Apps

Twitter will now let you tweet with your voice

Now speak to your followers directly!

Published

June 18, 2020

Shivam Vahia

Twitter is a micro-blogging platform that’s essentially built on text-based content. These text-based posts are called tweets and currently have a character limit of 280. To make things more interesting, the social networking platform is rolling out a new feature that’ll let you tweet with your voice.

The company said it’s allowing a “limited group” of iOS users to create tweets with their voice. In the coming weeks, all iOS users should have access to voice tweets.

Voice notes can be added alongside regular tweets, to add context to them. Twitter hasn’t made any changes to retweets or replies on voice notes, which function as they always have.

In simpler terms, it’s a creative and different way of sharing your thoughts instead of just typing. Twitter explained, “We’re testing a new feature that will add a more human touch to the way we use Twitter — your very own voice.”

^-^ pic.twitter.com/aCaIA5lpUk

— ❀ ✿ (@momoringtiny) June 17, 2020

The new format of tweets can also be considered as an accessibility feature. Each tweet captures 140 seconds of audio and a new voice note will start if you cross that limit. A thread will be automatically made with a new tweet in connection if you exceed the maximum duration.

Twitter said it hopes voice tweets will add a “more human touch” to the platform and noted that sometimes 280 characters aren’t enough to convey a message. However, it remains to be seen how the platform is able to moderate these voice notes. Abusive language could find a safe haven in this new format and with wider usage, keeping a tab will be even more difficult.

Apps

Disney+ now streaming in Singapore

Have you subscribed yet?

Published

February 23, 2021

Rodneil Quiteles

The wait is over. Disney+ is now finally available in Singapore.

If you’ve been longing to stream Disney classics, new shows like The Mandalorian in the Star Wars universe, or just want a feel good flick from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you can now do so via the streaming app.

The subscription costs SG$ 11.98 per month or SG$ 119.98 for a year. With it you’ll have access to a library of 500 movies and over 15,000 episodes of some of your favorite shows from Disney Channel.

You’ll also gain access to content by other major entertainment companies like Pixar, National Geographic, and Star.

To sign-up, users need to go to the Disney+ website and you’ll be asked to input your email address so they can keep you updated on how to subscribe. A subscription plan lets the user stream on four different devices at the same time. There are also different profiles for each subscription just like Netflix. However, instead of just five, Disney+ gives you up to seven profiles.

GeekCulture put together a list of supported devices so check them out to see if you have any of them.

Apps

Netflix now has a Downloads For You feature

Not to be confused with Smart Downloads

Published

February 23, 2021

GadgetMatch

Netflix wants to make sure you have something to watch even when you’re on the go with its new Downloads For You feature.

Not to be confused with Smart Downloads which lets you find the next episode of your favorite show even when you’re on the go, the Downloads For You feature automatically downloads recommended shows or movies to your mobile device based on your tastes.

Don’t worry though, despite it doing things automatically for you, you’re still ultimately in control. It takes two steps to opt in.

Go to the Downloads tab on your mobile device and toggle on Downloads For You.
Choose the amount of content you want downloaded to your device (1GB, 3GB, or 5GB) and click Turn On. The more space you allow, the more recommendations Netflix will download for you.

Here’s how it should look like.

Just like Smart Downloads, the Netflix Downloads For You feature will only work while you’re on Wi-Fi. It’s also only currently available on Android with iOS testing happening soon.

Apps

Spotify will launch high-quality audio later this year

Price unannounced

Published

February 23, 2021

Luigi Leonardo

Since the advent of music streaming, Spotify has enjoyed its dominance as the most popular service with the most varied gallery of music. However, competing services, like Tidal, can easily one-up the industry leader in terms of audio quality. Despite Spotify’s relentless promise to deliver top-tier audio, the service hasn’t upgraded its audio quality that much. That will soon change, though. Spotify has now confirmed that high-quality audio is coming later this year.

Currently, Spotify is streaming its music at a paltry 320kbps. From an audiophile’s standpoint, 320kbps is the bare minimum bitrate for music listening. However, hi-fi audio — that is, bitrates that escalate from 1000kbps and go as high as 9216kbps– unlocks an entirely new experience for more discerning ears. To put it lightly, hi-fi audio sounds more vibrant and more alive, especially given a workable audio setup.

With the announcement, Spotify is reportedly pushing the feature to select markets at an unannounced date. Unfortunately, the company has not announced how much the new feature will cost users who want to upgrade. Hi-fi audio definitely costs a lot more. Tidal, for example, offers its highest quality audio for US$ 19.99 per month.

In the past, though, Spotify has talked about launching the feature for an additional US$ 7.50. At the time, the promise didn’t result into anything. This time, Spotify Hi-Fi finally seems official.