GIF support comes to Twitter

Twitter has one-upped Facebook and joins the likes of Tumblr and Pinterest with its support for GIFs. Both the Web interface and the mobile applications on Android and iOS now support those animated GIFs. Twitter made the announcement through a tweet (of course) to show how the GIFs will appear on the social network. Twitter is also offering GIF support to its APIs, meaning third-party developers will be offered the same support as Twitter clients.

Starting today, you can share and view animated GIFs on http://t.co/wJD8Fp317i, Android and iPhone. http://t.co/XBrAbOm4Ya

— Twitter Support (@Support) June 18, 2014

FIFA bans Beats headphones from World Cup stadiums

While football players have been seen to use Beats headphones during their downtime, don’t expect to see them carry those cans on the field. FIFA has banned the use of Beats headphones at 2014 World Cup because of licensing reasons. Sony is one of the biggest sponsors of the games. Players will not be allowed to take their Beats headphones to the stadiums or when they attend media events for the games.

But this plan might be even more advantageous for Beats. Marketing strategist Ellen Petry Leanse told Reuters that the company’s message might come off as more authentic or credible because they aren’t an official sponsor. 

Google brings premium Google+ features for Apps customers

Google aims to entice more enterprise and business users to use its Apps services with new Google+ “premium” features. App customers will have access to HD-quality hangouts and they can invite up to 15 people per session. These users also have more control over their privacy settings including restricting their domain to being visible only to employees and colleagues as well as hide their profiles from public searches.

Source: The Next Web

Microsoft developing passive voice activation for Cortana

Looks like Microsoft is keen on bringing Cortana up to par with Google’s and Apple’s own digital personal assistants with the new features they are throwing in. Marcus Ash, the group program manager for Cortana on Windows Phone, tweeted that their team is currently working on passive voice activation for their service. This would mean you no longer have to hold the search button or tap on the live tile to activate Cortana. You would just need a voice command like when you say “Ok, Google” for Google Now or "Hey Siri," for iOS 8.

Something to think about as we design voice activation for #Cortana. Don't want Jesse sending texts on your behalf. http://t.co/Vq4uXB0P6q

— Marcus Ash (@marcusash) June 17, 2014

Source: Ubergizmo