Eva Lori: November 2017

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Twitter Lite app launches in 24 more countries

Twitter Lite, the space-saving version of Twitter’s main app, is ready for prime time after about two months of ground testing in the Philippines.

The social network announced on Friday it’s releasing Twitter Lite to Android’s Google Play store in 24 countries, mostly in emerging markets across Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America.

The app is meant to take up a tiny bit of space on phones, at about 3MB, and — importantly for places with patchy coverage — support offline usage via caching. Read more…

More about Twitter, Emerging Markets, Twitter Lite, Tech, and Social Media Companies
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Data-friendly YouTube Go comes out in beta in Southeast Asia

Google has released its data-friendly YouTube Go app in some of Southeast Asia, and Africa’s new markets.

Available now in beta for Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, the app is a way to get video to users in countries where data availability might not be as complete as it is in other countries.

One of the app’s key features tackling the data issue is an offline viewing mode, allowing users to first download video over Wi-Fi before hitting the road.

Users can also choose to stream video in lower resolutions or high quality, controlling their data spend. Read more…

More about Videos, Google, Youtube, Philippines, and Malaysia
Originally syndicated from Data-friendly YouTube Go comes out in beta in Southeast Asia

Google Translate might have a gender problem

So much of our life is determined by algorithms. From what you see on your Facebook News Feed, to the books and knickknacks recommended to you by Amazon, to the disturbing videos YouTube shows to your children, our attention is systematically parsed and sold to the highest bidder.

These mysterious formulas that shape us, guide us, and nudge us toward someone else’s idea of an optimal outcome are opaque by design. Which, well, perhaps makes it all the more frustrating when they turn out to be sexist.

Enter Google Translate, the automated service that makes so much of the web comprehensible to so many of us. Supporting 103 languages, the digital Babel Fish directly influences our understanding of languages and cultures different than our own. In providing such an important tool, Google has assumed the responsibility of accurately translating the content that passes through its servers. Read more…

More about Google, Gender, Sexism, Translation, and Google Translate
Originally syndicated from Google Translate might have a gender problem

Australia wants to throw Prince Harry his bachelor party

As you’ve probably seen a gazillion times on the internet already, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are engaged.

Which means aside from organising a very lush wedding, there’s also the matter of the honeymoon and putting together pre-wedding plans — such as a bachelor/bachelorette party.

Australia’s minister for tourism Steven Ciobo has offered to host the pair for any of these celebrations, after all, Prince Harry has already been Down Under before.

I’ve written to Prince Harry to congratulate him on his engagement to @meghanmarkle and @TourismAus has provided an awesome 🇦🇺 itinerary for a honeymoon or pre-wedding celebrations 🎉 https://t.co/jTR4urjTeR

— Steven Ciobo (@StevenCiobo) November 29, 2017 Read more…

More about Australia, Travel, Royal Family, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle
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The Google Pixel Buds mistranslated the word salad 4 times

http://ift.tt/2AvoGe8

The Google Pixel Buds claim to be able to translate up to 40 languages. We brought in 2 interpreters to put the buds to the test. To our surprise, the earphones had trouble with the word Arabic word for salad… multiple times. Read more…

More about Google, Salad, French, Russian, and Headphones
Originally syndicated from The Google Pixel Buds mistranslated the word salad 4 times

In NYC, uptown and downtown rats don’t mix

It turns out rats, like New Yorkers, are partial to their neighborhoods.

An ecology researcher has been tracking brown rats all over Manhattan for nearly the past three years. Fordham University grad student Matthew Combs found that the rodents stick to certain areas: you’ll find uptown rats and downtown rats, with a break in midtown. The two groups don’t mingle much.

He came to this conclusion only after trapping hundreds of rats and studying their genetic makeup. He was then able to notice genetic differences between rats from different parts of town. He also found that rats only move about 656 feet from where they’re born — that’s about one Manhattan block. Read more…

More about Science, New York City, Manhattan, Research, and Rats
Originally syndicated from In NYC, uptown and downtown rats don’t mix

A new Pokémon Cafe is opening up in Tokyo

Chrissy Teigen isn’t keen to share the birthday spotlight with another, uh, celebrity

Birthdays are awesome. You get presents, eat cake, and best of all, every last bit of attention is directed toward you for the entire day.

However, apparently that’s not the case when you’re a celebrity who shares the birthday spotlight with other celebrities.

That seems to be the case for Chrissy Teigen whose birthday is today, Nov. 30 — a date that also happens to be birthday of Mr. Krabs. Yep, the one and only, SpongeBob SquarePants’ boss.

Good Morning America gave Mr. Krabs (and only Mr. Krabs, at first) a nice birthday shoutout. Read more…

More about Celebrities, Funny, Twitter Reactions, Chrissy Teigen, and Good Morning America
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Bette Midler demands apology from Geraldo Rivera for alleged sexual assault

The #MeToo movement gained a powerful voice today when Bette Midler posted about an accusation of assault she first made back in 1991.

Those were different times, but now, in this moment of cultural reckoning, Midler’s assertion that sexual assault is “not funny” is finally being heard.

In a series of tweets, Midler shared a clip of an interview with Barbara Walters in which she recounted how Geraldo Rivera groped her without her consent when they met for the first time:

Tomorrow is my birthday. I feel like this video was a gift from the universe to me. Geraldo may have apologized for his tweets supporting Matt Lauer, but he has yet to apologize for this. #MeToo http://pic.twitter.com/TkcolFWfA2

— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) November 30, 2017 Read more…

More about Media, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Bette Midler, and Matt Lauer
Originally syndicated from Bette Midler demands apology from Geraldo Rivera for alleged sexual assault

Beyoncé and Ed Sheeran’s first duet is delightful and cheesy

4 ways to be there for someone who is grieving during the holidays

The holiday season is meant to be a period filled with joy. But for many people it’s a sad reminder of past or recent tragedy: the death of a loved one, a devastating medical diagnosis, a difficult divorce. That grief can feel more intense when no one acknowledges your pain.

That’s why OptionB.org, the website founded earlier this year by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, launched a campaign to give people practical tips and recommendations for reaching out to grieving friends and loved ones during the holidays.

#OptionBThere is a collection of resources that includes sensitive holiday cards, tips on how to discover your “empathy superpower,” insight on how to give a meaningful gift, and directions on how to host a dinner party for people who may be struggling with grief. It also offers recommendations for people who’ve experienced loss and want extra support. Read more…

More about Holidays, Social Good, Mental Health, Sheryl Sandberg, and Trauma
Originally syndicated from 4 ways to be there for someone who is grieving during the holidays