Posts

Showing posts with the label mobile

Netflix’s hackathon produces a way to navigate its iOS app with ARKit and Face ID

Image
Netflix’s internal hackathons have consistently produced fun and often silly hacks, from that “Netflixtendo” hack a few years ago that let you run Netflix on the original NES to the more recent “audiobook mode” that turned Netflix series into old school radio shows by way of Audio Descriptions. This year’s hackathon doesn’t disappoint either, with new hacks that are both as goofy and interesting as in years past, including a AR and Face ID-powered hack that lets you navigate Netflix with just your eyes, another designed for “Sharknado” fans, and more. “Jump to Shark” lets viewers skip right to the good parts of the so-bad-it’s-good “Sharknado,” so they can watch the bloody action sequences with sharks, instead of having to sit through the movie’s actual plot. It’s pretty great, as the video shows. [embedded content] The AR hack, Eye Nav, is fairly impressive, too. The hack uses Apple’s ARKit and the technology that enables Face ID for tracking eye position and facial expressions. It...

Tinder doubles down on its casual nature, as Match invests in relationship-focused Hinge

Image
Tinder has never really shaken its reputation among consumers as a “hook up” app, instead of one designed for more serious dating. Now, it seems Tinder is planning to embrace its status as the default app for younger users who aren’t ready to settle down. According to Match Group CEO Mandy Ginsberg, speaking to investors on its Q3 earnings call this morning, Tinder is preparing to launch its first-ever brand marketing campaign that will promote the “single lifestyle” with billboard campaigns and other digital initiatives. The move is something of an admission that Tinder isn’t working for helping people find long-term relationships. “Tinder was such a phenomenon when it launched and spread so quickly that the market defined th brand, versus the business defining the brand,” said Ginsberg, referring to its “hook up app” reputation. “Tinder’s brand particularly resonated with 18 to 25 year-olds because it provides a fun and easy way to meet people. Tinder sometimes gets a bad rap for b...