Apple announces iOS 13 with dark mode, updated Apple apps and privacy features

Apple shared some of the new features that you’ll get with the release of iOS 13 this fall at WWDC.

“iOS 13 is a huge release packed with lot of capabilities,” VP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi said. But Federighi immediately started with performance improvements.

For instance, Face ID is 30 percent smaller. Downloads and updates on the App Store will be a lot smaller. Updates will be 60 percent smaller on average because your iPhone won’t download the full app every time you get an update. And apps should launch twice as fast.

Dark mode and low level improvements

Many apps have already adopted dark mode. But Apple is adding system-wide dark mode for iOS 13. With a simple button in Control Center, you’ll be able to switch from a light interface to a dark interface. Native apps, such as Music, Messages and Calendar have all been updated to support dark mode.

Notifications and widgets look darker. When you open an app, Apple is using a solid black background, which should look good on an OLED keyboard as it won’t emit any light.

The native keyboard now supports typing by swiping from one letter to another. The share sheet has been redesigned with intelligent suggestions based on your most important contacts. In the Music app, you can now see scrolling lyrics.

Apple apps get updated

When it comes to first-party apps, Safari has options to change text sizing and settings per website. Mail gets rich text editing. Notes gets a gallery view and folders.

Reminders has been completely redesigned. There’s a new quick type bar to add a task. You can indent tasks below a bigger tasks. You can also tag people — they receive a notification in iMessage.

Apple’s Meg Frost also showed the new version of Apple Maps. In addition to improved data in some parts of the U.S., there’s a Google Street View feature called Look Around. Moving from one location to another in Look Around is incredibly smooth.

There are more updates to Apple Maps, such as the ability to share ETA with friends, collections of favorite places, the ability to share lists with friends, etc.

Apple will map the U.S. by the end of 2019, other countries will be upgraded later.

Privacy, privacy, privacy

Apple is updating location tracking in apps. You can share your location with an app just once. Third-party developers won’t be able to share details about your Wi-Fi network or Bluetooth signal, which should put an end to many privacy scandals.

Apple is also going to compete with “Sign in with Facebook” or “Sign in with Facebook” by introducing “Sign in with Apple”. This way, you can create an account without sharing personal information. You can even share a randomly generated email address that relays email to your real email address.

HomeKit is also becoming more private. With HomeKit Secure Video, you can store up to 10 days of security camera footage in your iCloud account. Apple doesn’t have the keys and footage doesn’t count against your storage. Logitech, Netatmo and others will support that feature.

In order to make HomeKit devices more secure, Apple is bringing HomeKit to routers so that connected devices don’t always have to talk to the internet directly.

iMessage gets more personal

iMessage still feels like an improved version of SMS. Apple is going to make it more like WhatsApp. With iOS 13, you’ll be able to add a profile picture and share it with your contacts. You control who gets to see your profile pictures.

Apple is using this opportunity to improve Memojis with more customization options. And the company is going one step further by copying Bitmoji and creating stickers with your Memoji.

Photos

On the photo front, Apple is adding a new portrait lighting effect. And portrait lighting will become more customizable. iOS is getting more pro features with buttons to control saturation, highlights, shadows, etc. All of this will be available for videos as well. And Instagram users will love that you’ll be able to rotate videos.

When it comes to your photo library, iOS automatically hides duplicates photos to keep the best shot. There’s also a new tab to explore your photo library. Navigating your library feels more fluid with autoplaying video vignettes. There’s a new tab bar so that you can see highlights from the past years, months and days.

Siri gets smarter

Apple is adding more voice features across the board. For instance, when you receive a message and you’re wearing AirPods, you can hear the message you just received and reply.

If you want to watch a video or listen to music together, you can share audio with someone else who has an iPhone and a pair of AirPods. I don’t think it means that you’ll be able to stream music to two pair of AirPods — you still need two iOS devices.

On the HomePod front, you can tap your phone on your HomePod to send audio to your HomePod. The smart speaker is also getting support for live radio stations — I can’t believe it wasn’t already available. You’ll finally be able to set up multiple users for the HomePod to control your own calendar, messages, music and get personalized results.

CarPlay is also receiving an update with better Siri features. You can now control third-party apps, such as Pandora or Waze, with Siri. And the Siri animation doesn’t fill up the entire screen anymore.

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6 Fun Pokémon Challenges to Prove Your Mastery

You might think of Pokémon games as mainly for kids, which makes sense given their relatively low difficulty. But if you love the series, you can enjoy the odd Pokémon challenge to get more out of your favorite games.

Let’s look at some self-imposed Pokémon challenges, including challenging runs, tests of strategy, completionist goals, and other challenges for those who fancy themselves as Pokémon masters.

1. The Nuzlocke Pokémon Challenge

Perhaps the most-well known type of run on this list, the Pokémon Nuzlocke challenge places a number of restrictions on your playthrough. It works in pretty much any Pokémon game, and allows for additional restrictions to make it as hard as you’d like.

The two primary Pokémon Nuzlocke rules are:

1. Any Pokémon that faints in battle is considered dead, and you must release them.
2. You can only catch the first Pokémon you encounter in each area.

These rules introduce a lot of extra strategy to the game. A Pokémon fainting goes from being a minor inconvenience to a costly permadeath. Restricting yourself to only catching one Pokémon per area also prompts you to use creatures you might normally ignore.

If you want a deeper challenge, you can add many extra rules onto your Nuzlocke run. For example, you can change the Battle Style in Options to Set, which prevents you from switching Pokémon when an opponent’s Pokémon faints. You can base your choice of starter Pokémon on your Trainer ID number, or even release your starter Pokémon and only work with wild Pokémon.

See the Nuzlocke Challenge entry on Bulbapedia for the additional rules you can try.

Note that because most Pokémon games only have one save file, you’ll need to delete your current save to start the game over and try one of these challenges. You might want to look at some of the completionist challenges below and try those first before erasing all your hard work.

2. The Monotype Run Pokémon Challenge

For something a bit less complicated than Nuzlocke, yet still more challenging than a normal playthrough, consider a monotype challenge run.

This is just what it sounds like: you complete a Pokémon game using creatures of only one type. Doing this mimics the series’ gym leaders, who each dedicate their training to a certain type of Pokémon.

The rules for this run aren’t as well-defined as Nuzlocke. All you need to do is pick a Pokémon type (like Water, Ground, Fighting, etc.) before you start your game. Then, as soon as possible, assemble a team with only Pokémon of that type.

Building a team around one type means you’ll have some major weaknesses—for instance, Water is weak to Electric-type moves. To offset this, you can take advantage of Pokémon that have two types. Swampert is a Water-Ground type, so it provides critical electricity immunity to a vulnerable Water-type team.

If you’re interested in this, check out the Unapologetic Nerd breakdown of the monotype run. It includes a handy chart showing how difficult each game is based on the type you pick.

3. The Speedrunning Pokémon Challenge

Speedrunning is a hobby that involves completing a game as quickly as possible. If you think you know Pokémon inside and out, you can put it to the test with a speedrun.

You’ll have to learn how to optimize a run to complete battles quickly and minimize unnecessary time sinks. Like a lot of video game speedruns, you’ll find both runs that rely on glitches for faster progression, as well as categories that do not allow glitches.

If you’d like to get started speedrunning your favorite Pokémon game, we recommend watching a speedrun or two to see how the pros do it. From there, you’ll likely find a community dedicated to your particular game, where you can ask questions and improve your skills. You don’t have to go for the world record to have fun—figuring out new ways to shave a few minutes off your personal best is extremely rewarding in its own right.

Have a look at our favorite video game speedruns to familiarize yourself with the concept of speedrunning.

4. The Conquer Endgame Pokémon Challenges

Don’t want to reset your save file? Pokémon games still have challenging endgame content to enjoy after you’ve completed the main story.

Every main Pokémon game has an arena with additional battle scenarios to take on. In older games, this was called the Battle Tower, but it’s also been known as the Battle Subway and Battle Tree, among other names. When taking these on, you’ll need to defeat as many trainers in a row as you can.

These arenas are more challenging because they scale all Pokémon down to the same level. This means you have to rely more on skill and team composition instead of brute force.

If you’re looking to play a Pokémon game specifically for these arenas, we recommend either Pokémon Emerald or Platinum. Instead of a single Battle Tower, they contain a Battle Frontier with several facilities that each offer a unique challenge.

Beyond the battle arenas, most Pokémon games let you access new areas after you become the champion. Keep an eye out for any areas you couldn’t reach during the main game. You might also find that the gym leaders (or even the Elite Four) will rematch you.

5. The Gotta Catch ‘Em All Pokémon Challenge

The first generation of Pokémon games contained 151 monsters. Even then, catching them all was quite an accomplishment. Over two decades later, the Pokédex now contains more than 800 creatures, meaning that catching everything is a task only for the hardcore.

If you want to be the ultimate Pokémon trainer, challenge yourself to catch them all. This isn’t always an attainable goal, however. Not all Pokémon are obtainable in each title, so you’ll have to resort to trading and even promotional events to find some of them.

Earnest collectors should look into the Pokémon Bank service. This is a $5/year utility that allows you to store Pokémon you’ve caught in the various games available on the 3DS. Its companion service, the Poké Transporter, even lets you transfer Pokémon across games.

If collecting every single Pokémon sounds overwhelming to you, try collecting only the Pokémon from a specific game’s region. This won’t require as much trading or connecting to older titles.

For a different type of challenge, which is great if you love rare Pokémon, try your hand at collecting shiny Pokémon. These are color-varied versions of almost every monster that have an extremely low appearance rate. Each game has special methods you can use to increase the likelihood of finding or breeding a shiny, but it still takes a lot of time.

Having just one or two shinies is still quite a feat, and the thrill of catching your first is super exciting. See Bulbapedia’s entry on shiny Pokémon for more info.

6. The Ribbon Collecting Pokémon Challenge

If you find that the above trials aren’t enough for you, and want a challenge that spans multiple games and consoles, try collecting ribbons.

Ribbons have been in the Pokémon games since Ruby and Sapphire released on the Game Boy Advance. Set a goal to load up a single Pokémon with as many of these ribbons as possible.

You’ll want to start with an earlier game and trade forward to a newer generation once you’ve obtained as many ribbons as possible. In some cases, trading forward can lock out the ability to trade back to previous games again, so make sure you have all the possible ribbons before you move on.

This task will have you becoming the champion in multiple regions, winning contests of beauty and intelligence, and even shelling out a ridiculous amount of in-game money to buy expensive ribbons.

Some ribbons are commemorative rewards from real-world Pokémon tournaments that have long since passed, so you won’t be able to get every single one short of hacking. Still, a Pokémon decorated with ribbons can serve as a great achievement full of fond memories.

The Serebii.net ribbon page can help you plan your strategy for collecting these.

Pokémon Challenges Provide Endless Fun

With these Pokémon challenges, you should never again get bored with a Pokémon game. Whether you want to replay the journey with self-imposed restrictions, complete all of the endgame content a game has to offer, or fill up your Pokédex, you have something to work towards.

If you’re not sure what to play next, have a look at our mega-list of all official Pokémon games you can play today.

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The 4 Best Sites to Share Videos Online With Family and Friends

Do you have a personal video that you want to share with your family and friends? The services that make you broadcast your everyday footage to the entire world may not be the best solution for sharing private family videos.

If you want to know the best ways to share private videos online with those who are close to you, keep reading.

How to Choose the Best Video Sharing Site for Your Needs

If you want to share private family videos with other people, there are a few key questions that you need to ask yourself before you settle on which service you’re going to use.

For example:

• Do you want the video to be available forever?
• How big is the video?
• Where is the video currently saved?
• What format does the video use?
• How easy is it for the receiving party to view the video?

So, let’s have a look at how a few of the best ways to share videos with family stack up against these questions.

1. YouTube

Many people don’t realize that YouTube provides a way to upload videos and share them privately with other users. After all, YouTube is primarily built around its vast library of community videos.

But not only is it possible to achieve, but it’s also remarkably straightforward to do.

Start uploading a video to YouTube in the usual way by clicking on the icon in the upper right-hand corner. When you see the video selection screen, just select the appropriate privacy option from the drop-down menu.

YouTube offers two options that will be useful for sharing private videos:

• Private: You can invite people to view the video. You’re allowed to invite up to 50 users with YouTube accounts to see your video. The video won’t show up in public YouTube search results. Any friend or family with the link can see the video, but only if you’ve invited them.
• Unlisted: Your video won’t show up in YouTube search results, but anyone with the link will be able to view the video. It’s also accessible to the public, whether or not someone has a YouTube account.

YouTube does have some restrictions on length, but they won’t be a problem for most users. The maximum size is capped at 128GB or 12 hours, whichever is less.

You can upload MOV, MPEG4, MP4, AVI, WMV, MPEGPS, FLV, 3GPP, WebM, DNxHR, ProRes, and CineForm videos.

2. Facebook

Facebook has a lot of shortcomings regarding privacy. Some users may opt not to add their videos to the network at all, especially if they include private family content.

However, if you can look past the privacy headlines, Facebook is one of the best ways to share videos online. Almost everyone has an account (including Grandma!) and choosing your audience for your video is relatively straightforward.

If you want to share a private video via Facebook, start creating a post, then click on the Photo/Video tab at the bottom of the new post’s window.

Facebook will prompt you to choose which file you want to upload. But before you hit the Share button, make sure you choose who can see it.

If you click on the Friends drop-down list, you will see Public, Friends, and Friends Except as option. Click on More to reveal an option for Specific Friends, then choose your friends from the popup list.

A Facebook video can be up to 4GB in size and 120 minutes in length— that’s less than YouTube. There’s also an FPS cap of 30 and a minimum width of 600 pixels. If someone watches your private video on mobile, landscape and portrait videos will both display in a 2:3 aspect ratio.

And remember, your friends and family will need a Facebook account in order to watch any private videos you want to share with them.

3. Cloud Storage Providers

A third popular way to share video online privately is to use a cloud storage provider. The big three names in the industry are Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox, but there are lots of smaller services out there as well.

Almost all cloud providers let you share your files—including videos—with other users, either via email or by using a shareable link.

However, instead of sharing videos on a case-by-case basis, if you want to share lots of content with your family (for example, Christmas videos or wedding videos), it might make more sense to set up the sharing at the folder level. That way, whatever videos you add to the specific folder will automatically inherit the correct sharing options.

To set up folder sharing options in Google Drive, right-click on the folder’s name and go to either Share (for email sharing) or Get Shareable Link. The process is similar on other cloud providers.

In terms of restrictions, almost all filetypes are supported. The only constraint on size is the amount of free storage space you have in your cloud account.

4. WeTransfer

The three services we have looked at so far share two common characteristics:

• They require an account to send the video.
• They will store your video for an infinite amount of time.

If you don’t want to make an account, or you’re concerned about your video staying available online for too long, you could check out one of the many free services that let you send large files online.

We think WeTransfer is arguably the best. The free version of the app lets you send files up to 2GB in size. The video format, bitrate, and other metadata are not important.

Alas, however, there are a few noteworthy restrictions:

• Videos are only available for seven days.
• You need to know the email address of the people to whom you want to send the private video.
• You can only add three email addresses.

If necessary, you can subscribe to WeTransfer Plus to remove the seven-day limit and increase the file size to 20GB.

Other Ways to Share Private Videos Online

The four services we’ve discussed in this article should be enough for most people to be able to share private videos and family videos.

However, if you still want to learn more about the options available, make sure you check out our articles on how to share large videos online and the best web apps for sharing large videos.

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Mouse Not Working in Windows 10? How to Fix Your Mouse Problems

The most irritating and frustrating computing issues always hit at the worst times. Just about to start your tax return? Keyboard issues. Ready to Skype your distant relatives? Microphone issues. One issue tops them all: a faulty mouse. Without your mouse, navigating your system is a tricky affair.

Luckily, unless you have a terminal hardware problem, most mouse problems have a resolution. Here are six ways you can fix your mouse issues in Windows 10.

Windows 10 Mouse Fixes to Try First

I say this in every single troubleshooting article I write: check your connections. It is an incredibly simple thing to overlook. Sometimes, a loose cable is the only thing creating an issue.

• Check your mouse or wireless adapter hasn’t become unseated in its port
• Try fully unplugging the mouse cable or wireless adapter and reconnecting in a different port
• If it is a new issue, sometimes restarting your system will provide an immediate fix

If none of these quick tips fix your Windows 10 mouse problem, read on!

1. Incompatible Drivers

One of the first ports of call for a Windows 10 mouse issue is your system drivers. Windows 10 takes care of your driver updates for the majority of your hardware. However, it doesn’t always get it right, and at times, it doesn’t always find a driver update after release. That doesn’t mean you cannot install a driver update manually, though.

Type device manager in your Start Menu search bar, then select the corresponding option. Browse down to Mice and other pointing devices, select, then right-click your mouse input and select Properties. Select the Driver tab, then Update Driver.

If You Have the Correct Driver

If you have downloaded the correct driver, you should Browse my computer for driver software. On the next page, use the Browse option to locate the driver, then press Next. The driver will install. Reboot your system when it completes.

If You Do Not Have the Correct Driver

If you haven’t downloaded a driver directly from the manufacturer, select Search automatically for updated driver software. Windows will now automatically scan your computer and the internet for any driver updates, and install accordingly. Windows will inform you if there are no updates available.

There Is No Driver Update Available

In the event there is no driver update available, you can try reinstalling the mouse driver manually. Note the name of your mouse or touchpad in the Device Manager, then head to the manufacturer’s website. The manufacturer should provide a download of the latest version of your mouse driver.

If you cannot find the relevant download on the manufacturer’s site, complete an internet search for “[PC model] windows 10 mouse driver,” or “[laptop model] windows 10 touchpad driver.” It should turn up the correct driver for your hardware.

Once you download the new mouse driver, head back to the Device Manager. Then, back to Mouse Properties, and the Device tab. Select Uninstall and follow the instructions. Now, install the mouse driver you downloaded manually, and restart your system (see If You Have the Correct Driver, above).

2. Mouse Freezing and Disappearing Cursor

A common Windows 10 mouse issue relates to the Realtek HD Audio Manager. Unfortunately, the Realtek HD Audio Manager is a culprit for audio driver issues, too. Right-click the Taskbar, select Task Manager, and head to the Start-up tab. If you see Realtek HD Audio Manager, right-click and select Disable. Now, reboot your system.

Disabling the Realtek HD Audio Manager is known to fix both mouse freezing and disappearing cursor issues.

And if you’re having problems with your left mouse button, check out our tips on fixing that issue.

3. Mouse Lagging and Beeping Sound

Your third mouse issue fix is another driver-related issue. Your mouse lags and emits a strange beeping sound. Microsoft first addressed these issues way back in April 2016, with Cumulative Updates KB3147458 and KB3147461. However, you won’t benefit from attempting the following fix if you’re still experiencing some Windows 10 mouse lag.

If you are still having issues, head to the Device Manager and locate Human Interface Devices. If you see XINPUT Compatible HID listed, this fix may well work for you.

First, you’ll need to download this version of the Xbox Wireless Adaptor for Windows and extract it to a memorable location. Head back to the XINPUT listing in the Device Manager. Right-click and select Update Driver Software.

Select Browse my computer for driver software, followed by Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.

On the next screen, select Have Disk. This allows us to browse the system for a driver of our choice. Locate the extracted files using the Browse button. Select xinputhid, then Open, then OK.

You should now return to the driver selection screen where the “new” XINPUT driver will be available for selection. Press Next, then reboot your system.

If this remains an issue, despite the Microsoft issued patch, find the aforementioned updates (KB3140743 and KB3140768), uninstall them, and await the next set of updates to arrive.

N.B: The Human Input Device listing may vary from system to system. This fix has been shown to work on a variety of systems, using different hardware setups.

4. Touchpad Freezing

Some Windows 10 users report random touchpad freezes following keyboard use. The issue appears to relate to Synaptics touchpad drivers, possibly a symptom of a clash between Windows 10 touchpad driver settings and those you would use normally.

1. Search for Mouse in your Start Menu search bar and select Change your mouse settings. Alternatively, search for Mouse in the Cortana search bar and select Change your mouse settings.
2. At the bottom of the newly opened Mouse & touchpad menu is an option for Additional mouse options.
3. Select the ClickPad tab > Settings > Advanced Tab.
4. Slide the Filter Activation Time bar back to 0 Seconds, and press OK.

5. Mouse Acceleration

A mouse acceleration issue is incredibly frustrating, especially for the gamers among us. You’re lining up a headshot, and BAM! Your mouse drifts to the opposite side of the screen, and you’re staring at a respawn screen.

Windows 10 users report acceleration issues in several scenarios. There’s no single fix for the mouse acceleration issues. Try some of the mouse acceleration issue fixes below and see which one works for you.

Turn It Off and On

First, try turning mouse acceleration on and off in your system settings.

1. Head to Control Panel > Hardware & Sound > Mouse.
2. Select the Pointer Options tab.
3. Uncheck the Enhance pointer precision box to turn acceleration off.
4. Select Apply and OK. Check how your mouse now responds.

MarkC Mouse Fix

If the good old “Have you tried turning it off and on” doesn’t work, you can try to use the MarkC Mouse Fix to fix your Windows mouse acceleration problem. The MarkC Mouse Fix is a registry file that removes Windows 10 mouse pointer acceleration, readjusting the feature to the level of accuracy you would expect.

Download the MarkC Mouse Fix compressed file and extract it to a memorable location. Next, find out the display DPI (Dots Per Inch) you’re currently using by typing Display into the Start Menu search bar and selecting Display Settings from the options.

• If the slider is completely to the left, your display DPI is 100%. If it is in the middle, or to the right, it indicates a different scale. Click the slider to reveal a tool tip displaying the current DPI. Make a note of your DPI.
• If the slider is completely to the left, your display DPI is 100%. If it is in the middle, or to the right, it indicates a different scale. Click the slider to reveal a tool tip displaying the current DPI. Make a note of your DPI.

Head back to the extracted MarkC Mouse Fix folder, locate your version of Windows, and open the folder. Select the registry file that corresponds with your display DPI. Answer Yes or OK to the prompts that appear. Now reboot your system for the fix to complete.

You should now enjoy exact 1-to-1 mouse control, with no acceleration or pausing between movements.

Download: MarkC Mouse Fix for Windows (Free)

Windows 10 Game Bar

The Windows 10 Game Bar is a handy feature for gamers. Sure, other options can record and stream your games. But Microsoft knows that the Windows 10 Game Bar integration with Windows 10 gives it an edge with gamers who use both a desktop and an Xbox.

Anyway, back to the Windows 10 mouse problems. The Windows 10 Game Bar can trigger a mouse acceleration issue. Unfortunately, it isn’t a uniform problem. As such, there isn’t a definite fix. Some users report that other mouse acceleration fixes have a positive effect. Others have gone so far as to remove the built-in game features completely, via the Windows PowerShell.

A common theme for those experiencing mouse acceleration problems while using the Windows 10 Game Bar is using the Windows Key + G shortcut to trigger a recording event. Try it for yourself and note if your mouse acceleration issue starts afterward.

6. Nvidia Drivers

After the Windows Fall Creators Update, back in October 2018, some users reported mouse issues in lower resolution environments. Specifically, the mouse buttons continue working, but the movement stops.

One common fix for this issue stems from outdated Nvidia drivers.

To update your Nvidia drivers, first head to the Nvidia drivers page. Select your Nvidia product from the dropdown boxes, then select Start Search. The latest drivers for your Nvidia graphics card will appear in the results below. Download and install the latest version.

Solving Windows 10 Mouse Problems

I hope one of the fixes sorts your Windows 10 mouse or touchpad issue out. The Windows Update system always has a chance of breaking something, somewhere. That Microsoft is relaxing the previously stringent Windows Update rules can only help end users. If a buggy update isn’t installed automatically, you stand a better chance of steering clear of time consuming mouse-related bugs.

Mouse issues are not the only thing that can affect Windows 10. Check out these seven quick fixes if you have no Windows 10 sound.

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The ONLYOFFICE Suite Offers Collaboration, Cloud Storage, and Choice

At one time, when you needed to write a document, edit a spreadsheet, or create a presentation, you had to use Microsoft Office. Fortunately, there are some great alternatives now available.

ONLYOFFICE is an open source cloud-based productivity suite. It offers a range of tools that can replace many Google G-Suite and Microsoft Office 365 features while providing greater security, collaboration, and choice.

ONLYOFFICE’s Collaboration Features

In any modern business, collaboration is critical. Real-time editing and knowledge-sharing throughout the company helps information flow. Ultimately, this leads to more informed decision-making. ONLYOFFICE aims to help you collaborate effectively, with as little difficulty as possible.

The web-based office suite allows you to create Microsoft Office-compatible documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. The applications will feel familiar, as they take cues from modern software design and resemble other software packages.

This means there’s no steep learning curve for your users. Plus, there are editor apps for Android and iOS, allowing everyone to stay productive while on the go.

A specific Collaboration tab at the top of the document, sheet, and presentation editor gives you easy access to some of the most useful collaborative and sharing tools. Users can share documents with others, provide co-editing access, and add comments, all from one interface. Version History lets you keep an eye on any changes made; its a built-in chat function opens up discussions while keeping any talk focused on the task at hand.

The ONLYOFFICE cloud also includes a collaboration platform, which is a package of additional productivity modules. A document management platform, mail server, calendar, CRM software, and project management tools sit alongside its Community software. Community is a company-wide blog, wiki, and instant messaging platform that allows your users to keep up-to-date with the latest goings-on.

ONLYOFFICE Software Editions

When selecting a new software package, you certainly want a hassle-free experience. In this case, you’ll be happy to learn that ONLYOFFICE is available as Software as a Service (SaaS). If you choose this model, the software is licensed to your business, but hosted by ONLYOFFICE and accessible via any web browser.

The company then takes care of updates and security patches, so you don’t have to worry about it. An additional feature of ONLYOFFICE’s SaaS offering is the inclusion of cloud storage for each registered user. This includes tiered pricing based on the number of users and required storage space. Pricing starts at $2 per user per month.

However, you may decide that the SaaS option isn’t right for your business. In this case, the ONLYOFFICE Enterprise Edition may be precisely what you’re after. The Enterprise Edition gives your users the same web-based experience, while keeping the data on your servers. Unlike the SaaS offering, this edition is available for a one-time fixed cost per server. Three separate license options are available based on the number of users and simultaneous editing sessions.

One of the biggest challenges of adopting a new piece of software is managing how it integrates into the rest of your workflow. Many businesses already host their data and applications on cloud services like Nextcloud, ownCloud, Alfresco, Confluence, or SharePoint. The ONLYOFFICE Integration Edition allows you to incorporate ONLYOFFICE’s editors into your existing deployments.

The Right Office Software for Your Business

ONLYOFFICE shows that it cares about your security from the moment you sign up. Many sites either don’t offer Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), or only include it as an optional feature buried in the settings.

That’s not the case with ONLYOFFICE. As part of the registration, you are required to enter a phone number to enable SMS-based 2FA. In addition, ONLYOFFICE is fully GDPR compliant.

Not only does ONLYOFFICE compete with offerings from Google and Microsoft, but in many cases, it bests them. For instance, a unique advantage of ONLYOFFICE is that its desktop office suite can encrypt documents end-to-end using blockchain technology. All these features make it a great alternative office product.

Whether you want a standalone local installation or a cloud-based SaaS package, ONLYOFFICE brings collaboration, choice, and security with its office productivity suite.

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The 10 Best Free Mobile Games With NO Ads or In-App Purchases

Mobile gaming means you can play games almost anywhere. The problem is finding games with no ads or in-app purchases. Which is getting increasingly difficult these days.

Are you looking for free mobile games with no ads for Android or iOS? Then read on for our list of unmissable games you can download for free, none of which contain ads or in-app purchases!

1. Stranger Things: The Game

Are you a fan of Stranger Things, or just want a fun adventure game to kill some time? Then you need Stranger Things: The Game.

With Stranger Things: The Game, players are sent back to 1984 in Hawkins, Indiana. The game takes place between the first and second seasons of Stranger Things, so it helps if you have a little knowledge of the Netflix series before playing.

In this game, you’re greeted with 16-bit graphics, harking back to the golden age of gaming. You start off controlling Officer Hopper, then gradually meet the kids on the adventure. Each character has their own unique specialties and talents, such as Lucas’s Wrist Rocket and Nancy’s baseball bats.

Stranger Things: The Game combines puzzles with a beat-em-up kind of adventure, and it’s sure to delight everyone. A wealth of secrets to discover and unlock await…

Download: Stranger Things: The Game for iOS | Android

2. ULTRAFLOW

Want a buttery-smooth puzzle? Then minimalist puzzle game ULTRAFLOW is worth checking out. While the graphics are super simple, the gameplay itself can prove rather challenging.

The goal is to get the numbered ball to the larger circle, within a certain number of bounces. This limited number shows on the smaller circle. Once you use the last bounce, the ball explodes if it hasn’t reached its destination.

While some stages are difficult, the game lacks timers and other restrictions, so you can play at your own pace. To restart a level, just tap twice on the screen. With 99 levels, ULTRAFLOW’s bound to keep you busy for a while.

And if that’s not enough, there’s also ULTRAFLOW 2, with an extra 180 levels available completely for free.

Download: ULTRAFLOW for iOS | Android

Download: ULTRAFLOW 2 for iOS | Android

3. GameStart Pixel Battle

If you need a good retro fix without turning your Android into a retro gaming hub, then GameStart Pixel Battle is the ad-free mobile game that you’re looking for.

A good choice to consider if you want old-school side-scrolling platformer fun, GameStart Pixel Battle comes with great 16-bit graphics. Topping it off is a chiptune soundtrack packed with 80s and 90s nostalgia.

You take control of gamer girl Alyse and help her discover what’s been sabotaging games, making them impossible to play. After all, surely nobody finds crazy difficult games fun.

GameStart Pixel Battle is a side-scrolling platformer, challenging you to fight your way through increasingly difficult foes. Look out for cameos from popular pro gamers and unlock more playable characters, each with their own unique abilities.

Even if you’ve never heard of GameStart, this gem of a game will serve your retro action fix well.

Download: GameStart Pixel Battle for iOS | Android

4. DATA WING

Looking for an adrenaline rush? Give DATA WING and its futuristic yet retro graphics a try. While it might miss the chiptunes you grew up with, the original EDM soundtrack is still pleasant to listen to.

The goal is to race to the finish line in various objective-based missions assigned by the “Mother” computer system. What sets DATA WING apart from other racers is the unique driving system. Your ship flies automatically and you tap left or right to steer towards either direction.

To brake, simply tap both sides at the same time. You can also thrust off walls, using the momentum to your advantage to pass other racers.

Though DATA WING is about the racing, it does have a story spanning two hours with 40 levels to complete. Ultimately, this is a fun story-driven, competitive racing game that gets your blood pumping.

Download: DATA WING for iOS | Android

5. OHM—A Virtual Science Centre

If you’re seeking an educational game for kids, or maybe just want to learn something new yourself, then OHM—A Virtual Science Centre is a good option.

OHM features a gorgeous, low-poly design, making it one of the best-looking mobile games around. The graphics are beautiful and pull you into the fascinating world of energy and electricity.

In OHM, you’ll learn about what energy is and how it works. This includes how energy becomes electricity from an atomic level, working its way up to bigger objects, like transportation. The comprises several puzzle-based chapters, featuring different topics that are explained in a fun and interactive way.

OHM’s puzzles are mostly simple, but that’s expected from a game that’s supposed to serve an educational purpose. But as the learning progresses, the puzzles get trickier. But it never gets too difficult, making the game perfect for children.

After all, who said you can’t have fun and learn something at the same time?

Download: OHM—A Virtual Science Centre for iOS | Android

6. PewPew

Love Geometry Wars but don’t feel like paying a premium? PewPew lets you experience multidirectional shoot-em-up action at no cost.

The graphics in PewPew are basic, but if you crave bright neon shape outlines against a black background, it’s perfect. PewPew has a high frame rate and features five different game modes: Pandemonium, Dodge This, Assault, Chromatic Conflict, and Asteroids.

Pandemonium includes enemies that explode or spin maniacally upon death, causing chaos for you. Dodge This challenges you to collect boxes while avoiding enemies. Assault is like classic Geometry Wars, where you fight waves of enemies.

Chromatic Conflict involves killing only enemies that match your ship’s current color, which gets a bit tricky and requires observation and patience. Finally, Asteroids is like the classic game of the same name that you’ve probably played before.

As if these game modes aren’t enough, PewPew also has playable ships to unlock and leaderboards to climb. It’s amazing how this game is free with no strings attached.

Download: PewPew on iOS | Android

7. Underhand

Want something that’s completely free but also totally unique? Then check out Underhand by Spoopy Squad—there’s nothing else like it.

Underhand bills itself as a CCG, which usually stands for “collectible card game” but here stands for “cultist card game.” That means you take on the role of a cult leader and must manage your cult’s resources effectively.

Meanwhile, you must respond to various event cards that get drawn from the deck. Your response to events determines the success of your cult and how far it will go.

Your cult’s main goal is to summon an “Ancient One,” but again this depends on your resource management and success. Otherwise, the cult may fall prey to the trials and tribulations of time itself. Either way, Underhand provides a thrilling choice-based adventure that anyone can enjoy.

We recommend you carefully go through the tutorial in the beginning, because otherwise you’ll likely end up getting lost. However, once you start playing, it’s hard to stop.

Download: Underhand by Spoopy Squad for Android

8. Wicked Lair

Tired of always being the good guy in games? Then you’re in for a treat with Wicked Lair, where you get to construct your own dungeon. You can build this dungeon as deep as you like, then fill it with nasty monsters and minions.

The main goal in Wicked Lair is to dispatch invaders to the nearby town and destroy it. Heroes will retaliate and attack the dungeon, tower defense style, so overpower them with your monsters.

Various minions can be discovered and kept in your lair, along with nine dungeon types to fit your play style. You even learn spells that can aid your minions, because they won’t be able to win without you.

On top of the dungeon building/tower defense mashup, Wicked Lair features a retro pixel art style that everyone will love. This is a must if you enjoy tower defense style games and like to be on the dark side.

Download: Wicked Lair for Android

9. Cytoid: A Community Music Game

A very different option is Cytoid, subtitled as “A Community Music Game” with a Guitar Hero/Let’s Dance approach.

All you need to do with this game is tap the screen when the circles appear. Sometimes, you need to slide your finger along the path shown. Whatever happens, you play to the music, a fun techno soundtrack that carries you through the game.

Increased accuracy lets you level up and progress to the next stage, where things become even tougher.

Cytoid is available for free and with no ads or in-app purchases. Which is amazing given how this is one of the most unique mobile games available.

Download: Cytoid: A Community Music Game for iOS| Android

10. Makenines

Have an itch for some number puzzles? Then Makenines is right up your alley.

In Makenines, you’ll find dozens of handcrafted puzzles to both stimulate and relax the mind. The minimalist visuals and ambient soundtrack are also rather soothing. The goal is to clear the grid by combining tiles so that they equal up to nine.

While it looks and sounds easy, the puzzles get more challenging as you go. It’s all about the process of elimination.

With Makenines, players get 80 puzzles to solve, split up across three difficulty levels. You can start off with the Easy puzzles, then move on to Medium and Hard. There’s even a set of nine new puzzles that rotate every day, giving you plenty of challenges.

You get the full game of Makenines for free and there are no ads. However, unlike other free mobile games with no adds, it has a voluntary tip jar. This means you can use an in-app purchase to support the developer if you feel like it.

Doing so also gets you extra puzzles, but these are completely optional bonuses.

Download: Makenines for iOS

What Are Your Favorite Games With No Ads?

While there are many trendy mobile games out there, most of them are full of ads and try to push in-app purchases on you, which can get really annoying really quickly. Fortunately, there are still some great free mobile games available, as we’ve shown you.

1. Stranger Things: The Game
2. ULTRAFLOW
3. GameStart Pixel Battle
4. DATA WING
5. OHM
6. PewPew
7. Underhand
8. Wicked Lair
9. Cytoid
10. Makenines

It isn’t just mobile games that you can get for free if you know where to look. So if you’re also into desktop gaming here’s how to download premium PC games for free.

Read the full article: The 10 Best Free Mobile Games With NO Ads or In-App Purchases

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9 Things Every PC Builder Needs for a Successful Build

If you’re getting ready to build a PC, you’ll need some basic tools as well as your components.

Here we’re giving a rundown of tools and equipment you should have on hand for the best building experience.

1. Screwdriver

The one most essential tool for building a computer is a Phillips-head screwdriver. This is used for tightening the screws on most components to hold them in place. Get a decent quality screwdriver of an appropriate size to make your life easier.

It is useful for your screwdriver to be magnetic as this will help you to keep control of your screws when fitting items from awkward angles.

2. Pliers

Sometimes you’ll find a screw or bolt which is so tight it’s hard to undo it. In these cases, a pair or pliers is useful. You can use them to loosen up tight fastenings.

Pliers are also handy for retrieving small screws if you drop them into a cramped location like behind the motherboard tray. You want to make sure you remove any loose screws, as leaving them in the case could potentially cause an electrical short. So if you drop a screw, be sure to retrieve it before continuing.

3. Anti-Static Equipment

You should be aware of the minor risk to your components from electrostatic discharge. This occurs when two surfaces rub together and create static electricity, which can create a small spark. If this happens near your components, it can damage them.

There’s some debate over how serious a problem this is when building a PC, but if you’ve spent a lot of money on components then it’s a good idea to take extra precautions.

The best way to avoid electrostatic discharge is to wear an anti-static wrist strap. This is a bracelet-like device which you attach around your wrist and connects to an electrical socket. That way, if any electrical charge builds up between your body and the computer, it can be safely dissipated through the socket and won’t create a spark.

4. A Clean Workspace

It’s important to have space to work while you build. Look for a flat surface at an appropriate height so you’re not bending over and hurting your back, with good clear overhead lighting. Some parts are small or hard to seat correctly and it’ll be much easier if you can see what you’re doing.

One thing to avoid is working on carpet. Carpet can generate static electricity, especially if you’re wearing fluffy socks, which can potentially harm your components. This isn’t very likely to happen but it is a risk.

The best surfaces are a wooden desk or coffee table, or you could use your kitchen counter as long as there’s enough room and you aren’t too near the sink.

5. Zip Ties

Once your components are placed into your case, you need to manage the cables to keep everything neat and tidy and to make sure you’re not obstructing any airflow.

To do this, you’ll need zip ties, velcro ties, or twist ties. These will let you tie down cables to points inside your case and bundle cables together for easier management.

See our article on cable management tips for building a PC like a pro for more on this topic.

6. Thermal Paste

If you buy a new CPU or a new cooler, it will probably come with a small tube of thermal paste. But if you are building using second-hand components, you’ll need to supply your own thermal paste.

You may also want to consider having your own thermal paste on hand as the paste that comes with some CPUs or coolers is not of the best quality. The thermal paste helps transfer heat from your CPU to the cooler so using a quality paste can help prevent your computer from overheating.

Some popular quality thermal pastes are Arctic Silver 5, Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut, or Noctua NT-H1.

If you’re using an all-in-one cooler you won’t need thermal paste as it will come with paste pre-applied. Just make sure you understand how little thermal paste is needed before applying.

7. Rubbing Alcohol

If you’re adding new thermal paste to your CPU, you’ll need to remove the old thermal paste first. Thermal paste hardens over time and becomes crusty and less effective.

Fortunately removing old thermal paste is very easy. You can use rubbing alcohol to remove it. Just dip a q-tip in the rubbing alcohol and gently rub at the old thermal paste to remove it.

If you don’t have rubbing alcohol you can use acetone in a pinch, which is found in nail varnish remover. However, some nail varnish removers contain conditioning oils as well as acetone so they aren’t ideal to use on a CPU. Stick to rubbing alcohol for the best results.

8. A CPU Installation Tool

This tool isn’t necessary but it can give you confidence if you’re a first-time builder.

When you install a CPU, you have to make sure that it is lined up correctly with the socket on the motherboard. There’s a small triangle in the corner of the CPU which will help you line it up. You just need to gently drop the CPU into the socket. Don’t slide it around or push too hard or you could damage your CPU.

If you’re worried about the process, you can use a CPU installation tool like this one from ASUS. It’s a small plastic bracket which holds the CPU in the correct position and helps you drop it neatly into the socket.

9. Spare Parts

Finally, one of the most useful things you can have on hand when building is a currently working PC for troubleshooting purposes.

If you connect all your components, your new PC should be able to POST (power-on self test). This means that the components are communicating with each other and the machine is able to access the BIOS. The BIOS is the basic software which the computer runs on and onto which you install an operating system. Learn more about BIOS in our article on discovering your BIOS and how to make the most of it.

However, sometimes you’ll connect your components and the PC won’t POST. When this happens, you can listen out for beep codes which can tell you what the problem is. But if that doesn’t work, it’s time to start troubleshooting.

This is where your working PC comes in. You can swap out components one at a time for components from your working PC, because they are known to be functional. If you swap out your new RAM for your old RAM and the new PC now posts, for example, you are likely dealing with a faulty or incorrectly seated RAM stick.

Having known working parts on hand makes troubleshooting so much easier.

If you have these tools on hand, you’ve got everything you need to start building your own PC.

Read the full article: 9 Things Every PC Builder Needs for a Successful Build

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Apple’s iOS 13 will include a system-wide Dark Mode

Apple’s iOS 13 is getting a dark mode, the company announced today at its Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose. Confirming an earlier leak, the new dark mode will be system-wide and can be turned on or off from iOS’s Settings or through a new Control Center toggle. Once enabled, Dark Mode will change the color of the Home screen dock, the background colors of iOS screens, and Apple’s built-in apps like Apple Music, Notes, Messages, Photos, Calendar, Music, and more.

Other system features have also been prepped for dark mode like the dock and share sheet, so it’s a seamless experience.

Dark themes for apps have become fairly popular, thanks to the rise of OLED smartphones in recent years. Because a dark mode lights up fewer pixels, it can help conserve battery life on phone’s OLED screens. Dark themes may have other benefits as well, in terms of lessening device addiction and improving sleep, some claim.

Apple is not the first to launch a system-wide dark mode, however. At Google’s developer conference in May, the company introduced Dark Theme for Android Q which will work across its mobile OS and in first-party Android apps, with developers able to code for it in their own applications.

Several third-party apps today support darker themes of their own, including Twitter, YouTube, Google, Medium, Reddit, Wikipedia, Instapaper, Pocket, IMDb, iBooks, Kindle, Google Maps, Waze, Opera Mini and many more.

Below, is the leaked image of Dark Mode for comparison:

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Daily Crunch: Twitter acquires Fabula AI

The Daily Crunch is TechCrunch’s roundup of our biggest and most important stories. If you’d like to get this delivered to your inbox every day at around 9am Pacific, you can subscribe here.

1. Twitter bags deep learning talent behind London startup, Fabula AI

Fabula AI has been developing technology to identify online disinformation by looking at patterns in how fake stuff versus genuine news spreads online — making it an obvious fit for the rumor-riled social network.

Twitter says the acquisition of Fabula AI will help it build out its internal machine learning capabilities, writing that the startup’s “world-class team of machine learning researchers” will become part of an internal research group led by Sandeep Pandey.

2. Review: Ring’s new outdoor lighting products are brilliant

Twenty minutes after opening the box and throwing the instructions aside, Matt Burns says he had five new lights installed around his house and configured to his home’s network.

3. Live from WWDC 2019

The keynote starts at 10am Pacific today.

4. Amazon sellers to hit UK high streets in year-long pop-up pilot

The Amazon pop-up pilot program — which is couched as an exploration of “a new model to help up-and-coming online brands grow their high street presence” — will see more than 100 small online businesses selling on the UK high street for the first time.

5. A look at the many ways China suppresses online discourse about the Tiananmen Square protests

The effects of the crackdown appears to have spread beyond China, with the suspension of many Chinese-language Twitter accounts critical of China, even if they originated outside the country. (For what it’s worth, Twitter said this was part of a “routine action.”)

6. ‘Weirdo’ fintech VC Anthemis marches to its own drummer

Apparently, visiting the Anthemis office is like stepping into a Wes Anderson film. (Extra Crunch membership required.)

7. This week’s TechCrunch podcasts

The latest episode of Equity features a discussion of whether the tech press is too positive in its coverage of startups, while the Original Content team reviews the (excellent) animated Netflix series “Tuca & Bertie.”

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Facebook introduces Avatars, its Bitmoji competitor

Ditch those generic emoji. Facebook’s new Avatars feature lets you customize a virtual lookalike of yourself for use as stickers in chat and comments. Once you personalize your Avatar’s face, hair, and clothes, they’ll star in a range of frequently updated stickers conveying common emotions and phrases. From Likes to Reactions to Avatars, you could see this as the natural progression of self-expression on Facebook…or as a ruthless clone of Snapchat’s wildly popular Bitmoji selfie stickers.

Facebook Avatars launches today in Australia for use in Messenger and News Feed comments before coming to the rest of the world in late 2019 or early 2020. The feature could make Facebook feel more fun, youthful, and visually communicative at a time when the 15-year-old social network increasingly seems drab and uncool. Avatars aren’t quite as cute or hip to modern slang as Bitmoji. But they could still become a popular way to add some flare to replies without resorting to cookie-cutter emoticons or cliche GIFs.

“There’s been a ton of work put in to this from the product and design perspective to find out, with how many people on Facebook, how to make this as representative as possible” says Facebook Avatars communication manager Jimmy Raimo. From offering religious clothing like hijabs to a rainbow of skin colors and hair styles, Facebook didn’t want any demographic left out. “They’re a bit more realistic so they can be your personal avatar vs trying to make them cute, funny, and cartoony” Raimo explains.

How To Make A Facebook Avatar

Users will start to see a smiley-face button in the News Feed comment composer and Messenger sticker chooser they can tap to create their Facebook Avatar. For now, only people in Australia can make Avatars but everyone will be able to see them around Facebook.

The creation process begins with gender neutral blank people can customize from scratch across 18 traits. For now there’s no option to start with a selfie or profile pic and have Facebook automatically generate you an avatar. Facebook is researching that technique, but Raimo acknowledges that “We want to make sure we don’t show you something totally opposite of the photo. There’s sensitivity around facial recognition.”

The Facebook Avatar customizer

Facebook won’t be monetizing Avatars directly, at least at first. There are no sponsored clothing options from fashion brands or ways to buy fancy jewelry or other accessories for your mini-me. Raimo said Facebook is open to these idea, though. “It would help personalize it for sure and from a business perspective that would be smart.” It’s easy to imagine Nike or The North Face paying to let Avatar sport their logos, or fans coughing up cash to wear their favorite labels. Perhaps that’s a micropayment use case for Facebook’s upcoming cryptocurrency.

Facebook is also considering expanding Avatars for use as profile pics or in Groups — two areas of the app where you interact with strangers and you might enjoy the anonymity of a 2D drawing instead of a photo of your face. However, Facebook hasn’t deeply considered turning Avatars into a platform so you could use them in other apps through an API or keyboard you install on your phone.

Instead, step 1 was just to make sure the Avatar creation flow is easy and most people can make one that actually looks like them. When asked about the ability to change the perceived age of Avatars to be inclusive of Facebook’s older users, Raimo admitted that’s a gap in the product. There’s no way to add wrinkles so mom and dad’s avatars might look a bit too similar to yours.

Avatars have come a long way since Facebook’s v1 prototype a year ago

The biggest problem with Facebook Avatars is that they’re hopelessly late to the market. TechCrunch broke the news that Facebook was working on Avatars a year ago. And while it’s good that it took the time to research how to make them inclusive, Snapchat gained a ton of ground in the meantime.

Bitmoji have been around since 2014, and since Snapchat acquired it in 2016, it’s been a mainstay of the top 10 apps chart. Sensor Tower estimates Bitmoji has been downloaded over 330 million times. And Bitmoji now has its own developer kit that’s spawning hit apps like YOLO. Like Snapchat Stories, Bitmoji may be too entrenched in popular culture for Facebook Avatars to ever escape their rap as a rip-off.

Facebook Avatars (left) vs Snapchat Bitmoji (right)

Yet that doesn’t mean there isn’t a huge opportunity here. The need for humans to expressively represent themselves on the internet is only growing as we shift from text-based to image-based communication. Whether for privacy, creativity, or convenience, there’s a wide range of use cases for having a parallel virtual likeness. There are still billions of Facebook users without a Bitmoji. And now Mark Zuckerberg has the foundation of a digital identity layer that could travel with us alongside our data, personalizing every online interaction.

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Qualifiers

Qualifiers

Facebook introduces Avatars, its Bitmoji competitor

Ditch those generic emoji. Facebook’s new Avatars feature lets you customize a virtual lookalike of yourself for use as stickers in chat and comments. Once you personalize your Avatar’s face, hair, and clothes, they’ll star in a range of frequently updated stickers conveying common emotions and phrases. From Likes to Reactions to Avatars, you could see this as the natural progression of self-expression on Facebook…or as a ruthless clone of Snapchat’s wildly popular Bitmoji selfie stickers.

Facebook Avatars launches today in Australia for use in Messenger and News Feed comments before coming to the rest of the world in late 2019 or early 2020. The feature could make Facebook feel more fun, youthful, and visually communicative at a time when the 15-year-old social network increasingly seems drab and uncool. Avatars aren’t quite as cute or hip to modern slang as Bitmoji. But they could still become a popular way to add some flare to replies without resorting to cookie-cutter emoticons or cliche GIFs.

“There’s been a ton of work put in to this from the product and design perspective to find out, with how many people on Facebook, how to make this as representative as possible” says Facebook Avatars communication manager Jimmy Raimo. From offering religious clothing like hijabs to a rainbow of skin colors and hair styles, Facebook didn’t want any demographic left out. “They’re a bit more realistic so they can be your personal avatar vs trying to make them cute, funny, and cartoony” Raimo explains.

How To Make A Facebook Avatar

Users will start to see a smiley-face button in the News Feed comment composer and Messenger sticker chooser they can tap to create their Facebook Avatar. For now, only people in Australia can make Avatars but everyone will be able to see them around Facebook.

The creation process begins with gender neutral blank people can customize from scratch across 18 traits. For now there’s no option to start with a selfie or profile pic and have Facebook automatically generate you an avatar. Facebook is researching that technique, but Raimo acknowledges that “We want to make sure we don’t show you something totally opposite of the photo. There’s sensitivity around facial recognition.”

The Facebook Avatar customizer

Facebook won’t be monetizing Avatars directly, at least at first. There are no sponsored clothing options from fashion brands or ways to buy fancy jewelry or other accessories for your mini-me. Raimo said Facebook is open to these idea, though. “It would help personalize it for sure and from a business perspective that would be smart.” It’s easy to imagine Nike or The North Face paying to let Avatar sport their logos, or fans coughing up cash to wear their favorite labels. Perhaps that’s a micropayment use case for Facebook’s upcoming cryptocurrency.

Facebook is also considering expanding Avatars for use as profile pics or in Groups — two areas of the app where you interact with strangers and you might enjoy the anonymity of a 2D drawing instead of a photo of your face. However, Facebook hasn’t deeply considered turning Avatars into a platform so you could use them in other apps through an API or keyboard you install on your phone.

Instead, step 1 was just to make sure the Avatar creation flow is easy and most people can make one that actually looks like them. When asked about the ability to change the perceived age of Avatars to be inclusive of Facebook’s older users, Raimo admitted that’s a gap in the product. There’s no way to add wrinkles so mom and dad’s avatars might look a bit too similar to yours.

Avatars have come a long way since Facebook’s v1 prototype a year ago

The biggest problem with Facebook Avatars is that they’re hopelessly late to the market. TechCrunch broke the news that Facebook was working on Avatars a year ago. And while it’s good that it took the time to research how to make them inclusive, Snapchat gained a ton of ground in the meantime.

Bitmoji have been around since 2014, and since Snapchat acquired it in 2016, it’s been a mainstay of the top 10 apps chart. Sensor Tower estimates Bitmoji has been downloaded over 330 million times. And Bitmoji now has its own developer kit that’s spawning hit apps like YOLO. Like Snapchat Stories, Bitmoji may be too entrenched in popular culture for Facebook Avatars to ever escape their rap as a rip-off.

Facebook Avatars (left) vs Snapchat Bitmoji (right)

Yet that doesn’t mean there isn’t a huge opportunity here. The need for humans to expressively represent themselves on the internet is only growing as we shift from text-based to image-based communication. Whether for privacy, creativity, or convenience, there’s a wide range of use cases for having a parallel virtual likeness. There are still billions of Facebook users without a Bitmoji. And now Mark Zuckerberg has the foundation of a digital identity layer that could travel with us alongside our data, personalizing every online interaction.

Read Full Article