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YouTube hopes messaging will keep viewers glued to their screens
When I heard that Google was adding direct messaging to YouTube, the first thing I thought was "great, Google has another messaging app." After juggling Google Talk, Hangouts, Allo and Google Voice messages with mixed success, the idea of yet another way to communicate from this particular company was a bit laughable. However, YouTube's newest feature isn't Google's latest attempt at finding its own answer to iMessage or Facebook Messenger. In this case, it's more about keeping customers on its platform, sharing and watching as many videos as possible. It's a lesson that YouTube has seemingly learned from Instagram, which first introduced in-app sharing in late 2013. Initially, that feature let you share photos privately with specific individuals, rather than posting them to your entire feed. It's evolved quite a bit since then; you can share any public photo or video you see on Instagram with an individual or group and then chat away about it right in the same interface. And you can also still shoot new photos or videos and share them with a specific group.
Nature documentary 'Planet Earth II' is coming to Snapchat
Planet Earth II was probably the BBC's best piece of TV programming last year. The documentary series captured and, more importantly, explained the natural world with nuanced narration and breathtaking cinematography. Now, the show is coming to Snapchat. A deal between Snap Inc and the British broadcaster will see a modified version released through the social network. It'll have six episodes and, of course, be optimized for vertical viewing. Snap says the series will also use "binaural recording," a dual-microphone setup that's meant to imitate 3D stereo sound. It's not clear exactly how long each episode will be, however.
The Engadget Podcast, Ep 4: All Eyez On Me
Editors Cherlynn Low and Devindra Hardawar join host Terrence O'Brien to talk about Intel's latest CPUs, Dead or Alive's controversial VR feature and Lenovo's "innovative" take on the keyboard. Then the panel takes a look at Chris Brown's standoff and how Instagram videos and Facebook Live fit into our modern media landscape.
On the Brink of Greatness: Social Video
Instagram videos cap out at 15 seconds. Vines? Six. As Steve Goldboom learns, though, those are still too long -- by 13 and four seconds, respectively. Yep, the new episode of his mockumentary series On the Brink of Greatness is all about the ridiculousness of social video apps. Welcome to the future where celebrities are made overnight and all they need to do is have a door slammed into their face while someone points a cellphone at them.
Koozoo lets you watch and send live pictures
The free Koozoo app is based on an intriguing idea. It lets you shoot video with your iPhone and share it live with other users. You could conceivably use it to monitor the view of a city, check the line at a favorite restaurant and so on. The catch is that only San Francisco, Calif., and Austin, Texas are supported so far. Once you've created a free account, you're ready to browse the online streams. You can look for active cameras or just watch snippets that have been uploaded. You'll find categories for traffic, parking, food, neighborhoods, etc. The developers suggest you use your iPhone to grab some quick shots when you can, or place an old iPhone on a WiFi network in a window for use as a live webcam. %Gallery-180145% There is a kernel of a good idea here, and when the app spreads to other cities, which the developers say will happen quickly, it will be interesting and potentially helpful. Koozoo requires iOS 5 or later and is optimized for the iPhone 5.
Flip cam software reborn as iPhone app Givit
Ah, I remember the little Flip Mino, a pocket HD recorder that took the world by storm and then sank beneath the waves of competition from smartphones that could perform a similar task. The developers behind the Flip software now have a new social iPhone app to take on Viddy and SocialCam and make video editing and sharing easy. The app, called Givit, is free at the App Store. New users get 5 GB of free online storage for their creations. You begin shooting video(s), then edit by combining multiple clips, adding motion effects, music and transitions. What's cool is that you can highlight a scene as you shoot it and quickly get back to it with a tap. %Gallery-167306% When you are done, you can share via Facebook, YouTube or email. I like the email option the best, as it's less public and more personal. Advanced paid plans will let you increase your storage, but most users should be able to get by with what is offered for free. I created a few videos and the process was pleasantly straightforward. Built-in help pops up when you first try the app, and it can be easily recalled. I had a few crashes on my iPhone 4S when I first started using the app, but a reboot ended that. Givit wants to be Instagram for video, and it has a chance to succeed. The app is intuitive, easier to use than similar apps, and it has popular social functions built in. The app is not universal, but can run on the iPad and also the iPod touch. It requires iOS 5 and is iPhone 5-ready.
