Snapchat’s augmented reality Lenses are already able to recognize landmarks, transform faces and bodies and play games. A new set of ground-sensing filters are going to make landscapes start looking weird, too. Trying out the water effect in our office. Scott Stein/CNET I took a look at two of Snap’s new Lenses, one that makes floors …
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February, 2020
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20 February
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Sprint and T-Mobile said Thursday they’ve reached an agreement on new terms for their megamerger. This should pave the way for the companies to complete the $26.5 billion deal, following a ruling last week by a federal court that rejected claims that the merger would be bad for consumers. The companies say the deal could close as early as April 1. …
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20 February
ViacomCBS will ‘expand’ CBS All Access streaming service this year
ViacomCBS is upping its digital offerings with a revamped streaming service to better compete with Netflix, Disney Plus, Apple TV Plus, HBO Max and Peacock in the ongoing streaming wars. The changes will come later this year and build on CBS‘ existing All Access streaming service, CEO Bob Bakish said during an earnings conference call Thursday. (Disclosure: ViacomCBS is the …
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20 February
Pokemon Home hits 1.3M downloads in first week
Cloud gaming service Pokemon Home has already pulled in 1.3 million downloads since launching a week ago, a Thursday report by Sensor Tower says. The app, released Feb. 12 by Nintendo and the Pokemon Company, has also raked in an estimated $1.8 million in user spending so far. Of those downloads, Sensor Tower estimated 444,000 have come from the US, …
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20 February
Sony’s budget Xperia L4 goes the triple
Sony has announced a new budget phone, the Xperia L4, which has a triple camera on the rear and…a headphone jack! The device comes loaded with a 6.2-inch LCD screen in a 21:9 aspect ratio and a 1,680×720-pixel resolution. The screen features a rounded notch for the 8-megapixel selfie camera. One of the most intriguing things about the phone is …
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20 February
Microsoft to bring its Defender antivirus software to iOS and Android
Microsoft on Thursday said it plans to bring its antivirus software, Defender Advanced Threat Protection, to phones and other devices running Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. The software, also called Defender ATP, is already available on Windows and MacOS. It offers features like preventive protection, post-breach detection and automated investigation and response, according to Microsoft. When it comes to mobile …
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20 February
Disney Plus comes to Vizio SmartCast TVs with new native app
Disney Plus went live in November and it’s taken a while for some streaming platforms to catch up: Vizio on Thursday announced its SmartCast system now supports the service natively. The smart TV app includes support for Ultra HD and HDR video, and you can add Disney Plus on the apps row on SmartCast Home or through the SmartCast Mobile app. In its …
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20 February
Verizon says report it’s dumping Google Pixel phones ‘isn’t true’
Verizon on Thursday is playing defense against a report that it was no longer interested in carrying Google’s Pixel line of phones, including the upcoming rumored Pixel 4A and Pixel 5 that are expected to be released this year. “It’s not true,” Verizon spokeswoman Adria Tomaszewski told CNET. “We continue to work with Google and look forward to the new …
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20 February
Apple may loosen its grip on default iPhone apps, report says
Apple is reportedly looking at whether to let you change some default iOS apps to alternatives from its rivals. The tech giant is considering letting people chose third-party mail and web browser apps as their default options on iPhones and iPads, according to a report Thursday from Bloomberg. The change would let you replace Apple’s Safari browser and Mail app …
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20 February
Uber drivers worry new safety tool will tempt riders to retaliate, nitpick
A new Uber feature that lets riders “discreetly” report their driver if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable went live in the US and Canada on Wednesday. Drivers say it’s already creating an unfair system for them. The new feature is meant for nonemergency incidents that make passengers feel unsafe. Uber uses “harsh braking,” “inappropriate remarks” and “my driver doesn’t have …
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