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Study: iPhone is the 'most social' device
In the last decade, content sharing has become a major part of modern life. Our daily interactions are largely built upon recommending articles, pictures, songs, videos and other digital artifacts. But what device do people do most of their sharing on? Thanks to a study by ShareThis, we know. iPhone users are the most active when it comes to social sharing of links across both mobile and desktop devices. ShareThis should know. The company is a publisher platform that provides social sharing buttons for websites. According to their findings, users are twice as likely to share content on a social network when they are using their mobile devices. Of those using mobile devices, 12.4 percent of iPhone users, 7.4 percent of Android and 6.3 percent of BlackBerry users are more likely to share on their devices. Only 5 percent of Mac users and 3.9 percent of PC users meanwhile are more likely to share when using their desktop. The study also contains an interesting bit of trivia about the iPad. Almost 50 percent of social activity through ShareThis on the iPad involves Pinterest.
Yahoo Mail adds simple Flickr photo sharing
Many criticized a pre-Marissa Mayer Yahoo for doing little to integrate acquisitions with its core services, even when they were popular services like Del.icio.us. We can't accuse the company of negligence today, as it just added simple Flickr photo sharing to Yahoo Mail. Those drafting messages just have to tap an arrow to attach files from their photo streams, and they can sign up for Flickr on the spot. While there's only so many of us who could use Flickr sharing right now, Yahoo teases that there are more Mail upgrades in the pipeline -- it's not done fighting Gmail and Outlook just yet.
Firefox gets a new logo, rolls out desktop and Android Beta updates
Firefox is an ever evolving beast, and that includes both its friendly orange fox logo, and its Beta channel browser. Today Mozilla unveiled the fourth Firefox logo, a (slightly) less textured and glossy icon for its favored web browser. Meanwhile, the latest update for for Firefox Beta brings access to the company's Social API and, consequently, Share buttons to the platform -- so Facebook fanatics can have one-click sharing of images, articles, videos and links from the Firefox toolbar. The new Beta is also getting a Mixed Content Blocker that prevents HTTP (read: nonsecure) content from loading on HTTPS websites. Plus, there's a new Network Monitor feature to let devs see how quickly individual page components load and optimizations for OS X 10.7 that enable its scrollbar style and and the scroll bounce behavior Apple fans love. Oh, and for you mobile fans, the Android Beta was updated today, too. Now, it's got an auto-hide Awesome Bar, a URL autocomplete function and an updated RSS feed reader that allows you to add feeds to with a long press on the aforementioned Awesome Bar. Pretty awesome, gents, now let's get these Beta features into a full release, and it'll be really awesome.
Vine for Android adds Facebook sharing, searches for hashtags and users
Twitter isn't about to let Video on Instagram go completely unanswered -- it just posted an update to Vine for Android that could offer a few reasons to stay with the earlier service. Short-form movie makers on Android now have more of the features we've seen on iOS, including Facebook sharing as well as searches for hashtags and users. The release also smooths out the rough experience that has characterized the Android experience since launch, boosting both capture speeds and the final video quality. The app may still fall short of the newer Instagram release in a few areas, but those who prefer Vine's approach can grab its refresh at Google Play.
Bungie's Chris Butcher talks about Destiny's public areas
Is Destiny a shooter with MMO elements or an MMO with a lot of shooting elements? According to a recent video interview with Chris Butcher, it's the former, and seeing as he's the Engineering Lead at Bungie he probably knows what he's talking about. But there's also some more nuance to the game which Butcher explains, and while it might not fall comfortably within the MMO header it's got a lot of persistent options. Butcher explains in the video how the game's many public areas work -- there's no UI elements to let you know that you've entered a shared space, just the sudden sight of other players alongside the announcement of dynamic events in the area. It's certainly an interesting take on shared spaces, and it's more than you might expect from a straight shooter. If you're looking forward to the game, the video embedded past the cut is well worth your time.
Apple details OS X Mavericks' energy-saving skills, friendlier network sharing
While we learned many things about OS X Mavericks' feature set at WWDC, there were a few important details hiding in the woodwork. Apple has just revealed a few of them through a new overview of the platform. Among them is a potentially huge step forward in the Mac's willingness to play with others: Apple has switched its default network file sharing system from the ages-old Apple File Protocol to the more universal SMB2. The move gives OS X the same approach to sharing as more recent versions of Windows, helping it slot into the corporate world and mixed-platform households. AFP and the original SMB are sticking around, but they'll now kick in only when needed. The crew in Cupertino has also filled in many of the blanks surrounding Mavericks' vaunted performance and power optimizations. Battery-saving tricks like App Nap and timer coalescing mostly involve heavy task rescheduling and throttling. Memory compression, meanwhile, relies on an old yet largely untapped algorithm to avoid hard drive access. A deeper dive into the new OS X release is available at the source, although it's not for the faint-hearted -- the overview's developer focus doesn't exactly make for casual reading.
PS4 video reveals UI for sharing gameplay videos, multitasking, making friends
By now, most people ought to have dismissed the old stereotype that the male is the calm, rational opposite of the hysterical female. If anything, it's the other way round, which is why the short promo video shown right at the end of Sony's E3 press conference was kind of refreshing. It was also pretty useful, because even if the software it shows isn't final, it reveals how the PS4 user interface is likely to handle things like chat, gameplay video sharing and multitasking. Read on for a cut-down version of the fast-paced clip and our probing evaluation of what it says about PS4 gaming and human behavior.
Facebook for Android update brings favorite apps tray to Home users
Now that Facebook Home is a practical reality, Facebook has to support both a full launcher and its traditional app at the same time -- and an update to Facebook for Android reflects that newly expanded focus. The big addition comes to Home, which gets its promised (and frankly needed) favorites tray for heavily used apps. Those relying on the traditional Android experience will mostly notice improved sharing: they can send multiple photos in one message, and it's easier for them to filter the visibility of shared content. No matter how committed you are to Facebook's vision of our mobile future, there's just one upgrade to grab at the source link.
Snapchat 5.0 for iOS brings a swipe-based interface, in-app profiles
Snapchat is reportedly one of the biggest media sharing services outside of Facebook, so it's only fitting that the service's iOS app just got an equally big update. The 5.0 revamp switches to a cleaner, swipe-driven control scheme that leaves more room for all those short-lived pictures. It's likewise possible to peek at profiles within the app, reply through a double-tap and send images to address book contacts. We don't know if the new Snapchat will be enough to make Facebook worry about its sharing supremacy -- again, that is -- but it's likely worth hitting the source link for the update.
Pipe exits beta, lets Facebook friends share giant files
Cloud storage from the likes of Dropbox and Google is all well and good, but let's face it -- many of our friends won't venture far beyond Facebook. Thankfully, Pipe is about to publicly launch a file transfer service built with them in mind. The company's namesake Facebook tool lets socialites send files without dedicated apps, and automatically picks a method depending on whether or not both contacts are online. If they are, they can send files up to 1GB through a peer-to-peer link; a locker will also hold on to as much as 100MB if the recipient isn't ready and waiting. Pipe doesn't go live until mid-day on June 5th, but those who want to share more on Facebook than their memories can get a heads-up on availability at the source link.
Pinterest CEO Ben Silbermann: consumers will soon expect every service on every platform, mobile included
Ben Silbermann has found himself in a pretty swell spot. He's the CEO of Pinterest -- a company that was recently valued at $2.5 billion, despite not making a single cent to date. He took the stage today at D11 in Southern California, answering questions shot from Kara Swisher. One of the key points he made was on the topic of mobile. Swisher was asking about Pinterest's mobile efforts, and Silbermann suggested that in the very near future, asking such a thing would be borderline silly. "It'd be like asking a business today if they're a dot-com business," he said, suggesting that every business created in 2013 should absolutely have some sort of presence on the web. It's perhaps due to the shocking uptake of Pinterest's apps. Said Silbermann: "A growing number [of users] use Pinterest exclusively on their phone or tablet. When we released our mobile apps, we were taking bets on how long it'd take for those to surpass our web traffic. I figured it'd take a few weeks. It was literally the day it was released [that the traffic was passed]. I think it's because phones and tablets are largely always around you, whereas you're not always around a [traditional] computer." It's perhaps the token example of how consumers at large are moving away from needing a full-fledged machine at their fingertips, and the redefining of what a "computer" is for the newest generations.
Internet Trends report shows a surge in sharing, mobile overtaking PCs
Mary Meeker's Internet Report is often considered a technology bellwether, and it's certainly living up to that reputation in the 2013 study. This year, the dominating trend is sharing: Meeker has noticed that many more of us are willing to publish our media and location data. People worldwide now share over 500 million photos a day through services like Facebook and Snapchat, while Dropcam, Soundcloud, YouTube and Waze are also growing quickly. Americans aren't leading the trend, however. An estimated 15 percent of US internet users frequently share content online, while the world average is 24 percent. Other findings? If it wasn't evident before that mobile devices are taking over, it's quite clear now. The Internet Report shows tablet shipments overtaking PCs at the end of 2012; meanwhile, mobile internet traffic is quickly surpassing the desktop in countries like China and South Korea. Many companies are leaning heavily on mobile for their income, too. The full Internet Trends report is available after the break for additional insights, although it's currently bombarded by traffic -- have some patience if it doesn't load right away.
Box acquires Folders, in what sounds like the least exciting acquisition deal ever
File-sharing service Box has acquired the technology behind a French app called Folders, which was never released, but is also centered on browsing and sharing files on the iPhone. Terms of the acquisition weren't revealed, but Box said that Folders would be a big influence on the next few iterations of the file-sharing software. The company also noted that its iPhone and iPad apps will be "cleaner, faster and more beautiful throughout 2013." Folders was originally designed as a viewer for Box with an impressive user interface and file-viewing features, but now will be "folded" into future versions of the app itself. Box boasts more than 15 million users at 150,000 businesses, and those numbers are growing all the time. If the folks at Box can find a way to team up with Staples and the Paper app, they could have a whole office!
Pandora app revamps interface, adds Facebook publishing
Pandora Radio is the granddaddy of streaming music apps, and for years now, the company's iPhone app has been one of the most popular ways to use and interact with the service. Just today, the app has nabbed a big update, bringing it to version 4.3. The new update adds a redesigned interface, which lets you tap an album to see lyrics, artist info or other notes. You can also publish information directly to Facebook and share recommendations with your friends. The update has been able to share tracks to Twitter and email for a while now, so the Facebook integration just adds to the functionality. The Pandora app itself is free, and you can subscribe to a premium service, called Pandora One, from directly inside the app.
Facebook's native Share Dialog for iOS exits beta, now ready for developers
Now that Facebook's share feature has settled into its own mobile apps, the firm has pushed its native Share Dialog for iOS out of beta, which allows developers to bake the function into their own applications. With just an extra line of code, apps will allow users to share things, tag friends and note their location without having to log into the social network or connect the app to their account first, removing some hassle from the equation. In addition, the built-in sharing options in iOS 6 can be bolstered with Open Graph actions. Click the source link below to snatch Zuckerberg and Co.'s latest SDK for Apple's mobile OS, or hit the second link for the docs.
Pinterest lets users send pins directly to friends, receive instant feedback
Despite being one of the hotter social networks, Pinterest hasn't been on the cutting edge of sharing: members wanting to send their pins through official channels have had to use old-fashioned email. The service is catching up to the modern era in style, however, with a new option to send pins directly to friends through Pinterest's mobile and web apps. While email is still hanging around, both ends now just have to be mutual followers on Facebook or Pinterest for the magic to happen. Sharers will also receive any adulation (or criticism) right away -- comments, likes and repins on those items will appear as notifications. It will take weeks to fully deploy the direct sending feature, but it shouldn't be long before everyone is on the same page.
Glympse posts its free location sharing SDK in Android, iOS and web flavors
Glympse has been gradually spreading the reach of its location sharing platform, but mostly through special deals like those with BMW and Ford. It's time to fling the doors open: the company has posted a public version of its Lite software development kit. Android, IOS and web app creators can now weave the core of Glympse's real-time position broadcasting features into their work at any time, whether it's to track a car's journey or find a friend around the corner. Developers don't have to pay a dime if they count fewer than 300,000 active Glympse users every month, which could give curious programmers a strong incentive to try the SDK first and ask questions later.
Google Glass snags unofficial Facebook photo sharing
Sure, Glass Explorers can post photos to Google+ with the high-tech headsets straight out of the box, but sharing to other sites requires additional glassware. While Facebook has yet to out its own app for Glass, an unofficial application dubbed Glass To Facebook has just arrived, allowing Google's adventurers to post images to the social network. Hooking up the the app appears to be an easy affair, consisting of granting the software access to a user's Google and Facebook accounts, and enabling it with Zuckerberg's crew. After that, Mountain View's headgear guinea pigs will be able to snap pictures and shoot them to Facebook. Count yourself as a lucky Google Glass owner? Hit the link below to grab Glass To Facebook.
DabKick for iPhone lets you share photos, watch videos and now listen to music in real-time
There are a lot of communication tools that help you stay connected with family and friends. One that recently caught my eye is DabKick, which stood out because it lets you share and communicate in a variety of ways. It's a real-time photo viewer, video sharing tool, walkie-talkie, instant messenger, music jukebox and more. DabKick is useful for people who want to share their life with loved ones who are far away from them. It's not a static service like Facebook, which allows you to post photos and add captions. It lets you connect to others in real time and share photos, YouTube videos and more. DabKick is geared primarily to share photos and videos. You launch the DabKick app on your iPhone, load up the media you want your friend to see and then select the person with whom you want to share. The person to which you are connected will see your photos or videos as you swipe through them on your iOS device. A recent update adds the ability to listen to music together. You can share music you find on YouTube in the middle of a conversation or create a playlist that your friends can listen to at a later time. A handy walkie-talkie feature lets you talk to each other while you watch photos or listen to music together. If you don't want to talk, there's also a messaging system that allows you to share your feelings via emoticons or short text messages. When you are done chatting, DabKick will save the session and you can decide who can see the conversation and what media is included. One of the compelling features of DabKick is its ability to run in a web browser, independent of the DabKick app. You can create a new DabKick session using the iOS app and send your friend a link via email or SMS that'll open DabKick in a mobile or desktop web browser. The recipient only has to click on the link and they are connected to your iPhone. They don't have to install an app or sign up for a DabKick account. You should note that the web version is not as full-featured as the app. Some features, like the walkie-talkie, are not available in the browser. This doesn't detract from the overall usefulness of the app and is just a minor limitation. DabKick for the iPhone is available for free from the iOS App store. It requires a DabKick account which is also available for free.
Google Drive now lets collaborators add friends, start chats with fewer clicks
When you're sharing a file in Google Drive, your time should be spent collaborating, not arranging conversations. Right? Google agrees strongly enough to have just finished tweaking Drive's web interface for better teamwork. Users actively working on the project now show as mouse-over icons, with their Google+ relationship front and center -- if they're not friends and you want them to be, you can change that almost immediately. It's even faster to start group chats, as a new dedicated button will launch a chatroom for everyone who's currently looking at the project. Google expects the speedier Drive socialization to reach us within a day or two, and it's planning to bolster the update with wider file support sometime in the near future.
