Teardown of Google Camera app shows what Pixel 4 camera’s hardware could be

We know the Google Pixel 4 is coming. What isn’t clear yet is what the new smartphone will have. We already know that there is a secondary camera on this device, which is a first for a Pixel. But we don’t know what kind of camera it could be. A teardown of the Google Camera app shows what we could expect. Version 6.3 of the app shows changes in the code that reference Sabre, which is Google’s codename for its Super Res Zoom. There are also some new sensor IDs for the camera that weren’t seen in version 6.2 and one of these references a rear telephoto lens, making us believe we’re getting a zoom lens. And that this lens could use Google’s Super Res Zoom to increase zoom distance digitally.

Aside from that, a front-facing IR sensor was seen in the code. This suggests that the Pixel 4 is getting facial recognition. Its presence in the Camera app suggests it could be used for Playmojis or even Google’s take on Apple’s Animoji. The Pixel 4 is slated to come out around October 2019.

Source: Android Central

‘Always Be My Maybe’ gets a directory commentary track through this Netflix podcast

It looks like Netflix is trying to give fans of its movies a bit more context about these films with a recently launched podcast series. Called Watching With, the podcast series has two episodes so far. One is for Someone Great with director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, and the latest one is Always Be My Maybe with director Nahnatchka Khan and actor Randall Park. You can listen to the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Unfortunately, it isn’t available natively on Netflix’s platform, so if you want to watch the movie while listening to the podcast, you somehow have to manage to play it at the same time. Or you can just choose to listen to the commentary without having to watch the film. It’s all up to you.

Source: The Verge

Is Apple ready to ditch its controversial MacBook keyboard?

We might be seeing an end to Apple’s controversial butterfly keyboard. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple will supposedly be moving to a new scissor-switch design that uses glass fiber reinforcement. The first devices to get the new keyboard include a new MacBook Air coming out this year, followed by a new MacBook Pro scheduled to launch in 2020. It might not make its way to the rumoured 16-inch MacBook Pro or the updated 13-inch MacBook Pro.

Of course, there is no confirmation from Apple as we speak. But it definitely has reasons to switch out the keyboards. The current butterfly keys have had issues regarding these keys acting erratically or completely stop working as dust and other particles find their way into the mechanism. What the new design could offer includes durability as well as better typing experience from “longer key travel.” And the new scissor switch will supposedly be cheaper, but not as cheap as an average laptop keyboard. This new switch might be a bit thicker, but Kuo says “most users can’t tell the difference.” It’ll reportedly be made by Taiwan-based manufacturer Sunrex.

Source: The Verge

iOS 13 remedies FaceTime eye contact issue

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FaceTime calls or video calls are seen as a more intimate way to talk to someone. It’s also a good professional tool. But the intimacy gets lost in a bit as you can’t exactly look the person in the eye because you tend to look at the person you’re talking to on the screen instead of at the camera. And so, iOS 13 is hoping to remedy this with the use of ARKit. A new “FaceTime Attention Correction” feature will give you some realistic-looking fake eye contact with the person you’re FaceTiming with. It maps your face and adjusts the positioning of your eyes accordingly. Since iOS 13 is in beta, we don’t know yet how this feature will work or whether it’ll support group calls. For those using the public beta, you might be able to try this out in the coming week.

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