Monday, April 1, 2019
3:15 PM
Facebook pulls back the curtain on its newsfeed algorithm
Bewildered by the content, ads or posts being shown on your Facebook timeline – or just want to know why you see some posts over others? Facebook is pulling back the veil on the algorithm powering its Newsfeed, making it easier for users to see how content is being tailored to them.
In a post on Facebook's Newsroom blog, the social media giant detailed some of the new information users could learn about posts on their personal Newsfeed – whether they liked a certain page, shared a certain article, or became friends with a specific Facebook user.
By clicking on the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner of any post, users can access the info, as well as be prompted to take action off the back of what they learn: unfollow a certain page, alter their preferences, or clarify that they don't want to keep seeing posts on a certain topic.
The move is effectively an expansion of Facebook's existing 'Why am I seeing this ad?' feature, which shows what previous actions or demographic information (age, interests, etc) had led to you being showed particular sponsored content – but will now include posts from friends or the pages you follow as well as advertisements.
It doesn't seem to have launched in the UK yet, but given the public announcement we imagine it will be gradually rolling out across global territories. We've reached out to Facebook for clarification.
That's private
Privacy is a hot topic in the world of social media, especially with regards to Facebook.
The past year has seen some high profile data breaches, as well as a growing distrust of how social media companies handle user information. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has even been pulled in front of Congress to explain some of the site's dubious practices – and users are increasingly concerned over how and why certain content is tailored to them.
In a video posted on the blog, a Facebook spokesperson assures us that we can "take more control of that content in the future [and] help you customize what you see on your screen."
This show of transparency may be just that – a show – but in the short term at least users will have the chance to better understand what Facebook knows about them, and whether they want to do anything about it.
from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/2V5qZvy
via IFTTT
3:15 PM
Xiaomi has patented a phone with a very strangely placed front camera
Many companies are grappling with where to place the front-facing cameras on their phones – some use a notch, others a punch-hole, while the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 opts for a sliding camera. But that’s not the only solution the company is experimenting with, as it has also patented a phone with a camera at the bottom of the screen.
Spotted by LetsGoDigital, the patent includes two designs which you can see below, one of which shows a dual-lens camera in a notch at the bottom of the screen, leaving it looking a bit like the phone is upside down, while the other includes a lens in each of the bottom corners.
What’s not clear is why either of these designs would be used. After all, they don’t eliminate the notch or make it less noticeable, they just move it. And we’d think that this position could affect the composition of selfies, meaning you’d have to hold the phone at a different angle to what you’re used to.
- Read our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S10 review
- 5G phones are coming
- The iPhone 11 could be the phone to beat this year
It’s worth noting also that Xiaomi has already put the front camera at the bottom on the likes of the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 (pictured at the top of this article), albeit in a bezel rather than a notch, and indeed in our review we deemed the placement “aggravating”.
So there’s a sense that this patent is different just for the sake of being different, but you never know, Xiaomi may yet have a good reason for the odd camera placement.
Of course, many smartphone patents don’t get developed into handsets that you can actually buy, so there’s no guarantee that anything will come of this, especially when the Mi Mix 3’s sliding camera is likely a better option, as it completely eliminates the need for a camera bezel or notch.
from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/2I4jIIy
via IFTTT
3:15 PM
Phone network price hikes have cost UK public £1 billion - and more are coming today
The UK public has been cost a whopping £1 billion since 2013 thanks to their mobile phone contracts being bumped up mid-term with annual inflation charges, a new study has revealed, with further price hikes from major networks set to take place today.
The study - carried out by mobile analysts Tarifica and commissioned by Tesco Mobile - estimates that the cost for 2019 alone, based on the increase, could be a whopping £173 million to the public's wallets and purses.
Networks set to increase charges by up to 2.5% include Vodafone, EE, Three and O2. If you think a network change could save you some money then it's worth checking out our best mobile phone deals page here.
William Watts, director at Tarifica, said: "When calculating the cost to consumers, the most important factor to consider is that price escalations are applied every month until the contract has run its course. So, while many operators advertise the fact that these changes are only costing customers ‘between £1 and £2 per month,’ the cost over the life of a contract can approach £50 or more in some cases.
“Further, these escalations are stacked on top of each other year on year, meaning that the following year’s price increase is built off the one from the previous year, similar to compounding interest in a savings account”.
Read more:
- Get the lowest prices on Apple devices with the best iPhone deals
- Discover the world's best handsets with our guide to the best smartphones
- Worth checking your internet, too, with our best broadband deals check
from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/2FNhZpp
via IFTTT