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Android

Air Selfie: Smartphone sized App controlled ultra light video and picture drone

You can’t go anywhere online these days without running into selfies. Everyone’s doing it, and even though duck faces have faded quite a bit in the last few years (thankfully), selfies aren’t going anywhere. If you need further proof of this, look no further than the English Oxford dictionary. While they are very popular, it can be challenging to create a selfie that is pleasing to the eye and that doesn’t look like a selfie. It’s hard to hold natural, relaxed poses and to include a large group of people while holding your phone at arm’s length – not to mention not getting said arm in the picture. Selfie sticks were an option for a while, but even they are cumbersome and don’t always yield quality, natural looking pictures. And let’s not discuss how ridiculous they make their users look.

In comes the AirSelfie, a compact, lightweight drone equipped with a powerful camera that allows you to take stunning photographs and videos from the sky. The AirSelfie can fly up to 65 feet (20 meters) in the air, allowing you to take bird’s eye view pictures of you and your surroundings, indoors or outdoors. The drone is controlled via a free app downloaded on your smart phone (compatible both with iOs and Android devices), which allows you to position the camera where you want it and take pictures or videos at will. There is even an (up to) 10 second timer option to give you enough time to check the shot, put your phone away and smile before the picture is taken. No one will ever know your perfect shot is a selfie unless you tell them. Here is the AirSelfie in action:

Weighing only 2.8 ounces and with a size of 3.8″ long, 2.8″ wide and 0.5″ thick, the AirSelfie can go anywhere nestled in your pocket. It comes with a USB case which can be used for charging the drone as well as protect it. The AirSelfie app features a tutorial, which I wholly recommend you watch before your first legit flight. You will also need a bit of practice to be able to control the drone effectively, and you should do your practice runs inside, preferably over a soft surface in case you lose control and the drone falls to the floor. This poor guy thought he’d be a natural because he has extensive experience with more complex drones, and he could not have been more wrong. Don’t be like this guy. Or if you are, at least use your own drone.

The AirSelfie app also allows users to gain more complex control with three different user modes: easy, medium and expert. It comes with a built-in 4GB micro SD memory card, turbo fan propellers powered by brushless motors and a vibration absorbing system that helps stabilize the device, keeping the camera steady so you get perfectly clear shots every single time. Maybe the best thing about the AirSelfie is that it generates its own 2.4 GHz WiFi the minute you turn it on, which means you can use it in remote areas. Great while out camping or trekking, or even while visiting friends in the countryside. It’s portable, versatile and practical. Your arm or the selfie stick are nothing in comparison to this little magical piece of technology. You can get more of the tech specs here.

The AirSelfie’s 5 megapixel HD camera ensures that all your pictures and videos are optimal for posting on social media. Its anodized aluminum case makes it as robust as it is lightweight. Its built in 240mAh 7.4 LiPo battery allows for a continuous flight time of 3 minutes, and the powerbank cover can charge the AirSelfie in 30 minutes up to 20 times before it runs out of charge, which means that you can fly your drone for up to one hour before you need to charge the powerbank. This is especially useful when on long trips where power outlets aren’t readily available. Alternatively, the AirSelfie can also be charged via the included USB cord. If you own an iPhone (6/6 Plus, 7/7 Plus), Samsung (Galaxy S7 Edge) or Google Pixel device, you can even get a powerbank that will host and charge your AirSelfie device as well as your phone, so everything is in one convenient, easy to reach place.

Even if you’re not a selfie kind of person, this little drone is pretty impressive. It will allow you to get close ups of objects or subjects that you might not otherwise be able to reach, and from an interesting perspective. The AirSelfie 2 is already in the works, and rumors are it will be available in four different colors (Black, Rose Gold, Gold and Silver) to suit most any preference. Based on how awesome the original AirSelfie is, one can only speculate as to how much better its successor will be. I’m not sure how much improvement can be made to the original, but I’m eager to find out!

May 22, 2018 0 comment

Android iPad iPhone marketing Mobile Apps

eBay Has A New “Find It On eBay” Function

written by Don Eminizer

It seems like no one wants to be left behind on image searches. In recent weeks, Target has both partnered with Pinterest to add their ‘Lens’ feature to Target’s app, letting customers look for items similar to what they want using pictures, and introduced its new AR tool that allows potential furniture buyers to take a picture of any room in their house and see how a certain piece of furniture fits it. Now, eBay has launched pretty much the same feature as Target and Instagram’s ‘Lens’, with an added feature that is pretty neat. Whenever a shopper goes on line and sees something they like, all they have to do is click “Find it on eBay” and the app will automatically look through its billions of listings to try and find the same item, or will offer items that are as close in similarity with the picture as possible.

It seems that retailers are catching on to the fact that potential customers can be frustrated by word searches; indeed, and I’ve been there myself, it can be difficult and awkward to accurately describe, say, the exact shape of a flower vase or to find any specific object without knowing its brand. When my wife saw the perfect red shoes being worn by a stranger at the mall, she came home to look for them on the great wide web…I can’t begin to tell you how many images Google spit out at her ‘red high heels’ search terms. She never did find the ones she oh so liked, and image search would have been a great help to her at the time – assuming she could have taken a discreet picture of the lucky lady’s pumps.

The feature’s deep learning model (which is called a convolutional neural network, for those who are interested) gets smarter the more image searches it goes through, which means that it gradually gets better at producing results that are close to the original image (assuming that it doesn’t have just the thing you’re looking for, that is).

‘Find it on eBay’ is now live only on eBay’s Android app, but the ‘Image Search’ feature can be used both on Android and iOS devices.

Oct 28, 2017 0 comment

Android iPad iPhone Mobile Apps Social Media

Twitter is Doubling Its Character Limit

written by Don Eminizer

We’re hearing a lot about Twitter lately. The social media platform is trying all kinds of things to try help its user growths and, unfortunately, most of its attempts don’t seem to be making much of a difference. The only update that seems somewhat promising is its testing of the new Twitter Lite, but we’ll need a little more time to see if it truly will have an effective impact on the recruitment of more members – or on keeping existing users happy and tweeting.

The latest idea Twitter has come up with is allowing users to post more characters per tweet – exactly twice as much, bringing the cap from 140 characters all the way up to 280 characters. To me, this seems to go against everything Twitter is (or was?) supposed to be about. The challenge (and purpose, in my honest opinion), is (was) to be able to express oneself clearly while remaining succinct. The reaction to the update has been mixed. Some Twitter users agree with me that increasing post length to 280 characters takes away the essence of what Twitter used to be. Others seem more than happy to test the new feature and argue that it makes it easier to express themselves without using shortcuts like ‘bc’, ‘imho’ and ‘u’, making posts easier to read and more accessible to everyone.

Aliza Rosen, product manager at Twitter, said “In all markets, when people don’t have to cram their thoughts into 140 characters and actually have some to spare, we see more people tweeting” in a rather long and not very informative blog post – and followed this statement with a rather contradictory “Twitter is about brevity. It’s what makes it such a great way to see what’s happening. Tweets get right to the point with the information or thoughts that matter. That is something we will never change”. Ok, so 280 characters might still be brief by some standards, but at this point I feel like Twitter would go up to novella-size tweets if it thought the update would keep them afloat for a few more weeks.

I’m not convinced that people will tweet more often now that they have the opportunity to post longer tweets. In fact, I think that Twitter may lose some of its most zealous members because of the change. But I could be wrong. Let’s wait and see.

Sep 28, 2017 0 comment

Android iPad iPhone marketing Mobile Apps

You Can Now Control Your LG Smart Appliances Through Google Home

written by Don Eminizer

So, LG has taken a leap of faith and entrusted its impressive 87 WiFi enabled smart appliances to the Google Assistant. This allows users to not only control their LG smart appliances through Google Home, but also remotely through a mobile device, both iOS or Android. I can see where this would come in handy if I forget to turn the AC down when I leave the house. And if I had an LG smart washing machine, I would totally take advantage of the fact that I don’t have to get up to see if the load is done: all I’d have to do is ask my Google Assistant and it would tell me exactly how long is left on the load. Sweet.

Set up is simple and easy. Users will need to download LG’s SmartThinQ app (if they don’t already have it), then set voice controls and they’re good to go. They can then use their voice to order around their smart appliances. Think about it: tell your smart fridge to make more ice, start a pot of coffee from bed, get the dishwasher going – the possibilities seem endless! I’m the kind of person who’s always wondering, as I leave the house (especially when going on longer trips or vacations) if I’ve left the oven on. Well, if I had an LG smart oven, I could put all those doubts to rest with a simple command into my phone. Brilliant. Conversely, I’ve read somewhere that you could ask your Google Assistant to warm up the oven so it’s at the right temperature for that roast chilling in the fridge. I’m sure you could, but I’m not so sure I like the idea of my oven being on with no one in the house. But maybe that’s just me being paranoid.

Anyway, the really cool thing about this is that to help convince people to buy their smart appliances, LG will be giving away a Google Home device to everyone who buys a smart appliance between October 8th and October 25th. Don’t go crazy though, they will only give one device per household no matter how many appliances you buy. Still, it’s a pretty good deal, especially if you were already considering getting a smart appliance.

Sep 26, 2017 0 comment

Android iPad iPhone Mobile Apps

Snapchat Has Rolled Out New Sky Filters

written by Don Eminizer

Snapchat is quickly becoming a favorite, especially among teenagers and young adults. Its wide array of filters is ever changing, and users can even have special, customized filters created for much any occasions (as I recently wrote, even for funerals). Snapchat users have been enjoying morphing into each other, snapping cute pictures of them with a bunny face or flowers in their hair. Just a few days ago, it released its 3D Bitmojis, allowing users to add fun, interactive characters on their screen using the World Lens setting.

The latest filters, available as of today on both iOS and Android devices, aim to modify the look of the sky. In order for these sky filters to work, the picture needs to contain detectable sky – that is, Snapchat needs to be able to recognize part of your picture as sky to be able to apply the filter to it. In order to use these new filters, all users have to do is swipe through the filters as usual and select the one they want to use.

Much like the other filters, the sky filters will be rotated every day and will offer an array of different looks, including starry skies, colorful sunsets, virtual weather, rainbows, stormy weather and other effects. Along with the World Lenses added to the app earlier this year, these new filters are keeping users entertained and coming back for more. The sheer variety of filters and the fact that Snapchat keeps adding to them and rotating them certainly seems to be working in Snapchat’s favor.

Despite Facebook’s many attempts at copying its rival app’s features, and that across its many platforms (‘Status’ in WhatsApp, ‘Stories’ and ‘Geostickers’ in Instagram and ‘Messenger Day’ in Messenger), it has not yet been able to slow Snapchat’s growth and popularity. In fact, as of last spring, 39% of teens in the United States considered Snapchat their favorite network, compared to 23% for Instagram and %11 each for Twitter and Facebook. It’s clear, for now at least, that Snapchat isn’t merely a fad, and that it’s not going anywhere anytime soon, whatever Facebook does.

Sep 25, 2017 0 comment

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Custom Funeral Snapchat Filters are Becoming a Thing

written by Don Eminizer

You’re attending a funeral. The mood is somber, everyone is sad and trying to pay their respects. Then someone pulls out their phone, loads Snapchat and takes a selfie. Looking over, you see that they’ve applied a special geofilter: one with the name of the deceased at the bottom, and RIP on top. Sound weird? Well, it’s really a thing. And if you read on, you might come to think that it’s really not all that disturbing.

According to Cnet, it all started a few months ago when Stephenie Buchanan ordered a special filter for her brother’s funeral. Her brother, she said, was an avid Snapchat user, and she felt that immortalizing him using the app and a geofilter that read “T’s World” on top and “We love you Tarrence, rest in Heaven” at the bottom. And while she reported that some people at the funeral were puzzled, most of them started taking selfies and thought that the idea was a good one. That these pictures somehow were an homage to the deceased and a new way to celebrate the way that he had lived.

When you think about it, it certainly is unconventional, but definitely not unheard of. A few centuries ago, when photography was still in its infancy, it wasn’t uncommon for families to pose deceased family members to look as if they were still alive and take a portrait – often featuring the deceased along with other family members. Most families had no picture of the deceased while they were alive, so this solution allowed them to keep a likeness of their loved ones after their death.

Technology is evolving, and most younger people have been growing up with it all their lives. It’s the way they communicate, the way they share news, the way they share pictures. All in all, it isn’t very surprising that this would apply to funerals as well as birthdays, weddings, and other events. We share sad news on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram all the time. Why not use Snapchat in the same way? Buchanan said all the selfies made her smile, and she’s considering putting together a photo album compiling them all. And why not? It would be a good reminder of how many friends her brother had, and of how much he was loved.

Sep 25, 2017 0 comment

Android Mobile Apps Social Media

Twitter is Testing its Latest Product in the Philippines

written by Don Eminizer

It’s no secret that Twitter has been having problems these last few years, and not surprising that it’s trying to get back on its feet (talons?) by releasing various new features that, to date, don’t seem to have had a tremendous impact on users – current or potential. Their latest app for Android, Twitter Lite, may well be the best idea that the social media company has come up with so far.

Most of Twitter’s user base resides outside of the United States (68 million users across the States compared to 260 million users abroad), and many of these users live in emerging markets with slower and more expensive networks. Many of these users also use mobile devices that offer considerably less storage, making it difficult to use apps like Twitter, apps that feature an overwhelming stream of media, articles and pictures. Twitter Lite was created and is being tested with those users in mind.

The new app works well on 2G and 3G networks while retaining most of the features found on Twitter. It also takes relatively little space on mobile devices (around 3MB once installed). What’s also great about Twitter Lite is that users have the option to turn off media mode, which allows them to select specific videos and images to download. This is a great move on Twitter’s part, as by offering users the option to have less content, they are potentially gaining more users in those emerging markets where Twitter’s traditional format would be impossible if not extremely frustrating to use.

And word is that it’s not only users in slow network areas that are interested in Twitter Lite. One user tweeted: “I use the Twitter Lite PWA because the native app for Android is too slow. AMA.” So while Twitter Lite was designed for users in areas that have slower networks, it might also help recruit users looking for a quicker app, or one that has new options like the option to turn media off.

Of all the fixes and way that Twitter has employed to grow its user base, Twitter Lite seems to be the one that has the most potential for success. Let’s hope that the trial period yields good results and that Twitter Lite can soon be made available to everyone, so that Twitter can start making its way toward solid ground.

Sep 24, 2017 0 comment

Android iPad iPhone Mobile Apps

Preschoolers Can Now Play an Age-Appropriate Pokémon Game

written by Don Eminizer

Pokémon, and more recently Pokémon Go, are extremely popular, and this both with kids, teens and adults. But while the game is fun and can be quite addictive, in-game play isn’t exactly appropriate for younger children, what with the battles and all that. Not to mention that you don’t want your 3 year old wandering out of the house in hopes of finding a rare Pokémon in the park across the street.

That is why Nintendo and Niantic along with the Pokémon company, have created a new Pokémon game intended for children between the ages of 3 and 5. The new app is called Pokémon Playhouse and features age-appropriate activities like grooming, feeding, giving treats and even creating bands. Young trainers can also take their Pokémon to the park, and the app features an array of educational puzzles and activities that are sure to capture the interest of any preschooler. The game also features a human ‘guide’ that helps kids navigate the various activities and explains what is expected of them. There are also levels to the activities – in-game progress brings players closer to hatching an egg. The game currently features over 50 different Pokémons.

Parents will be delighted to learn that the app not only is free, it is also free of in-app purchase options, making it even more interesting because, let’s face it, a 4 year old throwing a tantrum over not being allowed to purchase a cute bow for her favorite Pokémon isn’t that appealing. Parents beware, however: while this app is a great learning tool for any preschooler, it’s clear that the goal here is not only to offer educational content – the goal is also to introduce Pokémon to a younger generation of fans, who will undoubtedly grow up wanting to move on to other Pokémon games. And we all know all of those games aren’t free, and most of them feature in-app purchase.

Still, I like the idea of a Pokémon world designed exclusively for the littlest fans. I also like that it isn’t a game without any other purpose than having fun, but one in which preschoolers will actually learn things, things that no doubt will get them ready for the big world of kindergarten.

The app is now available both for Android and iOS devices, here and here respectively.

Sep 22, 2017 0 comment

Android Gadgets

Amazon’s New Fire HD 10 Tablet’s Awesome Features

written by Don Eminizer

I have two Fire Kindles. I love them. They’re great for a variety of things – games, web browsing, video chatting, even documents and calendars. And even though I already have two of them, I have Fire Kindle envy. Because let me tell you, this new tablet is something else.

First, because it’s only $149.99, at least on pre-order (no idea if the price will go up after that, only time will tell). I mean, the tablet Amazon released last year had half of the GB this baby has (16 versus 32) and it was priced at $229.99. And that’s not the only great thing about the Fire HD 10. I have Alexa on my Kindles, but it’s often inconvenient to use her services because I have to manually summon her. If I’m not near my tablet or I’m busy doing something else on there, it’s likely that I won’t bother. Well that’s not going to be an issue with the Fire HD 10, because, just like the Echo, it responds to voice commands. With this new tablet, I could play music from across the room or shut the lights off without getting up. Neat.

Along with its impressive 2GB of RAM, generous 1080p display, 32GB or 64GB of built-in memory (for an additional $40), a microSD slot allowing you to upgrade to up to 256GB of memory space, a faster 1.8GHz quad-core processor and full HD display, this one packs a punch, and it’s why I’m so surprised at its low cost. It comes in Black, Marine Blue or Punch Red and will be released on October 11. There is no doubt in my mind that I would get the Fire HD 10 instead of an Echo, since they are so close in price and I favor the versatility of a tablet over sound quality.

If you do decide to get the newest Amazon tablet, make sure that you check for a software update as soon as you get your hands on it, or the voice activated Alexa won’t work. The hands-free Alexa feature will need a patch to work, which will be available at the same time as the tablet is. Which, in my opinion, isn’t nearly soon enough.

Sep 22, 2017 0 comment

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You Can Now Access Instagram Directly From Facebook’s Mobile App

written by Don Eminizer

If you are a Facebook user and also own an Instagram account, you might soon notice a slight change in your mobile Facebook app display. In an effort to make it easier for Facebook and Instagram users to access their Instagram account, Facebook will be adding an Instagram link directly in its mobile app. The link will be situated near the top of the screen, right below the link that leads to your personal profile and above the links that lead to whatever Facebook page you manage, if you have any.

The new feature is a small change overall, but it could potentially have a big impact on the number of people who use Instagram. Whenever a user uses the Instagram link from their mobile Facebook app, he or she will land on the main feed just they would if they had launched the app from their home screen. This is a smart move on Facebook’s part, because it might allow the social media giant to keep its users involved with Instagram instead of its competitors – namely Twitter and Snapchat.

While Facebook remains the number one app downloaded of all times, Snapchat is quickly growing in popularity, especially among teenagers, and is threatening to outgrow Instagram. This is why it’s puzzling to me that there doesn’t seem to be the option to link back to Facebook from Instagram. One would think that if the idea is to keep users within certain apps, it would make sense to link all concerned apps in one big happy loop.

TechCrunch reported that a Facebook spokesperson told them “We’re looking at ways to help people stay in touch with their friends on Facebook and Instagram. People on Facebook will be able to see how many of their friends are on Instagram”.

This is a minor change compared to the experiments Facebook led just a few months ago, testing a new feature that would allow cross-notifications between Facebook, Messenger and Instagram. The goal of this feature was to keep people logged in and using the apps, making it impossible to miss a notification from one app while in another. While the tests have not yet resulted in the feature being rolled out for all users, it gives us a good idea of what general direction Facebook is heading in trying to keep users involved and using Facebook-owned apps.

Sep 22, 2017 0 comment