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The latest news on all your favorite apps.
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Snapchat's latest AR trick turns Lenses into games
Snapchat's augmented reality Lenses are clever, but not particularly engaging. You probably won't use them outside of the occasional moment when they help express what you're feeling. Snap may have a clever way to keep you coming back, though: add a game-like element. It's unveiling Snappables, or Lenses that let you play AR games (and other interactive experiences) with friends. You can fight aliens, blow up virtual bubble gum, or jump into a world like a nightclub. You'll even get a score in some of these experiences, in case you want to challenge a friend.
The gear you need to celebrate 4/20 like a responsible adult
It's 4/20 everybody, the High Stoner Holiday where we burn our trees rather than decorate them! The celebrations mark a magical moment when everybody can get the giggles with reckless abandon while satiating their munchies with traditional holiday tidings like Abba-zabba and Taco Bell. Today offers neophyte cannabis enthusiasts and hardcore stoners alike an opportunity to indulge in the mild euphoric of their choice with like-minded friends and family, or really, anybody standing with a dutchie on their right-hand side. But just as Christmas suffers from SantaCon, 4/20 celebrations attract their own brand of red-eyed knuckleheads who make the rest of us look bad. So unless you want to get lumped in with the folks who still proudly display their Scarface poster from college, put down that comically large blunt and read on.
Netflix’s Snapchat-like trailers are now on iOS
Last month, Netflix announced that it would be bringing previews to its mobile app and as of today, they're now available. Each one is around 30 seconds long and in a vertical format, giving them a Snapchat or Instagram Story-type feel, and they're contained in a new dedicated preview section on the app. Just scroll through the circular thumbnails to find previews you'd like to see and once you're watching one, you can play the movie or show from that screen, add it to your list or swipe over to the next preview.
TaskRabbit returns following data breach it can't account for
Handyman-for-hire app TaskRabbit was the target of a data breach on Monday, resulting in both the app and website being taken offline while the company investigated the apparently intentional attack. Both are now back up and running, although the company has not said how the breach occurred or what information had been compromised.
Amazon's mobile app simplifies shopping for international customers
It's easy to take Amazon for granted if you live in a country with an official portal, but what if you live in a country where imports are your only realistic option? If you have your phone close at hand, it should now be relatively easy. The company has launched an International Shopping feature in its Android and iOS apps to let you shop Amazon US goods that are eligible to ship to your corner of the world, complete with localized pricing and duty estimates. The app will use its location to automatically enable International Shopping if you're a first-timer in a country where the feature is necessary, but you can always switch it on yourself and customize the currency or language.
Google Maps uses landmarks to provide natural-sounding directions
Most navigation apps give you instructions based on streets or distance. But that's not really how humans provide directions -- they'll usually point to landmarks that are much easier to spot than a tiny street sign. And Google, apparently, knows this. Users are reporting that Google Maps has started offering directions based on local landmarks. Instead of "turn right at Main Street," it'll tell you to "turn right after Burger King."
You don't need a Facebook account to use Bumble
You don't need a Facebook account to sign up for Bumble anymore. Starting tomorrow, you can use your phone number to register for a new account on the dating app, according to Wired. Like Tinder, Hinge and countless other apps and services, Bumble streamlined the process of setting up a profile and adding photos by offering Facebook as a login option. Last week Tinder users had trouble logging in due to a glitch with Facebook privacy settings.
Telegram banned in Russia following court ruling
Russian authorities have been threatening to ban Telegram since 2017 due to its developers' repeated refusal to give them access to users' data. Well, they can soon make good on that threat now that a Moscow court has officially issued a ban on the secure messaging application. It all started when KGB successor Federal Security Service (FSB) demanded access to Telegram's decryption keys last year. FSB wants those keys so it can read user messages, apparently as part of its anti-terror measures.
Apple warns Mac users that 32-bit apps will soon stop working
Starting tomorrow, you'll see an alert box when you open a 32-bit app in MacOS 10.13.4. The one-time-per-app warning is designed to encourage users -- and developers -- to update their apps before Apple's full transition to 64-bit. It's not clear when the complete switch will happen, but when it does, all support for the legacy architecture will cease and apps that haven't been updated will stop working.
Snap is working on a new set of Spectacles
Snap's first forays into hardware may not have been a rousing success -- a year after the launch of Spectacles there were reportedly hundreds of thousands of pairs still sitting in Chinese warehouses. However, it seems the company isn't willing to admit defeat just yet, as a new FCC filing has surfaced suggesting a new version of the tech is on its way.
Vimeo's Mac app simplifies uploads from Final Cut Pro
Vimeo hopes its desktop Mac app will further win over pro users. Specifically, those who rely on Final Cut Pro for their editing, thanks to deeper integration with the filmmaking suite. You can export in the ProRes format and upload multiple files directly to Vimeo simultaneously, as well as 4K Ultra HD with HDR, for starters. The desktop app also makes managing your videos, their metadata and doing things like grabbing embed codes easier as well.
Uber gathered driver feedback to overhaul the app they use
As part of a grand campaign to repair its reputation, Uber updated its driver app last fall with a 'share my location' feature to comfort its contractors during long shifts. But the software's newest version out today is very much an overhaul that redesigns its interface with input from the drivers themselves. What did they want? To easily see how much money they've made in a shift so far and get quick access to badges and other 'gamified' elements of the Uber driving experience.
Skype's call recording feature is made for podcasters
Here's a little trade secret: podcasters and radio show hosts use Skype a lot. It's helpful for adding remote guests with minimal fuss. You usually need to synchronize with a third-party app or device to record the call at the quality you'd like, though, and that can be a pain to set up. Mercifully, Microsoft is aiming to fix that. It's readying a Skype for Content Creators mode that records calls directly through NDI-capable software like Wirecast, Xsplit and Vmix. The feature provides "clean" copies of all call participants that you can easily drop into audio and video production apps, so you can focus more on posting your show and less on double-checking everyone's recordings.
Twitter changes may bring major issues for third-party apps (updated)
If you use a third-party Twitter app like Tweetbot, Twitterrific, Talon or Tweetings, you might lose a couple of key features when Twitter replaces developer access to User and Site streams with a new Account Activity API this coming June. The folks who created the apps mentioned above have created a new website to explain that, as a result, push notifications will no longer work and timelines won't refresh automatically.
Tinder suffers sign-in problems following Facebook's privacy changes
Virtual romance has run into a momentary setback -- Tinder has confirmed reports that many users can't sign into its dating service. Those affected are frequently stuck in a login loop where they're asked for extra Facebook permissions, only to be sent back to the original Facebook sign-in request when they tap the relevant button. Others have had success signing in, but have reported losing all their messages or matches. Suffice it to say that this is worrying if you've had your eyes on someone special.
Facebook users can now delete third-party apps in bulk
In the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Facebook has been making some changes, giving users a little bit more control over their data and how it's used. Today, TechCrunch reports that the company is making it easier to remove third-party apps. Previously, users had to delete each one separately, making the removal process rather time-consuming for some. But now, Facebook is rolling out a way to delete multiple apps at once. Though you can't just grab them all at the same time, you can select as many as you'd like and delete them in bulk.
Grindr reportedly shared HIV statuses with other companies
Grindr's privacy issues may extend beyond access to data with a login. BuzzFeed News and Norwegian non-profit SINTEF report that Grindr has been sharing its users' HIV statuses (including their last test date) with two app optimization companies, Apptimize and Localytics. As that data is attached to info like email addresses, GPS info and phone IDs, it's possible for an intruder to link specific people (beyond just their public profiles) to their health info.
The next big 'Destiny 2' update involves a revamped mobile app
Bungie only just released Destiny 2's "Go Fast" update, but it's already set to talk about its next releases -- and this time, the most important moves are outside the game itself. The studio is readying updates to both the Companion mobile app and its website that will make them decidedly more useful when you're away from home. An April 4th update to Companion for Android and iOS will bring back the 3D models available in the original Destiny era. You can not only see what your Guardian looks like with equipped gear, but explore your weapons, vehicles and ghosts. It's helpful for bragging rights with your friends, of course, but it also gives you a better reason to dig through your equipment when you aren't playing.
All you need for a Volvo XC40 subscription is your iPhone
Getting a new car is getting even easier these days. BMW, Lexus and Volvo have all started selling cars via subscription. The Care by Volvo program gives you an all-wheel-drive XC40, insurance, routine maintenance, roadside assistance and no money down for $600 a month. That sounds pretty great, but it's also super easy to sign up. Now you can sign up and pay for your monthly car sub via an iOS app and Apple Pay.
ProtonMail brings encrypted contacts to its mobile email app
ProtonMail's encrypted contacts are now readily available beyond the web -- the company has updated its Android and iOS email apps to add the privacy-minded contacts manager. It uses zero-access encryption to prevent everyone but you (yes, including ProtonMail) from seeing anything besides a name and email address, and includes digital signatures to check for signs of tampering. It's pitched as ideal for journalists who may need to protect their contacts, but it could be just as important to you if you're worried that a thief might use your contacts as a burglary hit list.