Twitter first launched Spaces in November 2020 as an attempt to eclipse Clubhouse’s success with its own version of audio-centric chatrooms — but the ability to actually host a Space was limited to Twitter users with 600 followers or more. Now, almost one year later, Twitter is finally giving all of its users the ability … Read more
Facebook Messenger’s augmented reality effects are no longer limited to individuals. The social media company has introduced a Group Effects feature that, as the name implies, enables AR effects for everyone in a video call. Some of the 70-plus effects are just for giggles (such as giving everyone a beard), but others are shared experiences … Read more
The long-lost Apple VideoPad 2 prototype is going up for auction in November as part of a History of Science and Technology auction by Bonhams, an international auction house, in Los Angeles. The VideoPad will be auctioned alongside other Apple prototypes and Steve Jobs memorabilia and is estimated to sell between $8,000 and $12,000. Developed … Read more
Spotify might have a much wider video podcast selection in the near future. In July last year, it debuted the video podcast format for select originals, but now it’s opening up access to the option to more people who want to launch their own. Creators can now apply to have their video podcasts published on … Read more
The ongoing global chip shortage is going to be a problem for a lot longer, according to Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, who reiterated today ahead of the company’s Q3 earnings that he expects the shortage to extend until at least 2023. “We’re in the worst of it now; every quarter next year, we’ll get incrementally … Read more
Sony is finally releasing an Uncharted movie after trying to make one for over a decade. If you need more evidence that the film actually exists beyond a snap of Tom Holland in Nathan Drake’s classic attire, here’s the first trailer. Even though Holland plays a much younger version of the character (which Mark Wahlberg’s Sully … Read more
While Instagram and Facebook face increased scrutiny on how they manage their teenage audience, Snap is taking steps to ensure a safer experience for its youngest users by working on a set of family safety tools. In an interview this week on WSJ Tech Live (via TechCrunch), CEO Evan Spiegel spoke of his vision for … Read more
Your iPhone has a a hidden weather map that tells you exactly where it’s going to rain. It’s also possible to scroll along the time of the day, so you can see when the rain will be at its worst in your local area. Apple’s Weather app hasn’t always been brilliant – and has occasionally … Read more
American tech heavyweights are facing yet more scrutiny of their payment practices. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has ordered Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, PayPal and Square to hand over info concerning their payment system plans. The bureau wants to learn how these companies harvest data and control access to spot any anti-consumer behavior and provide … Read more
Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone — better known as ConcernedApe — has announced his second game: ConcernedApe’s Haunted Chocolatier, which looks to expand on the Stardew Valley formula with a more fantastical setting and “magical haunted ghost chocolate.” “In this game, you will play as a chocolatier living in a haunted castle. In order to … Read more