Twitter for iOS Gains 'While You Were Away' Tweet Recaps [iOS Blog]

Twitter today announced plans to add new top tweet recaps to timelines within its iOS app, which display important tweets that were sent while a user was away from the app.



According to Twitter, these tweet recaps will include a "few of the best tweets" that users might not have seen otherwise, which are selected by engagement and other unspecified factors. Users who check in on only every so often may see the tweet recaps quite often, while users who continually use Twitter will see fewer recaps as they're already up to date on what's going on.

Our goal is to help you keep up -- or catch up -- with your world, no matter how much time you spend on Twitter. With a few improvements to the home timeline we think we can do a better job of delivering on that promise without compromising the real time nature of Twitter.

Missed tweet recaps will be marked with a "While you were away" heading within the iOS app, and should begin appearing for iOS users today as the update rolls out. Tweet recaps will make their way to the web "soon."



Twitter for iOS can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

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Posted in 2015 at 11:34PM, January 21

Logic Pro X for Mac Gets Major Update With New Drummers, Tools for Electronic/Hip Hop Music Creation

Logic Pro X for Mac today received its most significant update in the last year and a half, adding a slew of new features to the pro-oriented audio software produced by Apple.



Version 10.1 of the software, which is available for free for existing users, introduces new drummer profiles and more tools to make music creation a simpler task, plus it adds in new sounds with a focus on electronic and hip hop music.



There are 10 new drummer profiles to use in the new version of Logic Pro X, which can be used to produce beats in styles like Techno, House, Trap, and Dubstep, and there's also a new drum machine plug-in for tweaking drum sounds and making mixes. Each drummer has eight preset patterns, but they can be customized and users can create their own patterns as well.




Logic Pro X screenshot courtesy of CNET


The update introduces 200 synth patches and 10 new Mellotron instruments, and features like the piano roll editor have been improved. The Compressor plug-in now has a Retina-ready interface, and there's a plug-in manager to keep frequently-used plug-ins at hand and organized.



An expanded Logic Remote toolset offers a new plug-in view for use with the iPad, with multi-touch gestures able to manipulate tracks using the Visual Equalizer.



A full list of changes is below:

- 10 new Drummers that produce beats in a variety of electronic and hip hop styles including Techno, House, Trap, Dubstep and more

- Drummer provides specialized sound and performance controls for dialing in electronic or hip hop drum grooves

- New Drum Machine Designer plug-in offers new sounds and features for customizing electronic drum kits in a variety of styles

- Create a sequence of notes with a single mouse gesture using the new Brush Tool in the Piano Roll Editor

- New view options in the Piano Roll Editor let you see more notes in less vertical space and help identify drum sounds by name

- Easily compress or expand the timing of selected notes with new time handles in the Piano Roll Editor

- Note Repeat and Spot Erase modes allow classic drum machine style techniques for creating beats in realtime

- Smart Quantize proportionally corrects the timing and length of notes to preserve the musicality of your original performance

- Redesigned Compressor plug-in features scalable, Retina-ready interface and 7 models including the new Classic VCA

- Retro Synth can now create wavetables from imported audio and is able to stack up to 8 voices

- Expanded sound library includes over 200 new synth patches and 10 classic Mellotron instruments

- Automation can now be part of a region, not just the track, which makes it easier to use effects creatively

- Manage large-scale mixes more easily with the addition of console-style VCA faders

- Relative and Trim Automation modes extend the options for fine-tuning existing automation

- Mixer now allows remote control of microphone and other input settings for compatible audio interfaces

- Realtime rendering of fades allow them to work with Flex Pitch and speeds up project load times

- The Plug-in Manager now allows you to customize the organization of your menu

- Support for Mail Drop and Air Drop in OS X Yosemite makes it even easier to share your Logic projects

More in-depth reviews on the new features in Logic Pro X can be found over at Macworld and CNET , sites that got a hands-on look at the update ahead of its release.



Logic Pro X can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $199.99. [Direct Link]

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Posted in 2015 at 09:44PM, January 21

Google is going sell wireless data plans ‘directly’ to consumers

We've heard rumors about Google getting into the wireless carrier business for a while now but now it looks like the search giant is finally getting ready to pull the trigger. The Information has a huge scoop where it reports that Google is going to sell its own wireless voice and data plans "directly" to consumers.

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Posted in 2015 at 09:00PM, January 21

VIDEO — The funniest thing you'll see today: Watch eldars play Grand Theft Auto V

The Grand Theft Auto series of video games is widely known for being among the more ruthless and violent popular game franchises, and GTA V obviously pushes the boundaries even further than earlier installments in the series. So, what happens when you take a fun group of elderly men and women and sit them down in front of Grand Theft Auto V?

Yes, it's just as funny as you thought it would be.

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Posted in 2015 at 08:30PM, January 21

One of the First Apple Watch Games Shown off in Mockups from NimbleBit

Though developers have had access to the WatchKit API for the upcoming Apple Watch since the debut of iOS 8.2 in November, we've still learned very little about what apps will be able to do and what kind of apps we can expect to see when the device launches.



We know that common Apple apps like Messages, Mail, and others will be available on the Apple Watch based on what Apple shared in the keynote and on its dedicated Apple Watch website, but third-party developers have not divulged much about their plans for the device, though hundreds of innovative apps and experiences are undoubtedly in the works.



One major game developer, NimbleBit, is working on a new game that will be playable on the Apple Watch. Shared by our sister site TouchArcade , Letterpad is a simple word game that will be available on both iOS and the Apple Watch. The object of the game is to make words related to a specified topic from a grid of nine letters, and a mockup of what the game might look like is below.





Games may not seem conducive to the Apple Watch given its rumored limited battery life (the device will need to be charged on a daily basis) and its small screen, but simple games like Letterpad will translate well to the device. As we've learned from the WatchKit API, the first apps coming out for the Apple Watch will be entirely reliant on the iPhone, powered by the phone itself and projected to the Apple Watch to conserve battery.



This is just a first glimpse of one simple game that will be playable on the wrist thanks to the Apple Watch, and developers likely have a range of unique game experiences in mind. The Apple Watch's Taptic Engine and Force Touch capabilities, to determine between taps and presses and deliver subtle alerts, may enable all new types of games and apps that we haven't even considered yet, and over the course of the next few months, we'll likely get a much clearer picture of what developers are planning to create for the device.



The most recent rumors have suggested that the Apple Watch could see a March debut, and while pricing remains largely unknown, we do know that the entry-level Apple Watch will be priced at $349.

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Posted in 2015 at 08:05PM, January 21

The 5 coolest things that Microsoft announced on Wednesday

Microsoft had a huge media event on Wednesday and made several exciting announcements that really showed how much the company has changed under new CEO Satya Nadella. Below we've listed the five most important things that Microsoft announced on Wednesday, starting with an announcement that just about every current Windows user will cheer.

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Posted in 2015 at 08:04PM, January 21

Microsoft Debuts 84-Inch Surface Hub Touch Display, HoloLens Augmented Reality Headset

Alongside officially debuting Windows 10, Microsoft today unveiled two new futuristic hardware products, the Microsoft HoloLens augmented reality headset, and the Microsoft Surface Hub, an 84-inch 4K touch screen tablet with multi-touch and multi-pen support, dual camera, and advanced sensors.



The Microsoft Surface Hub runs a version of Windows 10 that's been adapted for the huge 84-inch display, and Microsoft showed the device being used in workplace meetings, as a hub for communication. The screen was used for making drawings and notes, and content projected to the Surface Hub was then shared to all people on a Skype conference call. The Surface Hub was also demonstrated using various Microsoft apps adapted for a larger screen.




Microsoft Surface Hub, image via The Verge


Microsoft has not announced pricing, but the Surface Hub is aimed at enterprise users and is likely to be quite expensive.



The company's second major product debut was the Microsoft HoloLens, which is a headset that uses holographic see-through lenses to allow its users to see and interact with holograms in an augmented reality environment. The HoloLens has spacial sound and advanced sensors to capture location information, allowing for a totally immersive holographic experience, and it has a built-in high-end CPU and GPU, as well as a "holographic processing unit" that processes information and data from the headset's sensors. "HoloLens enables native holographical computing," said Microsoft Kinect developer Alex Kipman.





There are no wires or external connections, and there is no need to have a phone or PC to use the HoloLens. Running a version of Windows 10 called Windows Holographic, the HoloLens knows where a user is looking, providing a virtual display that can be interacted with to launch apps.



In a video, Microsoft showed a holographic view that saw a virtual to-do list projected onto a real refrigerator, and a set of quick-launch apps portrayed on a wall for easy access. It was able to display virtual maps, reminders, and information like weather, all laid over a real view, with Microsoft promising it delivers "new ways to visualize work."



With HoloLens, a Skype conversation could be projected on a wall, or people could play a holographic version of Minecraft. "Imagine an architect walking around their designs while clients are viewing it from a remote location," said Kipman.



On stage, Microsoft demoed something that it calls Holo Studio, which can be used to design personalized 3D creations in just minutes, which can then be 3D printed. The Holo Studio was used to create a full-on quad copter in just a matter of minutes, which was fully functional.





Microsoft's holographic computing was also demoed with the Mars Rover, as Microsoft has had a secret partnership with NASA developing the HoloLens. "We've had the great honor of partnering with one of the most innovative organizations in history," said Kipman as an immersive image from the Mars Rover was displayed on the screen. NASA's been using the technology to allow its scientists to walk on Mars.



According to Microsoft, the HoloLens will launch during the Windows 10 timeframe, which means that it could be available for purchase at some point later this year. Attendees at Microsoft's event today will be able to give the HoloLens a try immediately in Microsoft's lab. More information on the HoloLens will be available in April at Microsoft's Build Developer Conference.

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Posted in 2015 at 07:29PM, January 21

Microsoft Demos Free Windows 10 Update, Debuts New 'Project Spartan' Web Browser

In the fall of 2014, Microsoft announced its newest operating system, Windows 10, and gave a brief preview of the upcoming software, which is designed to incorporate elements of both Windows 8 and Windows 7, in an attempt to make it more appealing to users who have thus far not upgraded to Windows 8.



Today, Microsoft is holding an official unveiling of Windows 10, sharing new details on the OS and demonstrating how it works across a range of devices. With Windows 10, Microsoft is hoping to cut down on operating system fragmentation with one unified platform thats designed to run on PCs, tablets, phones, and more.



Microsoft's tagline for Windows 10 is "More personal computing," a philosophy that's evidenced in its three design guidelines that it used when developing the software: mobility of experience, trust, and natural interaction, through a range of different input options from mice and keyboards to pens and simple touch.





Windows 10 somewhat mirrors Apple's efforts to unify iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite by creating a deep level of integration with features like Continuity, because Microsoft promises a unified experience and platform integration that will make it easy to put one device down and continue where you left off on another device.



In an effort to get its users to adopt Windows 10, Microsoft is planning to distribute Windows 10 to Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 users at no cost for the first year, which is an unprecedented move for the Washington-based company. Unlike Apple, Microsoft has never offered Windows for free, but Apple's success getting the majority of its users on the same operating system has likely inspired Microsoft to make the same effort.



Once a device is upgraded to Windows 10, Microsoft plans to keep the operating system current for the lifetime of the device. With a unified operating system, developers can target every single Windows device, and Microsoft is planning for long term support.



"Windows 10 is so much more than the latest version of Windows," said Microsoft VP of Operating Systems Terry Myerson. "Windows is turning into a service that will run across every device."



At today's event, Microsoft demoed Windows 10 running on several different devices, beginning with a tablet equipped with a keyboard and a mouse, running the full Windows 10 operating system. Windows 10 melds elements of Windows 7 with Windows 8.1, maintaining the tile system but also returning the iconic Start Menu.





There's an action center that delivers notifications and supports quick actions like turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and there's also a merged PC Settings and control panel option, which will be universal across all devices. With Continuum, a new feature that's designed to make transitioning from PC mode to tablet mode seamless, the mouse and keyboard were removed and Windows 10 offered a popup that transformed it into tablet mode. "A device like this elegantly transforms from one mode to another."



Microsoft also demoed its virtual assistant Cortana on a Windows PC, demonstrating her ability to search for information, set reminders, and more. Previously, Cortana was limited to Windows Phone, but the assistant will be available across all devices with the introduction of Windows 10. Cortana in Windows 10 is quite powerful, able to answer queries like "Bring up all my photos from December," or "Play my music," and she'll be integrated into the Maps app.



Windows 10 was also shown off on a small form-factor tablet and on a phone, with an emphasis being placed on the unification between the devices, with the same methods being used to access settings, apps, and more. For messaging, for example, Microsoft has plans for Skype integration, making it easy to transition from messaging to making a Skype call. Microsoft apps like Office and Outlook will be available on PCs, phones, and tablets, and it will be easy to transition between apps on various devices.





Microsoft is introducing a slew of universal apps, and in addition to those mentioned above, Microsoft has a new Photos app that's formatted to fit any screen on a tablet, phone, or PC. It aggregates photos from all devices, providing one simple view of photos and filters clutter like double shots, which sounds similar to what Apple is aiming to do with its own Photos app.



Along with Windows 10, Microsoft debuted a new browser for the modern web, which is currently codenamed Project Spartan. It's a new web browsing experience for Windows 10, which has a new rendering engine, a new look and feel, and features like a note-taking mode that lets users draw directly on their browsers before sharing a link, a reading mode with reading list and offline browsing, and access to Cortana in the browser.





Finally, Microsoft debuted a unified Xbox app that can be accessed on PCs, tablets, and smartphones, connecting those devices to Microsoft's Xbox gaming platform. It can be used for sharing gaming clips, and with Windows 10, Microsoft plans to enable streaming of any Xbox game to Windows PCs and tablets running Windows 10 in the home.



Microsoft has already provided access to Windows 10 to some users through its Windows Insider Program, a project that it plans to continue to use to seed out new Windows 10 features. Project Spartan and the features shown off today will come to Windows Insider testers in the coming months.

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Posted in 2015 at 06:35PM, January 21