Discord makes video chat and screen sharing available to all

As promised, Discord is rolling out video chat and screen share to its entire user base. Some of you may recall that the Slack-style gaming chat app began testing the highly-requested features in August. During the trial run, they were available to around 5 percent of members. Now, anyone can take advantage of video chat in one-to-one calls, or with up to ten people in a direct messaging group. You also have the option to switch between your webcam video and screen share. And, the update includes picture-in-picture support, allowing you to video chat while checking out other stuff (like servers or DMs). With 45 million users and counting, the latest changes should see Discord swipe more gamers from Skype and TeamSpeak. Back when the test phase was announced , Discord revealed users could experience a drop in quality when video chatting in groups of more than five. But we’re assuming it ironed out those issues ahead of the proper launch. Aside from the video chat rollout, it’s also fixed a bunch of bugs that were affecting things like text, emoji, and the mute option. You can browse the details for yourself here . Source: Discord (Medium)

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Discord makes video chat and screen sharing available to all

HTC Vive Pre impressions: A great VR system has only gotten better

Sam Machkovech Say hello to the HTC Vive Pre—the near-final version of the VR system. The headset comes complete with two tracking wands and two laser-tracking stations. 12 more images in gallery SEATTLE, Washington—Valve and HTC took the wraps off of their latest, near-final version of the Vive virtual reality system at this month’s CES, but we barely got a chance to play with the refreshed headset. That changed on Wednesday thanks to an event hosted in Valve’s hometown of Seattle, where the company offered Ars 12 lengthy demos of upcoming games and apps. Our detailed impressions of those dozen demos are forthcoming, but in the meantime, we have good news. The pre-release Vive Pre hardware may not be phenomenally better than the original Vive dev kit, but every change has made an already-impressive VR system feel that much more complete, comfortable, and worth salivating over. Like the original HTC Vive dev kit , the Vive Pre asks users to wear a VR headset whilst walking around a pre-defined, real-life space and holding motion-tracked wands in each hand. These wands’ main buttons are still a gun-like trigger and a thumb-accessible, clickable trackpad; in addition, the handle has a button on each side of the controller’s grip, and those are now positioned for easier hand access. New menu buttons have been placed above and below the trackpad, as well. Read 9 remaining paragraphs | Comments

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HTC Vive Pre impressions: A great VR system has only gotten better

YouTube axes direct video uploads from webcams

If you’re one of the few recording to YouTube straight from your webcam, the video-hosting site will soon get rid of that feature. On January 16th, you’ll no longer be able to capture video straight from the camera connected to your computer and upload it to the web. Google says the feature is “rarely used” and runs on “tech” (read: Flash ) that’s no longer supported. The tool has been around for years, debuting the same year Mountain View nabbed YouTube . Despite the direct upload abilities, it seems the feature wasn’t very popular with folks posting videos on the site. When the time comes, users will need to first save footage on their computer or mobile device before uploading via the web or YouTube apps for Android and iOS. [Image credit: LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images] Via: The Next Web Source: YouTube

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YouTube axes direct video uploads from webcams

Top 10 Incredibly Useful Windows Programs to Have On Hand

Sometimes, all you need is the right app to get something done—whether it’s an essential everyday tool, or something a bit more specialized. Today, as part of Lifehacker’s 10th anniversary celebration , we’re looking at 10 of our favorite apps in the latter category. Read more…

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Top 10 Incredibly Useful Windows Programs to Have On Hand

The Eiffel Tower Is The Latest Landmark To Get A Glass Floor

One great way to get adventurous folks amped up about scaling landmarks is to make the act of being way-the-heck-up-high even freakier. The Eiffel Tower is the latest to get a stomach-flipping glass floor 187 feet above the teensy little people on the pavement below. Read more…

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The Eiffel Tower Is The Latest Landmark To Get A Glass Floor

Minnesota Teen Wins Settlement After School Takes Facebook Password

schwit1 (797399) writes “A Minnesota school district has agreed to pay $70, 000 to settle a lawsuit that claimed school officials violated a student’s constitutional rights by viewing her Facebook and email accounts without permission. The lawsuit, filed in 2012 by the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, alleged that Riley Stratton, now 15, was given detention after posting disparaging comments about a teacher’s aide on her Facebook page, even though she was at home and not using school computers. After a parent complained about the Facebook chat, the school called her in and demanded her password. With a sheriff deputy looking on, she complied, and they browsed her Facebook page in front of her, according to the report. ‘It was believed the parent had given permission to look at her cellphone, ‘ Minnewaska Superintendent Greg Schmidt said Tuesday. But Schmidt said the district did not have a signed consent from the parent. That is now a policy requirement, he said.'” Asks schwit1, “How is this not a violation of the CFAA?” It sounds like the school was violating Facebook’s Terms of Service, too. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Minnesota Teen Wins Settlement After School Takes Facebook Password

More Bad News From Mt.Gox: All Your Bitcoin Money Is Gone

The Mt.Gox saga just gets sadder and sadder. Not only did the company file for bankruptcy, but Mt.Gox CEO Mike Karpele went on Japanese TV a few minutes ago and admitted that everybody’s money is gone. Gone, gone, gone. Read more…        

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More Bad News From Mt.Gox: All Your Bitcoin Money Is Gone

Awesome recording of space sounds exactly like a tropical rainforest

Birds singing, frogs croaking, animals walking, the sound of rain hitting trees, ponds, and the wet soil—if you listen to this video with your headphones you would believe you’re listening to the recording of a rainforest. But the truth is that you’re listening to space: Read more…        

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Awesome recording of space sounds exactly like a tropical rainforest

This Tiny Telescope Will Be The First Moon-Mounted Webcam

Ever since humans looked up, we’ve been obsessed with gazing deep into the seemingly infinite cosmos. We’ve got plenty of telescopes both on Earth and floating around it that are staring out into the abyss, but the ILO-X is going to be perched on the moon. And you’ll be able to use it right from your computer . Read more…        

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This Tiny Telescope Will Be The First Moon-Mounted Webcam