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Google Earth Returns with an Area Measurement Tool

June 26, 2018 By Micheal Baptiste Leave a Comment

Google Earth screenshot of Sevastopol

The area measurement tool is a lot more useful than the ruler in Google Maps

After many years of living in the shadow, Google Earth is ready to make a comeback. All these years, Google kept developing the service which has now got a new series of updates. The changes are already available for web and should get on Android this week. iOS should receive it as well, but it’s not clear when this happens. This update involved an area measurement tool that might try to bring Google Earth’s popularity back.

Google Earth makes a comeback with a new update

Several years ago, Google Earth was the top mapping system everyone used. If you needed to see a satellite image or 3D representations of buildings, this was the perfect platform you could use. Gradually, Google Maps received these features as well, so the Earth app seemed no longer useful.

However, Google didn’t want to give up on it, so it kept adding features more or less silently. Now, it decided to announce a new update for Google Earth, namely an area measurement tool. To use it, you have to indicate a specific surface and then the app will measure it for you.

The area measurement tool can be really useful

This is far from being unique, since Google Maps already had a similar feature. Maps contained a ruler that allowed you to find the distance between two points. However, the area measurement tool is a lot more useful. It can accurately calculate the actual surface of an area and can have different uses. For instance, it can be great for architecture students.

The announcement is pretty exciting, as it might really bring Google Earth back into the spotlight. However, it also shows us how similar these products are. There are many Google products on the market, and they all serve different purposes. Despite this, there are clear similarities between them, as these features often overlap.

Image source: Flickr

Filed Under: Apps/Softwares

Facebook Makes an Unpleasant Move for Users, Introducing Autoplay Videos on Messenger

June 20, 2018 By Micheal Baptiste Leave a Comment

Welcoming message on Facebook Messenger on a smartphone screen

Facebook said it would use targeted advertising for the autoplay videos on Messenger

No matter how much people try to run from ads, they are getting everywhere and are gradually starting to get more invasive. This week, Facebook has made an announcement that will definitely make all users upset. It turns out the company has already started inserting autoplay videos on Messenger, so we will soon have nowhere to run from ads.

Autoplay videos on Messenger are Facebook’s new trick

No matter how much you hate ads, they are necessary on free platforms. Companies roll them out in their apps as a monetization method and to keep the service free for users. Therefore, even if you dislike them, they are essential. However, things are getting more annoying whenever they get way too invasive.

Ads have been common on Facebook for a long time. However, last year, the company introduced them on Messenger as well. These work by the same mechanism as that on Facebook and Instagram so, from time to time, you might see something useful.

Since the messaging app is not for scrolling, these ads weren’t too invasive. Now, Facebook changed its mind and decided to integrate autoplay videos on Messenger. This type of content has been a good marketing strategy on the platform, so Facebook decided it might bring the same results on Messenger as well.

You can manage your ad preferences for these videos as well

Even if people don’t get posts on their messaging app, they still use Messenger daily. About 80 percent of all adults in the world use the app to send messages, with this and WhatsApp being the most widely used messaging platforms. Therefore, bringing ads here is a great opportunity to sell more products and increase profit.

However, you can still get rid of unpleasant ads. Just like on Facebook, you can manage autoplay videos on Messenger and change your ad preferences. If a certain video bothers you, you can choose not to see it again, together with any content from the business. Therefore, there is a chance you might actually see something that matters to you.

Image source: Flickr

Filed Under: Apps/Softwares

Facebook Launches Videogame Streaming Hub to Fight with Twitch and YouTube

June 8, 2018 By Micheal Baptiste Leave a Comment

Person playing a videogame on a console

The Fb.gg videogame streaming hub helps you discover new live content

Videogame livestreaming has become increasingly popular on Facebook, but sometimes it’s hard to tell such content apart from regular livestreams. Therefore, the social media platform has decided to create a special videogame streaming hub where their content is more visible. This hub, called Fb.gg, gathers streams from players you are following, as well as some top picks from other creators.

Gaming livestreaming is getting easier on Facebook

Watching game livestreaming can be difficult on a platform that is not dedicated for it. Therefore, Facebook decided to give gaming enthusiasts a place where they no longer need to sift through content to see what they’re interested in.

This place is a special videogame streaming hub called Fb.gg where all the gaming-related content is gathered. There, you can see content from users you are following, but you can also discover some new things to watch. Also, the best thing about it is the fact that you no longer need to scroll through the News Feed.

A strategy against Twitch and YouTube

This videogame streaming hub is an attempt to steal some of Twitch’s live streamers. In January, Facebook came up with a program creating gaming content, similarly to YouTube and Twitch. However, unlike these more popular platforms, Facebook didn’t use monetization strategies.

Facebook’s move might really be a smart one. Twitch remains the top platform for gaming livestreams, while YouTube owns the supremacy of non-live videos. Now, Facebook is trying to tackle with both these fields. The videogame streaming hub is the first step to stealing the viewers from these platforms.

Fb.gg has already gone live, gathering quite a serious number of streamers. The top game of the moment is, of course, Fortnite, and that’s understandable. Currently, it’s one of the most popular titles in the world and has occupied the first position on Twitch for several months now. Facebook’s videogame streaming hub has gathered 210,000 viewers so far, with 3,000 users streaming Fortnite.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Filed Under: Games

The Apple Music Widget Now Lets You Play Full Songs on Web

June 4, 2018 By Micheal Baptiste Leave a Comment

Person holding a smartphone with the Apple Music launched on it

The Apple Music widget now lets you log in and play full songs

One Reddit user has spotted something really exciting about Apple Music widget. This was available on the web browser has received a series of updates and redesigns, showing that we might soon be able to use our full Apple Music account even there. In other words, we might get the chance to listen to full songs even on browser.

The Apple Music widget gets revamped

Apple Music widgets have always been available to allow artists to promote their music all across the internet. Therefore, one specific Apple tool let them create the widget and then attach it to any webpage they liked. However, this had one disadvantage. After clicking on the widget, you could only listen to song previews that lasted for several seconds or one minute.

However, a Reddit user made a valuable observation. While randomly browsing the web, he stumbled upon an Apple Music widget that look different, but also sported some other changes. After clicking it, the widget lets you log in to your account. Once logged in, you can play whatever you want without interruptions. You can listen to full songs, but also playlists or entire albums.

Apple might want to develop a full-fledged music platform on the web

The redesign placed a small Sign In button in the top right corner of the Apple Music widget. Once you log in, you can play entire playlists, not only get small previews of the music. The new options also allow you to save the playlists in question directly to your account.

On top of that, you can even pause the song that is playing, skip it, or fast-forward it. The revamped Apple Music widget might show the company’s future intentions. We might make suppositions that Apple is getting ready for a web browser music service where people don’t need a smartphone to access their music collection.

At the moment, this Apple Music widget is available on macOS. However, the company might soon expand its pairing options and get the music service on all browsers, regardless of the operating system.

Image source: Flickr

Filed Under: Apps/Softwares

Outraged Parents Gather Against Active Shooter, a So-Called School Shooting Simulator

May 29, 2018 By Micheal Baptiste Leave a Comment

SWAT team getting ready for an attack

Active Shooter looks really similar to a school shooting

A shooting game that is soon to be released on Steam has spiced a huge controversy that might prevent it from being rolled out. The game, called Active Shooter, shows the main character getting engaged in different shooting situations and was described by its creator as a SWAT simulator. However, dozens of outraged parents see it as a depiction of a school shooting and want it banned.

Active Shooter looks incredibly similar to a school shooting simulator

On Friday, a petition surfaced on Change.org against the unreleased game Active Shooter. The petition has already gathered over 12,000 signatures and wants to prevent the release of this so-called outrageous game. Many worried parents compared the gameplay to a school shooting scenario, so it’s easy to understand why they want it banned.

When confronted with the accusations, the developer gave a different explanation. Revived Games described Active Shooter as a SWAT simulator. Therefore, the players can impersonate members of a SWAT team, namely an active shooter. Apart from the players, the game will also include civilians who are often targets of the shooters.

A group of outraged parents wrote a petition against the game

What outraged the parents about Active Shooter was a screenshot from the game. Here, the player runs on the corridors of a school and innocent civilians are trying to escape. It turns out the developers used a series of preexistent assets to develop the game. In an attempt to be quick and consume fewer resources, the developers ended up using controversial assets.

However, Active Shooter is not the first Revived Games title to cause outrage. Previous games of the same developer sported confusing titles that were enough to spice scandals. However, White Power: Pure Voltage or Tyde Pod Challenge were not what they sounded like. Their description revealed the games were actually harmless.

The release of Active Shooter was scheduled for June 6th. Given the recent petition and controversy, Revived Games said they got into contact with Valve and were planning to discuss the matter. However, the developer would most likely remove the option of impersonating the shooter.

Image source: Wikipedia

Filed Under: Games

Apple Offers $50 Refunds for Those who Replaced iPhone Batteries Last Year

May 23, 2018 By Micheal Baptiste Leave a Comment

Person charging their smartphone

If you paid a full price for an iPhone battery, you’ll get a refund

Apple knows people have trouble with their iPhone batteries so, a few months ago, the company decided to offer some discounts. As a result, you can now have your battery replaced for $29, after its initial price of $79. However, if you got it replaced while it had a higher price, you might get those $50 back.

The refund applies to those who paid a full price for iPhone batteries

Last year, the standard price to get iPhone batteries replaced was $79. This applied to iPhone 6 or newer, and the replacements should have taken place at authorized Apple stores. Now, the official price of this operation has decreased to $29, but the company didn’t want to disappoint older customers. Therefore, those who got a replacement for $79 will get a $50 refund.

This should soon be available in all countries and for all official Apple stores. The refund should happen through an electronic transfer. If you used a credit card for the replacement of iPhone batteries, you’ll get that credit back on the card. However, you need to inform Apple of it.

Between May 23rd and July 27th, you can contact Apple through an email to find out more about the refund. You will need to prove you paid the extra price for a battery replacement and, then, Apple will give you info on how to get your money back.

The refund comes as a result of slower iPhones

There was an interesting reason behind this sudden lower price on iPhone batteries. At the end of last year, Apple announced it made quite a controversial change. The company noticed older iPhones unexpectedly shut down, creating unpleasant experiences for their users. Therefore, Apple announced officially it would slow them down to avoid such situations.

Users weren’t too happy of the news, but Apple found a solution again. To console them for their phones getting slower, it lowered the price of iPhone batteries by $50. Since there have been many people who had already paid the full price for a battery, they are now going to get this money back.

Image source: Max Pixel

Filed Under: SmartPhones

Streaming Resident Evil 7 Soon Comes on Nintendo Switch

May 21, 2018 By Micheal Baptiste Leave a Comment

Resident Evil 7 Biohazard wallpaper

Streaming Resident Evil 7 on Switch might not be what you’ve wanted

The news of a series of Capcom games being available on Nintendo Switch have been a pleasant surprise for everyone. To the recent additions, the company has added a truly remarkable title that everyone must have been waiting for – Resident Evil 7. However, users won’t actually get to own its Switch version, as it will only be available for streaming.

Streaming Resident Evil 7 will soon be available on Switch

If you were about to get excited for the new announcements, take a moment to understand the news as you should. Soon enough, streaming Resident Evil 7 will be available on Switch. Here’s how the thing goes. In exchange for $18, you will be able to play only a cloud version of the game.

This means that, for the next six months, you will get the game together with its latest DLC. However, the game will be constantly streamed from cloud. This means you need to keep your Switch console connected to the internet as long as you play.

You won’t actually own the Switch game since it’s cloud based

Streaming Resident Evil 7 comes for a great price, but it’s merely streaming. This means you are not paying for the actual game, since you won’t get to own it. In fact, what you do will be something really similar to renting. Given the fact that it runs via an internet connection, you might have to deal with lags and connection problems. Therefore, we can’t say if this is really profitable.

By streaming Resident Evil 7, Capcom has followed the example of SEGA. The studio also developed a cloud version for Phantasy Star Online 2, but it was a small game that was only 40 MB big. However, the version allowed to sync your progress across a series of platforms.

Streaming Resident Evil 7 might not sound like the best combination. However, given the many ideas Capcom has got over the past few months, there might be something more about it that what meets the eye.

Image source: Flickr

Filed Under: Games

Google Has Prepared a Series of Surprises Hidden in the Upcoming Google Maps Update

May 8, 2018 By Micheal Baptiste Leave a Comment

Person holding a Google Maps pinpoint

The latest Google Maps updates has prepared AR integration and custom recommendations

This week, Google is presenting its I/O conference in Mountain View, California. The company has already presented some of the changes and updates it is going to bring, and some of them are really interesting. What caught the attention was the Google Maps update that contained personalized recommendations and augmented reality support.

The Google Maps update brings out personalized recommendations for places

Google decided it was time to bring out a new Google Maps update and make it friendlier for users. One of the main features it will include is For You, a tab with personalized recommendations. Google will revise all those places you visited and gave good ratings to. Then, it will offer you information on new places that might suit your interests.

However, you won’t get recommendations based only on new places. Another feature that pairs up with For You is Match Score. This one reviews all the info available on the restaurants you have visited and then gives you personalized recommendations.

If this news has already impressed you, then you should know the Google Maps update has even more to offer. Whenever you enjoy a place, you will be able to add it on a special list. Afterwards, you will be able to share this list with your friends. This is a great way to offer recommendations that your friends might enjoy, to plan a night out, or maybe get an opinion about a place you haven’t visited yet.

The best part of the update is probably the AR support

However, Google kept the most exciting part of the Google Maps update for the ending. The map service will receive augmented reality support, which is a clever combination between the traditional Street View and live images transmitted by a camera. Whenever you are using the app, you will get AR specifications that will make it impossible for you to choose the wrong direction.

Google has big plans with this Google Maps update, as it wants users to get the best possible experience. The company declared the next step might be to integrate animated characters that will give you directions and help you find your way.

Image source: Pixabay

Filed Under: Google

Renowned E-Waste Recycler Goes to Jail for Distributing Free Windows Restore Disks

April 25, 2018 By Micheal Baptiste Leave a Comment

Windows restore disk placed in a paper envelope for CDs

The man was giving Windows restore disks for free to reduce electronic waste

One of the pioneers of e-waste recycling has received a 15-month federal prison sentence for giving away Windows restore disks. This happened because the disks in question did not have a license, so the man was giving away system programs for free. The US Customs accused him of counterfeiting goods, so they took legal measures against him.

The recycler was giving away Windows restore disks for free

Eric Lundgren, 33, is the first to organize a fully hybrid recycling point in the US. This facility was specialized in electronic equipment, and took pieces from computers, mobile phones, and other devices to create new ones. Now, this highly acclaimed activity turned against him.

The man started giving away Windows restore disks for free, which also didn’t have a license. These disks are incredibly useful if your system gets corrupted and you cannot fix it through classical methods. However, you first need a license for the operating system in question.

Usually, manufacturers give Windows restore disks for free whenever you purchase a computer with a license. People often regard this disk as unimportant, as they often throw it away or forget about it. As a result, whenever they need to restore their Windows, they prefer buying a new computer.

Lundgren knew this activity wasn’t eco-friendly, as it produced a lot of electronic waste. He decided to give away Windows restore disks for free or for incredibly small prices. These could help people fix their computers instead of replacing them with new ones.

The man received a prison sentence even though his activity wasn’t technically illegal

However, the authorities weren’t happy. The US Customs accused Lundgren of copyright infringement, as well as organizing a counterfeiting conspiracy. However, there was a misunderstanding. Users need a license if they want Windows restore disks to work. Therefore, there was no illegal activity involved.

No matter how much Lundgren tried to explain, the authorities continued to blame him. They said this activity would be detrimental to Microsoft’s profits, so they set a higher price for them. This price was equal to a fully operating system with a license. Moreover, they sentenced Lundgren to 15 months in prison.

Image source: Wikipedia

Filed Under: News

Study Reveals Many Apps for Children Use Collect Data without Parent Approval

April 17, 2018 By Micheal Baptiste Leave a Comment

Child playing a game on a tablet

Apps for children use might share too much of your kid’s private info

Next time you allow your kids to use smartphones and apps, think about their privacy. A recent study revealed that many apps destined for family or children use actually collect a lot of private information. Therefore, the developers seem to have broken a number of important federal regulations regarding data collection.

Many apps for children use are pretty intrusive

This study was developed by researchers from Stony Brook University, UC Berkeley, and University of British Columbia. They looked at 5,855 apps that are destined for children use, and found some worrying results. Five percent of all these apps – or 281 – collect data regarding personal information or location. In all these cases, the apps didn’t ask parents for permission to access the data in question.

This is quite a serious situation, as it is contrary to some federal rules. In 1999, the government adopted COPPA, or Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. Just like its name suggests, any kind of software or apps destined for children use should keep away from sensitive data.

The developers will surely suffer the consequences

After such results, the Federal Trade Commission might end up sanctioning many of these developers. Even so, parents remain worried, as they no longer know what apps are safe for their children. Although they were strictly for children use, 28 percent of them actually accessed private information.

An even more worrying percentage, 73 percent, collected this private information, while others performed even more serious violations. The most serious of them all were those which identified the location of the users and downloaded this information.

Of course, knowing where users live is already a huge privacy violation. However, this type of data can reveal some other important information about the users. For instance, developers might find out about their economic status, interests, and some other type of social information. These apps should respect the COPPA regulations, and get parent approval before collecting any kind of data from software destined for children use.

Image source: Flickr

Filed Under: Apps/Softwares

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