March 25, 2022 - Streamtech

Videos are an increasingly influential tool of communication in the digital age. These video contents have also become an immense part of social media. Equipped with a reliable internet connection, people use social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to share updates about their day-to-day lives, or simply just to keep in touch with family and friends.

When you go to a person’s profile on these social media sites, you can typically see their face in their profile picture as well as watch the videos on their feed. These short engaging videos are called reels. So what is it exactly and why do people like posting them?

We have published related articles. Check them out:

What is a Reel?

Reels are vertical, short-form videos that can last up to 60 seconds. Users may record and edit video and photo clips set to music, then publish them to their Feed, Stories, and the Reels explore page on Instagram or Facebook.

Reels have been a fantastic tool for marketers and businesses to exercise their creative muscles and provide a visual experience beyond a grid post since its beginnings. On Instagram, Reels differ from other apps in that instead of viewing Reels from accounts they follow, users may see Reels from all Instagram profiles on the Reels page.

Similar to Tiktok, Reels provides a collection of editing and creative tools that enable users to make interesting and entertaining video content. Multi clip videos, filters, subtitles, interactive backdrops, stickers, and more may be included in reels.

This popular feature is what propelled TikTok’s meteoric rise to fame, so this could be one factor why other social media platforms launched their own apps along with the following reasons:

1. Visibility

After all, Reels is more than simply a fun sticker to adorn your Instagram Story with. The visibility of reels is excellent. Many “explore” feeds now have Reels material as the top video, which is shown considerably bigger than the rest of the postings on the page.

2. It’s Simple to Create Reels

Video content frequently demands significant time, money, and effort. Reels, like TikTok, are supposed to be short films (maximum of 15 seconds), so they don’t need a lot of time and can be made just inside the app. And, while they’re quick to make, they’re also short to consume, allowing viewers to learn more about you and your company without putting in a lot of effort.

3. Reels Videos are Permanent

Instagram already has a feature where you can make short films in Instagram Stories, but reels have the extra bonus of being permanent material, whereas stories only last for 24 hours (unless you save them as highlights to your profile). Because the material is theoretically simple to make, it’s a good idea to set aside time to batch-build a variety of reels so you can utilize them as part of your marketing strategy.

Reels have a fantastic sharing feature. You may share your reels to your story and grid as the creator. Additionally, viewers may simply share reels from their stories, letting you reach a larger and more diverse audience much more quickly.

Photo by solenfeyissa on Pixabay

How to make an Instagram Reel?

For Instagram users, here are the steps on how you can create a reel:

1. On your Android or iOS smartphone, open the Instagram app. To launch the Instagram camera, swipe in from the left or tap Your story from the home screen. Select the Reels icon from the options at the bottom.

2. To record your Reel, use the middle capture button. If you wish to add any additional effects or music, you can do it now or later in the editing process.

3. Add music and effects to your video if you wish to. You can search for a song from the Instagram music library. You can also use your own original audio by simply recording a reel with it.

4. Then hit Preview. This will allow you to get a preview of your short film and make any last-minute adjustments before publishing it. Tap Next once you’re finished.

5. Add a caption, a profile photo, and tags to your profile. You may rename audio files here if you have music.

6. You’ll also have the option to align your clips. This tool comes in handy when you’re looking to create seamless transitions between moments in your footage. If you want to watch, trim, or delete the previous clip you recorded, you can tap the clip and edit it.

7. Continue by scrolling down and pressing Next. To publish this short engaging video, click the blue Share button in the next pop-up. Your short engaging video will be viewable by all other users from the the tab with the same name at the bottom of the app after it has been submitted.

8. You may also select one of the many effects in the effect gallery, created both by Instagram and creators all over the world, to record multiple clips with different effects.

Photo by solenfeyissa on Pixabay

How to make Reels on Facebook?

For Facebook users, here are the things you need to do to create reels:

1. You can create Reels through the following: The feed (when you scroll down you will find the section between posts); a short video by clicking on the camera; under the “What’s on your mind?”; or via ‘Create a post’ from your brand page, in the ‘Photo/Video’, ‘Add to Story’ or ‘Reel’ options.

2. Before you start recording, be sure you edit every component of your Facebook Reel. You can use Facebook to add music, adjust the recording speed, apply effects, set a timer, and set a background for your film, which may be a Facebook template or a photo from your reel.

3. When you’re ready, press the record button. Make as many clips as your video requires. Remember that the time restriction is 30 seconds and that the video must last at least 3 seconds. Tap Next once you’ve finished recording your Reel.

4. On the video, add an explanation text and position it wherever on the screen. You may make the reel public, only visible to Facebook friends, or only visible to certain individuals.

5. When you’re through setting up the reel, go to the bottom and click Share reel.

Enjoy making reels on social media via Streamtech

On social media, the best way to draw the attention of your audience is to be entertaining. The Reel feature can be a great way to brand yourself and get your name and work out there. With this, you will need to have reliable fiber internet from one of the best internet providers in the Philippines.

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Written by: Maine Dela Cruz

It feels as though Android 12 was just released. And the new operating system has yet to make its way onto the great majority of smartphones. Thanks to Android Developers’ recent updates, we’re already getting a preview. It gives us a hint on what to anticipate from Google’s mobile operating system’s next big upgrade—Android 13.

Before you plan on upgrading your operating system to Android 13 anytime soon, be in the know with this new version. Aside from having unlimited Wi-Fi powered by fiber internet for home, Android 13’s newest features may help improve your experience in using Android devices.

Check out these related articles:

Why Release A New Operating System

Every year, Google’s development cycle requires a new version of Android. And to ensure it is bug-free and application-ready, the company opens developer previews in the early months of the year. Following this will be a more fully-featured betas later in the year. Given Android’s open-source nature and the sheer scale of the project, we already know quite a bit about Android 13 well in advance of its formal release.

Android 13 Release Date

Each generation of Android undergoes numerous stages in its development before finally making its way to the masses. It starts with developer previews, before more complete public betas arrive. After which, a general release takes place. Google’s own Pixel phones and those manufacturers who subscribe to the each update’s Android Developer Preview Program usually spearhead this.

The first official signs of Android 13’s existence took place on 11 February 2022. This is when Google released the first developer preview build of its next major OS update.

On March 17, 2022, Dave Burke, VP of Engineering, published an article on Android Developers’ blog. It discussed the second developer preview.

Android 11’s and 12’s first developer previews made their debuts in February 2020 and 2021, respectively. The first public beta for each recent Android release were consistently being made available in May, each year. Meanwhile, the full version release rolled out in September in the past two years. With this in mind, it seems safe to assume that this year’s first public beta will likely be served up in May. Additionally, the final release of the stable build of Android 13 will hit devices in September.

Which Android phones will get Android 13?

The safest way to ensure you’re going to receive an invite to the next release of Android is to own an Android device.

Android’s developer previews have everything you need to try the Android 13 features, test your apps, and give us feedback. You can get started today by flashing a device system image to Pixel devices. These include Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6, Pixel 5a 5G, Pixel 5, Pixel 4a (5G), Pixel 4a, Pixel 4 XL, or Pixel 4 device. If you don’t have a Pixel device, you can use the 64-bit system images with the Android Emulator in Android Studio Dolphin. For even broader testing, GSI images are available. If you’ve already installed a preview build to your Pixel device, you’ll automatically get this update. And you’ll also get all later previews and Betas over the air.

Android 13 Features According to First Developer Preview

Android 13’s first developer preview was released in early February, giving us a sneak peek at Google’s next big version.

Here’s what was disclosed during the first developer preview:

1. Photo picker

An extension of Android’s existing document picker, the photo picker is set to serve as “a standard and optimized [sic] way for users to share both local and cloud-based photos securely.”

Like the document picker, this feature side-steps the need for permission to access all photos and videos on Android devices. This is in order to let the user access shared media, and should better unify Android’s media sharing experience across devices from various manufacturers.

2. Nearby device permissions for WiFi

Contrary to Android’s current configuration, there’s an addition of the NEARBY_DEVICES_RUNTIME permission. It will let apps more easily discover and connect to nearby devices, without needing to ask for location information; simplifying interconnectivity over WiFi with nearby devices and making things easier for app developers in the process.

3. Quick Settings tiles

New APIs for developers to make custom tiles to fit within the quick setting section of Android’s notification shade. Developers will also be able to have their apps throw out a prompt for users to instantly add such tiles with a tap.

4. Themed app icons

As an extension of the system-wide palettes that Material You uses to dress your phone’s interface with a consistent color theme, app icons can also benefit from this effect. While Google has full control over its own apps, changing app icons to match a theme can become inconsistent when it comes to third-party offerings.

To address this, developers are being urged to include a monochromatic version of their app’s icon within their app submissions. This will be paired with the code will allow Android 13 to dress the icon file with the dynamic Material You color theming magic that it introduced in Android 12.

5. App-by-app languages

Multilinguists rejoice! A feature codenamed ‘Panlingual’ looks is set to allow users to specify language settings on an app by app basis. This means those who use apps that aren’t natively in the same language as their device’s system language won’t have to worry about working with a poorly translated app.

6. Native animation tools for developers

Apps might start to look a little more dynamic, with Google implementing something called “RuntimeShader objects.”

Developers will be able to leverage the same tools the company itself uses to adorn Android with UI effects like rippling, blur and stretch overscroll.

7. The continuation of Project Mainline

Project Mainline aims to make the process of updating parts of Android and adding new features similar to that of how apps are already updated, via Google Play system updates, rather than having to include them as part of fully-fledged OS updates.

This is how Google intends to push features like the aforementioned Photo Picker. This is rather than making it an Android 13-exclusive addition.

8. Tap to transfer media controls

A surprise addition could bring smarter media sharing across multiple users. According to leaked details from “an anonymous and trusted source,” Android Police uncovered a tap-to-transfer (TTT) system. It will allow users to pass on media controls to other devices.

9. Android 13 codename

If you’re unfamiliar, each version of Android (at least since version 1.5) has a codename inspired by a sweet treat. Successive releases take on new names in alphabetical order.

Android 1.5’s codename is ‘Cupcake,’ 2.0’s codename is ‘Eclair,’ 2.2’s codename is ‘Froyo,’ while 2.3’s codename is ‘Gingerbread’. 3.0’s codename is ‘Honeycomb,’ 4.0’s codename is ‘Ice Cream Sandwich,’ 4.1’s codename is ‘Jellybean,’ and 4.4’s codename is ‘KitKat’. Version 5.0’s codename is ‘Lollipop,’ 6.0’s codename is ‘Marshmallow,’ 7.0’s codename is Nougat, 8.0’s codename is ‘Oreo,’ while 9.0’s codename is ‘Pie’.

While Android 10’s official codename was simply ‘Android10’, its unofficial codename is ‘Quince Tart’. Android 11’s codename is ‘Red Velvet Cake,’ and Android 12’s codename is ‘Snow Cone’. Thanks to the first developer preview, we know the codename for Android 13 is “Tiramisu.” This is the first time in a long while we’ve seen Google be so upfront with the codename.

Android 13 Features Based on Second Developer Preview

During the second developer preview, the Android Developers blog cited the specific changes that come with Android’s newest version.

Here are some of the confirmed features in developer preview 2:

1. New notification permissions

Apps hoping to fire off user-targeted notifications will initially have to ask for the privilege of doing so on Android 13, while on Android 12 devices (or lower) “the system will handle the upgrade flow on your (the developer’s) behalf.” Google’s developer site doesn’t specify what “handle” means, in context, however.

2. Improved language-related text management

A dry but important set of improvements come with how Android 13 handles certain text.

One will benefit Japanese users. Japanese text wrapping will ensure more coherent and readable characters within Japanese-language apps and improved line heights for non-Latin scripts (examples given include Tamil, Burmese, Telugu, and Tibetan) will adjust line-height dynamically based on the language being used to ensure characters are no longer cut off (great for non-Latin app UIs in particular).

3. Native Bluetooth LE audio support

Additionally, Android 13 may be the first release to add full support for Bluetooth LE Audio.

The foundation for Bluetooth Low Energy audio support had already been in Android 12. But Android 13 brings the functionality to life.

As spotted by technical analyst Mishaal Rahman, long before the release of the second Android 13 developer preview, Bluetooth LE had only ever been used for data transmission but Google has now folded in the LC3 (the Low Complexity Communications Codec) for Bluetooth A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile), allowing for high-quality audio with lower power demands, by way of Bluetooth LE.

4. MIDI 2.0 support

Support for MIDI 2.0-compliant devices over USB allows for “increased resolution for controllers, better support for non-Western intonation, and more expressive performance using per-note controllers,” according to Google’s own developer site. Of course, this is great news fundamentally for musicians and music producers.

5. Notifications for excessive background battery usage

While not explicitly mentioned in the announcement article for Android 13 developer preview 2 as initially spotted by Android Police, changes made to the Battery Resource Utilisation section of Android 13’s developer documentation make mention of a new notification that’ll pop up when the system detects an app causing excessive battery drain.

Certainly, the notification arises after a 24-hour period, in which Android 13 takes into account factors like foreground services (even those that have visible notifications), work tasks, background services, and an app’s cache to decide whether extraneous battery drain is coming from a particular source.

6. App compatibility

With each platform release, Android developers are also working to make updates faster and smoother by prioritizing app compatibility. In Android 13 they made app-facing changes opt-in to give you more time and updated their tools and processes to help users get ready sooner.

In fact, as Android reaches Platform Stability in June 2022, all of the app-facing system behaviors, SDK/NDK APIs, and non-SDK lists approaches finalization. At that point, you can also wind up your final compatibility testing and release a fully compatible version of your app, SDK, or library.

Other Info Based on Leaks and Rumors

Photo via Android Developers

Aside from the confirmed features, some websites have released speculations on other changes that come with the new operating system.

Here are some of them:

1. Lock screen clock placement

The lock screen clock, as it appears on near-stock and AOSP builds of Google’s mobile OS sits front and center on-screen, occupying most of the display. While some skinned versions of Android allow for lock screen customization to some degree, seldom is there the option to shift the clock around.

2. Battery measures

Android 12 introduced new draconian battery-saving measures. This makes it even harder for apps to run in the background, summarized under the so-called PhantomProcessKiller. While this helps keep rogue developers in check, it also leads to unintended consequences for apps. This is true of those that absolutely need to run multiple heavy processes in the background. Certainly, an example would be the Linux terminal emulator Termux. Android 13 might also introduce a toggle in developer options. This will allow power users to turn off this measure for edge cases just like Termux.

Google is also developing a new feature called “TARE,” short for “The Android Resource Economy”. It is to monitor how apps run in the background and which tasks they perform, awarding and taking credits from apps to limit their ability to schedule unlimited jobs for the future.

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Most of us, if not all, have Android devices at home. In fact, statistics show that there are currently 2.5 billion Android users worldwide. With the release of Android 13, we expect a better user experience for Android device owners. However, having an updated OS isn’t the only way to achieve seamless surfing, playing, and streaming at home using Android devices. You also need the power of fiber internet for home.

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