Google mimics Pinterest, Microsoft gives the finger
Culture
Google copies Pinterest, and Microsoft doesn't hold back with emojis.
I'm Bridget Carey and this is your CNET Update.
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Google really wants you to use its google plus social network.
Trying to become a new version of Facebook didn't stick, so now Google is trying to become a new version of Pintrest.
Google just launched something called collections, and it's the exact same concept as a Pintrest page, you create a topic for a group of links and photos And you can share that with others.
Pinterest is huge right now.
It's valued at 11 billion dollars and it's a great place to find random inspiration for projects, parties, fashion, or dinner.
But I don't think you'll find people using Google collections in the same way as Pinterest.
You see, Google is tied to your real name and it can be pulled up on a Google.
Search, so people seem to be using collections in a professional way, such as making a collection of their own work as an artist.
And Pinterest is making changes of its own.
It's allowing developers to make apps that connect with pins.
So maybe there'll be an app for ordering ingredients inside of a recipe pin.
Or book a trip based on a pin about travel.
With 50 Billion pins on the site, there's an opportunity to make some money here.
Lets switch gears here, and talk about streaming video, and a new feature on Comcast.
Smart phones make it easy to host a live video call with anyone anywhere.
Provided the person uses the same phone or application you do.
But what if you could stream live video feed on your phone, and have it show up on someone's living room television?
That's what Comcast is doing with Xfinity share.
Use an Xfinity app to broadcast a video to your home TV or to another Comcast customer TV As long as you both have a certain sed top box so, if the grandparents can't come to the birthday party, they can watch a live feed on TV.
And as for streaming at 39 thousand feet, Amazon Prime video is coming to JetBlue flights later this year.
Amazon's making it's TV shows, movies, music.
And digital books available to some JetBlue flights.
And it will be free and unlimited for Amazon Prime members.
Here's the kick.
Normally, you have to pay for internet access on a flight to stream video, But JetBlue won't charge for internet when you stream Amazon.
And in other very important texting news, Microsoft is giving us all the middle finger.
The middle finger emoji icon, that is.
You may not be aware, but the group that creates the emoji font has created several new designs that have not yet been adopted by iPhones and Android phones, one of such is a hand with an extended middle finger.
but Microsoft has come to our rescue and will offer the one-fingered salute as a choice on WIndows 10, arriving later this year.
You'll also get a few others, like a person making an ok gesture and a flushed face.
Thank you Microsoft for the courage to set the bird free.
That's your tech news update.
You can head over to cnet.com for more From our studios in New York, I'm Bridget Carey.
