Cool in Tech? Quik & "Periscope of texting"
LOS ANGELES - What's Cool in tech this week?
Try GoPro's rebranded video app Quik, Talk Show, which has been described as the "Periscope of texting," a new VR app for virtual painting and Bonusly, for keeping workers happy.
In our weekly #TalkingTech segment, we ask panelists on the podcast to pick out the latest website, app or device they've stumbled onto recently that they think is cool. This week's selections:
--Quik (quikapp.gopro.com) is another of those video apps that look to take all the video footage lounging around your smartphone, and create instant videos from them, automatically. The free app--once known as Replay--was just acquired by GoPro, and got a rebranding from the action-cam maker. The app will give you stylized productions with transitions, graphics and background music.
Generally, I'm not a fan of automatic, because as a control freak, I like to be in charge. But luckily, the automatic videos are nicely done, offer the ability to tweak with different customized looks, and best of all, have manual override to keep working on them until you're happy.
--Bonusly (bonus.ly) is a website offering employee perks, and offers a free service for small teams, or $3-$5 monthly. "Bonusly empowers employees to send instant recognition to their colleagues with the tools they love to use every day," says the company. John Tabis, the co-founder of the Bouqs Company, an online floral retailer, selected Bonusly because he recently started using it at his firm to allow his employees to give out micro bonuses. They build up points for such perks as getting a parking space closer to the front door, or a lunch with the CEO. "It's a great way to build relationships and motivate people," he says.
--Talk Show. (free, IOS only) is an app that describes itself as "texting in public." "It's pretty cool to look at," says Charlie Melbye, a co-founder of the Everalbum photo sharing app. "If you can text, you can host a Talkshow...and anyone can tune in," says the company. Others have called Talkshow the "Periscope of texting." The app's inspiration: an Instagram post of singers Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran having a public chat. "It sounded really casual and was fun to read," says Melbye, and the post took on a life of it's own.
--Tilt Brush (Google, $29.99) Patrick Osborne, the director of the upcoming animated 360 cartoon Pearl, selected the new Google app for virtual reality painting. It's currently only available for the new HTC Vive virtual reality system. "I've always drawn on paper," he says. With the app, "you draw in the air," says Osborne. "It's really different and revolutionary to draw that way."
What's cool in tech for you this week? Let's chat about it on Twitter, where I'm @jeffersongraham.