customization
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Snapchat lets subscribers choose when their stories expire
Snap has introduced a number of features for its Snapchat+ subscription app, including a new Story Expiration feature.
Sonarworks brings its SoundID audio customization to Mac and Windows
With a mobile app, you create a personalized sound profile that fits your preferences based on a selection of audio clips. Once you’ve made your picks, SoundID creates a custom profile that’s unique to you — right down the pattern of icons inside the app. Today, Sonarworks revealed SoundID Listen on desktop, so the customization is actually useful for the first time.
Samsung update brings Watch Active2 features to earlier Watch models
Thinking about upgrading your Samsung Galaxy Watch to a Galaxy Watch Active2? You might want to hold off for now, as Samsung is rolling out an update that'll bring enhanced features to earlier-generation watches. This means that the Galaxy Watch and Watch Active will get the same user experience functionality found on their successor, the Watch Active2, including new health and Bixby features, as well as boosted customization options.
Google launches Chrome 78 with forced dark mode and password checker
The latest version of Google's Chrome web browser has landed for Mac, Windows, Linux, Android and iOS, bringing with it a new customization menu for the New Tab page, forced dark mode, support for Password Checkup and a bunch of other features.
'Minecraft' adds a character creator option
Minecraft players are getting more control over how their avatar looks. The latest beta build includes a character creator option that'll let you tweak the body shape, skin tone, hairstyle and color, facial hair and eyes. You'll be able to pick from more than 100 free items, and others created by the Minecraft team will be available to buy.
MIT’s color-changing ink could let you customize your shoes
Imagine if, rather than buy your favorite shoes in blue or red, you could buy one pair of shoes and change the color depending on how you feel each day. Maybe you'd decide to add multicolored flames or zebra print. A new, reprogrammable ink might let you do just that. PhotoChromeleon Ink, developed by MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), can change the color or pattern of an object when exposed to UV light.
Origin crammed an Xbox, PlayStation, Switch and gaming PC into one case
Which gaming camp are you in? Xbox? PlayStation? PC? Can't decide? No matter, custom gaming computer company Origin PC has managed to cram them all into one machine -- and has even thrown in the Switch for good measure.
Withings' entry-level Move smartwatch arrives with custom colors
Back in January, smartwatch maker Withings announced the Move, a low-cost fitness tracker watch that could be customized by the user. Now, a month after the company initially promised shipments would begin, you can finally get hold of the first versions.
Ultimate Ears' custom-designed Boom 3 speakers match your style
Ultimate Ears' Boom speakers have usually been colorful, but there's been a catch: you've always had to pick from whatever designs UE offered, which didn't help if you thought the company's choices were too gauche. Thankfully, UE has a simple solution. It's launching a MyBoom Studio feature that lets you customize the Boom 3 with a choice of eight colors and 12 fabrics across the body, caps and volume buttons. It's not infinite customization, but you have plenty of room to be flamboyant, safe, or something in between.
Facebook adds animated GIFs and more customization to Messenger Lite
Messenger Lite, Facebook's stripped down version of its popular messaging app, is getting some new features for customization and expression. Starting today, users of the app will be able to send and view animated GIFs, change how conversations with people and groups look and share files with others.
Customizable PS4 gamepad helps with your tricky 'Fortnite' builds
Serious gamers or those looking for more comfort while playing PS4 games might have struggled in the past to find a good alternative to Sony's DualShock 4 peripheral. Xbox One, for its part, has strong replacement options for its regular controller, with the Xbox One Elite and the upcoming Adaptive Controller. However, PS4 fans are about to get a new, official option, as custom controller manufacturer Scuf has a licensed, wireless PS4 peripheral on the way.
Microsoft's Precision Surface Mouse focuses on ergonomics
Microsoft has taken the wraps off the Surface Precision Mouse, a Bluetooth LE 4.2 and wired ergonomic model designed for folks who work on their PCs all day. With a wide flange for your thumb, it bears a slight resemblance to Logitech's MX Master 2S mouse, albeit with a less flamboyant, more business-like design. Microsoft says it's aimed at customers of the all-new Surface Book 2 and Surface Studio, who tend to be graphics pros, coders, engineers and others who need both accuracy and comfort.
Nike made me a pair of custom sneakers in 46 minutes
Last week, Nike announced the launch of its Makers' Experience, an invite-only, limited-time event where people can design a pair of shoes and have them made in less than hour. And today we had the chance to check it out for ourselves at the company's By You Studio in New York City, a space created to take you through the process of making your own custom shoe from start to finish. That means being able to choose from a set of four different graphic packs, including the camouflage pattern pictured above, and the colors you want on the upper of your sneakers. The midsole will be white by default.
LG's V30 will unlock when it recognizes your face or voice
Until your phone or tablet is set up just the way you want it, a brand new device feels kind of foreign. With the V30, LG is giving you more options for making the phone your own. You can match haptic feedback to the ringtone of your choosing, for starters. Customization applies to security as well, with a handful of ways to make sure you're the only one unlocking your phone. Its face recognition apparently works "instantaneously" without the need to turn the screen on first. More than that, you can set a voice password as well. Biometric security!
Customize your Misfit wearable to match your sense of style
The fashion and wearable industries clash like plaid and stripes, because tech companies are not that savvy on style and vice-versa. Misfit has some of the better-designed trackers and smartwatches out there, but it's making a bigger grab for the fashion crowd with a new service called Make Your Misfit. If you order the Phase, Ray, Shine 2 or upcoming Android Wear Vapor smartwatch, you can mix and match from a wide variety of device and strap colors, then quickly see how that looks.
Now the Xbox One Elite gamepad is even more customizable
Sure, the Xbox One Elite gamepad is tailored to however you want to use it. But if you'd rather have a controller that wasn't the standard black and grey, you'd have to opt for the hideous Gears of War 4 edition's stylings. Thankfully, that's no longer the case. Over a year later, Microsoft and Scuf (hardware partner and purveyors of pro-level gamepads) are offering the controllers in a bevy of colors and patterns.
'Sims 4' removes gender barriers in Create a Sim
The Sims franchise is all about customization. The city-building games feature wild objects, buildings, people and professions that can be combined in all manner of ridiculous ways, from blue-skinned rocket scientists with a deep love of cacti to museum curators who enjoy a good naked walk around fine art displays. Personal choice is the joy of the game. That's one reason it was strange to have customization options in The Sims 4 that were exclusive to either gender. Female characters couldn't use the clothes, hairstyles, physiques and voice options that were designated for men, and vice versa. That is, until today.
Raspberry Pi offers custom-made, mass-produced boards
It's one thing to buy a Raspberry Pi for your own tinkering, but it's another when you need to buy a lot of them for your company -- you aren't going to tweak thousands of boards by hand. Thankfully, you don't have to. Raspberry Pi is teaming up with Element14 on a customization service that lets organizations order 3,000 or more specially-made boards at once. You can use the service to add or remove connections, rejigger the layout and otherwise get the exact mini computer you want. This is helpful if you're going to sell a Raspberry Pi-powered device (particularly important for appliances and other connected gadgets), but it should also be handy for education and other fields where an off-the-shelf board might not cut the mustard. It'll take up to three weeks before Element14 starts designing your custom board, let alone shipping it, but that could be a small price to pay if you're determined to get the right mix of circuitry.
Motorola will let you customize your next smartwatch
Motorola's philosophy is that if you can't customize it, it probably isn't worth buying, which is why Moto Maker will soon let you tailor the Moto 360 to your individual taste. In an interview with Wired, the company's Dickon Isaacs said that the option to pick a case color, band material and size were always planned for the smartwatch, but had to be postponed for time reasons.
A glance at Civilization Online's robust character creator
Let's cut to the chase: Past the break, we have two videos embedded showing off Civilization Online's character creator, which you can use the next time anyone starts talking about the challenges of body sliders with stylized art. It doesn't take much to see that the characters here are pretty heavily stylized, but despite that, the character creator features a huge array of options, sliders, and details. Many of the creation options are controlled by a grab-and-pull system similar to the one seen in The Sims 4, making adjustments to body dimensions more instinctive. There's no official timeline for when Civilization Online will come to the US, so you'll have to either wait or get familiar with Korean if you want to try this out for yourself.
