YouTube TV Can Now Be Accessed On Play Station 5

Technology-Portfolio.Net - PlayStation 5 (PS5) users can now access YouTube TV from this Sony-made console.

It is Android Police who discovered it for the first time, after Google secretly added YouTube TV service support information for the PS5 on their official site.

New YouTube Features

YouTube is reportedly testing a new feature that allows embedding comments at any point in the video. In simple terms, it will allow comments to appear at specific user-defined points.

That way, it's no longer like a scrollable downward comment column. Apparently, this looks like the timestamped comment that SoundCloud has.

"We're testing a new feature that lets you view timed comments exactly as you watch them in the video," says YouTube.

This trial was conducted on some Android and iOS users who were given access to test this capability in the beta version.

Brazil Finally Allows WhatsApp Pay

Technology-Portfolio.Net - WhatsApp has re-launched the WhatsApp Pay payment service in Brazil. The payment service WhatsApp Pay was suspended by Brazil's Central Bank in June 2020, just days after its launch.

Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, announced the return of this payment service in a video that was shown in Brazil.

In the video, Mark Zuckerberg talks about how payment information added to WhatsApp will work on Facebook and Instagram.

According to the Head of Facebook Financial, David Marcus, "the payment service WhatsApp Pay being rolled back in Brazil will be part of a phased rollout effort."

It seems that Facebook is serious about returning the WhatsApp Pay service to Brazil, one of which can be seen from the video uploaded to promote the payment service.

Not only that, Facebook also published a page stating that the Facebook Pay payment system that underlies WhatsApp Pay has been authorized by the Central Bank.

When the WhatsApp Pay service was first launched in Brazil, the country's central bank suspended operations. The reason is, there are concerns about competition among payment systems.

Brazil's Central Bank said it plans to evaluate whether the Facebook-owned service complies with regulations.

At the time, Facebook said it had been in contact with authorities before the WhatsApp Pay service was launched.

In late March 2021, Reuters reported, Brazil's Central Bank had approved the service, after Facebook obtained official approval to run the payments service.

In a Facebook press release, WhatsApp users will be able to connect debit, prepaid, or combo cards from several banks that work together to process their payments.

Previously on June 15, 2020, the WhatsApp Pay service officially operated in Brazil. This was conveyed by Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg through his personal page. Brazil became the first country where WhatsApp Pay was widely launched.

"Brazil became the first country in the world where we launched a payment service on WhatsApp," Zuckerberg said.

He said that with the presence of the payment service WhatsApp Pay in Brazil, users could send and receive money as easily as sending photos.

WhatsApp Pay, according to Zuckerberg, is also claimed to make it easier for small businesses to make financial transactions through the messaging application.

"To enable transactions, we developed Facebook Pay which provides a secure and consistent way to transact across our app platforms," ​​Zuckerberg said.

For your information, Zuckerberg also said, WhatsApp Pay can run thanks to collaboration with a number of local bank partners. They include Banco do Brasil, Nubank, Sicredi, and Cielo, merchant payment processors in Brazil.

Snapchat Users Can Now Include Music In Uploads

Technology-Portfolio.Net - Snapchat has just announced a new feature called Sounds. With this feature, users of the iOS version of Snapchat can add music to their Snaps.

The music can be added before or after taking the Snap. The music catalog available is varied and has been curated.

"Music can make video creation and communication more expressive, and offer another way to personally recommend music to your closest friends," wrote Snapchat in the caption.

When users receive a Snap equipped with Sound, they can immediately swipe up to find out the album, song title, to the musician.

Then, via the 'Play This Song' link, users can listen to the song in full on music streaming platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.

Not only does it include music in Snaps, Snapchat also claims to be testing a feature that allows users to create their own sounds and add them to their Snaps.

Together with this feature, Snapchat also announced Justin Bieber and Benny Blanco's newest song, 'Lonely; will be available exclusively in the Sound feature.


Snapchat Opens Office in Singapore, Strengthens Presence in Southeast Asia

Previously, Snap announced the recruitment of its first employee in Singapore. This step also strengthens the commitment of the company that owns Snapchat in the Southeast Asian market.

As a first step, Anubhav Nayyar will be part of the International Markets team led by Nana Murugesan as Managing Director. The International Markets team itself is known to be responsible for a number of Snap's growth strategies.

These strategies typically include expanding the company's operations in key global markets, promoting cultural relevance and building community, including rolling out a series of programs and local partnerships with telecom providers and OEMs.

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to grow our business in Southeast Asia. This region is one of the most dynamic and culturally diverse parts of the world," said Snap's Chief Strategy Officer, Jared Grusd.

Apart from that, Snap also plans to open an office in Singapore this year. Hence, the company is currently monitoring the Covid-19 pandemic and once the situation has subsided, Snap will establish its presence in the country.


Snap Plans in Southeast Asia

"Snap wants to celebrate and support diversity in Southeast Asia, and I can't wait to start building and fostering strategic partnerships, local content and communities across the region," said Director of Southeast Asia Market Development, Anubhav Nayyar.

In the future, the Singapore office will also strengthen Snap's support for multinational brand advertising partnerships based in the Asia Pacific region. For Snap, Southeast Asia has become increasingly important to the company in the last 12 years.

This is evidenced by several initiatives undertaken in a number of countries, including Indonesia. Some of the initiatives are localizing Augmented Reality Lens and creative tools called Kartini Day and Java Jazz Festival.

Photo Credit: Snapchat

Zoom Presents Marketplace Service to Host Virtual Events

Technology-Portfolio.Net - Zoom continues to add new features to its platform. Most recently, the video conference platform has launched a marketplace called OnZoom.

OnZoom is a marketplace that users can use to hold and monetize virtual events they create.

OnZoom can be used for various virtual events, from cooking classes to stand-up comedy. This platform is supported by a number of features, such as ticket sales, event scheduling, to promotions.

Users who are interested in holding events via OnZoom are required to have a paid Zoom account first. But anyone can watch the program.

Later, the organizers can also determine the number of participants attending the event. The maximum number that can be accommodated is 1,000 participants.

For now, OnZoom is only available in beta for users in the United States. However, Zoom plans to bring it to the global market next year.

In addition, Zoom has announced that the platform supports integration with 35 third-party applications. Through this integration, users can access other application functions directly through Zoom.


Zoom Mobile and Desktop Applications are Now Strengthened by 2FA Features

Previously, Zoom recently added two-factor authentication support (two-factor authentication / 2FA) for mobile applications and desktop versions.

This step of course gives users the option to add an extra layer of security to their accounts beyond the standard password.

In the company's official blog, Zoom says users can enable extra security via Zoom Dashboard.

This isn't the first time Zoom has offered support for 2FA. Previously this feature was presented for the web version.

Zoom confirmed that all users will be able to access the new security features, including those using the free service.

In addition to bringing 2FA to more platforms, Zoom also provides users with more ways to receive one-time login codes.


Code via SMS

Previously, users only had the option of using an authentication app like Google Authenticator to generate codes.

Now users can choose to receive them via SMS. However, texting is generally considered to be less secure than using apps on your device because codes are more likely to be intercepted.

Zoom has also added support for recovery codes, which can be used to regain access to the account if a user's mobile device is lost.

This is the latest security feature that Zoom has added this year, after repeated bombardments of intense privacy and security issues following its boom in popularity.

Photo Credit: Zoom

Google Maps Relates Incognito Mode

Technology-Portfolio.Net - In accordance with its promise, Google has now released a new incognito mode in its Google Maps.

Unfortunately, iOS users have not been able to enjoy this new mode. This is because the incognito mode in Maps is currently only available in the Android version, although it still takes time to be available in its entirety.

Nevertheless, Google Maps will soon present the iOS version, as quoted from the Androidpolice report.

How to activate it quite easily, namely:

1. Update Google Maps on your Android device
2. Tap Your Profile Photo
3. Select Incognito Mode

With the incognito mode on Google Maps, users will be more assured of data, ie places that have been visited by users will not be stored in location history.

Furthermore, the mode that was previously present in Google's search engine will not save a history of place searches that we have done in Google Maps.

In addition, with the arrival of a new incognito mode for Android users, Google Maps has no right to use user information to personalize the experience.

Nevertheless, your location history can still be known, namely by other applications that use GPS to record your location.