Blog

Instagram’s new QR codes are a shortcut directly to your profile

[ad_1]

Last year Instagram added some Snapchat-like nametags that could bring a friend to your profile just by pointing their Instagram app’s camera at the code. Now, after a short test period, it’s widely launching QR codes that work in a similar way but with one key difference — people trying to find your profile can look them up via any camera app capable of reading QR codes.

Whether you’re just trying to quickly exchange profiles with a new acquaintance or you’re a small business looking to add local followers, it’s a lot easier than hoping they spell your nickname correctly on the first couple of tries. To find your QR code just look in your profile menu as shown above.

[ad_2]

Source link

Netflix is testing a “Shuffle Play” button

[ad_1]

Netflix is testing a new “Shuffle Play” feature that could help you find something to watch if you’re feeling overwhelmed with all your streaming options, TechCrunch has confirmed. Based on photos users had posted online, the button is located right on the profile screen. You can simply click and hope it would play something you’d like if, say, you’re tired of spending more time choosing what to watch than actually watching something. Or, in case you’re feeling bold enough to wade through random Netflix content to find a hidden gem.

According to the publication, Netflix will take titles you’ve watched before and those you’ve saved to your list into account for the new feature. It could also randomly play an episode from a series you’re currently watching. The company also said that the idea is to help viewers “quickly and easily find content that’s tailored to their tastes.”

[ad_2]

Source link

Facebook and Twitter push back against links to ‘Plandemic’ sequel

[ad_1]

Facebook

Facebook

On Facebook, sharing a link to the video’s website is blocked straight away, as opposed to their initial steps with the first video that just limited its reach. Using Twitter the link is posted without a warning on the site, but clicking it takes viewers to an interstitial warning that link is “potentially spammy or unsafe” because it could fall into a list of categories that includes “misleading content that could lead to real-world harm.” YouTube is taking down copies of the video, while TikTok has blocked searches for the term.

Twitter

Twitter

If you must know what is in the video, a number of reporters watched during its live unveiling earlier, noting its anti-vaccine rhetoric and other rumors. It does not significantly feature Dr. Judy Mikovitz, the discredited scientist from the first video, and largely pushes the same unfounded rumors about Bill Gates that have been seen before. According to Buzzfeed News, “As a piece of journalism, it is Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. As a piece of entertainment, it is Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.”



[ad_2]

Source link

Google Meet comes to TVs thanks to Chromecast

[ad_1]

To cast Meet calls to your TV, you’ll need to download the latest version of Chrome to your desktop or laptop PC. Make sure you’ve updated your Chromecast as well. Google’s browser is an essential piece of the puzzle because Meet will still use the camera, microphone and audio from your computer to facilitate the call. All you’re doing in this instance is casting the video from Meet to your TV.     

When everything is ready to go, you’ll see an option to cast the meeting before joining it. It’s also possible to do the same partway through a call by clicking on the three-dot icon and “Cast this meeting.” 

Since the start of the pandemic, Google has been quickly updating Meet to keep pace with fast-growing competitors like Zoom. In May, the search giant announced it was making Meet free to anyone with a Gmail account. More recently, the company integrated the software with Gmail on Android. If you don’t have access to Meet’s latest update right away, be patient as it usually takes Google a couple of days to roll out new software to everyone.

[ad_2]

Source link

EA Play hits Steam on August 31st

[ad_1]

After a delay, EA Play, the subscription service formerly known as EA Access, will be available on Steam starting August 31st. The platform allows you to play Electronic Arts’ back catalog of titles as much as you want and check out its newest games before buying them. It also includes discounts on downloadable content. 

Some of the more notable titles that EA currently offers through the service include A Way Out, Star Wars Battlefront II and Titanfall 2 — the latter’s multiplayer recently found new life on Steam. EA Play starts at $5 per month, but you can also get a year of service for $30. EA also offers a Pro version of the service through its Origin PC launcher, which allows you to play the deluxe versions of its newest games — no need to buy them separately. EA Play Pro costs $15 per month or $100 annually. If you fancy yourself more of a console player, you can also access EA Play on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. 

[ad_2]

Source link

Deezer now has an analytics app for podcasters

[ad_1]

Streaming service Deezer has launched a dedicated analytics app for podcast creators, joining other podcasting platforms already offering analytics like Google Podcasts and Stitcher. Deezer is now the only streaming service to offer podcast insights on a mobile app, Deezer Head of Content Frédéric Antelme said in a statement.

Analytics by Deezer organizes your podcast’s information into two tabs: analytics and audience. Analytics shows the podcast’s number of streams, unique listeners, fans and shares of your podcast, as well as the total and peak listening time. You can also see the best performing episode and duration of listening time. The audience tab shows the age and gender of your fans, along with who’s listening on desktop, mobile or web. Before now, Deezer did not offer in-house audience insights.

[ad_2]

Source link

USPS will stop removing mail-sorting machines until after the election

[ad_1]

This was part of a larger initiative to “strengthen the Postal Service” by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who joined the USPS in June after 35 years as an executive at a large supply-chain logistics company. DeJoy is a noted ally of President Donald Trump, who has been attempting to discredit the USPS ahead of the November election. Trump admitted on August 13th that his recent rhetoric against the USPS was designed to curtail the country’s mail-in voting process.

When DeJoy took over the USPS in June, he implemented hiring freezes and organizational rules that caused delays in the delivery of some prescriptions and mid-summer primary ballots across the US. Alongside the forced retirement of mail-sorting machines, DeJoy instituted rules that limited the amount of overtime employees could earn, and banned extra trips that would ensure on-time deliveries.

Today in a statement, DeJoy said, “To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded. I want to assure all Americans of the following: Retail hours at Post Offices will not change. Mail processing equipment and blue collection boxes will remain where they are. No mail processing facilities will be closed. And we reassert that overtime has, and will continue to be, approved as needed.”

Democrats — and some Republicans — have been railing against attacks on the Postal Service for weeks, and on August 12th, Postal Service Inspector General Tammy Whitcomb launched an investigation into DeJoy’s new policies. DeJoy will testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Friday, and he’ll appear before the House Oversight Committee the following Monday. House Democrats plan to pass a funding bill aimed at the USPS on Saturday, August 22nd.

While today’s promise from DeJoy halts ongoing efforts to handicap the USPS, it doesn’t address any damage that’s already been done — notably, it doesn’t reinstate the mail-sorting machines that have already been taken offline. Democratic lawmakers have pledged to include reparative measures in the Saturday bill.



[ad_2]

Source link

Nintendo’s ‘Ring Fit Adventure’ is $10 off at Amazon

[ad_1]

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. If you buy something through one of the links on this page, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Update 4:24pm ET: New Ring Fit Adventure units have sold out. The deal price is no longer available, and only used models of Ring Fit Adventure are currently for sale. We’ll update this post accordingly if the deal returns later today.

Anything related to the Nintendo Switch has been hard to come by for months as people grab things like games, accessories and the like to keep themselves busy indoors. But now you can get arguably the most active add-on for the Switch for less: Amazon has Nintendo’s Ring Fit Adventure for just under $70, which is $10 off its normal price and the lowest we’ve seen it since last year.

[ad_2]

Source link

Oculus headsets will require Facebook logins starting in October

[ad_1]

Moving forward, you’ll also need a Facebook login to use all forthcoming Oculus devices, even if you have an existing Oculus account. Recent reports suggest Facebook will announce a new version of its popular Oculus Quest headset in September. Given the company’s new policy, that device will likely only work with a Facebook account.  

Facebook contends the move will be beneficial to Oculus users for several reasons. The first of which is that the company says it will make it easier for those individuals to find and connect with their friends. It will also allow Facebook to integrate features like Horizon, the social VR world the company announced in 2019. Perhaps most importantly, the company claims the policy will enable it to give users a more consistent way to report trolls and other bad actors. “Using a VR profile that is backed by a Facebook account and authentic identity helps us protect our community and makes it possible to offer additional integrity tools,” the company said.

For those who want to keep their Facebook and VR friends separate, that’s something you’ll be able to do, even once you’ve merged your accounts. You also won’t have to share your real name with any people you meet through any Oculus games you play. 

As you can imagine, some Oculus owners aren’t happy about the announcement. The blog post in which Facebook detailed the policy change already has its share of comments with colorful language. In a way, however, the writing has been on the wall for a while. Last year, Oculus introduced new social features that you could only access through a Facebook account. The social media giant also started using data it had gathered from Oculus headsets in ads. 

 

[ad_2]

Source link

Google promises better search results for recipes, jobs and shopping

[ad_1]

Google has also made improvements to the recipes card. “To make meal planning easier, we’re updating the recipes activity card to show you even more relevant recipes related to your query,” Search product manager InHan Kang wrote in a blog post. “So now when you search for chicken recipes, we’ll surface the related recipes you’ve recently visited and provide a thumbnail preview to make it easy to select the right one.”

These updates are rolling out today. If you’re not interested in seeing activity cards, you can turn off private results in your Search settings. You can also remove individual items that pop up on the recipe and product cards, and delete your job searches from the My Activity.

Elsewhere, you now have the option of sending audio messages via Google Assistant on Android phones solely using your voice. All you have to do is say, “Hey Google, send an audio message,” along with the name of the recipient and what you want to tell them. The feature is live in English-speaking countries, and in Brazil in Portuguese.

[ad_2]

Source link