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ByteDance and Tencent are competing to gain ground from each others turf by testing new features on TikTok, Douyin and WeChat in China.

Closer in that region, Megvii, a Chinese facial recognition company plans to get listed on the Nasdaq-styled STAR Market in Shanghai.

We are also looking at the Googles Pixel Buds, and additions features on Androids Fast Pair technology.

Finally, Apples iPhone production may get delayed due to coronavirus and supply chain disruptions.

Google launches new Pixel Buds

Google unveiled its Pixel Buds last October. On Monday, the company said it is selling the clearly white variant in the US for $179 a pair.

The designers scanned over thousands of ears to create the buds that comfortable sit in the ear.

The stabiliser arc tucks in gently, and with the interchangeable eartip, making Pixel Buds fit firmly and securely, so they stay even when you exercise.

The eartips seal the ear to isolate loud outside noises, and to provide high quality audio. A spacial vent under the buds reduces plugged-ear feeling.

The buds come with adaptive sound sensors to dynamically change volume control based on ambient sound or noise. This helps the user from raising or lowering volume by touching the phone or buds while they are on the move.

Adaptive sound works kind of like auto-brightness on your phone screen, Frank Li, UX Engineer at Google said.

It momentarily adjusts to the world around you to make the experience of using your device a little simpler.

Its low-range Bluetooth setting helps the buds to get connected to the phone even when it isnt by the users side. The buds can pair with Bluetooth 4.0+ laptops, tablets and iOS devices. With a Pixel phone and other Android 6.0 devices, they pair with just a single tap.

With Pixel Buds, you get 5 hours of listening time on a single charge, with up to 24 hours with the wireless charging case; and they are sweat and water resistant.

New features in Androids Fast Pair technology

Pairing Bluetooth devices is a common activity. Sometimes the process can get frustrating as the devices wont sync and connect. That tiny dotted circle keeps going round until the connection is established.

A couple years ago, Android launched its Fast Pair feature to make devices connect fast with a single tap. That made it easy for Android 6.0+ phone users to pair Fast Pair-enabled accessories.

Now, Google has added some new features to help you find your lost accessory, know when to charge wire-less earbuds and personalise Bluetooth device.

With the new update, you can now find your Bluetooth headset connected to your phone by ringing them. In case you are using a pair of earbuds, you can now ring one of the missing buds to find where they are.

And, in the coming months, if you misplace your headset, you can know its last known location with Find My Device app, if you have location history turned on.

Next, for earbuds users, you can now know the charge level in your earbuds when you open the case. Your phone will get a notification about the battery charge on each component.

And lastly, the Fast Pair update will name the accessory with your first name after successfully pairing with Bluetooth.

On Android 10 phones, users can adjust headphone settings and link it to Google Assistant.

Apple to delay iPhone production

Apple is pushing back production of its flagship iPhones by about a month as the COVID-19 pandemic has weakened consumer demand and disrupted manufacturing supply chain across Asia, Wall Street Journal reported citing people familiar with the shift.

The Cupertino-headquartered company plans to launch four new iPhone models this year, according to sources. Some of the new models may come with 5G connectivity, and will have different specifications and price points.

Refreshing its product portfolio with new launches play an important part in revenue generation as iPhone sales account for more than half of Apples top line.

The company usually ramps up production by early summer to start selling new iPhone models in mid-September. This plan helps Apple to build up inventory by around August.

This year, however, the production may slide back even as Apple plans to build new phones in the July-to-September period, according to unnamed sources cited by the Journal.

Chinas facial recognition startup plans to go public

Megvii Technology, a controversial facial recognition firm, is considering to go public on the newly opened STAR Market in Shanghai, Reuters reported.

The timing works well for Megvii as the suspicion US-listed Chinese firms are coming under. The listing will mean longer lock-in period and controls on capital. But, it will help in increasing valuations.

Several tech companies in China have stayed away from local exchanges due to long waiting time for listings, caps on IPO pricing, capital controls and profitability requirements.

STAR Market listing may ease many of these rules, but the companys shareholders are subjected to longer lock in period, up to 36 months post listing, compared to six months in New York. And foreign investors require approvals before they repatriate their money out of China after cashing out. Those approvals are usually slower.

But valuations are attractive as the companies listed on STAR Market trade at over 90 times historical earnings.

TikTok to test social networking feature

Bytedance-owned TikTok is testing with a new social networking feature as it competes against WeChat, South China Morning Post reported.

TikToks feature under testing allows users to video call unknown users and play online games with them.

Douyin, another company owned by Bytedance, introduced its connection feature to enable users to connect with random group of other users for a limited time each day. It also matches users on the platform and lets them video conference while playing casual games.

A ByteDance representative to South China Morning post that the Connection function was only being tested in Douyin. TikTok is not enabling a similar function, the representative said.

ByteDances testing comes as it wants to square off against Tencent in the areas of entertainment, telecomputing and gaming.

Tencent, for its part, said that WeChat was testing a short video feature, in a sign on expanding into ByteDances turf.

Continued here:
Todays cache | TikTok is testing social networking feature, and more - The Hindu

Since the dawn of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, misinformation echoed on social networking sites, leading to the formation of conspiracy theories through the mass media.

According to a new study, conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, misinformation making the rounds on social networking sites are more likely to have originated from conservative media outlets, compared to other forms of news media.

The new Annenberg findings, as published in the Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review, also led to the assumption that television coverage and print news from mainstream media outlets have been considered to be the most reliable throughout the pandemic.

Conservative media coverage, particularly by notable right-leaning figures, often resulted in the endorsement of conspiracy theories and misinformation on how to prevent the virus, according to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

In the study, conservative media consumption correlated with the belief that SARS-CoV-2 was a bioweapon created by the Chinese government. Exposure to conservative media was also associated with the backlash toward the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for purportedly exaggerating the severity of the outbreak in an effort to shake up the U.S. Presidents time in office, the study affirmed.

In an additional instance of misinformation, the findings noted that the spread of usingvitamin Cas a therapeutic intervention for those infected by the coronavirus correlated with conservative media usage.

Moreover, when the research group probed the use of social networking sites, they found higher instances of misinformation in the majority of platforms, including Twitter and Facebook. Those who held the belief that vitamin C served as a form of treatment, asserted negative views of the CDC, and theorized that the virus was purposefully created, were likely social media consumers.

Broadcast news outlets, like NBC and CBS News, reported more accurate information on the pandemic. The same was evident among mainstream print news, like the New York Times, the team of researchers concluded.

Because both information and misinformation can affect behavior, we all ought be doing our part not only to increase essential knowledge about SARS-CoV-2, but also to interdict the spread of deceptions about its origins, prevention, and effects, said Kathleen Jamieson, the Director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, in an online statement.

The new research was funded by the Science of Science Communication Endowment of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Ken Winneg, Ph.D., the Managing Director of Survey Research at the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania (APPC), also contributed to the study.

Image courtesy of Unsplash

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Conservative media and social networking sites are contributing to the spread of COVID-19 misinformation - Mental Daily

LOS ANGELES, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --In today's new reality, mental health has never been more universally top of mind. For the LGBTQ community, this isolation we're all experiencing imposes an exponentially more severe mental burden. In advance of Mental Health Awareness Month, leading spa and beauty brand, Bliss, announces its philanthropic partnership with The Trevor Project, the world's largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, to support the community as COVID-19 continues to take an extreme toll on mental health.

Historically, LGBTQ youth have experienced higher rates of discrimination and rejection than their peers, which increases their risk for depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicidality; these risks are even further pronounced amongst youth who are transgender and nonbinary. Thus, LGBTQ youth are particularly vulnerable to the negative mental health impacts associated with COVID-19. Between school closures and physical distancing, there's an acute loss of social connections that protect LGBTQ youth from suicidality. According to research, some LGBTQ youth are being confined to environments that may be unsupportive or abusive, and one third remain quarantined in homes where they're specifically experiencing parental rejection. It's resources like those from The Trevor Project that support this community now more than ever and allow them to feel they are not alone and the support is being heeded.

"When we heard that The Trevor Project had received more outreach, texts, and calls from LGBTQ youth in crisis than ever before in its 22-year history, we realized that nowwas the time to kick off our planned partnership," said Tina Pozzi, Chief Brand Officer at Bliss. "Bliss stands for unapologetic positivity and happiness, and in the face of global adversity, The Trevor Project aims to encourage and provide just that within its community. We're thrilled to stand by them during this time of need."

Beginning today, Bliss' long-term partnership with The Trevor Project will help to fund their life-saving phone Lifeline, instant message, and text crisis services, its safe space social networking site TrevorSpace, as well as education, research, and advocacy programs. To kickstart these efforts, Bliss and The Trevor Project are launching a donation match campaign on Thursday, April 30th, in which Bliss will match dollar-to-dollar donations*, to help ensure that The Trevor Project's resources remain available in this extreme time of need, and beyond.

As part of its multifaceted approach, Bliss will be engaging several LGBTQ advocates: editor Phillip Picardi and influencers, Manny MUA, Nikita Dragun, and Angel Merino (aka @Mac_Daddyy) to help spread awareness and fundraise for The Trevor Project during this pandemic. Phillip, Manny, Bliss, and The Trevor Project will be co-hosting a "Live for Lives" Instagram Live "Telethon" along with featured guests like Nikita and Angel to drive awareness and donations, while sharing uplifting stories to spread some much-needed bliss and happiness to the community, as well as the general public. You can tune-in on Friday, May 1st at 12 PM PST/3 PM EST on the @bliss Instagram channel.

"As LGBTQ youth continue to find ways to cope with stress and anxiety during the pandemic, The Trevor Project has experienced more than double the volume of young people reaching out to our crisis services," said Muneer Panjwani, Head of Corporate Development for The Trevor Project. "Bliss' match will help us continue providing crisis services to the growing number of LGBTQ young people in need of mental health support. We're excited for the telethon to reach LGBTQ youth with clear messages of love and hope, so that even if viewers feel isolated or are living in unsupportive environments, they know The Trevor Project is here for them 24/7, and that they are loved and never alone."

*For more details on the donation match and to get involved, please visit TRVR.org/GiveWithBliss, as well asBlissorThe Trevor Projecton Instagram.

About BlissBliss is a global iconic skin wellness brand and purveyor of unapologetic happiness. Founded in 1996 with a single New York City spa that ignited a modern skincare revolution, Bliss continues to deliver transformational results through leading edge, spa-powered products available at accessible prices nationwide and online, and Bliss branded spas globally. With a true belief that inner happiness unlocks outer beauty, Bliss offers products that are 100% cruelty-free and blissfully free from parabens, phthalates, SLS, SLES and more.

Happiness looks beautiful on everyone. That's why Bliss encourages it. For more information, visitblissworld.com or follow along on social media@bliss. #ThisIsBliss

About The Trevor ProjectThe Trevor Project is the world's largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people. The Trevor Project offers a suite of 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention programs, including TrevorLifeline , TrevorText , and TrevorChat as well as the world's largest safe space social networking site for LGBTQ youth, TrevorSpace . Trevor also operates an education program with resources for youth-serving adults and organizations, an advocacy department fighting for pro-LGBTQ legislation and against anti-LGBTQ rhetoric/policy positions, and a research team to discover the most effective means to help young LGBTQ people in crisis and end suicide. If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or suicidal, our trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386 via chathttp://www.TheTrevorProject.org/Help, or by texting START to 678678.

ContactAlison Brod Marketing & Communications on behalf of BlissDani Shaffer / dani@abmc-us.com Monica Efman / monica@abmc-us.com

Kevin WongHead of CommunicationsThe Trevor ProjectKevin.Wong@TheTrevorProject.org

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bliss-and-the-trevor-project-join-forces-to-help-at-risk-lgbtq-youth-during-covid-19-and-beyond-301050123.html

SOURCE Bliss

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Bliss and The Trevor Project Join Forces to Help At-Risk LGBTQ Youth During COVID-19 and Beyond - P&T Community

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The pandemic has forced many high schools and colleges to cancel or postpone graduation ceremonies, so Facebook is enlisting some celebrities to host a virtual event for this years graduating class.

On May 15, the social network will hold #Graduation2020, which will feature a commencement address from Oprah Winfrey and appearances from actresses Awkwafina and Jennifer Garner, rapper Lil Nas X, and Olympian Simon Biles. Singer Miley Cyrus is also slated to perform her hit song The Climb.

During the same event, Facebook plans on honoring individual schools in the US. Details are scant; the company said only that: the ceremony will acknowledge high schools and colleges in the US by name, state by state, including photos and videos of the class of 2020 and messages from deans and principals across the country.

You'll be able to stream the graduation ceremony onFacebook Watch, the companys answer to YouTube. Highlights from the event will also be posted on Instagram, another Facebook property.

Although the event wont be able to replace a real-world commencement address, the company is encouraging individual graduates to hold their own virtual graduation ceremonies with friends and family using Facebook tools, including an upcoming "virtual graduation hub."

Last week, the company also introduced Messenger Rooms, which is being designed to let you host video gatherings with up to 50 people. The social network plans on launching the new feature to all markets in the coming weeks.

"Instagram will also roll out new creative tools and features including a graduation countdown sticker, celebratory sticker pack, new AR effects, and a custom hashtag page for #Graduation2020," the company said.

Facebookplans on kicking off the ceremonies at 11 a.m PT / 2 p.m. ET on May 15.

Excerpt from:
Facebook to Host Virtual Graduation Event for Class of 2020 With Oprah, Other Celebs - PCMag UK

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You can no longer receive tweet notifications via SMS. Twitter is retiring the feature.

The company is shutting down the old school Twitter via SMS function for most of the world to protect users from potential security threats.

We want to continue to help keep your account safe. Weve seen vulnerabilities with SMS, so weve turned off our Twitter via SMS service, except for a few countries, the company said on Monday.

Twitter declined to specify which countries the Twitter via SMS will remain available in. But the feature has been handy for people on non-smartphone handsets, or who lack steady access to internet networks. It works by tying your cell phone number to your Twitter account. To post a tweet, you can send an SMS message to a special "short code" number (in the US, it's 40404).

SMS messaging was the main way mobile users could post to the social media platform back in 2006 when Twitter was first founded and smartphones were starting to emerge.Times have changed, and now most users send and receive tweets via the companys mobile app or a browser. However, the company kept the Twitter via SMS feature running up until last year when a group of hackers began abusing the function to hijack peoples accounts. Among thevictimswas Twitters own CEO Jack Dorsey.

To pull off the attacks, the culprits first stole the victims' cell phone numbers, likely by tricking the cellular provider into handing over access. The Twitter via SMS feature then did the rest with no safeguard in place to thwart the hijackings.

In response, the company decided to suspend the ability to tweet via SMS in most countries. However, tweet notifications over SMS remained in tact until last week when users began noticing the feature was no longer working, according to DansDeals, a shopping deals website.

"On Thursday evening, Twitter killed their Twitter for SMS option without providing any advance warning," the website said. "For more than 11 years, thousands of DansDeals readers have been getting SMS alerts of new deals via the service."

Despite the change, Twitter isnt killing off SMS-based functions entirely. Everyone will still have access to important SMS messages needed to log in to and manage their accounts, the company said. This includes the SMS-based two-factor authentication system on Twitter.

If you have this security safeguard activated, we recommend you ditch relying on SMS to transmit the two-factor codes. Instead, its better to use an authenticator app to generate the two-factor codes directly on your phone. Twitter has ahelp document on how to activate the feature.

Excerpt from:
Twitter Retires SMS-Based Tweets and Notifications, Citing Security - PCMag UK