majority owner of Jujamcyn Theaters, which presents some of the most popular musicals and plays on Broadway right now, including The Book of Mormon, Jersey Boys and Kinky Boots. You never quite know what to expect from his broadcasts: he takes you to VIP-only spots that often feature surprise cameos and musical performances. Learning to code is one of the biggest trends in tech, and startup founders Melissa and Lavanya Jawaharlal want to help. The duo behind Stem Center USA, a robotics company that teaches kids to code, were most recently featured (and funded) on Shark Tank. But to bring more attention to the brand, the Jawaharials use Facebook Live to teach people how to code, program and work with their students at their Claremont, Calif-based creativity center. Full-time blogger Holly Homer runs Kids Activities Blog and the Quirky Momma Facebook page, which has a dedicated fan base of more than 2.4 million followers. Homer discusses a variety of parenting topics (like how to keep hair healthy after giving birth), DIY crafting tips from guests (as seen above) and answers questions from viewers. Oklahoma-based newscaster Val Castor from local news station News9 takes his wife — and Facebook followers — on storm chases. The footage is fascinating (and terrifying), and his play-by-play of what you're seeing keeps you on the edge of your seat. Castor isn't the only storm chaser gaining traction on Facebook Live: James Spann, a scientist and meteorologist in Alabama, brings his followers weather updates from the South ahead of big storms. Lee Jeffries is a performance artist known for his hula hoops routines. While his reach isn't as large as some of the other Facebook Live users on this list, he gives hula-hooping tutorials and preps for workshops he holds around the country. If you need a breather, there's nothing a little hula hoop choreography set to pop songs to your day. It's not everyday you can go bodyboarding in real time from the comforts of your computer chair. 51-year-old Mike Stewart, a nine-time World Champion bodyboarder, takes you inside the waves from competitions. His broadcasts are invigorating, but you can't help but feel exhausted after he takes you along for a ride. Most recently, he did a Facebook Live broadcast at Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii — a competition he's won 11 times. Mashable illustrator Bob Al-Greene hosts Bob Draws every Friday afternoon, drawing fun pop-culture mashups like this bionic panda version of Ted Cruz. Previous masterworks include Lego Beyonce and Adele riding a hoverboard. Besides Bob's obvious talent and humor, what makes the show special is the wild-card factor — he takes the best suggestions directly from commenters on what to draw and makes them all too real. Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.1. Liz Cook, tattoo artist
2. Barkbox, pet goods company
3. Brian Barczyk, Venom Hunter
4. Kara Andretta, baking blogger
5. Jordan Roth, Broadway producer
6. Melissa and Lavanya Jawaharlal, robotics company founders
7. Holly Homer, family lifestyle blogger
8. Val Castor, storm chaser
9. Lee Jeffries, performance artist
10. Mike Stewart, bodyboarding champion
BONUS: Bob Draws, Mashable illustrator
