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Dropbox's 100GB file-transfer feature is out of beta
This summer, Dropbox introduced a new feature called Transfer as a private beta. The goal was to solve a longstanding issue with sharing files via Dropbox. For years, users have been able to share files, but changes made to the file on either the sending or receiving end would sync. That was great for collaborating, but it was less than ideal for, say, sharing files with a client. Transfer aims to solve that, and now, it's available to all users.
Spotify lets you add 15-second song clips to Facebook Stories
Beginning today, Spotify will let users share 15-second clips of Spotify songs on their Facebook Stories. If followers tap on the preview, they'll be transferred to Spotify, where they can listen to the rest of the track. The change is geared toward musicians, and Spotify calls it "a more powerful way to connect with fans." But anyone will be able to use the new feature.
Google added a share button to search results
How many times have you been asked something so incredibly straightforward that the effort of asking the question likely far surpasses the effort involved in just Googling it in the first place? Probably at least once or twice, hence the existence of LMGTFY. Until now there was no particularly easy way of directly sharing search results, but Google's working on that.
Netflix tests an Instagram-style scrolling feed in its mobile app
One of Netflix's biggest challenges is helping users discover content. To address that, it's testing an Instagram-like scrolling feed that will show trailers, photos and alerts for shows and movies. The feature also encourages users to share those posts on third-party apps.
Chrome cleans up messy URLs when you share from your phone
Google keeps making the web easier to use with its Chrome browser, from filtering ads on the desktop to getting rid of pop-ups and redirects on Android. The company just made sharing messy URLs nicer, too, thanks to the latest version of Chrome on mobile, v64. Now when you grab a long, complicated web address, Chrome will trim off the unnecessary bits from the end. That way, you won't muck up a chat with a whole bunch of personal tracking info at the end of an Amazon link, for example.
Snapchat tweaks increase sharing and privacy
Snapchat added a couple features to its iOS version today, along with a quality-of-life tweak. First, you can now send links from other apps to your Snapchat friends using iOS's 'share' tray. And second, you can now temporarily turn off location sharing with the new 'Ghost Mode' for a few hours, a whole day or until you close the app.
Vysor allows you to mirror multiple Android devices
Google developer, Koush, announced an update to his popular device mirroring app Vysor on Thursday that will enable users to share multiple Android screens to a PC, Linux or Mac simultaneously and then grant remote access to the device farm. The new "Share All" feature works just like the original Vysor Share: you plug the Android into the computer via a USB cable, install the visor app and activate it to mirror the Android screen to the computer. However, Share All takes that process a step further by allowing the user to link multiple handsets to a computer and then use it as a shared server which multiple people can remotely access.
Audible wants you to share audiobook passages like Vine clips
The next time you discover a notable passage in an audiobook, Audible wants you to share it among your friends like you would a meme or Vine clip. The audiobook company announced a Clips feature today, a tool that allows you to select a short passage or excerpt to download for future listening. The feature also lets you share the snippet of audio via social channels, email and text message. In the Audible app, just tap the Clips icon when you hear something you want to save or share. The software will then let you select up to 45 seconds of audio. And yes, you can make edits should the need arise.
Driveclub update adds photo mode, three new tracks
Evolution Studios updated Driveclub yesterday, adding a photo mode option as well as three new tracks. Players can now press the right side of the DualShock 4 controller's touch pad to enable photo mode, then use the system's sharing features to send their pretty car screenshots across the web. Driveclub's three new tracks, which include reversed variants, are located at Yedapalli in India, Los Pelambres in Chile and Wester Ross in Scotland. The developer posted the patch notes to Driveclub's official Facebook page. The update also added support for two upcoming expansions, the Ignition Expansion Pack and Photo-Finish Tour Pack. Both pieces of DLC will launch on November 25 in North America. Driveclub's latest update featured changes to corner and collision penalties as well as corner cutting "for balancing purposes." In addition to new menu and club functionality, the update also introduced "a number of minor bug fixes, performance improvements and usability tweaks." Driveclub has been plagued with server connectivity and performance issues since its October launch. [Image: SCEA]
Report: PS4 Share Play caps at 720p for guests
The PlayStation 4's latest update, codenamed "Masamune," adds a major feature, Share Play, to the console today. PlayStation Plus members can now share their games over PSN with friends that don't own a copy (and aren't necessarily PS Plus subscribers themselves unless both are playing), hosting one-hour play sessions at a time. As a Sony rep confirmed to Video Gamer, Share Play sessions are capped at 720p and will "have a limited frame rate" for friends partaking in the action, while those hosting the game will still see 1080p games on their screens at the full resolution. SCEE product planning manager Kazuhiro Yanase said that while Share Play "doesn't require any super-fast broadband," the company won't disclose recommended upload and download speeds for those looking to share games sessions with friends over PSN. "The internet environment is really different user by user. For example, some users will be using a LAN cable, some users will be using Wi-Fi, sometimes you use the microwave in your house," Yanase told Video Gamer. "It's very difficult for us to guarantee you can use Share Play if you have [a certain] speed." Today's update also adds the ability to play music from a USB device with support for MP3 and AAC file types. The Masamune update introduces YouTube as an option for gameplay clip uploading as well as home screen themes. We've reached out to Sony to confirm the Share Play restrictions and will update as we learn more. [Image: Sony]
PS4 sharing expands with YouTube uploads this year
Sony will add YouTube to its list of broadcast options via the DualShock 4's Share button on PS4, SCEA President Shawn Layden announced during the company's E3 2014 press conference today. Not only will players be able to upload clips directly to YouTube, but they will have the option to both live-stream gameplay and chat to the platform. Additionally, Sony will update the PS4's broadcasting options to allow spectators to further interact with streamers to a fairly strong extent: "You can help them, you can hurt them," Layden said of future griefing PS4 audiences.
Facebook stops oversharing, defaults status updates to just friends
Previously, when you first joined Facebook, all of your posts would be shared with the world by default. Anyone who stumbled upon your profile could read anything you previously shared, be it a short update or a personal photo, unless you deliberately clicked away from "Public." Now, the social site's switched things up for the better, making "Friends" the new default for status updates. You don't have to do anything to take advantage, but now's as good a time as any to pay very close attention to your Facebook privacy settings. And maybe be a bit more selective when it comes time to add a new friend.
Vudu's 'Share My Movies' lets up to five friends peek into your library
While Ultraviolet digital copies have been pitched as a way to make watching videos online easier, so far they've lead to frustration for many users. A recent incident involving the early release of Veronica Mars for Kickstarter backers was a low point, Apple, Google and Microsoft all have yet to tie their services in, and now Disney is finally rolling out its own Movies Anywhere system. To get back on the positive foot, Walmart's Vudu streaming service is shining a light on Ultraviolet's ability to let users share their library with up to five friends (no, it's not quite as easy as sharing a PS4 game). Now available within Vudu under the title of "Share My Movies" it lets users add friends to their library just by sending an e-mail invite. Ultraviolet supports up to three simultaneous streams, so you can even watch movies at the same time. According to the FAQ, once your Vudu account is linked to another person's library, any TV shows or movies you purchase will be added to that library, so you may want to be careful which ones you add. Done right between a few friends, it can probably add up to a decent online library of movies to watch just from Blu-ray discs and DVDs you already own -- check the blog post for more information.
Perfect World buys into Shanda Games for $100 million
Perfect World Entertainment announced today that it will enter into a share purchase agreement with rival Chinese MMO company Shanda Games Limited for 30 million shares valued at $100 million. The purchase is expected to finalize in 30 days. Shanda Games publishes over 20 MMOs for the Chinese market, including Aion, Luvinia Online, and Final Fantasy XIV. This proposed agreement, as well as agreements with other top companies, would put the total value of Shanda at around $1.9 billion.
Japan gets Niconico PS4 streaming on April 30
PlayStation 4 owners in Japan will have the option to stream gameplay to Niconico, a site that lets users upload, view and share video clips, starting April 30, Sony announced (as translated by Gematsu). Those visiting the Nico Nico Super Conference 3 on April 26 and April 27 will be able to test the streaming functionality in person before it arrives via firmware update. While the two updates may not be related, the upcoming 1.70 firmware for the console brings the ability to save videos and screenshots to a USB drive. The PS4 launched in Japan in February, selling 322,083 units in its opening weekend. According to a translation of the Niconico's website, it will begin offering free one-month trials for PS4 users shortly. The streaming service carries a monthly fee of about $5; it is unclear if the service will require a PlayStation Plus subscription as well. [Image: Sony]
Twitter is experimenting again, tries replacing 'retweet' with 'share' button
Twitter can't help itself. If it's not new pictures, tweet views and video previews, then it could be an epoch-defining change to what the social network called one of its core features: retweets. So, it's possibly not a big deal, but in Twitter's latest experiment, it's been changed to 'share' -- terminology closer aligned to its rival, Facebook. For the moment, only a handful of users appear to see the substitute share button and it's appearing in both the Android and iOS apps. At the same time, and probably unrelated, a new design to profile pages inside mobile apps has also appeared, with a not-so-faint Facebook vibe. Take a look after the break, and if you're one of the chosen few, let us know your thoughts on either experiment in the comments.
Twitch hits 1M broadcasters per month, takes over corporate name
This Justin: Twitch Interactive has replaced Justin.tv, Inc. as the company's corporate umbrella name, though Justin.tv remains a product under the primary Twitch brand. Twitch, a video streaming service focused on games, recently reached 1 million monthly active broadcasters, 45 million monthly viewers and an average of 13 billion minutes watched per month. Viewers watch an average of 106 minutes per person per day, Twitch reports. At least you kept your New Year's resolution to watch less Netflix. The spike in broadcasters and viewers comes from Twitch's PS4 integration, the company says: "Less than two months after the console launched, 20 percent of Twitch broadcasters were PS4 owners." Twitch is on its way to Xbox One as well. We're personally included in Twitch's monthly numbers report, with our live Joystiq Streams series on the Joystiq channel, plus some streaming our personal channels. [Image: Twitch]
Best of the Rest: Mike's picks of 2013
Team Joystiq is barging into 2014 with a celebration of last year's best games. Keep reading throughout the week to see our assembly of ingenious indies and triple-A triumphs. FIFA 14 Regardless of any indicator that 2013 was a "tune-up" year for EA Canada's ongoing soccer sim series, FIFA 14 arguably remains the best sports gaming has to offer for another year. Retaining the elements of unpredictability with the game's ball physic, introduced in FIFA 13, the developer improved teammate AI and slowed the game's pace to force more deliberate, tactical on-field play. The result couldn't be any clearer in the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game, which saw significant improvements graphically, particularly in the crowd's character models. While it may not be a top-ten game of the year, FIFA 14 was easily one of the most enjoyable.
Sweden fines pirate $650,000 for illegally sharing a single film
Sure, it's no Somalia, but Sweden's been fighting plenty of its own battles against piracy -- of the digital variety. The former home of Pirate Bay, the infamous online repository for everything the RIAA and MPAA stand against, has just fined an unnamed 28-year-old man 4.3 million krona (about $650,000) for uploading a single film to a torrent site. Granted, an anti-piracy group called Rights Alliance described the man as the country's "worst ever" pirate, according to a BBC report, so just because this fine covers only one film, he's likely responsible for ripping off plenty more. In fact, the same court that assigned the fine also convicted the man of sharing 517 other flicks -- that charge brought a rather tame punishment, including a suspended jail sentence and 160 hours of community service.
PS4's share button clicked 10.9 million times [Update]
The Cher share button on players' DualShock 4 controllers has been pressed 10.9 million times according to Sony, which revealed some impressive numbers behind its PS4 livestreaming services today. For starters, Twitch and Ustream have hosted nearly 800,000 gameplay streams and over 7.1 million spectator sessions on the home console since its launch. Sony says that ten percent of all Twitch-broadcasted content has come from PS4 systems since its US launch on November 15, based on the average number of minutes broadcast. That adds up to 20 million minutes of live broadcasting from the console, the length of 21,808.66 consecutive spins of Cher's entire discography. Additionally, PS4 Ustream broadcasts average 31 minutes in length, enough time to listen to "Heart of Stone" 7.35 times. Though let's be honest, we could croon "wish your heart was a heart of stone" much longer than that, but we really don't think we're strong enough. The livestreaming figures follow last week's announcement that over 2.1 million PS4 systems have been sold globally. Once new PS4 owners start to unwrap their new consoles over the holidays, this gameplay broadcasting beat will only go on. Update: Additionally, Twitch told Joystiq that the number of broadcasters using its services increased over 100,000 in the month of November since the launch of the PS4, up from around 600,000 in October.
