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Path expands API access, now supports WordPress and other hand-picked apps
Path has previously limited its third-party app integration to the Nike+ platform, but the company just opened its doors a little wider. App developers can now ask for permission to use Path's sharing API, which they'll get if Path sees such apps as a logical fit. To get the ball rolling, the social network has already granted access to 13 partners that include WordPress, Strava Cycling and a bevy of smaller image services. Only some of these developers can send app content to Path as of this writing, but the rest should support the API in the weeks ahead.
Path opens up its API to a baker's dozen of partners
The Path (free, with many in-app purchases for stickers and whatnot) social network has opened the doors to 13 new API partners that will now sport a "Share on Path" button in their apps. Path's integration initially started with Nike, giving users a way to share their runs and fitness levels through Path. VP of Business Development for Path Matt Van Horn told our sister site, TechCrunch, that the company curated the list of partners to fit its goal of being a more personal and almost private social network. The company found that users felt more comfortable sharing the Nike fitness information with their smaller friend group on Path than they did sharing the same data on Facebook or Twitter. The range of new partners is quite broad, including social video network Viddy, collage app Pic Stitch and personal fitness app Strava. The Bible app was added after Path found that a number of users were copying and sharing verses with their Path friends; now it takes just a simple tap on the app's share sheet. Other photography apps that now feature Path API integration include Over, PicMix, Papelook, Otaku, Mill Colour, Manga Camera and PicFrame. WordPress bloggers will also find that it's now easy to share their most recent posts on Path, thanks to API integration in the popular blogging app.
Path comes to Kindle Fire HD, proves stickers are inflammable
Life-sharing service Path has had a rollercoaster of a year. When it wasn't spamming its userbase's contacts, it was uploading their personal information without consent. That doesn't seem to be slowing down its rate of expansion, though -- there aren't many mobile ecosystems where you can't find the stylized P. Starting today, we can add another platform to that burgeoning list, as the app is out on Kindle Fire HD. Now that it's available on the 7-inch, 8.9-inch WiFi and 8.9-inch 4G tablets, everyone with the shopping giant's other hardware foray can slap stickers wherever they may be.
The Daily Roundup for 07.12.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Path's Windows Phone beta app on the Lumia 1020 hands-on (video)
Today's 41 Million Reasons event was all about the hardware -- and, to a lesser extent, proprietary software -- so it's no surprise that third-party app developers weren't exactly front and center. Nokia did give them a little more time after the show, however, with tables stationed around Lumia 1020 demos. We used the opportunity to take a gander at a beta version of Path's forthcoming Windows Phone app, which the company was, naturally, showing off on Nokia's hot new offering. And there's no question why, really, as this version takes plenty of advantage of the Lumia's photo focus. The app also takes some visual cues from Microsoft's mobile operating system. On the phone's homescreen, Path's tile offers a number, cluing you in to how many new posts you've got. Fire it up, and you'll get your feed, as with Android and iOS, including photos, videos, check-ins and the like. Swipe to the right and the app uses the Windows Pivot navigation to take you to tiles with pending friend requests and your existing friends. As for Nokia exclusives, the company's early access to handset maker's imaging SDK brings 50 additional filters for pictures. The app is scheduled for the "coming months". In the meantime, you can check out a video demo below. Check out all the news from today's Nokia event at our hub!
Path partners with Nokia to bring app to Lumia 1020, 'all Windows Phones'
After months of anticipation, Path is finally bringing its social network to the Windows Phone, and it's starting with the Nokia Lumia 1020. The app, which is still in the works and hasn't been assigned a launch date, will take advantage of the company's new imaging SDK and its plethora of photo filters. Although the main focus of Path's announcement was centered on the new Lumia, it also mentioned that the app will indeed come to "all Windows Phones." No word on if the launch will occur across the board at the same time (nor if this includes Windows Phone 7.5 or only affects WP8 users) or if it will be featured only on the 1020 at first, but we'll update you as soon as we know. In the meantime, there's a press release for you to digest below the break. Check out all the news from today's Nokia event at our hub!
Path 3.1 brings stickers to comments, uses QR codes for adding friends
Stickers, stickers everywhere -- that's what'll happen once everyone on your Path friends list updates their app. The newest version for iOS and Android takes cartoony stickers out of private messaging and lets you use them on the comments section of your feed. Additionally, folks on the go can now easily add friends using QR codes the app generates -- new pals need only scan it to approve the request. If that leads to a barrage of new contacts, version 3.1's improved friends list and better landscape and profile navigation on the iPad will help you sort things out. Considering the social network credits stickers as one of the reasons why it's seen significant growth recently, we imagine Path's comments will be populated with smileys and furry creatures in no time.
Hands-on with WildStar's Scientist path and Esper class
There is something exciting about taking your first steps into the mysteries of a new planet. I was anxious to mingle with the locals, analyze artifacts, and even pick a few plants -- that is, until I saw a flower burst from the ground as a giant vine-like beast. As it chewed up the slinky Aurin next to me, I decided to leave the flowers for the next Scientist. So began my hands-on experience with WildStar, the exciting and often comical new MMO from NCsoft and Carbine Studios. The half-day event gave me time to play the Esper class, build some structures on the Settler path, and hurtle myself through the air in the name of science. There is so much to talk about! Except plants. 'Cause allergies. *ahem*
Massively surveys WildStar's Scientist and Settler paths, the Esper class, and the crazy things Jeremy Gaffney says
So who wants to hear some cool stuff about WildStar? Thought so! Massively's Gavin Townsley recently attended a WildStar media event in San Francisco, at which he was treated to a hands-on look at the upcoming sci-fantasy MMORPG's Scientist path and Esper class. He also chatted with Carbine Studios executive producer Jeremy Gaffney, who pulls a Gaffney (I'm coining that) and can't resist leaking a bit of new info about tradeskills while filling Gavin in on how endgame will work, why we should play the Settler path, and whether talent trees are passé. If you think making 10 pairs of cotton space pants sounds boring, then yeah -- you're going to like what he's got to say. Enjoy all three articles plus the brand-new path videos we've embedded past the cut! Hands-on with WildStar's Scientist path and Esper class There is something exciting about taking your first steps into the mysteries of a new planet. I was anxious to mingle with the locals, analyze artifacts, and even pick a few plants -- that is, until I saw a flower burst from the ground as a giant vine-like beast. WildStar's Jeremy Gaffney on the Settler path WildStar's Settlers don't just build bonfires for sappy Explorers to sing around; these titans of construction will save you time in dungeons, establish bigger outposts, and open up new realms of quests for everyone. WildStar's Jeremy Gaffney on progression, tradeskills, and endgame Jeremy Gaffney divulges the beautiful details on essential parts of the game: character progression, tradeskills that don't suck, and life in the elder game.
Path update enhances privacy, removes "find Facebook friends" functionality
This past week, Path made headlines when it was reported that the popular messaging and photo sharing app was aggressively 'recruiting' new users by sending out sign-up invitations via text, and in some cases phone, to users' contact lists. The reason behind the application's ostensibly strange behavior is that the default setting is such that the app reaches out to a user's Facebook friends and asks them to try out Path. Consequently, if users want to avoid spamming their friends, they have to pro-actively toggle the option off. As one might expect, Path wasn't entirely apologetic, noting that the process is meant to simplify the friend-finding process, adding that the app "is really best with friends" and that the company really wants "to help users invite the people that they care about to their Path as quickly as possible." All that said, Path this past Friday updated its app to version 3.0.4. While the app doesn't address the aforementioned default setting, it does include an enhanced privacy setting whereby users are now given the option to remove themselves from global search results. On the flip side, the Path update also includes enhanced tools for finding friends and family who are already on Path via beefed up Twitter and Gmail integration. Interestingly, TechCrunch notes that the 'find my Facebook friends' functionality in Path has now been removed: Facebook's social graph went missing from yesterday's update to Path's smartphone app, and Facebook now confirms it has restricted Path's API access. Path can no longer look up your Facebook friends, which prevents it from sending them invitations or suggesting you follow them. While Path's methods have raised a number of privacy concerns in the past, it doesn't seem to be thwarting the application's success. Recently, Path announced that it had passed the 10 million user threshold.
Path spam mishap brings renewed attention to privacy concerns
It seems that just when Path was emerging from one privacy PR nightmare, another one landed on its doorstep. The day after the company reached 10 million users, The Verge related the story of digital marketer Stephen Kenwright who had an unpleasant experience with the app. Kenwright downloaded the app to his phone, tried it, then removed it. The next morning, he discovered that despite the app being removed, a good many of his contacts had gotten robocalls and texts saying that Kenwright wanted to share items with them through Path. As The Verge explains, the robocalls were an unintended side effect of some phone companies turning texts into voice calls when they're sent to a landline. Kenwright wasn't alone. The Verge documented several more cases of this happening, including a thread at Reddit. After The Verge posted its story, several users chimed in on the comments, saying the same thing had happened to them. Like every time you play a Zynga game, Path will try to make sure you draw in as many of your Facebook contacts as possible. However, the default in this feature is turned on, not off. Path acknowledged that the initial messages were supposed to be sent during the brief time Kenwright had the app installed and not after. But it's this sort of thing that adds one more layer to an already-growing privacy backlash against the service. But until then, if you plan to try Path, double check to make sure you're not accidentally spamming all your contacts in the process.
Path app spamming users' contacts with texts, robocalls
The social messaging app Path recently announced that it's gaining a million users each week, but it may be using some spam-like methods to achieve that growth. Several users -- and several Engadget staffers -- have reported that the app has been sending smartphone contacts unwanted text messages, a problem that was first pinpointed several months ago. Contacts on the receiving end have seen messages stating that a friend wants to share photos with them, with a prompt to sign up for Path's service. According to (former) user Stephen Kenwright, Path has also triggered robocalls to contact lists -- even after uninstalling the app. Last year, the company came under fire for collecting contact info sans users' consent-- leading to an $800,000 settlement with the FTC -- and we imagine this new privacy snafu won't be without consequences, either.
Path app is adding 1 million new registered users a week
It looks like everyone loves stickers, because following its last update, Path is growing -- fast. The social app is now pulling in a million users a week and has recently topped nine million. It's picked up most of its new chroniclers and message-senders from English and Spanish speaking regions, particularly in South and Central America. In fact, 500,000 Venezuelans decided to start trying the app over a single weekend. According to Path's co-founder, Dave Morin, search features added at the start of the year have increased user traffic by 50 percent, while the addition of extra stickers and filter purchases has meant its making its way up the top-grossing charts too. The chief exec adds that the growth appears to be organic, with users largely split equally across iOS and Android, although there's nothing just yet on Google Glass user numbers . [Image credit: Sticker Robot]
Google shows off Glass apps: New York Times, Gmail, Path and more
Google just took some time at SXSW to show off Google Glass, and it's pulled back the curtains on some apps that are currently in the works. As it turns out, Page and Co. have been working with the New York Times to build an application. Just ask for some news and Glass will deliver a headline, a byline, an accompanying image and the number of hours since the article in question was posted. What's more is that users can tap and have the eyewear read the story's text aloud. The duo are also testing a breaking news feature where notifications regarding fresh stories will appear as they're published. Gmail also got some time in the limelight with its very own app. An email sender's image and subject line will appear on the device's screen, and users can reply by dictating their messages. Evernote and Skitch received some love from the folks in Mountain View too, with the ability to send images to the services through Glass' share functionality. Social networking app Path has found its way onto the wearable computing bandwagon as well. Not only do Google's spectacles receive curated updates from the network -- to keep you from being bombarded, of course-- but they allow users to add emoticons to a friend's post and reply with comments. Not impressed? "This is just where we started with a few friends to test the API in its early stage," says Google Glass developer evangelist Timothy Jordan.
Path 3 adds private messaging and stickers, much like your 5th grade binder
Path hasn't held the same grip on social networkers as Facebook or Twitter, in part because it's almost too social -- you can't really control which friends (or friends of friends) see a post. The solution in Path 3.0? Recreate your Trapper Keeper from grade school, apparently. Along with introducing a much-appreciated private messaging system that lets two or more friends share text, maps, media and voice messages, the update lets us slap expressive stickers into the conversation when a basic emoticon just won't do. Of course, that's also how Path hopes to get a few extra bucks: two sticker packs come free, while others lurk in the same shop as custom photo filters. If you just have to tell buddies that Stacey was soooooo gross in chemistry class, you can get Path 3.0 today on iOS, and shortly on Android.
Path settles with the FTC over contact privacy violations
Path was quick to mend its ways after a dust-up over collecting contact information from iOS users without their consent, but it wasn't quick enough to avoid FTC claims of violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. All that is just water under the bridge in the wake of a new settlement. As compensation for collecting contact information from 3,000 children without their parents' permission, Path has agreed to both pay a $800,000 fee and implement a privacy plan that will require audits from an outside party every other year. Consider it a lesson learned for Path and other mobile app firms, which now know that scraping personal data may have unintended consequences.
Path reaches a settlement with the FTC over COPPA violations
Path is paying handsomely for allowing minors under the age of 13 years old to sign up for its service. According to a statement released Friday, Path has settled with the FTC over an alleged violation of the Children's Online Privacy Protections Act (COPPA) involving 3,000 underage accounts. The social network has agreed to pay an US$8,000 fine. It will also establish a privacy program and submit to regular privacy assessments for the next 20 years. This COPPA violation was discovered as part of a bigger investigation following the revelation that Path uploaded iPhone contact information to the service's database without permission. [Via GigaOM]
Path to introduce premium service
Personal journaling social network app Path is to introduce a premium service later this year. That's according to Dave Morin, speaking to TechCrunch. Morin has been tackling what every entrepreneur needs to figure out at some point: "How do we monetize this thing?" He believes making Path into a "freemium" service is the way to go. "We started out by selling some photo filters but that's been a small business. Later in the year we're going be rolling out virtual goods and a premium service in the first half of this year," he told TechCrunch. "A business model is important, but we want to be in a trust relationship with users. Evernote, Spotify and Dropbox have had great success with fermium models... Yammer and Basecamp have always been subscription models – so it's not that different... The friction for converting users to a freemium service is much lower than it has been in the past... We're seeing big numbers in freemium so we guess it's worth a shot. And mobile is driving this." Morin didn't say what a paid-for premium Path service might look like, but he did announce that Path's new search engine has paid off. Since its unveiling, Path traffic is up 40 percent. Path is a free download.
Path 2.9 update introduces contextualized, personalized search (update: now with video)
Many of us enjoy looking through our social network history to reflect on shared memories, and Path is helping users do just that with its latest 2.9 update. Adding a comprehensive search feature that uses metadata in addition to user-defined tags, searching "Photos from Thanksgiving" pulls relevant images even if they didn't have those words in the post. The same concept applies to different days and times, like "sunset" or "weekend brunch." Other contextual categories include friends, places, seasons and the weather. There's also a "Nearby" function that taps into your phone's GPS for moments captured in your immediate vicinity. One particular search that impressed us during a hands-on briefing is the ability to search for "emotions." Similar to the "like" feature in Facebook, Path lets users mark a post with one of five emoticons (smile, frown, laugh, gasp or heart). With the 2.9 update, you can search for all the posts that received a particular emoticon ("funny" searches all the laugh-tagged posts for example). As a little easter egg, if you search for "royal flush," you'll bring up the posts that have received at least one of each emoticon. It's more amusing than useful, but we found it cute nonetheless. The search feature is only in English to start, but the company is planning on additional language support in the future. Check after the break for more screens, or hit the links below to grab the latest version of Path from Google Play and iTunes.
Swordsman Online video demonstrates combat variety
Perfect World's upcoming Swordsman Online is all about combat, combat, and more combat, which means that combat needs to be divine. Today we've been treated to a video demonstrating six of the game's 10 "clans," the fighting styles that players can adopt in their war against high health bars. Within each of those clans are three paths that may be chosen by players at will. While the video doesn't clearly state which clan is on display, it still provides a useful look at Swordsman Online's fights. There is everything from hand-to-hand melee to whirling chains to giant cannons. Because in a game called Swordsman Online, it'd be silly not to have giant cannons firing quarter-ton balls, yes? Check out the video after the break and let us know which style suits you the best!
