Facebook is getting into the smart speaker market, according to sources, and it is developing a model that will take on Amazon's Echo Show device. Facebook's tipped smart speaker is said to feature a 15-inch touch display, enabling users to interact with the device visually. If the sources are correct, we'll see this speaker hit the market early next year.
The idea of a modular smartphone — where a number of components can be swapped out for replacements or allow users to focus on a key feature, such as a larger battery — has been widely pursued by the tech industry over the last few years, with Google going as far as developing a prototype for its Project Ara concept (seen above). But while most companies have given up on the idea, like Google did last year, it appears Facebook is still pursuing it.
Is the dream of the modular phone dead? Not if you ask Lenovo and Motorola, though their concept of a modular phone is not exactly what you might have in mind. Closer to that dream that went down with Google’s Project Ara is something that Facebook has in mind. Yes, Facebook has an idea for a modular phone. Or rather, it has patented what is technically a generic “modular electromechanical device” that, in at least one permutation, could also function as a phone.
For years now, it's been the same old story: Facebook has a massive user base but hasn't quite figured out how to make money from it yet. Facebook has tried a variety of different money making methods, but later on this year, we'll see it try something new. According to new reports, Facebook is planning to implement a subscription service that essentially allows publishers to put a paywall in front of their articles on the platform.
Facebook has finally gotten with the times and realized that GIFs are one of our main ways of communicating online these days. With that, the camera in the social network's main app is gradually being updated with a new option to create GIFs. The feature is gradually being rolled out, as is often the case, so it's not available for all users just yet. If you do have access to it, you'll find it to the right after opening the standard camera feature.
When it comes to VR, customers have options on both the high-end and the low-end, but nothing that's firmly in the mid-range. If you want an introduction to virtual reality, Samsung's Gear VR makes a good jumping off point, as all you need is a Samsung phone to make it work. On the other side of the coin, HTC and Oculus have the high-end on lock down with headsets that cost hundreds of dollars and require a beefy PC to work. What about everyone else who may want a reasonably powerful headset that doesn't require a PC? Oculus may be gearing up to unveil a headset aimed at that very segment.
Over the past few years, Facebook has turned Messenger into a really popular app. Sure, it did that mostly by turning off Facebook messaging capabilities for mobile users and thereby forcing them to install Messenger, but the fact remains: Facebook Messenger is now home to more than 1 billion users. That's a massive userbase to be sure, but Facebook has had issues monetizing the platform.
Facebook is once again looking to expand its game streaming efforts, announcing today a new initiative with PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds developer Bluehole. With this new agreement, Facebook will now be the home of exclusive PUBG content each week. This may draw a considerable number of viewers in, given how popular PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is on Twitch.
If you've got a Facebook profile, you may have come across a new, scary-sounding warning being shared by some of your friends. Like so many of the viral posts that came before it, this one warns you against adding a certain Facebook user - this time named Jayden K. Smith - for fear of having your profile hacked. The question is if this viral warning is legitimate or if it's all just a ruse to get gullible Facebook users to share the post in question.
![New Instagram Visual Replies update [APK Download]](https://c.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/visualrepliesinstagram.jpg)
Today a major Instagram update was released with new ways to reply to Instagram friends. Users will be able to reply to Instagram Stories with this update in a couple of different ways. New ways, that is, not just the old ways. The new ways include replying with a video and replying with a photo - as yet there is no way to reply to an Instagram Story with another Instagram Story, but that would be neat - and completely crazy.
Facebook users can't expect the social network to protect their privacy when they're browsing online, a US judge has ruled, throwing out a lawsuit against the social networking behemoth. The case had seen Facebook accused of violating both US federal and Californian laws around privacy and wiretapping, in its use of tracking cookies. However the judge, in a decision made on Friday last week, disagreed.
Many would agree that Facebook's mobile apps, in addition to the social network as a whole, is a bit bloated with useless, unnecessary features. Fortunately the newest one will definitely be handy when in a pinch. Called "Find Wifi," the feature lets users search for nearby businesses and locations that offer free WiFi for public use.
