Should Facebook, Twitter reconsider autoplay feature?

Many users were confronted with the video without choosing to when it was shared into their feeds -- where the killer is seen shooting at his two colleagues -- thanks to autoplay feature.

LONDON: British MPs have urged social networking sites Twitter and Facebook to reconsider autoplaying videos following an incident where a US reporter along with her cameraman were shot to death while doing a live broadcast, a media report said. 

Many users were confronted with the video without choosing to when it was shared into their feeds -- where the killer is seen shooting at his two colleagues -- thanks to autoplay feature, BBC reported. 

A parliamentary group has suggested that the firms should ensure that users are warned about graphic content before it plays. 

The chair of the cross-party Parliamentary Internet, Communications and Technology Forum (Pictfor), Matt Warman, said that both social media sites should automatically sift for such content. 

"Social media, just like traditional media, should consider how shocking other content can be, and make sure consumers are warned appropriately," Warman said. 

"For victims, friends and families it's important to make sure that users know what they're about to see and have a reasonable opportunity to stop it," Warman, a Conservative Party member, added. 

He said that while users can change their own settings to stop videos auto-playing, Facebook and Twitter "need to be aware that one size does not fit all." 

"Many people who are ordinarily happy that videos play will have seen shocking footage by accident, without warning of its graphic nature," he added. 

Shortly after the murders of two US journalists as they carried out a live broadcast on August 26, it emerged that the suspected gunman had posted his own footage on both Twitter and Facebook.

Those posts were then retweeted and shared by other users.

Should Facebook, Twitter reconsider autoplay feature?

Android 6.0 Marshmallow: 10 new features

After months of waiting, Google has finally announced that the next version of its mobile OS Android will be called Marshmallow. Also, it the next update of the OS will be numbered Android 6.0, instead of Android 5.2 as previously speculated.

Announced at Google I/O 2015, Android Marshmallow brings with it a number of new features to spruce up your smartphones and tablets (provided they get the update). Here we take a look at 10 of the features you can look forward to with the next build of Android…

1. Google Now on Tap

One of the key Android Marshmallow features is Google Now on Tap, a more advanced version of the company's digital assistant. While Google Now is presently available, on most phones, only via the Search app, Android 6.0 will make it all-pervasive.

This means that you will be able to pull up Google Now to make a quick search across any app while using the smartphone. All you need to do is to select any section on the screen, for example any particular text, and Google Now on Tap will pull up relevant information, including context-based definitions.

2. Chrome Custom Tabs

Many a times, you click a link in an app and it either takes you to the default browser (like Chrome, Opera etc) or opens the link on the in-app browser. With Android 6.0, app makers will be able to integrate Chrome tabs into their apps, but retain the app’s customized look. The toolbar colour, enter & exit animations, and custom actions as well as overflow menu can be picked by the app makers even if the link is of an external website.

One of the key uses for the app makers is that the user stays within the app and gets a seamless experience. For the users, Custom Chrome Tabs saves them the trouble of logging into websites they are already connected to or authenticate permissions more than once. Moreover, this feature has provision to pre-fetch content, so autofill data and passwords can be entered with just a tap.

3. Battery life enhancements

While Android Lollipop’s Project Volta did not bring as much battery life improvement as was promised by Google, the company claims to have brought a fix with Android Marshmallow’s Doze feature. Basically, this feature is said to bring your smartphone to a near-off state when it has been idle for a long time.

In Google’s tests, Android 6.0’s Doze resulted in two times the battery life compared to Android 5.0 on the same device with the same apps.

Though Doze allows important notifications and alarms to pass, it does not let apps refresh in the background, so you won’t be able to get key updates as soon as you pick up your phone after a while.

4. Fingerprint support goes native

While many manufacturers, like Samsung, HTC, OnePlus, Oppo etc, have been using fingerprint sensors in their smartphones for quite some time, Google is making fingerprint sensor support native with Android 6.0.

This will not only add a new security layer to all smartphones (if manufacturers want to add this feature, that is) but also allow payment authentication via Android Pay.

Moreover, fingerprint support can be added to other apps as password for logins.

5. USB Type C and faster charging

Google is doing away with microUSB as the standard for the Android smartphones with the Android Marshmallow update, replacing it with USB Type C.

This relatively new USB type is backwards-compatible, which means that (like Apple’s Lightning adapter) the charging cable can be inserted in the port either way, making it a convenience for all users.

USB Type C has two other advantages: It allows for faster data transfer rates and charges devices faster. In fact, Google says USB Type C can charge products up to 3-5 times faster than the current crop of microUSB chargers.

6. App permissions

Google has rebooted app permissions with Android 6.0. Marshmallow will allow users to accept or deny permissions to apps as when they are updated; for example, if an app you download wants to access your camera, you can choose to deny to that requirement while approving the others.

This is different from the current setup, where you must accept all permissions if you want to download an app.

If an app adds new features and wants to access more of your phone’s hardware, you can choose to accept to deny those changes while downloading the update.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow also allows you to revisit app permissions; for example, you denied any particular permission initially, you can go in settings and accept it later.

7. Android Pay

Android 6.0 Marshmallow will bring in Android Pay, an NFC-based payment system that will rival Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

Though it will be launched with Android Marshmallow, it will still be available for devices running on Android 4.4 and above.

Based on Google Wallet, this feature allows you to save your credit cards and loyalty cards in one place. When you want to make a transaction, you will be able to authenticate the transaction via your fingerprint or via your virtual card number (given by Android Pay while registering).

8. Direct Share

Sharing on Android is already pretty convenient, but Google is trying to make it easier with Android 6.0 Marshmallow with it a new feature called Direct Share.

Though a lot is not known about this feature yet, we know that Direct Share will enable apps to share content (for example images) to specific contacts with just one click.

So, if you share stuff with particular contacts frequently, the software will recognize this behaviour and show those contacts on top. It is expected that the APIs will allow for more features, but it will eventually depend on the app makers to integrate them.

9. New boot animation

Google is bringing in a little change to the boot animation with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, which will now show four colourful circles moving about and morphing into various shapes before settling into the Android logo.

This replaces the Android 5.0 Lollipop boot animation, which had four colourful spheres bouncing about for a few seconds before turning into the Android logo.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow: 10 new features

10. Customizable toggles

While most custom Android skins allow users to personalize the toggles in the notifications drawer, it is still not a native feature for Google’s mobile operating system.

That is, however, about to change with Android Marshmallow, as users will be able to customize the toggles they want on Nexus devices as well (along with any other smartphone that runs on the stock version of Android 6.0).

Microsoft's Windows 10 is available as a free upgrade starting today for many users of Windows 7 or 8.

Microsoft's Windows 10 is available as a free upgrade starting today for many users of Windows 7 or 8.

Anyone who has the home or professional versions of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or Windows 8.1 now has a year to take advantage of the offer. If you have plain Windows 7 or 8, you'll have to upgrade them first — for free.

But when it comes to operating systems, familiarity breeds contempt of change. A lot of consumers feel that if it ain't broke, stop touching my computer. 

Windows 8, the last big change to Windows, wasn't familiar. The Start Menu, for example, was designed for touchscreen devices and confused some users.

With Windows 10 (yes, they skipped 9), Microsoft has learned to reconcile the old and the new. Thanks to public testing by millions of people, familiarity has become a top priority.

If you're making the free upgrade from Windows 7 or 8, here are a few features you'll recognize and a few new ones you'll probably like.
Microsoft has more details about how to upgrade to Windows 10 here.

New old Start Menu

Whether or not you experienced the Start Menu on Windows 8, the Windows 10 version is an improvement. It's where it always was, the lower left corner. And it still lets you find your programs, settings and files. However, it no longer opens in a whole new screen like in Windows 8. It might sound obvious, but keeping the menu in the same environment as the desktop feels easier to use.

On top of that, there are two customizable areas in the Start Menu that let you add apps or programs for quick access. Some of these programs have "live tiles" where information (such as the weather) can be seen at a glance without going into the app.

The Start Menu in Windows 10 is where it always was, the lower left corner and still lets you find your programs, settings and files. However, it no longer opens in a whole new screen like in Windows 8. See photo gallery for bigger version of image. (Anand Ram/CBC)

Better multi-tasking

Power users can't live without Alt + Tab as a way to switch programs as quickly as their mind wanders. They won't be left behind with a few new multi-tasking features.

There's now a Task View (Windows button + Tab), which shows you every open window. It also allows for multiple desktops, handy for when you want to hide the fact you're watching YouTube videos instead of working.

There’s now a Task View (Windows button + TAB), which shows you every open window. See photo gallery for bigger version of image. (Anand Ram/CBC)

"Snapping" windows is one of the best multi-tasking features in recent Windows history. It's back with even more.

Dragging a window against the side or top takes over half and all of your screen, respectively. Now, you can also drag to a corner and take up one quadrant. As well, snapping a window to a side or corner bounces all other windows into the negative space, allowing you to choose what else fills your screen.

Dragging a window against the side or top takes over half and all of your screen, respectively. Now, you can also drag to a corner and take up one quadrant. See photo gallery for bigger version of image. (Anand Ram/CBC)

Touch features

One of Microsoft's latest compromises is that it has made every feature available in whatever way users are interacting with Windows, including the increasing number of touch-enabled Windows machines.

For example, Task View can be enabled three ways:

• Windows button + Tab.
• Clicking a button on the taskbar with your mouse.
• Swiping in from the right on a touchscreen.

Swiping from the left no longer brings up the confusing "charms" menu from Windows 8. It's now the Action Center, where you can quickly access settings (WiFi, brightness, etc.) as well as notifications from apps. It's also where you can activate Tablet Mode.

Swiping from the left no longer brings up the confusing charms menu from Windows 8. It’s now the Action Center, where you can quickly access settings (Wi-Fi, brightness, etc.) as well as notifications from apps. See photo gallery for bigger version of image. (Anand Ram/CBC)

Tablet Mode simplifies the interface, making the OS buttons easier for use with fingers. Swipe down from the top and you can rearrange your workspace similar to snapping. Here, the Start Menu resembles Windows 8, where it takes over the whole screen.

Task View can be enabled 3 ways: Windows button + Tab, clicking a button on the taskbar with your mouse as well as swiping in from the right on a touchscreen. See photo gallery for bigger version of image. (Anand Ram/CBC)

Cortana (coming soon)

One of the big features with Windows 10 is Cortana, Microsoft's new digital assistant. See photo gallery for bigger version of image. (Anand Ram/CBC)

One of the big features with Windows 10 is Cortana, Microsoft's new digital assistant. Kind of like Android's Google Now mixed with Apple's Siri, the easiest way to describe Cortana is that she (?) helps you find what you're looking for.

Cortana is named after an artificially intelligent character in the popular Xbox series Halo(and let's ignore that she goes crazy at one point in the game). She can be found on the taskbar next to the start menu, in a text box that says "Ask me anything."

• Halo 5 game, TV series coming in 2015

You can. Some answers are straightforward search results through Microsoft's Bing search. With some others, she'll be more cheeky.

Some of Cortana's answers are straightforward search results through Microsoft's Bing search. With some others, she'll be more cheeky. (Anand Ram/CBC)

She'll also display a scrollable list of your interests, like movie showtimes, nearby restaurants, weather updates and news results.

One caveat with Cortana is that she won't be available at launch in Canada. Microsoft says the feature will arrive in the coming months and will bring some more focused, likely stereotypical Canadian humour to Cortana's answers. If you want to try it out before then, you can always switch your regional settings to U.S.