Watching YouTube videos gets more social with Google’s Uptime app

Let’s get it out of the way first. This might be a Google product but it’s an iPhone product only at the moment. The newly launched Uptime social video app is the product of Google’s Area 120 startup incubator; which was set up last year to let Googlers be startup pioneers during their “20% time.” What Uptime does is it lets you watch YouTube videos with your friends at the same time, even if you aren’t in the same room. All you need to do is sign in with your Google account and connect to friends. From there, your avatars show how far you are into watching a video. You also get Facebook Live-like reaction emojis and written comments similar to how you see it in platforms like Soundcloud.

While there is no word yet if this’ll be making its way to Android or on the browser, it shows us what Google can bring into YouTube or the livestreaming sphere in the future. If you’re on iOS and love watching videos with friends, this might be worth trying out.

Source: Android Central

First ‘Godzilla’ anime movie is heading to Netflix

Godzilla Concept Art via Toho

It seems strange that after all this time the King of Kaiju a.k.a. Godzilla still doesn’t have an animated movie in Japan. Well, it seems we’re finally getting that and it’s even going to be shown outside of the country. The Polygon Pictures’ Godzilla film will be brought by Polygon and Toho to Netflix. This animated take on the giant monster brought to us by Gen Urobuchi, Hiroyuki Seshita, and Kobun Shizuno will be hitting the streaming service after it airs in Japan later this year.

As a side note, this isn’t the first time Godzilla has been animated. Godzilla made a brief tie-in appearance in Crayon Shin Chan for Shin Godzilla. And the Kaiju King also appeared in two animated TV shows. But getting an actual movie is a first and we’re pretty stoked for it.

Source: io9

Microsoft revamps Cortana for iOS

Following the revamp of Cortana on Android in December 2016, Microsoft is trying to connect with iOS users with the app’s update. The refreshed app is said to load faster and defaults into listening for your voice commands or questions. At the same time, there is a new Quick Actions feature that lets you tap a couple of buttons and have Cortana do things like create an alarm, tell a joke, or set a reminder. You don’t have to talk to Cortana now to do the simple things and, at the same time, it teaches users some of the things the app can do.

When you ask it questions now, it’ll provide you with a full page of answers. There is also a Google Now-like cards that display information such as news, weather, traffic, etc. Even the call and texting functions have been refreshed. When you want to call or text through Cortana, it’ll redirect you to iPhone’s dialer and the built-in messaging app.

Source: Apple Insider + PC World

Classic board game ‘Clue’ comes to Android

Feeling nostalgic for classic board games? Well, one of these classic games have come to Android. You can now play Clue digitally without having to worry about losing any of the tiny pieces. The concept of the game stays the same so if you’ve played it before, you won’t feel lost. You are still rolling a dice to move around the mansion and find out who killed the victim with what weapon and where it happened. The game even comes with a digital notebook where you can take notes and make your deductions. The game isn’t free, though, you need to shell out US$3.99 for it. There is no multiplayer mode at the moment but Marmalade Game Studio promises it’ll be coming in a future update.

Source: Android Police