NightMode
Latest
Samsung's Galaxy S10 camera gets a dedicated 'Night' mode
Samsung has started rolling out a new feature for the Galaxy S10 camera called "Night" mode, according to SamMobile. It looks like a replacement for the original "Bright Night" feature that activated automatically (and only automatically) to let you take long exposures in very low-light conditions. With Night mode, you can decide when to turn the feature on and off, much as you can on Huawei's P30 Pro or with the Pixel 3's "Night Sight."
Hulu's night mode comes to the web
Hulu has added a night mode to its website. The feature went live today at 12:30 PM EST, and is limited to watching video in their computer's web browser. The night mode update, which changes the background of Hulu's site from white to black, comes on the heels of a wider site redesign; in September, Hulu's user interface saw a significant overhaul.
Twitter design test brings Explore and Bookmarks to the web
Twitter is testing a redesign that brings some features from its mobile app and browser to the desktop. The trial run, which the company says a small number of people are already seeing, adds the Explore tab and Bookmarks to the desktop site, along with some other features.
Android P won't get a 'dark mode' after all
There was a short-lived hysteria Friday when it seemed like Google would grant a longstanding request to add built-in "dark mode" theming on stock Android, similar to the tweak OnePlus adds. Unfortunately, the team updated its tracker to explain that there was a misunderstanding, and it's not coming. For users who prefer custom themes they'll still need to root and add third-party tools to do it, but that doesn't mean nothing is happening. As a post in the thread explains, what the Android team will change in its "P" release is a new toggle that makes it easier for developers to test a night mode (Twitter has one) in their apps. The function was already there, but now it's easier to access in Settings, so more apps may take advantage and save a little eye strain or potentially even energy on OLED-screened phones. Hi folks, you may remember me from the last three releases where it looked like Dark Mode was being added. Unfortunately, this bug was closed prematurely due to a miscommunication with the team that handles AOSP issues. What we *have* added in a future Android release is a developer-facing setting (via Developer Options) to toggle the -night UI mode qualifier, which will make it easier for developers to create and test apps that implement night mode. This qualifier has been in the platform since Froyo (SDK 8) and globally modifiable via UiModeManager since Marshmallow (SDK 23); however, there was never an explicit toggle made available anywhere in Settings. If it's any consolation, we will also not be adding Hot Dog Mode (where all UI elements are yellow and red).
Twitter's night mode gives your eyes a break on the desktop
Twitter's night mode is all well and good if you're checking your feed from your phone while in bed, but what if you prefer to burn the midnight oil at your PC? You're set after today... or rather, tonight. Twitter has enabled night mode on the desktop web, giving your eyes a break when you just have to share your thoughts after dark. It's not automatic, alas, but the quick toggle (it's in the drop-down settings menu) means you can flick it on the moment the Sun goes down.
Twitter on Android automatically enters 'night mode' after dark
Twitter added a "night mode" option almost a year ago that ditched a big white background for big dark background so users could nocturnally scroll without keeping themselves awake. But the only thing better than manually switching to the eye-saving light is having your phone do it for you. The latest version of the Android Twitter app, 7.2, automatically turns "night mode" on after dark.
Chrome OS' experimental night mode saves your eyes
Google isn't going to sit on the sidelines while Apple and Microsoft bring night modes to their platforms. Users have discovered that Canary builds of Chrome OS now include an experimental night mode (Night Light, to be exact). Flick it on and it'll give the screen a yellowish tint that cuts down on blue light and, theoretically, helps you sleep. At the least, it should be easier on your eyes during those late-night Chromebook sessions.
Windows 10 finally displays download progress for purchased apps
Turns out that Game Mode and streaming via Windows 10's built-in Beam app were only the tip of the update iceberg. A post on the Windows 10 blog also details a handful of extra additions for folks in the Windows Insider program.
Windows 10 Creators Update will add tab previews and a night mode
Windows 10's Creators Update will have its fair share of pleasant surprises, apparently. Microsoft has released a new Windows Insider preview that stuffs in quite a few new features, some of which you might just use every day. For one, its Edge browser now includes tab previews. This isn't a novel concept (hi, Opera), but it'll be immensely helpful if you have loads of tabs open and don't want to play a guessing game. Also, Microsoft's Flash crackdown is in full effect: Edge now blocks untrusted Flash content as a matter of course, and you'll have to click to play it.
Helia bulbs cut blue light to help you sleep at night
Soraa doesn't generally make lighting solutions for us plebians. Its lightbulbs grace the likes of the Palace of Versailles, not the One Bedroom of Terrence. But the company is ready to dabble in the consumer market with Helia. These smart bulbs jump not just on the bandwagon of IoT, but embrace the growing hostility toward blue light.
Twitter's night mode comes to iOS
It was only a matter of time before Twitter brought its night mode to iOS, and sure enough, it's here. The social network has started rolling out a settings tweak that, like on Android, lets you shift to a darker color scheme to avoid straining your eyes (or because you prefer the look, of course). This definitely isn't the first Twitter client on iOS to do a night mode, or even the best implementation -- Tweetbot has had the option for ages, and it switches automatically based on time of day where Twitter asks you to toggle it manually. Still, it's nice to see such a practical feature reach the widest audience possible.
Google Maps on iOS won't blind you at night anymore
When you're using Google Maps in the dark, the iOS app's blinding bright white display can kill your night vision. Good thing then that a new update addresses that and adds a few other welcome improvements. Now you can label waypoints on your map and in search suggestions according to the patch notes, and even alter captions for photos that you've added as well. Of course, there's the usual bug fixes along for the ride as well, but it's not like those will keep you from going blind on your way home from the bonfire you checked into via Facebook.
