Snapchat finally recovers from its redesign — so here comes an Android update
Snapchat's drop in users after launching a controversial redesign has finally stagnated. During the fourth quarter and 2018 earnings report, Snapchat shared that the company is rolling out an Android update designed to increase performance. The company's finances have also improved in the fourth quarter.
New software allows GoPro Fusion to capture Google Street View
Thanks to a new software program, the GoPro Fusion can now capture footage for Google Street View. Panoskin TrailBlazer is a new program that uses the Fusion GPS to map footage onto Google Street View. Panoskin is approved by Google for the Street View program, the only U.S.-based company on the list.
Facebook’s long-promised ‘unsend’ feature arrives. Here’s how to use it
Did you send a message to the wrong person? Messenger now gives you 10 minutes to take it back. After an update, users can now retract messages if they act within the first 10 minutes of sending the message. Users will see that a message was removed from the conversation.
Crouching, climbing, and creeping, the perfect Instagram shot knows no bounds
Just how far will you go for the perfect Instagram? A recent survey shows just how willing Instagram users -- and Instagram husbands -- are to climb, lie down, or let their food go cold for the perfect shot. With the survey, Adobe also launched a video as a tribute to Instagram husbands.
Quit saying ‘say cheese’: 7 portrait photography tips for beginners
The phrase "say cheese" is more cringe-worthy than smile-worthy. Learn how to get genuine smiles, along with six other portrait photography tips in this guide. From finding good light to creating a flattering pose, these tips are easy enough for even newbies to try.
Periscope tool adds guests to feeds so streamers can become talk show hosts
Periscope users can now invite viewers to chime into the conversation with more than just the comment tool. By enabling the option to add guests, livestreamers can add guests to the conversation, in audio format only. The tool allows up to three guests to be added to the livestream.
Photography News: Filters for cutting light pollution, $10K photo scholarship
In this week's photography news, meet the latest filter from Irix, designed to cut out some city light pollution by filtering out the yellow from sodium lamps. See the latest artificial intelligence feature coming to ON1 Photo RAW. Apply for a $10K scholarship from Nikon. And see Leica's latest special edition.
Facebook plans ‘major improvements’ as platforms grow to 2.7 billion users
Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger now have an estimated 2.7 billion users -- and Facebook is making big plans. During the end of year conference call to investors, CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared the company's plans for expansion in 2019, including new 'major' features.
Teens, young adults willingly shared private data with Facebook for cash
Would you willingly share data like private messages with Facebook in exchange for $20 a month? A Facebook Research app does just that. After a report questioned the app's data collection, Apple removed the iOS app, while an Android version appears to remain available through beta testing platforms.
GoPro Plus will now stash all your videos in unlimited cloud storage
GoPro's $5 subscription service just got better. Now, GoPro Plus includes unlimited video and photo storage, along with a higher discount on mounts and accessories. The program automatically stores photos and videos to the cloud from Wi-Fi equipped GoPros.
Snapchat reportedly toys with the idea of making its snaps permanent
Snapchat could soon make public posts last forever. According to Reuters, the company is considering extending the lifespan of public posts shared in Our Story to make snaps more easily shareable outside the app. The change would not affect private posts shared only with friends on the app.
The Nikon Z7, Z6 just got a little sweeter with up to $400 off with a trade-in
The Nikon Z7 and Z6 offer full-frame mirrorless performance mixed with a wide selection of Nikkor optics -- but as new releases, the deals are hard to find. That's changing with a new trade-in deal from Nikon with $200 off the Z6 or $400 off the Z7 in addition to the camera's trade-in value.
Always the underdog, Olympus engineers show they can play with the alphas
The Olympus OM-D E-M1X encompasses several company firsts -- a 7.5 stop stabilization system, artificially intelligent autofocus for motorsports, and a built-in battery grip. But what, exactly, went into making the E-M1X. Learn from the Olympus developers that designed the camera.
Photography News: Samsung’s new smartphone sensor is the smallest one yet
Samsung's latest smartphone sensor is their smallest one yet -- and it still packs in 20 megapixels and Tetracell technology. In this week's photography news, see just how small the sensor is, take a look at an odd, outside-the-box camera backpack, and check out a new budget lens for the Nikon Z and Canon RF.
Facebook is shutting down its Moments photo app because nobody knew it existed
Facebook Moments will soon join the list of Facebook's failed apps. The app, which was designed for a more private photo sharing using facial recognition, will be shutting down on February 25. Users have until May to download any photos they want to save from the platform before losing any privately uploaded files.
Dropbox adds time-stamped comments for video and audio file collaboration
Working with a team on a video or audio file? Dropbox will now allow you to add comments to a specific time in the video or audio file. The update also comes with improved options for working with video, like playback thumbnails. The new media options are rolling out today on iOS and the web, with Android to follow.
Pinterest makeup searches can soon be customized by skin tone
Browsing Pinterest for new makeup or hair ideas? You can soon customize the results based on skin tone. After testing the tool last year, Pinterest will soon roll out palettes to narrow search results related to hair and makeup only. Pinterest says the update is coming to iOS in the next few weeks.
Olympus shooters will soon have 1,000mm lenses and wireless flash capability
The Olympus family is about to gain longer lenses and a native wireless flash system. Olympus announced the development of the M.Zukio Digital ED 150-400mm F/4.5 TC1.25x IS Pro, as well as the new FL-700WR and wireless flash commander system. The announcement also comes with a special edition E-M1 Mark II.
Olympus OM-D E-M1X review
The OM-D E-M1X is Olympus' most professional camera yet, and it apparently bends the laws of physics. Olympus previously claimed that 6.5 stops of shake reduction was a theoretical limit for image stabilization. The E-M1X pushes that up to 7.5 stops when paired with a compatible lens.
Twitter shares sneak peek at simpler, less cluttered design with new features
Twitter shared a sneak peek of an upcoming redesign of its website, showing a less cluttered design with a handful of new features. The update brings keyboard and emoji shortcuts, improved search, and a two-column layout. The Twitter team is also working on an updated dark mode for the mobile app.
Here are the best selfie cameras on the market, according to DxOMark
DxOMark, the company known for testing cameras, is now extending its smartphone analysis to include the front-facing camera. The Selfie ranking will be kept separate from the overall mobile score. The company says the testing process involves more than 1,500 images and two hours of video.
Facebook just added a petition tool. What could possibly go wrong?
Facebook now has a petition tool called Community Action. Facebook Community Actions allow users to create or support a cause, as well as sharing or following that petition. But is the feature just asking for trouble on a network already plagued by fake news and fake accounts?
Photography news: Careful, self-driving cars can ruin your camera sensor
In this week's photography news, learn how self-driving cars destroyed a digital camera via lasers. Find out how many patents Canon filed for in 2018. Learn what Tamron lenses are available for the Nikon Z6, and how Facebook is sharing its compression algorithms with other developers.
Nearly a million Facebook users followed these fake Russian accounts
Facebook purged two groups behind more than 500 fake accounts with Russian ties. The group says that the accounts were removed for coordinated inauthentic behavior. One group had ties to Russian news agency Sputnik, while the other had behavior similar to the Internet Research Agency's midterm actions.
Olympus teaser shares glimpse of OM-D camera that’s good for more than sports
Is Olympus about to release a new mirrorless camera geared toward sports photographers? The latest teaser offers a glimpse of an upcoming OM-D camera set to launch on January 24. The first teaser shows the camera in use at several different sporting events with telephoto optics.
Nearly 75 percent of U.S. users don’t realize Facebook tracks their interests
Did you know Facebook tracks your interests, including political and multicultural affiliations? According to a Pew study, 74 percent of adult users in the U.S. have no idea Facebook keeps a running list of your interests based on online behavior. Here's what Facebook knows about you -- and how to limit that tracking.
Sony crams its best camera tech into the new $900 A6400
Love Sony's autofocus, but can't stomach the full-frame price? The Sony A6400 mirrorless camera uses some of the same autofocus technology and the processor of the A9 in a compact, more affordable crop-sensor camera. The camera boasts one of the fastest autofocus speeds yet, Sony says.
Authentic, holistic, retro photography is in: Here are 2019’s predicted trends
The imagery we are drawn to and search for can illustrate where we stand as a society, and predicting what will trend is important for creatives to stay ahead of the curve. According to recent stock photography data, authentic and humanitarian images will be in high demand in 2019.
A quick swipe will soon let you keep bingeing YouTube on mobile devices
The YouTube mobile app has a new faster way to browse -- by swipe. Once the update rolls out, users can swipe to go to the next (or previous) video in the recommended list, even while viewing in full screen. The update, YouTube says, was in development for two years, including beta testing.
Invite your friends — Facebook Events can now be shared to Stories
Facebook is testing a way to make plans with friends to attend an event -- through Stories. By sharing an event in Facebook Stories, users can message other friends interested in the event to make plans to attend together. The feature is currently in testing in the U.S., Mexico, and Brazil.
From 11K to just OK: The biggest photo gear announcements at CES 2019
From 11K cameras to 1 TB media cards, CES 2019 brought a peek at new gear for photographers and videographers. But what photography gear grabbed our attention the most? Here are the biggest photo gear announcements at CES 2019, from the completely expected to the biggest surprises.
Lexar’s latest SDXC card keeps you shooting with 1 TB of storage
Shoot large files at high capacity? Lexar's latest SDXC memory card will fit a terabyte of storage inside your camera. The Lexar SD card is part of the company's Professional 633x series. That higher capacity will come at a cost, however, the card retails for about $500.