18 October, 2024
For $5, Photon Library brings back the feel of the old iOS Photos app
A new app is offering an alternative to those who aren’t pleased with the iOS 18 Photos app “upgrade.” Capitalizing on the consumer backlash over Apple’s now one-page, tab-free redesign of its default Photos app, photography app maker LateNiteSoft is introducing a new app called Photon Library. It not only serves as a complement to its other photography apps and photo editing tools, but it also offers the familiar look of the old iOS Photos app found in iOS 17 and earlier.
The company said it was inspired to create an alternative Photos app after seeing how frustrated iOS 18 early adopters were with Apple’s new design.
Since its debut in the iOS 18 betas, iPhone owners have been lamenting the changes coming to the Photos app. Though the redesign offers better customization, many believe the app’s new look takes a step back in terms of usability by cramming everything into one page. Pages on Reddit are filled with user complaints. Reviewers are calling it their biggest gripe with the iOS 18 software update. Meanwhile, several tech sites have begun offering tutorials on how to customize the redesigned app to make it more useful — and more like the older version.
Photon Library offers another alternative. Now, instead of trying to get comfortable with the changes in Photos, Photo Library offers a way for users to simply return to the older-style look and feel of Photos, albeit in an experience built by a third party.
The app brings back a tabbed design and includes other Photos app features like basic photo grids, a list of albums you can scroll through, and quick access to your Favorite photos.
Rather than scrolling down the screen as in iOS 18’s Photos app, the bottom tabs of Photon Library let you quickly access your recent photos, your albums, a calendar view, or your favorites. This is slightly different than the iOS 17 Photos app, which offered tabs for the Library, Albums, “For You,” and Search, but the company thinks its tabs will prove to be even more convenient.
LateNiteSoft product manager Noël Rosenthal notes that the company hopes the resident family tech support person will keep their company’s app in mind when their families upgrade to iOS 18 and then start complaining about “how difficult the new Photos App is to use.”
To make the option to switch apps easier on users, Photon Library won’t include subscriptions. Instead, the app is a paid download for iPhone and iPad, and starts at $4.99 in the U.S. during its introductory period on the App Store.
XReal introduces a $200 device that brings Android apps to its AR glasses
XReal has largely flown under the radar here in the States. The Beijing firm’s Air 2 Pro AR glasses got a bit of review love late last year, but the product is seldom mentioned among the Metas, Apples and HTCs of the world when discussing mixed reality.
This week at the AWE (Augmented World Expo) conference in Southern California, the company is showcasing the Beam Pro. The $200 device looks like an Android phone and quacks like an Android phone, but it’s not really an Android phone. Instead, it’s a mobile device designed specifically for XReal’s glasses.
In essence, the Beam Pro is designed to deliver Google Play apps to the glasses in “3D space.” XReal writes: “As the ultimate companion device for XReal glasses, XReal Beam Pro gives users a simple way to access all their favorite apps, social media content, streaming entertainment, professional needs, and gaming platforms in a stunning 3D-aware AR environment.”
The Snapdragon-powered device runs Android 14 and features a pair of 50-megapixel cameras for taking 3D images and spatial videos, but it’s extremely purpose-built and not looking to replace your handset. It’s a unique approach, certainly — one that harkens back to a bygone era when people owned iPod Touches in addition to iPhones. There’s a little bit of Amazon Fire Phone DNA in there by way of the 3D cameras, but the less said about that, the better.
“The average user will instantly recognize the smartphone-like form factor,” the company writes. “In terms of connectivity, XReal Beam Pro offers dual USB ports for simultaneous use with XReal glasses while charging. 27W fast charging means battery anxiety during a binge-watching or gaming session is a thing of the past.”
Other specs are what one would expect from a $200 device. That includes a 6.5-inch (2400 x 1080) display, 6 or 8GB of RAM and 128 or 256GB of storage — not exactly flagship numbers there. There’s a Wi-Fi-only option, as well as one with 5G, as which point we’re pretty much talking about a phone.
XReal built its NebulaOS proprietary software layer on top of Android. The skin is designed to deliver 2D apps in 3D, while offering a unique way to interface with the system.
“It’s exciting to see companies like XREAL bring new devices to the ecosystem, making AR more accessible,” Qualcomm Senior Director Sahil Bansal said in a statement. Other big names involved include Nvidia by way of the off-device CloudXR tech and Amazon Web services.
The Beam Pro is up for sale now in the U.S., China, Japan and parts of Europe through the XReal site. It hits Amazon next month.
Alphabet X’s latest spinout brings computer vision and AI to salmon farms
Over the course of Alphabet X’s existence, the self-proclaimed “moonshot factory” has been notable for the variety in both its technological solutions and the problems it’s attempting to solve. The combination research facility/accelerator has produced balloons for rural internet and energy-producing kites.
Tidal, which quietly spun out of the department in mid-July, has its own grand ambitions to “feed humanity sustainably.” It’s big and abstract as goals go, so the newly minted company is beginning life by focusing on one specific element: salmon aquaculture.
According to the World Wildlife Foundation, “Salmon aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production system in the world, accounting for 70% (2.5 million metric tons) of the market.”
Based in Trondheim, Norway, by way of Mountain View, Tidal takes a very Googley approach to the industry. A combination of sensors, robotics, data science and AI is designed to give farmers a fuller picture of their harvests. The system monitors the fish and offers yield estimates and is designed to catch potential issues — like sea lice — before they do serious damage.
The company has already been in Australia, Chile and Norway, working alongside farmers. At present, Tidal has 230 systems deployed in Norway.
“In an industry where the largest environmental and economic cost is feed, Tidal empowers fish farmers around the world to make more sustainable decisions,” X head Astro Teller said in a post tied to the news. “Now that Tidal is well on the way to commercializing its technology, it’s graduating to become an independent company, with backing from financial and strategic partners who share our vision.”
A rep for Tidal told TechCrunch that a spinout has always been part of the plan. Following headcount cuts to the secretive organization, Alphabet has started tightening the belt on its “other bets.” In recent months, robot agriculture firm Mineral was converted into a licensing project, having recently sold a technology suite to John Deere. Assisted clothing firm Skip spun out last month.
Alphabet’s connection post-spinout varies from company to company. In the case of Tidal, the tech giant remains a minority owner, and the startup has begun to pursue external funding as well. Perry Creek Capital led its most recent round, with support from Ichthus Venture Capital and Futurum Ventures. It has not disclosed a dollar amount.
Tidal says it’s currently in “full growth mode,” with plans to double or triple the systems it has deployed over the next couple of years.
XReal introduces a $200 device that brings Android apps to its AR glasses
XReal has largely flown under the radar here in the States. The Beijing firm’s Air 2 Pro AR glasses got a bit of review love late last year, but the product is seldom mentioned among the Metas, Apples and HTCs of the world when discussing mixed reality.
This week at the AWE (Augmented World Expo) conference in Southern California, the company is showcasing the Beam Pro. The $200 device looks like an Android phone and quacks like an Android phone, but it’s not really an Android phone. Instead, it’s a mobile device designed specifically for XReal’s glasses.
In essence, the Beam Pro is designed to deliver Google Play apps to the glasses in “3D space.” XReal writes: “As the ultimate companion device for XReal glasses, XReal Beam Pro gives users a simple way to access all their favorite apps, social media content, streaming entertainment, professional needs, and gaming platforms in a stunning 3D-aware AR environment.”
The Snapdragon-powered device runs Android 14 and features a pair of 50-megapixel cameras for taking 3D images and spatial videos, but it’s extremely purpose-built and not looking to replace your handset. It’s a unique approach, certainly — one that harkens back to a bygone era when people owned iPod Touches in addition to iPhones. There’s a little bit of Amazon Fire Phone DNA in there by way of the 3D cameras, but the less said about that, the better.
“The average user will instantly recognize the smartphone-like form factor,” the company writes. “In terms of connectivity, XReal Beam Pro offers dual USB ports for simultaneous use with XReal glasses while charging. 27W fast charging means battery anxiety during a binge-watching or gaming session is a thing of the past.”
Other specs are what one would expect from a $200 device. That includes a 6.5-inch (2400 x 1080) display, 6 or 8GB of RAM and 128 or 256GB of storage — not exactly flagship numbers there. There’s a Wi-Fi-only option, as well as one with 5G, as which point we’re pretty much talking about a phone.
XReal built its NebulaOS proprietary software layer on top of Android. The skin is designed to deliver 2D apps in 3D, while offering a unique way to interface with the system.
“It’s exciting to see companies like XREAL bring new devices to the ecosystem, making AR more accessible,” Qualcomm Senior Director Sahil Bansal said in a statement. Other big names involved include Nvidia by way of the off-device CloudXR tech and Amazon Web services.
The Beam Pro is up for sale now in the U.S., China, Japan and parts of Europe through the XReal site. It hits Amazon next month.
XReal introduces a $200 device that brings Android apps to its AR glasses
XReal has largely flown under the radar here in the States. The Beijing firm’s Air 2 Pro AR glasses got a bit of review love late last year, but the product is seldomly mentioned among the Metas, Apples and HTCs of the world when discussing mixed reality.
This week at the AWE (Augmented World Expo) conference in Southern California, the company is showcasing the Beam Pro. The $200 device looks like an Android phone and quacks like an Android phone, but it’s not really an Android phone. Instead, it’s a mobile device designed specifically for Xreal’s glasses.
In essence, the Beam Pro is designed to deliver Google Play apps to the glasses in “3D space.” Xreal writes: “As the ultimate companion device for Xreal glasses, Xreal Beam Pro gives users a simple way to access all their favorite apps, social media content, streaming entertainment, professional needs, and gaming platforms in a stunning 3D-aware AR environment.”
The Snapdragon-powered device runs Android 14 and features a pair of 50-megapixel cameras for taking 3D images and spatial videos, but it’s extremely purpose built and not looking to replace your handset. It’s a unique approach, certainly — one that harkens back to a bygone era when people owned iPod Touches in addition to iPhones. There’s a little bit of Amazon Fire Phone DNA in there by way of the 3D cameras, but the less said about that, the better.
“The average user will instantly recognize the smartphone-like form factor,” the company writes. “In terms of connectivity, Xreal Beam Pro offers dual USB ports for simultaneous use with Xreal glasses while charging. 27W fast charging means battery anxiety during a binge-watching or gaming session is a thing of the past.”
Other specs are what one would expect from a $200 device. That includes a 6.5-inch (2400 x 1080) display, 6 or 8GB of RAM and 128 or 256GB of storage — not exactly flagship numbers there. There’s a Wi-Fi-only option, as well as one with 5G, as which point we’re pretty much talking about a phone.
Xreal built its NebulaOS proprietary software layer on top of Android. The skin is designed to deliver 2D apps in 3D, while offering a unique way to interface with the system.
“It’s exciting to see companies like XREAL bring new devices to the ecosystem, making AR more accessible,” Qualcomm Senior Director Sahil Bansal said in a statement. Other big names involved include Nvidia by way of the off-device CloudXR tech and Amazon Web services.
The Beam Pro is up for sale now in the U.S., China, Japan and parts of Europe through the Xreal site. It hits Amazon next month.
Telegram's latest update brings a redesigned call interface that uses less of your phone's battery
Telegram is rolling out a new update that introduces improved calls with a new design that uses less of your phone’s battery. The update also brings new animations, enhancements to the app’s bot platform and more.
The company says it has redesigned calls and added backgrounds that change dynamically based on the call’s status: ringing, active or ended. The new interface requires fewer resources than before, which means it saves battery life and works better on older devices. The update also brings improvements to call quality. Telegram says it plans to launch more improvements to connection and audio quality in 2024.
Telegram is also launching updates to its bot platform, which lets developers integrate services into the Telegram ecosystem. Bots can now react to messages and manage reactions, quotes and links, send replies to other chats or topics, and more. Bots can also get information about giveaways and boosts in channels where they are admins.
Additionally, Telegram is bringing its vaporize animation to both iOS and Android users after previously testing it with select users. The new effect plays whenever you delete a message, and is designed to bring a bit of fun to the app.
The launch of the new features comes a month after Telegram announced improvements to channels, emoji customization for reactions and stats for stories to compete better with WhatsApp, which launched its broadcast channels features to all users in September 2023. Although Telegram has had channels for a long time now, the app has to keep innovating in order to compete with WhatsApp.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently said in his broadcast channel in WhatsApp that the channels feature had crossed the mark of 500 million monthly active users. For context, WhatsApp has more than 2 billion monthly active users and Telegram has over 800 million monthly active users.
Telegram spruces up its channels with new discovery and customization features
Got a UTI? Vivoo brings the answer to that question closer to home
The trend we noticed at last year’s CES continues: Startups are really curious about your bodily fluids. Vivoo is no exception. The company already offers a broad range of at-home tests and launched a new test that can detect urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Vivoo’s At-Home UTI Test streamlines the diagnostic process for UTIs, which affect an astonishing 150 million people globally each year. The company harnesses the power of your phone’s camera to record and analyze the color readout of the test strips. It then gives advice and context for the readings in its free app.
For women, who represent 60% of UTI sufferers in the United States, Vivoo’s product may prove to be a game-changer. People often think they have a UTI but can’t be bothered to go to the doctor. Being able to test at home shortcuts the process, and the app delivers free educational content, further supporting their mission to democratize healthcare knowledge.
Vivoo’s journey in transforming personal health management began with the launch of its “smart toilet” at CES last year, which received accolades for its role in early health condition detection.
With a user base exceeding 200,000 and a growing portfolio of at-home tests (including wellness indicators like hydration and vitamin levels), Vivoo’s partnership with Target and its global distribution network, the company is set to make personalized health management a reality for millions worldwide.
OneScreen.ai brings startup ads to billboards and NYC’s subway
When Alex Ewing was a kid growing up in Purcell, Oklahoma, he knew how close he was to home based on which billboards he could see out the car window. Now, as the CEO of OneScreen.ai, he’s helping startups like fintech Ramp and technical recruiter Karat advertise on billboards and beyond.
“I think billboards are cool and help bring creativity back into marketing,” Ewing told TechCrunch. “They are like canvases for marketers in a way a digital screen isn’t.”
Ewing joined Boston-based OneScreen last year. The company acts as a software-enabled middleman in between startups and out-of-home (OOH) advertising slots like billboards, subway ads and others. OneScreen helps startups find the right placement for their ads based on the potential customers companies want to reach paired with the demographic and historical data on the platform. The company also uses anonymized location data to help companies track how successful their campaigns are, too.
OneScreen has raised $4.7 million from investors including Asymmetric Capital Partners, Techstars and Impellent Ventures, among others. The company is currently profitable and tripled its revenue last year.
Billboards and other types of OOH marketing are becoming increasingly en vogue, especially for startups, Ewing said. OOH advertising spend in the U.S. is expected to reach $9.3 billion this year, according to Statista, and predicted to reach nearly $12 billion by 2029.
But why would a B2B company like Ramp, want to advertise in a classic consumer manner like the exterior of city busses or inside subway cars?
Ewing said that companies are looking to turn their attention back to OOH advertising strategies after years of being focused on digital marketing. He added that regulations around privacy and targeted ads, and the ability for people to block digital ads, have made online advertising strategies less successful for many.
“B2B, B2C, companies everywhere from Series A, Series B, [companies that are] really well funded or publicly traded have said, ‘we can’t invest what we’ve been investing in digital anymore, the ROI isn’t there,’” Ewing said. “It continues to get more and more expensive and it’s getting less and less effective.”
What this kind of advertising creates is brand recognition which is more effective for B2B companies than people may realize even if the majority of people who see the ad aren’t likely to become customers.
In February, Hila Perl, the director of strategic communications at Papaya Global, told TechCrunch that B2B HR startup Papaya was buying a $7 million Super Bowl ad for that exact reason.
“It’s not a lead generation move,” Perl said about the company’s ad purchase. “It’s not so we can sell more. Obviously, yes we want to see a very direct ROI but we all understand this is a brand building or a brand awareness play, it’s not a lead generation play. In my mind it’s always a marathon rather than a sprint.”
While OneScreen can’t control who sees an OOH ad, Ewing said his company can still help companies reach a targeted audience. B2B companies can give OneScreen a list of target customer companies and OneScreen’s tech will develop a strategy for them that includes advertising slots near their target companies’ headquarters or where their employees might be commuting in and out from. It uses anonymized cell phone tracking data to see how people reacted to the ad through metrics like website traffic from people that passed the ad compared to those that didn’t.
The downside is that, the ROI on OOH ads can’t be tracked as easily as connecting the dots between someone clicking on a digital ad and then purchasing online shortly after. But the hope is that seeing a New York MTA bus wrapped in a Ramp ad will be more effective than a cold sales pitch email.
“There is nothing more powerful than seeing a company and brand in the real world,” Ewing said. “If you get that in front of the right people, that can be a powerful way to soften the beachhead for inbound or to simply just drive leads.”