Few things make a brand pop like top notch visuals. Video or animated elements can make a strong impression, showing that you take quality seriously. But that usually means paying quality prices, or learning to do it yourself.
Original content could rake in billions for Apple
In three years’ time, Apple could bring in an extra $10 to $12 billion in annual revenue through its original video content and Apple Music, analyst Amit Daryanani of RBC Capital Markets argued in a note to clients this week.
In terms of Apple’s share price, that would add up to 75 cents to the company’s earnings per share.
Snap’s Spectacles can now export non-circular videos
Snap updates its set of Spectacles today and instead of only shooting video optimized for Snapchat, you can finally use them to export video that’s friendly for other platforms.
Instagram takes on YouTube with new IGTV app
Instagram is ready to take on YouTube with a new app.
The photo-sharing social network revealed its new standalone app today called IGTV that’s dedicated to long-form video.
How to add sound to your iPhone or iPad screen recordings
iOS 11 added screen recording to the iPhone and iPad, letting you make movies from whatever is running on then screen. I use it to make video clips for how-tos, or to capture video and then create animated GIFs. But did you know that you can also use screen recording to copy a YouTube video? Or to make a screencast complete with a live voiceover? Here’s how.
Instagram wants to battle Apple and Netflix with original content
After beating out every other photo-sharing platform and stealing Snapchat’s lunch money, Instagram is jumping into video.
A new report claims the service is adding support for uploading videos up to an hour in length. It is also in talks with content creators and publishers about the possibility of delivering original long-form videos that could compete with shows from the likes of Apple and Netflix.
Apple’s WWDC 2018 keynote is now streaming on YouTube
Didn’t have a chance to catch Apple’s WWDC 2018 keynote yet? Well, you could read our summary, or if you want to watch the entire thing, Apple just uploaded it to YouTube.
Tim Cook and the gang busted out a bunch of new software during the keynote. iOS 12, macOS Mojave, tvOS 12 and watchOS 5 all got their moment to shine with new features, UI changes and plenty of surprises.
Watch all the action right here:
Ears-on review: Stereo HomePods will blow you away
Stereo-pairing has been one of the most anticipated HomePod features and now that it has finally arrived, it was definitely worth the wait.
HomePod owners can now pair two or more speakers together to create rich stereo soundscapes in their house for an audio experience that’s unlike any other. CultCast producer Erfon Elijah went ears-on with the new feature and says his finely tuned ears were tingling with delight from the sounds HomePod can blast out. The 360-degree sound is so enveloping that it’s hard to tell where it’s even coming from.
Listen to the difference:
Elgato’s portable green screen is the perfect setup for gamers
Want to become the next big Fortnite star but don’t have a professional-looking streaming setup? The folks at Elgato are ready to solve all your woes with their brilliant new collapsible green screen.
Most green screens we’ve used are a pain to deal with, but not only is the new Elgato screen dead-easy to use, it’s pretty cheap, too. The CultCast producer Erfon Elijah has been playing with Elgato’s green screen the last few weeks. It blew him away with features that allow anyone to create an immersive stream instantly.
Take a look at it in action:
Animoji go on a wild ride in crazy K-pop iPhone X ad
Apple has tapped into the power of K-pop for its wild new Animoji ad that came out today. The South Korean group HYUKOH gave Apple exclusive rights to their catchy new song for the fun ad that features a dazzling array of lights and animated cityscapes.
The minute-long ad is similar in style to the Grammy-themed Animoji ads Apple put out earlier this year. Only in this one, the visuals are ramped up to an all-new level.
Buckle up and enjoy the ride:
Samsung’s sad new ad is packed with iPhone disses
The life of an iPhone owner is a truly miserable experience, according to the Android smartphone makers at Samsung.
Apple’s big Android rival put out a new ad today titled “Moving On” that attacks the iPhone for taking a few seconds to load a boarding pass and if you’re not careful you might totally get caught in the rain with one while waiting for an Uber.
Take a look at the sad life of an iPhone user:
Apple shows off iPhone X’s studio skills in new video
Apple debuted a new ad today that showcases the incredible powers of Portrait Mode on the iPhone X.
The fun new ad is similar in style to some of the wild Face ID ads Apple put out earlier this year and highlights how having an iPhone X is like literally carrying an entire array of studio lights in your pocket.
Check it out:
iOS 11.4 inches closer to launch with fifth beta
iOS 11.4 looks like it’s on track for a public release sometime around WWDC 2018.
Apple just released a big batch of betas for developers this morning, including the fifth build of iOS 11.4 which brings a number of new features and improvements to the iPhone and iPad.
Watch today’s big Google I/O keynote live right here
Google I/O 2018 kicks off today in Mountain View, California. The two day event starts with a big Google keynote that will see the company lay out its plans for the future of its biggest products, including Android and Chrome OS.
You can watch the whole thing live right here from 10 a.m. Pacific.
How to record Apple TV on your Mac, wirelessly
Today we’re going to learn how to record a movie that’s playing on your Apple TV direct to your Mac, with no wires required, no weird hacks, and not even any third-party software. The tools are all built into every Mac that ships. To record a movie off the “screen” of your Apple TV, you’re going to use Apple’s QuickTime app, and one of its lesser-known but super-powerful features.
How to download all your old Instagram photos and videos
Pulling your photos off of Instagram just got a lot easier.
Instagram revealed today that it is finally starting to roll out a new tool that lets any Instagram user retrieve all of the photos, videos, comments, likes and other data stored on Instagram’s servers.
Get your data by following these steps:
Apple throws shade at Android in hilarious iPhone ads
Apple is back with a new set of ads aiming to get Android users to switch to iPhone. The two new ads showcase Portrait Mode and Portrait Lightning on the newest iPhones, while also bragging about the App Store’s security compared to Google Play.
Watch them both:
Google Chrome silences all those annoying autoplaying videos
Google has done us all a favor by asking Chrome to block autoplaying videos with sound. No longer will our ears be sodomized unexpectedly by obnoxious ads that we’ll never look at. There are some caveats, however.
Apple drops second beta of iOS 11.4
Developers received a new batch of beta updates this morning, including the second beta build of iOS 11.4.
The new build brings a number of new features to the iPhone and iPad, including some that were pulled from iOS 11.3, like AirPlay 2 and Messages on iCloud. Apple has added a number of bug fixes and performance improvements in the new builds as it preps it for a public release.
Epic Apple Park drone video could be the last one ever
New drones videos of Apple Park are about to become extinct.
Apple is ramping up security when it comes to drones hovering over its new headquarters. Droner Duncan Sinfield has flown at the campus since the early days of construction. However, on his latest flights, Duncan says Apple security has been able to track down his precise location in ten minutes.
Check out his latest footage, it could be his last:
Instagram will soon let you download all your old photos
Leaving Instagram is about to get a lot easier.
With pressure rising on its parent company to give users access to all of their data, Instagram says it plans to release a tool that will let you download all of the content you’ve shared on the social network.
See how ARKit will make grocery shopping easier
Searching my local grocery stores endless aisles of offerings of food is one of my least favorite things about being an adult, but thanks to the power of ARKit, apps are about to completely change the experience.
iOS developer Andrew Hart teased an early preview of his augmented reality app for retailers on Twitter this week and it looks absolutely amazing. The sleek app can be used to product details while shipping. But the coolest feature is its ability to spatially navigate you through the store to that Tikka Masala you’ve been hunting for.
Prepare to be amazed:
See just how awesome Apple Pencil can be in Notes
Apple is making sure new iPad owners know all about the tablet’s new tricks with its series of educational how-to videos that keep coming out with updates.
Hot on the heels of yesterday’s new how-to videos, Apple has published a new video showing how to use Apple Pencil on the new iPad to draw handwritten notes in the Notes app. With the new cheap iPad, now students can write and sketch as they follow along in class. Handwritten notes are also searchable.
Watch and learn:
You can now watch the full video of Apple’s March 27 keynote
Didn’t catch the live blog of Apple’s keynote this morning? Don’t worry. The livestream has just been posted.
iPad makes homework a blast in Apple’s fun new ad
Homework was always a dreaded task back in the days of paper and pencil but in Apple’s new ad, doing homework looks like a total blast.
Eager to highlight its skills in the education market, Apple’s new iPad ad shows how the tablet can be used in creative ways to make learning a fun experience. The two minute ad follows a group of kids as they do a series of gravity experiments utilizing the iPad and Apple Pencil to complete the project.
Check it out: