Facebook Launches Lifestage App for School Teens

With a purpose in mind of targeting high-school goers, Facebook, the social media giant has launched a new iOS app known as Lifestage which requests the user to fill in their biographical details which is then turned into a virtual profile video and is shared immediately with their school networks.

Lifestage which is a standalone iOS app for individual under 21, requests users for their happy face, sad face, likes, dislike, best friends, best book and much more. The users however, instead of filling the biography test with script tend to shoot videos, which later on Lifestage tends to turn into video profile where others in their school network can view.

The app enables users to find video profiles that have been generated by other users in their school enabling them to know more about their classmates, their shared interests and much more, as conveyed by Facebook in a recent blog post. The post also mentioned that each time someone tends to update their page; it would show up in a feed prompting the others to check on it. Since all the posts are public, there is no choice of restricting viewing the same. The purpose, according to its inventor, was to connect members of the same school.

Privacy – A Matter of Concern

An expert had informed BBC that the lack of privacy was a matter of concern. School members could view each other’s profiles once the individual school had reached a registration of 20 members and above. Users above the age of 21 were only capable of viewing their own profiles according to the Tech Crunch website. But the app has cautioned that it cannot guarantee if all its users seem to be sincere. It states that they cannot confirm that people who tend to claim to go to a certain school really go to that school and all videos uploaded to your profile tend to be fully public content.

There is no messaging functionality forLifestage, though users could display their contact details from the other sites like Snapchat and Instagram. Presently on the iTunes store, the app has a 2.5 star rating with comments which describe it as `kinda sorta creepy’ and `confusing’. Around 8% of Facebooks’ US users seem to be between the ages of 13 to 19, according to the statistics website Statista which had been designed by a 19 year old, Facebook product manager, Michael Sayman.

Being Open Could Get in the Way of Getting Connected 

He had mentioned in a Facebook post that the app had been based on the original social network of early days. Way back in 2004, Facebook had been about `who I am’ where his relationship status could be posted and share about his favourite music. It was a way of expressing himself. Presently since Facebook has progressed so much more, there are chances of exploring that concept of `who I am’ once again, though for Generation Z in 2016. Dr Bernie Hogan from Oxford Internet Institute had informed BBC that the absence of privacy settings could tend to be unpopular.

He commented that the `lack of privacy settings on the app in its present condition is symbolic of Facebook ideology which is to stay open and connected as much as possible’.He further added that from their point of view it is a great idea though at times being open could get in the way of getting connected. This is already a known fact, since people tend to be reluctant in sharing things online if they have to share it with all. It also seems that they are attempting in pushing the boundaries of what is thought to be appropriate to share online and then walk back when faced with public criticism.

Two New PlayStations Could Signal Major Change in Console Industry

Sony’s Release of Two Model of PlayStation

Wall Street Journal’s report has shown that early next month, Sony would be releasing two models of PlayStation which will be a high-end model having improved graphics together with latest version of the standard model of console. Images of a thinner console with PlayStation 4 branding from someone claiming to have the new device, had been published by Verge. On Forums at the gaming site of NeoGAF, others have also posted same photos demanding to show the latest PlayStation model.

No immediate respond to request for comments on the rumours has been provided by Sony. Nonetheless the company had confirmed that it has been working on an updated PlayStation which has been code-named Project Neo. However the report of Wall Street Journal seems to be the first indication that the firm is intending two models in the near future.

It is not known whether the images which had been published by the Verge and on the forums could be two separate models or if either of them could be the Project Neo model. However if Sony intends to do as suggested in the report by Wall Street Journal release of two models, it would be utilising the same game plan like its arch-rival Microsoft, in its gaming world.

Microsoft’s Xbox One S

Microsoft had made an announcement in June of a slimmer version of the Xbox One, known as the Xbox One S, which is presently on sale. It is said that the company, had confirmed at the same time that it would be releasing next year, a much powerful version of the Xbox, known as Project Scorpio. The PlayStation 4 as well as Xbox One had first hit the market in 2013, three years back.

These companies generally tends to wait at least for a period of five years for the release of new hardware and shorter the break between totally latest models annoys some consumers who had dropped to around $400 on the latest console some years back.

However, in the case of Sony and Microsoft, the new models have provided the firm with an opportunity in capitalizing on technologies which have become more conventional in the past. The Xbox One S, for instance is said to be compatible with 4K video, offering a super high-resolution image, while Scorpion tends to support full 4K gaming. Neo is said to rumour to be 4K compatible but Sony has not provided any details before the launch of the console.

New Consoles – Higher Quality Experience for Virtual Reality

With the provision of devices which can stream 4K video, seems vital for Sony and Microsoft. The overall market has developed for gaming in the past few years. Both the companies have been attempting to capitalize on huge prospective audience which is done by promoting their consoles as a valuable entertainment device for the complete family instead of only dedicated video game performers.

Their attempts comprise of supporting as well as starting streaming video service. Nonetheless the new consoles are also expected to provide a much higher quality experience for virtual reality that has attracted the attention of the game developers and is anticipated to be a foremost focus for the next stage of gaming.

Get Your Photos Looking Better on Facebook

Facebook Compress Images – Appear Smaller in Size

If one tends to use Facebook, they would possibly upload an image at some point of time and though Facebook is good for sharing, it is also inclined to use some pretty callous compression which seems to make your images appear like crap. Having a large source of photos on the Web, it is not amazing that Facebook tends to hire heavy compression to its 250 billion images they have a tendency to store. Facebook is enormous and millions of images tend to get uploaded to Facebook daily which could be a great amount of data for them store.

Hence, in order to lighten the burden, Facebook is inclined to compress these images which make them appear smaller in size but it could also ruin the quality of the image. Usually when an image tends to pass around the internet, downloaded or re-uploaded and shared to a group of different services, it could turn out to be offensive. Facebook is said to mechanically resize image that are uploaded to the site though one can change it in the settings of their account. The user should be aware that uploading bigger image file would take up extra data and if one is on a metered plan, from your carrier, they need to keep a tab on their monthly outgoings.

Lossy Compression – Condense Size of File

The dominant photo file format, JPG, tends to utilise a form of `lossy’ compression, which means that it tosses out image data in order to condense the size of the file. If one has even toyed around with `Quality’ slider in Photoshop one would possible comprehend the compromise in the size of the file as well as image fidelity.

The revealing signs of JPG compression are `Blocky’ looking segments of an image, especially around edge detail or rise in colour. The compression is mainly obvious when a graphic is said to have hard edges like white type against a classified background. When one saves a JPG you should resave a JPG (when Facebook tends to convert your image on their server, and these compression artifacts seem to be more prominent. Uploading images over Wi-Fi connection tends to be faster and cheaper unless the user is on a slow network together with a data allowance. If the user has been using the Facebook app on Android phone, he could go to your news feed page and tap on the `More’ button which seems like three horizontal lines, towards the top of the screen.

You could scroll down on the list of icons to Help & Settings area and opt for App Settings, tap the button next to Upload HD Photos. Utilising the iPhone version of Facebook app, you could tap the three-lined `More’ button at the bottom of the screen, tap Settings and opt for Account Settings in the menu which tends to pop up. In the category list in Settings, tap Videos and Photos.

On the next screen which appears, go under `Photo Settings’ and turn on the button near `Upload HD’. In order to have your photos looking their best, the Help Centre at the site recommend to size them to widths of 720 pixels, 960 pixels or 2,048 pixels along with HD Photos setting support. With the HD Photo setting activated, some bigger images will not appear in full resolution since Facebook tends to have a maximum width of 2,048 pixels for normal pictures.

Should You Charge Your Phone Overnight?

Recurrent Charging – Toll on Lithium-Ion Batteries in Phone

Is overnight charging of your phone a good idea? There seems to be a short as well as a long answer to this query as The New York Times had recently discovered. If the user seems to be the type of a person who tends to change phones every two years or so, it would possibly not make much difference to the battery life of the phone if left to be charged overnight. According to experts, these people are not aware of the damage done to their phone batteries when they need a new device.

Edo Campos, a spokesman for Anker states that recurrent charging tends to take a toll on the lithium-ion batteries in the phone and it is not because they have been overcharged which produces phone charger. Smartphones seems to be smart and know when to stop charging. Android phones and iPhone are said to be furnished with chips which tend to guard them from absorbing extra electrical current once they are completely charged. Any damage due to overnight charging of the phone with an official charger or an off-brand charger should be insignificant. However, the act of charging is itself considered to be bad for the battery of the phone.

Charging Fast - Limits Life Span of Battery

Most of the phones tend to utilise technology which enables their batteries to receive more current faster. The founder, chief scientist and chief technical officer of the wireless charging company Ossia, Hatem Zeine has informed that the technology permits phones to regulate the amount of charge which a charger has the potential of providing. The technology is said to permit power to pulse in the battery in specific modulation, increasing the speed where the lithium ions in the battery tend to travel from one side to the other thus causing the battery to charge much more quickly.

However, this procedure inclines to also lead lithium-ion batteries to disintegrate quickly than they would otherwise.Mr Zeine informs that when you charge fast all the time, you are likely to limit the life span of the battery. Mr Seine advises that if one considers preserving a lithium-ion battery beyond the lifetime of the phone or tablet they could use a charger which is meant for a less powerful device but he does not guarantee that it would work.

Temperature Beyond 95°F – Permanently Damage Battery Capacity

He adds that if one utilises an iPhone charger on an iPad Pro, for instance, it would charge very slowly. If the electronics seems right, they could actually preserve the battery since one is always charging it slowly. Mr Campos advises that individuals who are keen on preserving their batteries should ensure that their phones do not get overheated since high temperatures could further stimulate the lithium-ion in the batteries which could lead to faster deterioration.

Apple’s website has mentioned that the temperatures beyond 95 degrees Fahrenheit could permanently cause damage to the battery capacity.Mr Zeine and Mr Campos have both noted that considering the continuous demand for new cell phones, charging them overnight may not be a matter of great concern for several people.

 Mr Campos quoting a 2015 Gallup survey which showed that 44% of smartphone users intended to upgrade their devices as soon as their providers permitted it, generally after a couple of years, the length of time it takes for batteries to show signs of wear, had mentioned that all this actually does not make much of a difference for the consumers.

Google Duo Makes Video Calling Between Operating Systems Easier

Google’s Duo – Video Calling App

For years, Apple and Google had been competing with each other for dominance over mobile users, with Apple submitting its greater devices such as the iPhone. Google on the other hand had battled back with its Android operating system together with a sequence of mobile apps which seemed to quite flexible and well-matched with broader set of devices than the apps of Apple.

Recently, Google had featured that strategy with the release of its new mobile app, the Duo, a video calling app which is said to be a direct substitute to the FaceTime of Apple. The app tends to fit precisely in the playbook in mobile of Google.

Google had progressively provided its software as well as internet service comprising of Google Maps, Google Docs and Google Photos to iPhone users and all these apps had been convincing substitute to the proprietary apps of Apple such as Apple Maps, Photos and Notes since they tend to function on a broader variety of devices inclusive of Macs, Android devices, Windows PCs and iPhones.

FaceTime can only be utilised to call others having the Apple devices though Duo enable the user to place video calls between Android as well as iPhone users and substantially increases the number of people with whom one intends to have a video discussion.

Great Product/Increase Use of Video Calling with Android Users

Google had mentioned in a statement in an indirect shot at Apple that one should not have to worry about whether your call can connect or if your friend is utilising the same type of device one is using. It is no wonder that almost half of U.S. adults do not make video calls on mobile.

All this encouraged the strategy of Google in attracting iPhone users over to Android. It is said that Google’s apps usually tends to operate better on Android devices than the iPhones and hence more users seem to get hooked on the core apps of Google with less reason for being loyal to Apple.

The head of communication products, Nick Fox had stated that the top priority with Duo was to create a great product and to increase the use of video calling with Android users. However he adds that making the Android much more attractive than the iPhone owners had been a secondary motive. He informs that the appeal of Duo was that it seemed to be simple to use, was fast and much more extensively accessible.

Switching – Android to iPhone – Highest

He commented saying that their view is video calling and should work for all. If one can only call half the people they know, that is very limiting. Apple does not seem to be concerned by the moves of Google.

When the falling sales last month had been reported by the iPhone maker, Timothy D. Cook, chief executive of Apple had highlighted that the rate where people were switching from Android-based devices to iPhone had been the highest the company had ever seen.

He had mentioned in a call without revealing the precise figure that their year-to-date iPhone sales to switchers were the greatest they have seen in any nine-month period. A spokeswoman of Apple had refrained from commenting beyond the comments of Mr Cook.