Facebook and several other companies announced the Internet.org initiative tonight to bring connectivity to 5 billion people, but how are they going to do it? As laid out in the Facebook founder’s “Is Connectivity A Human Right?” plan, it includes some technological changes. One main issue is delivering data more efficiently, and making sure apps use less of it. First on the chopping block is Facebook’s own app, which used an average of 12MB of data earlier this year but the company thinks it can cut to 1MB per day “simply by improving data usage.” Beyond that, more savings are possible if Facebook offers a variant with fewer photos in developing countries. Other methods for using less data include caching and data compression, with the former already in use on its featurephone app , and the latter something partners like Opera have a lot of experience in. In the future, Zuckerberg speculates users could even download stories or photos from nearby friends using technology like WiFi Direct. All of this is done with the aim of reducing the bandwidth needed for basic internet services, thereby making access “affordable and available” to more people. Hit the source link for more details on the hows and whys, we’ll be expecting our more efficient social network any day now. Filed under: Internet , Mobile , Facebook Comments Source: Is Connectivity A Human Right? (PDF) , Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook)

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Zuckerberg’s Internet.org plan includes more efficient apps, starting with Facebook

Netflix’s Watch Instantly streaming service in the US started with the same queue-based experience users were familiar with from its disc-by-mail rentals for bookmarking titles to watch later, but internationally the option has never existed. Now the experience is changing everywhere, as Netflix replaces the old queues with “My List.” Outside the US subscribers will notice the biggest change, as they’re able to curate their own viewing lists instead of relying solely on search or the service’s automatically generated genre lists. Otherwise the selection process is mostly the same as we’ve come to expect, with a “+ My List” button single click adding it to the list of up to 500 items in each user’s profile. My List should pop up on individual accounts over the next couple of weeks, check after the break for a breakdown of all the incoming changes. Filed under: Home Entertainment , HD Comments Source: Netflix Blog

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Netflix’s new ‘My List’ replaces queues, lets users worldwide bookmark their favorites

It’s safe to say Google took the world by surprise when it introduced its Project Loon . But, some were disappointed that it was done so far away from home — at least at first. Now, the company has announced that it’s ready to more openly test out the high-flying internet service in California, with research flights due to take place around The Golden State’s Central Valley. Google says it’s seeking people in the area “who are willing to have a Loon internet antenna installed on their house or small business building to help test the strength of the Loon internet connection.” For those interested in helping out the cause (and why not!), you’ll need to fill out the survey located at the source below — the Project Loon team notes that those selected to participate will be contacted directly. Filed under: Misc , Internet , Google Comments Source: Project Loon (Google+)

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Google to test Project Loon in California’s Central Valley, begins taking participant applications

Those with a hearty level of respect for beta builds have been enjoying these spoils for weeks now, but Google has today seen fit to push Chrome 29 and a refreshed Chrome for Android out to rest of us. Effective right now, Chrome 29 users on the desktop will see “improvements to omnibox suggestions based on the recency of websites visited, resulting in more timely and contextually relevant suggestions.” Interestingly, Google has also added a “Reset browser settings” option for those who end up going a bit overboard with extensions; thankfully, waving the aforesaid white flag won’t impact your themes, apps or bookmarks. On the mobile front, Chrome on Android is being updated with improved scrolling and startup performance, as well as WebRTC support that will enable video conversation directly in the browser without a plugin. Yeah, we thought you’d dig that. Filed under: Internet , Software , Mobile , Google Comments Source: Google Chrome Blog , Google Play Store

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Chrome 29 brings more intelligent omnibox suggestions, while Android users nab WebRTC support

This September, Apple’s expected to flip the switch on iTunes Radio , the music service announced at WWDC in June. But how exactly will Cupertino fund its pricey new streaming venture? Ads, and lots of them — according to AdAge , Apple will serve up an audio advertisement every 15 minutes, while video ads will play every hour, and only at times that users are likely to be looking at the display, such as right after hitting play or jumping to a new song. McDonald’s, Nissan, Pepsi and Procter & Gamble are all on board as launch advertisers, with each deal bringing many millions of dollars in revenue. Only free users will have to deal with frequent disturbances, however. Users paying $25 per year for an iTunes Match subscription will have ad-free access to Radio, letting them stream tunes continuously without interruption. Filed under: Home Entertainment , Internet , Apple Comments Source: AdAge

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iTunes Radio reportedly launching next month with audio ads every 15 minutes, video once an hour

Remember that YouTube app revamp which launched hours ago for Android users? It just reached iOS. The YouTube 2.0 update gives Apple device owners the same picture-in-picture video multitasking and playlist search tools that Google offers on its own platform. There aren’t any iOS-specific features in the new release, but there’s certainly enough to justify a visit to the App Store for an upgrade. Filed under: Cellphones , Tablets , Mobile , Google Comments Via: YouTube Official Blog Source: App Store

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YouTube 2.0 for iOS brings multitasking and playlist searching

The ink is still fresh on Intel’s formal blessing of Thunderbolt 2 , and as promised, there’s already a product on the market from perennial early bird ASUS. The Z87-Deluxe/Quad ATX is the first motherboard to pack the tech, which combines four of the original 10Gbps Thunderbolt channels into two bi-directional 20Gbps ports. That’s four times the speed of USB 3.0 if you’re keeping score at home, allowing two 4K displays to be driven at once, or faster-than-SATA-6 SSD speeds, for instance. Otherwise, it’s as well-equipped as you’d expect from a bleeding edge mainboard, with 4th-gen Intel (Haswell) CPU support, 10 SATA-6 ports, 8 USB 3.0 ports, and 3 PCIe 3.0/2.0 x 16 slots. There’s no pricing or availability yet, though Thunderbolt-equipped motherboards tend to be expensive. Still, if you wear the “early adopter” name-tag with pride, hit the PR after the break. Filed under: Desktops , Peripherals , ASUS Comments Via: Legit Reviews

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ASUS first to arrive with motherboard packing Intel’s 20Gbps Thunderbolt 2

With several companies developing technologies that can turn any surface into a touchscreen , it should be widely available soon. Those who want to try it out before it’s cool, however, should look towards Ubi Interactive’s software that combines the talents of Microsoft’s Kinect for Windows sensor and a projector. So long as the software’s installed on a Windows 8 computer, the sensor tracks and detects movements users make on the projected image. Interactions are the same as any tablet or smartphone, including launching icons by tapping on them and expanding areas with pinch-to-zoom. Merely a concept in 2012, the software is now available on Ubi’s website with prices ranging from $149 to $1, 499, depending on the display size and the type of customer support. Sounds like even an Average Joe can nab one, assuming they already have a projector and one of Microsoft’s $250 motion / voice detectors. Filed under: Misc , Microsoft Comments Via: CNET Source: Kinect for Windows , Ubi Interactive

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Kinect app that turns any surface into a touchscreen now available, starts at $149

Microsoft has announced that Windows 8.1 will be arriving on 17th October (well, in the US, anyway), confirming an earlier rumor of a mid-month launch. For some reason, the company’s specified an exact time of 12am on October 18th in New Zealand, which is 4am PT or 7am ET on October 17th. The free update will begin hitting your local Windows Store from that time, as well as “at retail and on new devices” on the 18th, depending on the market. Check out our hands-on for an idea of what to expect from the update. Filed under: Desktops , Laptops , Tablets , Software , Microsoft Comments Source: Microsoft

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Microsoft confirms Windows 8.1 launching October 17th