ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, has debuted a new app designed to make it easier for creators to compose and edit music they could use for their content. The app called Ripple is only available in the US for now, and the company is testing it in a closed beta environment. ByteDance says it can assist creators in the way portable smart digital audio workstations (DAWs) can and is perhaps most useful for beginners and anybody who'd rather not deal with more complex systems. It was also designed to make it easier for creators to add custom soundtracks to their short-form videos for TikTok and other platforms.
Ripple can create songs in various genres based on a melody the user hums. The app prompts them into humming into the phone mic and then generates instrumentals they can use, such as drums, bass and piano. The length of the song output will match the length of the input, though — the app can't generate a full soundtrack from just a few seconds of humming. Also, Ripple can only generate instrumental music, leaving the vocal work to creators.
ByteDance told us that Ripple's model was trained on music it owns and music that was licensed to the company. The company also said that it's committed to respecting the rights of its artists and its rightsholder partners. To note, there have been concerns about the source of data used to train artificial intelligence systems and algorithms. Just recently, a lawsuit seeking class action status was filed against OpenAI, accusing it of violating the copyrights and privacy of countless individuals by using data scraped from the internet to train the model used for ChatGPT.
At the moment, Ripple is invite-only, and ByteDance doesn't have further rollout plans yet. Those who want to check it out before anybody else can visit Ripple.club, where they can find a download link for the app on iOS and from where they can request an invite.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tiktok-owner-bytedance-debuts-ripple-music-creation-app-130023602.html?src=rss
Samsung has announced that it is launching a new online store specializing in gaming called the Samsung Game Portal and this new online store will be available on Samsung’s website in more than 30 countries. The Game Portal is a one-stop online store for gamers designed to significantly increase the convenience of browsing and purchasing […]
Banana Pi has recently shared details about the companies forthcoming BPI-R4 router single board computer (SBC). Designed to exceed its predecessor, the BPI-R3, in every way, the BPI-R4 is packed with an impressive array of new connectivity options and features. Here’s what you can expect from this highly anticipated router development board. Banana Pi BPI-R4 […]
This episode, Cherlynn is joined by senior writer Sam Rutherford and senior commerce editor at Wired Julian Chokkattu to talk about our reviews of the Pixel Fold. Will the recent spate of foldables by companies like Motorola and Google give Samsung some real competition and motivation to step up its game? We can only wait to find out. Samsung is holding its next Galaxy Unpacked in late July, and we’ll see what it will unveil then. This episode, we also take a look at the latest addition to the Google Graveyard and the state of the podcast industry.
Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News!
Google’s Pixel Fold is the challenger Samsung needs – 1:22
Google has given up on making its own AR glasses, will focus on AR software – 38:50
Automotive organization SAE will create a standard version of Tesla’s charging plug for EVs – 45:19
SiriusXM will shut down widely used podcast app Stitcher on August 29 – 52:11
RIP John Goodenough, inventor of the lithium-ion battery – 54:53
Working on – 56:01
Pop culture picks – 59:02
Livestream
Credits Hosts: Cherlynn Low and Sam Rutherford Guest: Julian Chokkattu Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien Livestream producers: Julio Barrientos Graphic artists: Joel Chokkattu and Brian Oh
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-podcast-the-rise-of-foldable-competitors-for-samsung-123016447.html?src=rss
The Tecno Pova 5 comes with a 6.78 inch IPS LCD display that features a Full HD+ resolution of 2460 x 1080 pixels and the display comes with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 240Hz touch sampling rate. The handset is powered by a MediaTek Helio G99 mobile processor and it comes with 8GB of […]
This guide will tell tiy everything you need to know on how to set up a new Android Phone. Whether you are transitioning from an earlier Android device or shifting from a different operating system altogether, the process of setting up a brand-new Android device can be a thrilling journey. Just as one feels the […]
Microsoft has this week released a new update for its Flight Simulator game with the release of update 3 adding Texas. Texas, the second largest state in America, is renowned for some of the most diverse and beautiful urban landscapes in the nation. The update was generated using aerial imagery collected in collaboration with our […]
Last year, Twitter sued India over orders to block content within the country, saying the government had applied its 2021 IT laws "arbitrarily and disproportionately." Now, India's Karnataka High Court has dismissed the plea, with a judge saying Twitter had failed to explain why it delayed complying with the new laws in the first place, TechCrunch has reported. The court also imposed a 5 million rupee ($61,000 fine) on the Elon Musk-owned firm.
"Your client (Twitter) was given notices and your client did not comply. Punishment for non-compliance is seven years imprisonment and unlimited fine. That also did not deter your client," the judge told Twitter's legal representation. "So you have not given any reason why you delayed compliance, more than a year of delay… then all of sudden you comply and approach the Court. You are not a farmer but a billon dollar company."
Twitter’s relationship with India was fraught for much of 2021. In February, the government threatened to jail Twitter employees unless the company removed content related to protests by farmers held that year. Shortly after that, India ordered Twitter to pull tweets criticizing the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. More recently, the government ordered Twitter to block tweets from Freedom House, a nonprofit organization that claimed India was an example of a country where freedom of the press is on the decline.
Those incidents put Twitter in a compromising situation. It either had to comply with government orders to block content (and face censorship criticism inside and outside the country), or ignore them and risk losing its legal immunity. In August, it complied with the orders and took down content as ordered.
The court order follows recent comments from Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, saying that India threatened to raid employees homes if it didn't comply with orders to remove posts and accounts. In a tweet, India's deputy minister for information technique called that "an outright lie" saying Twitter was "in non-compliance with the law."
Twitter filed the suit around the same time that Elon Musk started trying to wiggle out of buying Twitter. Since then, Twitter has often complied with government takedown requests — most recently in Turkey, where it limited access to some tweets ahead of a tightly contested election won by incumbent president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/twitters-lawsuit-over-censorship-in-india-has-been-dismissed-114031691.html?src=rss
What really makes a desk stand out to me is the collection of stationery items placed on top of it (and also the manner in which they are placed). The true value and efficiency of your desk lie in the smart assortment of designs you adorn it with – these are after all the objects that are gonna help you get through your workday, and directly or indirectly affect your productivity. It’s imperative to have a collection that really lets you work easily, efficiently, and effectively. And, we’ve curated a collection of innovative and nifty stationery designs that you must own! From an everlasting all-metal pencil to a minimal pen tray with adjustable knobs – these are the modern stationery designs you need to meet your modern stationery needs.
1. Everlasting All-Metal Pencil
This everlasting metal pencil is like a Wacom stylus, whose tip you never have to replace, and nor do you need to barely sharpen it! It’s the kind of pen that allows you to focus less on the lead and more on your creative process.
Why is it noteworthy?
At first glance, it looks like the all-metal cousin of the second-gen Apple Pencil, and that is almost an accurate assessment. The octagonal shaft is made of aluminum and houses a special alloy core. Knowing that, you might think that all it will do is leave heavy grooves on your paper, but your mind might be blown away when it draws like a real pencil without seeing the tip wear down even after dozens of marks.
What we like
It uses metal for the core rather than the usual clay or charcoal, so it wears down so slowly that you might think your all-metal pencil will actually outlive you
What we dislike
It doesn’t smudge or smear the way normal graphite does. That might be a bummer for those who use smudging techniques
2. The KNOB.
Designed by Changho Lee, the KNOB. is a clean, minimal, and sleek pen tray with rounded edges. It’s the kind of uber-cool and well-designed product that adds a whole ounce of personality and character to your desk.
Why is it noteworthy?
But despite its simple good looks, the KNOB. pen tray has quite a unique functionality. The pen tray was inspired by the knobs you find on a gas burner. Lee borrowed the design language of gas burner knobs, and replicated it in his tray creating a piece of stationery with intriguing-looking ‘control buttons’ or ‘knobs’.
What we like
The knobs or multiport radar allow you to adjust the internal space of the pen tray
What we dislike
It’s still a concept!
3. Mecricco Catch
Called Mecricco Catch, these elastic page-turning aids were created by Plus, and they allow you to turn your paper products with ease. The aids feature an outer rib, that enables you to hold the paper firmly, while the inner rib ensures that your fingers don’t slip while you’re flipping.
Why is it noteworthy?
There is also a concave curve at the bottom of the aid that lets you freely move your finger as you flip. You even get some holes that provide ventilation so your finger will have room to breathe.
What we like
This is useful for those who have some sort of exquisite nail job that you need to protect even as you flip money or paper
What we dislike
If you have gone completely digital, then this is something that you probably don’t need
4. LEGO Star-Lord Helmet Pen Stand
Launched just a week before the new Marvel movie Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 drops, this adorably functional build from LEGO also doubles up as a stationery holder and pen stand for your desk.
Why is it noteworthy?
The iconic headgear sits on a platform with a label underneath, measuring 7 inches in height and comprising 602 pieces. Even with as few bricks as that, the helmet looks impressively similar to the original, with everything from those red-tinted eyepieces to the valves on the face mask that helps Peter Quill breathe in outer space.
What we like
It is a functional device, that helps you store things inside the helmet’s hollow space, including stationery, cables, or even EDC like your AirPods
What we dislike
It is a niche product, only targetted towards LEGO lovers, so it won’t work for everybody
5. The Oakywood Wooden Cubic Pot
Designed to be a stylish and elegant addition to your workdesk, the Oakywood Wooden Cubic Pot can easily and efficiently store your stationery, or be used to pot some greenery. It features a cup holder to pot a mini-plant!
Why is it noteworthy?
The unique dual-purpose design of the pot makes it a functional and excellent addition to your desk space. It features a stainless-steel insert to protect the wood from moisture and dirt. The surface of the pot has been coated with eco-wax oil, making it smooth to the touch.
What we like
Sustainable + fashionable design
Minimal product with maximum functionality
What we dislike
The aesthetics are a bit simple and unassuming
6. Work Fence
Designed by Changho Jeong, the Work Fence is an interesting modern-day symbolic partition that adds an element of amusement and whimsical fun to the hectic days of corporate employees.
Why is it noteworthy?
It is an intuitive and decorative object for your desk to add some fun to your monotonous office routines. It has a comical and light-hearted approach. The interesting work fences are designed to inform your co-workers and the people around you about your mood – it gives them a quick glimpse or notification about your status and mindset.
What we like
Fences can be customized using letter plates to accurately convey your mood and state of mind
What we dislike
It’s a concept!
7. Hexcal Studio
British company Hexcal created the Hexcal Studio desktop organizer, which aims to be the ultimate desktop organizer and workspace accessory you need!
Why is it noteworthy?
Designed to be a monitor stand and a desktop organizer, the Hexcal Studio attempts to eliminate clutter, hide wires and provide shadowless lighting. The goal is to create a neat, tidy, and destressing workspace where wires are smartly hidden, and multiple screens can be installed to support a conducive work environment.
What we like
The organizer’s distribution system can support up to 14 devices, including those on AC, DC, and wireless power
Its patented cable management system will make all your wires disappear, providing you with a wire-free desk
What we dislike
Large + space-consuming design. It will take up a lot of space on your desk
8. Lifestyle Tool File Organizers
This rather ingenious organizer design comes in handy for your workdesk! From the outside and when they’re closed, they look like regular, nondescript file binders.
Why is it noteworthy?
Open them up, however, and you’ll see plenty of space for almost any kind of tool or supply. Simply pull one out using the typical ring hole, open it up, and you’ll have access to whatever you need to get the job done. It’s only a few steps more compared to reaching out for an open desk organizer but not much more compared to pulling out tools from a drawer.
What we like
Made from hard paperboard, the organizers also offer a more sustainable solution to the growing number of plastic products sitting on your desk
What we dislike
The design keeps the products hidden/away from sight, which is good for those who want a clean-looking setup but not for those who enjoy showcasing the products they have
9. The Scissors with Base
The Scissors with Base features wide, flat blades that echo industrial tools, and a black Japanese steel body that signifies durability. The stunning scissors perfectly merge minimalistic good looks with excellent functionality, in turn, creating a stationary design that you really need to get your hands on.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Scissors with Base are not a brutish tool that needs to be stowed away. Their simple design sets them apart from other desk items. The extruded part of one of the finger rings, or the “tang,” becomes a visual anchor that guides the gaze toward the scissors’ center, drawing attention to their sturdy blades.
What we like
Doubles up as a box cutter
Minimal + clean aesthetics
What we dislike
10. Colored Curve Pens
Dual-tipped pens are something that has been around for a while and are quite universally liked. However, these Colored Curve Pens from Aechy go beyond your usual dual-tipped pens! On one end of these pens lay down patterns to help decorate your notebook – patterns such as waves, heart roses, flowers, dots, and dashes.
Why is it noteworthy?
Basically what you get is a stamp-like roller that you can use for your journaling, doodling, drawing, scrapbooking, or any other paper-related tasks. The dual-tip markers come in 8 different colors and five mark line types.
What we like
Helps the artistically challenged with drawing
40% more ink than the brand’s regular pens
What we dislike
You can’t choose a specific color for a specific pattern so you’ll have to make do with the options that they have
The Xpeng G6 EV was launched in China back in April and now the car is also headed to the UK and Europe and it will apparently retail for around £22,900 when it goes on sale in the UK. The car will go on sale in a range of European countries next year, these will […]
