Google invites users to share their expertise over video Helpouts
Word broke in late July that Google might launch
Helpouts -- a
Hangout-based
video platform where folks could charge for lending assistance over
video -- in about a month's time. Like clockwork, Mountain View's
officially announced the platform, but it isn't a free-for-all just yet.
Page and Co. are inviting people with expertise in different topics to
offer their services when the solution opens for business. The search
giant has published a form allowing self-proclaimed experts to toss
their hat in the ring for an invite, and lists categories including Arts
and Music, Computers and Electronics, Cooking, Education, Fashion and
Beauty, Fitness and Nutrition, Health and Counseling along with Home and
Garden. Fittingly, Google's own help documents for Helpouts have gone
live as well, and they give us a few more details.
First,
users will have to submit a listing for their services, which Google
will review just before hanging out with them over video to get
acquainted and ensure their live feed is in tip-top shape. If you're a
medical professional, you can offer your expert opinion to the masses as
well, but Mountain View will confirm you've got the proper certificates
and licenses in order. Once that's done, interested customers will be
able to check a pro's availability and schedule appointments. Folks can
offer their skills for free or charge for sessions, but both parties
must use
Google Wallet
for the transaction and Google will apply a 20 percent fee (yes, even
with credit card payments). A launch date for Helpouts is MIA, but you
can sign up to be notified and provide a helping hand at the source
link.
Filed under:
Misc,
Internet,
Google
Comments
Source: Google (1),
(2)
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Formlabs debuts Mac software for Form 1 high-res 3D printer, adds mesh repair
Somewhere out there a handful of
Form 1 high-res 3D printer
backers are jumping for joy now that Formlabs has launched a Mac
version of its PreForm software. You might remember Form 1 as that
project that
made a killing on Kickstarter
in 2012, raking in over $2 million, or more than 20 times its goal. The
3D model creation program was initially available only for Windows, but
the firm will now simultaneously publish updates for both operating
systems, starting with this latest release. In addition to support for
Apple hardware, version 0.8.4 comes with the capability to automatically
patch up holes and irregularities on 3D models, so they can be printed
out quickly and smoothly. Both flavors of PreForm are up on Formlabs'
website, where the 3D printer itself is
available for preorder with a $3,300 price tag and a November 2013 shipping date.
Filed under:
Misc
Comments
Source: Formlabs (1),
(2)
Read More ...
AT&T to bring LTE to 50 more markets by the end of 2013, Fargo citizens rejoice
American
LTE rollouts
by themselves are nothing special now that 4G covers large parts of the
country. AT&T just gave us reason to take notice, however, with
promises that it will bring LTE to 50 more markets before the end of
the year. The deployments cover a wide swath of the US, ranging from the
northern climes of Fargo and Fairbanks to balmier locations like
Amarillo and Kauai. You'll find the full list in AT&T's press
release after the break, but it's safe to say that Frances McDormand
would approve.
Filed under:
Cellphones,
Wireless,
Mobile,
AT&T
Comments
Source: AT&T
Read More ...
Zuckerberg's Internet.org plan includes more efficient apps, starting with Facebook
Facebook and several other companies
announced the Internet.org initiative
tonight to bring connectivity to 5 billion people, but how are
Zuckerberg and friends going to do it? As laid out in the Facebook
founder's "Is Connectivity A Human Right?" plan, part of the process
includes making technological changes. A big part of that is delivering
data more efficiently, and making sure apps use less of it. First on the
chopping block is Facebook's own app, which used an average of 12MB of
data earlier this year but the company thinks it can cut to 1MB per day
"simply by improving data usage." Beyond that, more savings are possible
if Facebook offers a variant with fewer photos in developing countries.
Other methods for using less data include caching and data compression, with the former already in use on its
featurephone app,
and the latter something partners like Opera have a lot of experience
in. In the future, Zuckerberg speculates users could even download
stories or photos from nearby friends using technology like WiFi Direct.
All of this is done with the aim of reducing the bandwidth needed for
basic internet services, thereby making access "affordable and
available"
to more people. Hit the source link for more details on the hows and whys, we'll be expecting our more efficient social network any day now.
Filed under:
Internet,
Mobile,
Facebook
Comments
Source: Is Connectivity A Human Right? (PDF),
Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook)
Read More ...
Facebook and others form Internet.org to foster global internet adoption (video)
Google's strategy for bringing internet access to underserved areas involves
giant balloons,
but Facebook's leans more on collaboration. The social network has
founded Internet.org along with Ericsson, MediaTek, Nokia, Opera,
Samsung and Qualcomm, and is setting the partnership's sights on making
sure the two-thirds of the world that doesn't have internet access gets
the proper hookup. Zuckerberg and friends aren't ready for a complete
show-and-tell
of their plans just yet, but they've outlined some of their goals:
making access affordable, using data more efficiently and lending
businesses a hand so they can increase access.
When it
comes to cost cutting, the group aims to develop and use tech that
allows for cheaper connectivity, such as affordable high-quality
smartphones. As for data efficiency, the team may investigate
compression tools and caching systems to help ease the load on fledgling
networks. In fact, Facebook is already working on reducing its Android
app's daily data usage from 12MB a day to just 1MB. Lastly, the
organization intends to look into sustainable business models that
sweeten the pot for everyone from developers to mobile operators to
pitch in for the cause. Connecting roughly 5 billion people to the web
is a tall order by any standard, but Facebook and Co. are drawing
inspiration from their
successful Open Compute Project to give themselves a fighting chance. Zuck's scheduled to talk up the alliance on
CNN tomorrow morning, but you can head past the break for a video from Internet.org that tugs at the heart strings.
Filed under:
Internet,
Facebook
Comments
Via: The New York Times
Source: Facebook (1),
(2),
(3),
Internet.org
Read More ...
Google, NFL meeting reportedly includes Sunday Ticket discussions
In the least surprising news of the week, as DirecTV's rights to the vaunted NFL Sunday Ticket package come close to their
2014 expiration date, rumors of who else may bid for them are starting and Google is right at the top. According to
AllThingsD,
league officials met with the internet giant today and among many
topics, the package of rights to air all of the league's games to out of
market viewers came up. As suggested, the folks in Mountain View (and
several other companies we can all think of) can certainly afford the
reported $1 billion DirecTV has been paying -- and YouTube has already
shelled out to stream
sports in the US and
around the world -- but whether or not the NFL would actually sell to them is still in question.
As
we mused on this week's Engadget HD Podcast, what's kept the NFL from
selling the package in a different way -- explained by league officials
as "
really in the consumer's best interest"
-- so far is a fear that other networks like CBS and Fox would want to
pay less to broadcast those games. With billions at stake we'd be
extremely surprised to see the status quo actually change, so while
anything is possible your best bet without satellite is probably still a
copy of
Madden NFL 25 Anniversary Edition.
Filed under:
Home Entertainment,
HD,
Google
Comments
Source: AllThingsD
Read More ...
LG Display claims a world's first with 2,560 x 1,440 LCD for smartphones
Full HD displays? Eat your heart out, handset manufacturers.
LG Display
has just laid claim to the world's first Quad HD (2,560 x 1,440)
smartphone display, which also boasts the highest pixel density of a
mobile device, clocking in at 538ppi. The firm's panel measures up at
5.5-inches and is only 1.21mm thick, and just 1.2mm at its bezel.
According to LG, that makes it the world's slimmest and narrowest panel,
stealing the crown from hardware it showed off
last month. Thanks to its use of
AH-IPS tech
and Low Temperature Poly-Silicon (LTPS) substrate, the screen features
430 nits of brightness. If the Quad HD math is throwing you off, that's
four times as many pixels as a 1,280 x 720 display. This isn't 4K on a
portable display, but we'll take it.
Filed under:
Cellphones,
Mobile,
LG
Comments
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Netflix adds The Weinstein Company to its 2016 pay-TV exclusivity roster
2016 is shaping up to be huge for Netflix. That's when the streaming juggernaut's
Disney deal starts bearing fruit and it also marks the start of a multi-year pay-TV exclusivity agreement with
The Weinstein Company (TWC). This means the first stop for TWC's flicks after home video will no longer be Showtime, but (
almost) everybody's favorite place to watch movies instantly instead. While the studio has a pretty impressive back catalog --
Django Unchained,
Silver Linings Playbook,
The Road and ...
Scary Movie 5 -- it isn't in the class of, say, Universal or Fox in terms of sheer blockbusters. With
the rate 'flix is
signing contracts though, who knows what could happen within the next three years.
Filed under:
Home Entertainment,
HD
Comments
Read More ...
WSJ reports NSA spying capabilities cover up to 75 percent of US internet traffic
The question of how much contact the NSA has with internet traffic throughout the US is being raised again, this time by the
Wall Street Journal. Yesterday
The Atlantic took issue with the security agency's mathematics and
1.6 percent claim, while the
WSJ
report looks more closely at its reach into telecommunications
companies. The mishmash of codenamed programs are said to cover up to 75
percent of US internet traffic, although the amount actually stored and
accessed is much smaller. The main difference between the calculations
may be due to the difference between what ISPs --
handing over data under FISA orders -- carry, and what the NSA
specifically requests.
Its capabilities mean it can pull a lot more than just metadata, with
access to the actual content of what's sent back and forth becoming even
more troubling as privacy violations exposed
by its own audits come to light.
There's an
FAQ-style breakdown
of what's new and notable from the usual "current and former" officials
to get those interested up to speed quickly -- keep your tinfoil hats
and end-to-end encrypted communications systems close by.
Filed under:
Internet
Comments
Source: Wall Street Journal (1),
(2)
Read More ...
Samsung unveils AirTrack soundbar for 60-inch and larger TVs
Many soundbars are designed for
small or
mid-sized
TV sets, where price and space are top priorities. Samsung is bucking
that trend with its newly unveiled AirTrack HW-F850: its follow-up to
the
vacuum tube-based F750 is built expressly for 60-inch and
larger screens.
As Samsung can afford a considerably larger bar, the F850 boosts the
total power to 350W, up 40W from the F750. The company promises deeper
bass from the subwoofer, too. As you'd expect, both Bluetooth audio and
NFC pairing carry over from the F850's tinier counterparts. Samsung
expects to ship the extra-large soundbar to Europe in September; the
company hasn't mentioned pricing, although the F850 will likely command a
premium over smaller AirTrack models.
Filed under:
Home Entertainment,
HD,
Samsung
Comments
Source: Korea Newswire (translated)
Read More ...
Galaxy S III mini expected at AT&T, for reasons unknown
We can't say we're in love with Samsung's
Galaxy S III mini, especially with a next-gen model
already official. But if today's
@evleaks post
is to be believed, last year's not-so-brightest star in the Galaxy will
be coming to AT&T. The date on the render up above is fixed on
August 23rd, which is when we're expecting the
Galaxy Mega to
make its US debut, so there's a chance we might see the GS III mini then as well. Still unknown is
why
AT&T would be bringing a humdrum 2012 handset to subscribers
this late in the game, but if it does hit retailers this summer, it
better come in with a MSRP far below handsets we'd actually recommend.
Like, say, the
Galaxy S 4.
Filed under:
Cellphones,
Mobile,
Samsung,
AT&T
Comments
Source: @evleaks (Twitter)
Read More ...
Instagram toughens brand guidelines to discourage lookalike services
Like many developers,
Instagram
defends itself against clone apps and other clear abuses of its image.
However, the photo-focused social network is now cracking down on
subtler variations of its branding. The company has updated its
brand guidelines
to forbid Instagram-compatible services from including "insta" or
"gram" in their names; they also can't use modifications of Instagram's
signature logo. These similar-looking offerings could be mistaken for
officially endorsed products, according to Instagram. The firm isn't
taking any offenses lightly, either. In a
notice to Luxogram that was obtained by
TechCrunch,
Instagram asked for a response to its concerns within 48 hours, and
required both logo and name changes within a "reasonable period." Given
the abundance of third-party developers that lean on the Instagram name
to lure customers, the tougher policy could spark some confusion as
companies rebrand their services
en masse.
Filed under:
Cellphones,
Internet,
Mobile,
Facebook
Comments
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Instagram
Read More ...
Motorola settles trademark dispute with Xoom Corp, will phase out tablet's name
Get
a good lawyer and sometimes they'll tell you that your best hope is to
settle a case, rather than participate in a courtroom brawl. That's
exactly the route that Motorola Mobility is taking to resolve its
trademark infringement spat with Xoom Corporation, an online payment provider that took issue with the
Xoom
tablet's name. Now, it's come to light that both parties have entered
into a confidential agreement that'll require Google's subsidiary to
phase out its use of the Xoom branding. A Motorola spokesperson
confirmed the settlement, saying "The matter has been resolved to the
satisfaction of the parties involved," but due to the nature of the
agreement, it's likely that other details may never see the light of
day. Just don't act too surprised when future Motorola tablets take on a
new naming scheme -- something under the Moto X umbrella, perhaps?
Filed under:
Tablets,
Google
Comments
Via: @FOSSPatents (Twitter)
Source: The American Lawyer
Read More ...
Vine more than triples user base to 40 million, shrugs off Instagram competition
When Facebook launched
Video on Instagram, some were quick to dig an early grave for Vine -- Twitter's video-only app was surely doomed, right? Wrong. Twitter just
revealed that Vine now has over 40 million registered users, or more than triple the 13 million users it claimed before its
Android app launch
in early June. Twitter hasn't said how many of the new members run
Android, but it's clear that Google's platform contributed significantly
to the increase. Whether or not Vine maintains its pace is another
matter. While Instagram frequently
reports active users,
the Vine team isn't as specific; there's a chance that some of those 40
million account holders tried Vine and promptly abandoned it. Still,
the much larger audience suggests that there's room for more than one
short-form mobile video service.
Filed under:
Cellphones,
Internet,
Mobile,
Facebook
Comments
Via: Marketing Land
Source: Vine (Twitter)
Read More ...
Daily Roundup: TiVo Roamio review, PS4 release date, Kinect in-depth hands-on, and more!
You
might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news.
Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is
the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines
for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site.
Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Comments
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Plantronics' $130 Rig gaming headset hones in on the mobile gaming crowd
We've known
Plantronics to craft solid PC gaming headsets and now, separate from the
GameCom
series, its new Rig package aims to appease gamers on every platform.
The stereo headset itself features a slim profile with circumarual
earcups that fold flat and it connects with two included cables: one
features a boom mic, while the other packs an in-line remote and mic for
smartphones. The heart of the setup lies within a wired mixer, which'll
let you hook up your cellphone, gaming
rig (computer or console via USB and Toslink) and the headset simultaneously.
Aside from a slider that lets you adjust the balance of game and chat volume (à la Astro's
Mixamp),
you can answer phone calls and re-route the mic as necessary at the
press of a rocker switch. What's more, game audio (including chat) can
be mixed into your headset during calls and visa versa via a second
balance slider. Lastly, you'll have a choice of three EQ profiles,
including a bass boost for extra wubs. Rig will hit retailers in the
fall for $130, and we're told future products under the moniker will
drop beyond that. Full press release after the break.
Filed under:
Gaming,
Portable Audio/Video,
Wearables
Comments
Source: Plantronics
Read More ...
Armadillo-T micro electric car folds to fit into compact parking spaces (video)
The
Armadillo-T
is pretty petite as it is, but when it comes time to fit into tight
parking spaces, the all-electric car can do even better. The
four-wheel-drive compact, which integrates a design similar to an
armadillo's shell, includes seating for two, a 13.6 kWh battery pack and
four in-wheel motors, allowing the rear half of the vehicle to fold
upwards at the press of a button. Designed by a group of researchers
from the
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), the prototype packs plenty of other high-tech features, too, including cameras that
sub in
for side-view mirrors, smartphone control and a ten-minute fast charge
mode that nets 100 kilometers of range. The transporter is still a long
way from reaching a production line, but it could one day serve to help
ease congestion in overcrowded cities, letting you park in slots far too
small to accommodate four wheels today.
Filed under:
Transportation
Comments
Source: Phys.org
Read More ...
Facebook updates Android SDK with native sharing and improved Open Graph support
You might remember that Facebook delivered a major update to its
iOS SDK in April that packed a ton of new features, including much stronger
Open Graph integration. Now Android is finally being blessed with the same capabilities. The brand new
Facebook for Android SDK
brings not only simplified Open Graph integration, but native sharing
tools, streamlined native logins and improved in-app event tools. The
latter even enables devs to collect data about when events are triggered
and how often, then use that information to help them better understand
how their apps are being used. Facebook is also promising that new
features will be added to its abilities to provide insight and targeting
data to developers. If you're not creating apps, but just using them,
you won't notice much change initially, except, perhaps, for the shiny
new "Log In with Facebook" button.
Filed under:
Software,
Facebook
Comments
Source: Facebook
Read More ...
Google Play Services 3.2 adds location-based features, easier G+ sharing
Android
developers keen on integrating more core OS functionality into their
apps will be glad to know that the latest update to
Google Play Services
has arrived. Version 3.2 of the software offers a number of
location-based services that devs can incorporate into their apps, such
as a low-power option when requesting updates, support for
hardware-based GPS geofencing and a "Snapshot" feature that removes the
need for a constantly interactive map. The update also makes it easier
to incorporate content sharing with G+, adds a compass mode in the Photo
Sphere viewer, promises a more efficient InstantBuy implementation and
better performance in general. Those interested in tinkering with the
new and improved Play Services can download an updated Google APIs
emulator image through the Android SDK Manager right now.
Filed under:
Google
Comments
Source: Android Developers Blog
Read More ...
Sony's DualShock 4 coming in 'Magma Red' and 'Wave Blue' at launch in Europe, North America to follow later
Colors! Who doesn't love colors, right? Well, if you were planning to snag a
PlayStation 4, you'll be happy to hear that the console's
DualShock 4 won't be available solely in black. As has
been the case
with previous generation PlayStations, Sony will be offering different
color variations of its DualShock controller, this time in "Magma Red"
and "Wave Blue." Both models will be available when the
PS4 launches in
Europe and in North and Latin America later in the year, where they'll
cost £54 and $59, respectively. So, don't worry, it looks like you'll be
able to add a bit of hue to your next-gen gaming sessions.
Filed under:
Gaming,
Sony
Comments
Read More ...
Google+ Photos app now available for all Chromebooks, no longer limited to the Pixel
Aside from the super high-res display, the
Pixel has also had something else other Chromebooks didn't: the
Google+ Photos app. Starting today, however, Google's changing that and bringing the application to the rest of the
Chromebook
family, making it accessible outside of its sleek, pixel-packed laptop
for the first time. The Google+ Photos app, which is available in 52
languages,
remains unchanged otherwise, and users can download it now via the Chrome Web Store.
Filed under:
Laptops,
Internet,
Google
Comments
Source: Google+
Read More ...
YouTube 2.0 for iOS brings multitasking and playlist searching
Remember that
YouTube app revamp
which launched hours ago for Android users? It just reached iOS. The
YouTube 2.0 update gives Apple device owners the same picture-in-picture
video multitasking and playlist search tools that Google offers on its
own platform. There aren't any iOS-specific features in the new release,
but there's certainly enough to justify a visit to the App Store for an
upgrade.
Filed under:
Cellphones,
Tablets,
Mobile,
Google
Comments
Via: YouTube Official Blog
Source: App Store
Read More ...
iTunes Radio reportedly launching next month with audio ads every 15 minutes, video once an hour
This September, Apple's expected to
flip the switch on
iTunes Radio,
the music service announced at WWDC in June. But how exactly will
Cupertino fund its pricey new streaming venture? Ads, and lots of them
--
according to AdAge,
Apple will serve up an audio advertisement every 15 minutes, while
video ads will play every hour, and only at times that users are likely
to be looking at the display, such as right after hitting play or
jumping to a new song. McDonald's, Nissan, Pepsi and Procter &
Gamble are all on board as launch advertisers, with each deal bringing
many millions of dollars in revenue. Only free users will have to deal
with frequent disturbances, however. Users paying $25 per year for an
iTunes Match subscription will have ad-free access to Radio, letting
them stream tunes continuously without interruption.
Filed under:
Home Entertainment,
Internet,
Apple
Comments
Source: AdAge
Read More ...
Chrome 29 brings more intelligent omnibox suggestions, while Android users nab WebRTC support
Those with a hearty level of respect for beta builds have been
enjoying these spoils for weeks now, but Google has today seen fit to push
Chrome 29
and a refreshed Chrome for Android out to rest of us. Effective right
now, Chrome 29 users on the desktop will see "improvements to omnibox
suggestions based on the recency of websites visited, resulting in more
timely and contextually relevant suggestions." Interestingly, Google has
also added a "Reset browser settings" option for those who end up going
a bit overboard with extensions; thankfully, waving the aforesaid white
flag won't impact your themes, apps or bookmarks.
On
the mobile front, Chrome on Android is being updated with improved
scrolling and startup performance, as well as WebRTC support that will
enable video conversation directly in the browser without a plugin.
Yeah, we thought you'd dig that.
Filed under:
Internet,
Software,
Mobile,
Google
Comments
Source: Google Chrome Blog,
Google Play Store
Read More ...
Google to test Project Loon in California's Central Valley, begins taking participant applications
It's safe to say Google took the world by surprise when it introduced its
Project Loon.
But, some were disappointed that it was done so far away from home --
at least at first. Now, the company has announced that it's ready to
more openly test out the
high-flying internet
service in California, with research flights due to take place around
The Golden State's Central Valley. Google says it's seeking people in
the area "who are willing to have a Loon internet antenna installed on
their house or small business building to help test the strength of the
Loon internet connection." For those interested in helping out the cause
(and why not!), you'll need to fill out the survey located at the
source below -- the Project Loon team notes that those selected to
participate will be contacted directly.
Filed under:
Misc,
Internet,
Google
Comments
Source: Project Loon (Google+)
Read More ...
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