Patch adds background blur to iPhone-shot photos

The iPhone 7 Plus comes with a dual rear camera and a new Portrait mode that creates a faux depth-of-field effect for, well, portraits. If you don’t have that version of an iPhone, there’s an app that replicates that. Called Patch, the app makes use of neural networks to analyze a photo and determine the subject matter. It’s not as serious a tool as you would expect, it’s more a fun thing to play around with. And since developers anticipated it won’t always accurately find the outline of your subject, you can adjust the mask manually by highlighting or erasing areas affected by the blur. It works best when taking a picture of a person straight on. The app comes with an in-app purchase option ($0.99) to get rid of the tiny watermark Patch adds to the photos you edit on it.

Source: Lifehacker

Apple's delayed AirPods expected to start shipping next week

Expected to ship back in October, Apple's new wireless AirPods headphones are tipped to be coming next week. While expensive for in-ear headphones, the AirPods do bring a lot of features that play nicely with iOS and the new iPhone 7 devices (as well as iOS and Mac devices).

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Instagram brings mentions, links, and Boomerang to Stories

Instagram is trying to add more value to its Snapchat counterpart with a bunch of new features. One is being able to make Boomerang posts on Instagram Stories. Much like how the standalone Boomerang app works, just tap the record button and have the camera stitch together a burst of photos to turn these into a GIF-like video that plays forward and backward.

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Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge get Android Nougat through beta program

The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are finally getting the Android Nougat treatment, kind of. Samsung announced that users can access Google’s latest software update via the Galaxy Beta Program. It gives us hope that the full version of the operating system is coming soon. Aside from being limited to beta users, it is currently only available to users in the US, UK, Korea, and soon China.

If you’re in any of these countries you can apply for the program by downloading the Galaxy Beta Program app or the Samsung Members app. The program is on a first-come, first-served basis and spots are reportedly running out so it might be best to apply as soon as you can.

Source: CNET