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Report: YouTube will fend off Facebook with social features
If you want to post a video on the web several years ago, YouTube was the go-to spot. Now, Google's video network is feeling the pinch with strong video features from Facebook, Twitter and others, and has decided to push back, according to Venture Beat. The feature, internally code-named "Backstage," will reportedly allow users to share photos, short posts, links, polls and videos with subscribers. Much like a Facebook timeline, items will be listed from newest to oldest and posted in subscribers' feeds.
Google's 'About me' is your all-inclusive profile for the company's apps
In its on-going quest to strip Google+ down to its frame, Mountain View has spun yet another feature from the sputtering social network as a standalone item. A new "About me" page is Google's one-stop shop for updating your profile details across the company's arsenal of apps. Changes made here will update how your personal information is display in the likes of Google+, Photos, Drive and more. In terms of what's included, About me displays all of your contact info, education, work history, places, gender, birthday and more. If your Google+ profile is listed as public, the information here, and across Google's apps, will be as well. Not to worry, you can lock down individual cards as private should you choose to do so. The company says it's also working on a way for users to see what their profile will look like to those ogling it. If you're unsure about your security settings across Photos, YouTube and other apps, there's a handy link to Google's Privacy Checkup tool at the bottom of the page. Ready to check it out? You can do just that via the source link below.
Pinterest's redesigned profiles make it easier to find pins later
If you're an avid pinner, finding items on your Pinterest boards can sometimes be quite the chore. Thanks to today's update, though, you should spend less time hunting for what you're after. The online repository updated user profiles to show the items you're most likely looking for first. Recently pinned items and boards are now shown first, as Pinterest says users search for items they've added in the last month most often. You can also browse by topic from your profile or from any board. If you're perusing that "Healthy eats" board pictured above, for example, you can tap "salad" to narrow the results. You can also sort your boards according to which ones were to pinned to recently or in alphabetical order. The new features are rolling out on Android and iOS starting today, so you should see the tools soon enough.
Facebook brings videos and temporary pictures to your profile
Users will soon have a host of new ways to personalize their profiles and control what content is shared on their walls, Facebook announced on Wednesday. The biggest change comes as tweaks to the mobile app UI. Your profile picture will be centered on the screen and the entire profile page is being revamped to "better present information about you and your friends in a more visually engaging way," according to a release from the company.
Prepare to be inundated with Happy Birthday tweets
Do you enjoy getting a truckload of birthday wishes on Facebook each year? Well, prepare for the same thing to happen via Twitter. The 140-character social network now allows you to add your birthday to your profile, letting the masses know the proper 24-hour period to ping you with a celebratory GIF. Adding that bit of info is optional, of course, and you'll be able to configure the settings so that it only appears for the folks who you really want to be informed. And yes, you can leave out the year so the internet won't know exactly how old you are. The new addition is said to be available "starting today," so if you're not seeing it now, you should be shortly. [Image credit: OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images]
Instagram tidies up web profiles with bigger pictures and less clutter
It may be a tad late for spring cleaning, but Instagram redesigned profile pages on the web to cut down on the clutter. On both mobile and desktop, profile pages, hashtag collections and your home feed are all getting tweaks to make things a bit neater. Desktop profiles, for example, nix the rotating image header up top and display larger images in rows of three instead of five. The changes get rid of the added boarders, button styles and more that the mobile app's redesign already updated in favor of a cleaner, flatter look. Not seeing the new design yet? Don't worry, it's rolling out now and you should be seeing it by the end of the week.
Tinder lets you judge a person's Instagram skills before swiping right
If stellar smartphone photo skills are something you look for in a potential significant other, Tinder's redesigned profiles are ready lend a hand. The dating app now pipes in a collection of your Instagram snapshots right on that profile page -- so there's no longer a need to include that username in your profile details. Tinder only displays the last 34 photos, but if someone just can't get enough of your brunch and puppy pics, they can venture out to the app for a look at the full library. The update also shows Common Connections when you're browsing and a full list of Facebook interests, highlighting any matches. If you haven't been alerted to the new version just yet, it's available on both iOS and Android now.
GE's touch-savvy induction cooktops double as griddles and sous vides
If you want to get elaborate with your cooking and try a griddle or a sous vide, you normally need either a dedicated machine or a bulky add-on to get things right. You won't have that hassle with GE's 2015 Cafe, Monogram and Profile cooktops, though. They're already pretty high-tech between their safer induction cooking pads and touch-sensitive controls, but the real stars of the show are their abilities to switch to other cooking methods with little effort. The Cafe and Monogram models have an integrated griddle (the first for induction), and all three can use a $150 smartphone-controlled sous vide accessory (also a first) that lets you get just the right water temperature without having to watch like a hawk. Just be prepared to pony up if you're hoping for the latest in culinary tech. GE's cooktops will start at $1,500 for a 30-inch Profile, and they scale all the way to $3,100 for the 36-inch Monogram.
GE's smart appliances let you take control with your phone
It's now fairly easy to get at least a few connected appliances, but it's still rare to see a full range of them. What if you want to outfit your whole home with smart equipment? GE thinks it has an answer with its new Profile line. The series' dishwasher, fridge, laundry combo, ovens and water heater all give you control from a smartphone. You can preheat your oven before you get home, or tell your water heater that you're going on vacation. Your washer will let you know when your clothes are done, and your fridge will warn you if someone left the door open. Only the ovens are available today, though, so don't start planning a home technology revamp just yet. While the water heater arrives in February, you'll have to wait until the spring to get either the fridge or the laundry pair -- and the dishwasher won't arrive until 2015 is almost over.
Xbox One's next update adds custom backgrounds and Twitter
Microsoft only just unleashed its October update for the Xbox One, and now it's talking about what to expect next month. The update will hit consoles for those in the preview test group soon, and adds many features Major Nelson and crew say the community has been asking for, including custom backgrounds (with the PS4 getting themes soon, it's Blu-ray 3D all over again), and extra details for profiles. The custom backgrounds will launch with a selection of pictures and the ability to post based on achievements, and after a media player update later in the month, gamers will be able to import any image they want. A returning feature from the Xbox 360 will put details like your location and custom bio back on the profile page, plus a self-curated selection of game clips and achievements. Oh, and those game clips? You'll be able to share them with the masses easily, because the update adds the ability to share any of your favorites directly to Twitter. Check after the break for a video demo and more details on what's coming.
Twitter's new profile pages are now available for everyone
After a few weeks of test drives, Twitter officially rolled out its new profile pages to the masses today. Besides the sexy new look, the update includes a few tweaks like a running tally of how many times you've favorited tweets and a new page where you can see every photo and video you've ever uploaded. The month and year you joined Twitter are also now displayed right under your username -- a big plus for early adopters who want bragging rights, and a way for everyone to see how long an account has been around (and possibly determine how legit it is).
Facebook now lets you specify a custom gender in your profile
Many in the queer community identify themselves through genders that don't fit into binary male and female definitions, but social networks typically don't allow for that kind of nuance. Thankfully, Facebook is more accommodating as of today. You can now specify a custom gender as well as a preferred pronoun. If you're not always comfortable with sharing that gender, you can limit who sees it. Facebook isn't accounting for every aspect of gender -- you still have to describe family relationships in binary terms, for instance -- but this is an important first step.
Google+ for Android updated with improved Locations, Beam support for photos
The Google+ app for Android is getting a small version bump starting today, and while most of the changelog is filled with bug fixes, there are a few new features worth getting excited about. For one, when you fire up Locations, it will automatically update your friends locations. It's a nice touch, and one that honestly should have been there from day one... but we digress. The rest of the changes apply to the photos portion of the app, which we all know got a serious boost a few weeks ago. Now Google is adding Android Beam support for sharing photos over NFC, and integrating photos with its Daydream screensaver feature. And, if you're looking for nitty gritty details about your photos' focal length, file size, exposure time and all that good stuff, you'll find it under a new drop down menu on each individual picture. On the web, anyone using Google+ from their desktop will notice a new design rolling out on profiles starting today. Now, cover photos are expanded across the top of the page, with the user's profile details on the left side, laid over a blurred segment of the pic. The Android app is rolling out slowly so you may not see it on the Play Store immediately, but the profile tweaks should be visible right away.
Not every headshot will make it to PlayStation 4 profile pics
Oh, cruel fate! The PlayStation Camera – previously known as the PlayStation Eye – can't be used to create a PlayStation Network profile picture for the next-gen PlayStation 4. Although having your real name displayed is happening, the only way to pull real-world photos of yourself for the profile pic is through Facebook integration. We speculate it has to do with Facebook's anatomical detecting algorithms. For those who don't have a Facebook account (or don't want to use it), they'll have a selection of Sony avatars available, like things are now for PlayStation 3 and Vita. Also, if somebody wants to be your PSN friend, searching by your real name (even if you've selected to use your real name) won't be an option. To find you, they'll need your PSN ID. So, please try to keep it simple. You know who you are, xXxZOMGPUPPAYZxXx. [Image: Brian A Jackson via Shutterstock]
Google will soon display your Google+ photo when you call an Android phone
Google's desire to integrate social features into its mobile OS will soon see it use Google+ profile photos to identify Android callers. The new feature comes as an update to the new caller ID service in Android 4.4 KitKat, allowing the company to automatically match phone numbers from incoming and outgoing calls with names and profile photos associated with a registered account. Google staffer Attila Bodis notes that the feature will be enabled in "early 2014" but can only display names and profile photos if the user has verified their phone number and has discovery switched on. While the idea is to bring a sense of familiarity to phone calls, not everyone will see the merit of sending a headshot to people they call -- so Google is offering a way to opt out. Simply head on over to this link, untick the checkbox and all of your Android-toting friends will no longer be able to see your beautiful face (unless, of course, they add it themselves).
Blizzard spotlight on fan artist Dmitriy "Tamplier" Prozorov
I can't draw at all, so it is with a great deal of envy that I look upon works like those of Dmitriy Prozorov, also known as "Tamplier", who is the subject of a feature over on the official site. Winner of the Diablo III portrait of a champion art contest for his exceedingly cool barbarian, there are a lot of excellent works showcased, including an absolutely stunning Maiev Shadowsong, a brutal looking tauren warrior, and several Diablo III angels, including the Imperius shown above. Head on over to the official site now and take a look through Dmitriy's body of work. It's quite impressive. Seriously, check out that picture of Maiev.
Tweetbot 1.3 for Mac adds media timeline, support for cover images
Tapbots' Tweetbot for Mac already has a reputation as the desktop Twitter client for media hounds, but a just-posted 1.3 update should make that especially clear. Like its iOS counterpart, the Mac app gains a dedicated media timeline: start a search and you can spotlight only photos and videos. There are a few perks for the vain among us, too. Tweetbot now supports profile cover images, and a redesigned tweet layout shows the counts for those inevitable favorites and retweets. So long as $20 isn't too much to pay for a dedicated social networking tool, 1.3's greater media savviness is waiting at the Mac App Store.
Twitter profiles rolling out to all users by December 12th: here's how to prep yours
Instagram has web profiles? Yeah, well, Twitter's about to give all of its users a bit more of a face online as well. While select users have had access to revamped profiles for a few months, Twitter confirmed today that all of its users would be allowed into the party starting December 12th. The main addition here is the use of a header photo, and if you've got any questions on the hows and whys, there's a cute video just after the break to explain. Pick carefully, okay?
Instagram Badges are now available, because your web profile deserves the love
It's a minor move, but the app that never even acknowledged the desktop world until recently is taking its first notable step to promote Web Profiles. Instagram has today launched Badges, which are intended to help users "link to and promote one's Instagram web profile." Sure, designers with the right skill set have been able to do similar for some time, but now it's easy. Just surf over to your web profile, hit your username and select 'Badges' from the drop down menu. And just like that, you'll be on your way to adding yet another little icon to your About.me page -- not like things weren't crowded enough with Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, Google+, Tumblr, Formspring and Foursquare already.
Instagram rolling out web profiles, sepia toning the world's browsers one account at a time
Instagram is getting ready to open up its collection of filtered images to the web. The photosharing service announced via blog post that it's going to be rolling out web profiles over the next few days, bringing profile photos, bios and shared images to easily navigable URLs at instagram.com/[username]. If you have photos set to private, you'll still get a profile, but those images won't be shared with the web at large. The site also notes that web uploading isn't currently enabled, seeing as how it's always been focused on mobile devices. If you don't have a page yet, you should be good to go within the week. In the meantime, you can check out other profiles in Instagram at the source link below.
