Youtube Teases Ten New Tools for Creators Coming Soon

youtube creator featuresYoutube is detailing some new features and optimizations coming to their video streaming service, focused on improving the experience for creators. Google has been aggressively experimenting with the platform adding 360 degree video, improving comment ranking, and recently announcing a game streaming app to compete with Twitch.

Even for folks who only watch Youtube videos, detailing these changes and improvements now will give people a glimpse on how they’ll be able to keep up with their favorite producers.

LG Teases Brighter, More Colorful Screen for Their G4 Smartphone

lg g4 teaser video quantum display smartphone news somegadgetguyOn a video released yesterday, LG claims “You deserve this”.

What you deserve is apparently a brighter and more colorful phone display, which would be a welcome addition to one of their flagship phones. It’s been one of my more consistent criticisms of LG devices, that while their screens are high resolution, they’re a bit dimmer than their Samsung, HTC, and Lumia counterparts which affects outdoor view-ability.

Is this a killer app for you? Are you looking forward to the G4 reveal on the 28th? Drop us a comment and watch LG’s teaser video below!

LG Unveils Urbane Smartwatch in Official Announcement Video

LG has an entry level Android Wear watch with the G Watch, and the G Watch R was nicely positioned at the higher end of the smartwatch market.

It looks like LG is pushing into a more fashionable tier with the Urbane. Using the same tech internals and the gorgeous circular P-OLED display, Urbane streamlines the form factor and introduces gold and silver metal linings for a more upscale look.

We’re awaiting pricing info and shipping dates, but it would seem the Apple Watch has even more competition in the upscale “premium” smartwatch category.  Catch the teaser video below!

Samsung Galaxy Alpha Exclusively Available at AT&T Sept. 26

samsung galaxy alpha att exclusiveThe Galaxy Alpha is an interesting statement of a phone from Samsung. The Alpha steps away from Sammy’s usual “throw in everything and the kitchen sink” manufacturing approach, and working on crafting a more refined experience. It seems tailor-made to combat the newly released iPhone 6.

Instead of continuing a specs war, the Alpha takes solid performing hardware and pairs it with the metal build quality we’ll soon see on the Galaxy Note 4.

AT&T has announced today they will be the exclusive carrier of the Alpha in the USA, and the phone will be available to buy starting September 26 for $200 on a two year contract. If you’ve been considering an Alpha, drop us a comment, and you can read AT&T’s full PR (with a video teaser) below.

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Amplifon project allows you to hear “The Sounds of Street View” on Google Maps

Google Maps Street View is the go to application for getting a look at an area from a pedestrian perspective. While that kind of mapping and visual location data is handy, Amplifon thinks they can improve the experience by adding sound.

The Sounds of Street View is a project designed to provide a 3D soundscape of an area to correspond with popular search locations on Google Maps. Wearing headphones gives one the sense of being surrounded by the area’s audio, and panning around the scene will change the “focus” of the audio as well.

Playing around with some of the sample locations, the loops used were fairly short. Kids giggling in one area started to sound REALLY creepy with the short mechanical repetition for example, but it was an interesting way to augment the “feel” of looking at a Street View scene.

Amplifon is making a developer framework available, which will allow others to create their own 3D audio samples. You can read more on the project at the Amplifon website, or see their teaser video below.

LG Reveals More Details on G3 Stylus

LG_G3_STYLUS_12Following their recent announcement tackling the entry-level and a new AT&T phablet, LG is borrowing the design language of the G3 for a new mid-range smartphone. This one features the handle trick of supporting a proper stylus.

The creatively named “G3 Stylus” features a 5.5″ screen with a resolution of 960×540, powered by a 1.3GHz Quad-Core and 1GB of RAM. The 13MP camera found on LG’s most recent phones is on the back, but no mention of it supporting optical image stabilization. 8GB of storage is on tap with a MicroSD for expansion, and the 3000mAh battery from the G3 makes a return as well.

Before we scoff too much at the low screen, moving from Q(uad)HD to q(uarter)HD, this phone is also designed for 3G emerging markets, as it won’t initially come with an LTE radio.

What is kind of interesting is LG’s approach to design. It might be a cost saving effort, recycling the plastic body from the G3 instead of coming up with a new mold, but the byproduct is allowing customers to buy a mid-ranger which looks like their flagship. Apple went out of their way with the 5C last year to make it look different from their premium phone, and customers responded fairly negatively.

The Stylus will launch first in Brazil followed closely by Asian, Middle East, and African countries. It’ll land next month when it gets its proper debut it IFA Berlin, with pricing to be announced shortly before launch in each country. Full PR below.

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Samsung Asks “Are You Ready to Note?” in Galaxy Note 4 Teaser Video

Looks like Samsung will be focusing on the stylus action for their upcoming super-phablet, the Galaxy Note 4.

Humans used tools from the very beginning.
Samsung GALAXY Note has introduced yet another tool.
Fit for the way we live today, the S Pen is a truly notable invention since, well… the pen.
Innovation for today and tomorrow.
Expect more on your Note for writing. Ready to Note?

Yeah Samsung. We’re ready, and apparently we’ll learn more come September 3rd!

LG Video Teases Round Smartwatch Coming Soon

The Moto 360 still hasn’t been released, but that isn’t stopping LG from pushing forward with their smartwatch lineup.

Their rectangular watch was a Google Wear launch partner with the Samsung Gear Live, and now it looks like they’re going to tackle something with a bit more style.

vlcsnap-2014-08-24-09h44m37s45Brightening one of the frames from the video, happily we can see LG isn’t just copying the minimalistic round face from the Moto, instead going for a more traditional round face with watchband arms. A look which hopefully can blend in well without advertising the geek gear bolted to someone’s wrist.

Have you been shopping a smartwatch? Is the “fashion-ability” weighing in on your decision? Drop us a comment!