Monthly Archives: April 2021

Twitter is adding support for 4K images on mobile versions of its app

April 22, 2021 / 01:30 PM IST

After testing uploads of 4K images with a limited set of users on Android and iOS, Twitter has now decided to roll out the feature for everyone.

Starting now, you can tweet and view images in 4K on twitter. The web version already supported high-resolution 4096x4096 images but the mobile versions of the Twitter app were capped at a maximum of 2048x2048 image resolution for uploads.

Keep in mind that uploading 4K images will eat into your data plan. So, if you have a limited data plan it is best to tell Twitter to upload 4K images only over Wi-Fi. If you have a unlimited plan, then there is no harm in leaving the feature on for both.

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Twitter now allows you to share pictures in 4K on Android, iOS - Moneycontrol.com

I am no big fan of any OTT platforms largely due to time constraints. With loads of work always pending, I had only a bit of time to n catch up on news, that too in print. I would rather read something, understand facts and not be led into believing all the sensational perspectives shown on the idiot box news channels. But circumstances forced me to take a break from work, go to US, where I didnt have access to print version of my favorite news papers.

This led me to explore OTT. Facebook showed me photos and photos, especially of my middle-aged friends, who posed in all angles n from all places, they could visit. Also, they kept uploading photos from their youth, their old travels and what not. A kind of Blast from the past you may say. Instagram, on which I dont follow many people, showed me lots of skin. God knows why but I was bombarded with pics of young girls, in short skirts, bikinis, thrusting out their chests and backs. A young guy might have enjoyed the same scenes but not me. I found out that this happened as I clicked on home page and was taken to all these kind of softest porn (due to lack of a better word) but it only made me disgusted.

So OTT, it was. I saw a couple of episodes and it kind of zapped me. Gosh, who writes and directs them? It was all things which families shied away from. More debates on whether they should have, or discussed it in open with their kids. It was sex, kisses, bedroom scenes, bathtub shots and what not. Oh, yeah, lots of same-sex romances weaved in between. When did our society change so much? Or did we wake up one day and find that there are lots of permissible things, which are okay?

An anthology of 4 stories got me more shocked. The second one was about a maid and her kid sister. Yes, its sad that young poverty-stricken folks have lots of frustrations but what happens in the end is enough to churn anyones stomach. Violence is a meek word and I really wanted to know who wrote the episode. Were they able to sleep after filming that? Didnt the actors go into depression after playing out that horrible scene?

I still shudder and am trying to erase the memory of that episode from my mind. I am pretty sure that many would have been equally shocked. Funnily not many have written about it on social media. Guess it isnt a popular series or people have gone immuneread somewhere that people in charge of cleaning the internet of violence n horror need help after watching the gory scenes while cleaning up.

Right now, I need a feel good episode to feel good again!!

Views expressed above are the author's own.

END OF ARTICLE

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Of OTTs and more! - The Times of India Blog

With city registering a surge in Covid cases, the Deputy Commissioner of Gurugram, Dr Yash Garg appointed 22 nodal officers for 41 private/Government Covid hospitals across the district to check availability of beds in hospitals.

On Monday, the district administration had also informed that the number of beds for covid patients in all government and private hospitals of Gurugram will be increased by 800 from current 200.

The nodal officers review meeting of the covid situation was held on Monday in Gurugam in which it was decided to ramp up medical infrastructure by increasing the number of oxygen and ICU beds across major hospitals.

"Nodal officers have been appointed in Gurugam to oversee arrangements that have been made to treat patients. They will submit daily reports to their superiors. The officials will ensure the number of beds reserved for covid patients in those hospitals, the data of the admitted patients etc. will be uploaded on the portal "https://covidggn.com" in a time bound manner," Garg said.

The orders further said that it was observed at the meetings of the District Taskforce that various private hospitals are not uploading the data of the availability of beds in their time bound manner. Keeping in mind the growing cases of the epidemic and to curb it and provide timely treatment facilities to the needy infected patients, the district administration 'https://covidggn.com' an online portal has been started on which every private hospital was asked to update the information about the number of beds available to them and the details of the filled beds, etc. regularly.

"A nodal officer in each hospital to regularly upload information about the availability of beds in these hospitals etc. on the portal, which in collaboration with the health department and administrative teams to make the information sharing system in order," Garg stated.

Instructions have been issued to all officials to stay in touch with these hospital authorities to avoid a crunch. Hospitals have been asked to maintain adequate stock of oxygen and other equipment based on consumption," Garg said, adding that the administration has decided to ramp up bed capacity in hospitals, including ICU beds, increase testing in crowded areas and take measures to lower the fatality rate and to curb covid cases".

Originally posted here:

Nodal officers to check availability of beds in pvt, Govt hosps in G'gram - Daily Pioneer

Srinagar: After witnessing a drop during the first few days of Ramadhan, the number of people visiting the Covid-19 vaccination centres in Kashmir is again witnessing a sharp increase.

In the civil lines area of Srinagar, the Maternity Centre at Sanat Nagar which is also functioning as a Covid-19 vaccination centre is witnessing a huge rush of people for the last three days.

People visiting the centre told the Greater Kashmir that they turned up at the vaccination centre after getting clarity from religious scholars and clerics that getting Covid vaccination during the month of Ramadhan while fasting was not prohibited.

This virus is spreading fast again and now it has come to peoples mind that we need to go for vaccination. Initially people were hesitating but now they are coming forward for vaccination. I have also come here to get my first dose of Covid-19 vaccination, said Ikram Khan, a Sanat Nagar resident.

People at most of the vaccination centres say the awareness campaigns being run on social media regarding Covid-19 are quite effective.

The pandemic has spread across the globe. People should not hesitate in getting their dose of vaccines. I have taken the first dose of the vaccine today, said Farooq Ahmad.

People at some of the vaccination centres complained that they have to wait in queue for almost 20 minutes to finally get their dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

However, officials at these centres have urged people to cooperate during the process of vaccination. At one of the busiest vaccination centres in civil lines at Sanat Nagar, its in-charge Dr Naheed Malik says that uploading details of people getting vaccinated is a bit time consuming. She said people must cooperate at the vaccination centres.

We are here for the service of common people but we urge them to be patient and cooperate with us. Uploading details of the person being vaccinated is a bit time consuming which irks some people whom we appeal to be cooperative, Dr Malik said.

Dr Malik said apart from senior citizens, a large number of people above the age of 45 years are also visiting the vaccination centre to get the jab. However, she said the centre had witnessed a drop in numbers of people coming for vaccination but now the footfall has picked up once again, Dr Malik added.

Very few people visited the centre for vaccination during the first two days of Ramdhan but the clarity provided by clerics and scholars that the vaccine is safe during Ramadhan has led to an increase in rush once again, Dr Malik said

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Fighting COVID-19: Vaccination picks up in Jammu and Kashmir - indiablooms

For Dan Mozgai, a marketing professional from New Jersey, the perfect vacation involves insects. Lots and lots of insects.

They can't be just any random bugs, though. They have to be periodical cicadas.

The critters spend almost their whole lives underground, living on sap from tree roots. Then, in the spring of their 13th or 17th year, depending on the brood, they tunnel out, synchronously and in huge numbers, for a short adult mating frenzy set to the sonorous sound track of the males' come-hither calls.

Mozgai knows the periodical cicadas' siren song well. He's packed up his car at least 10 times and driven nearly 30,000 miles on America's roads, from Maryland to Mississippi, Kansas to Kentucky, to follow it.

"They almost have a personality," Dan Mozgai says of periodical cicadas. Here, he holds a Magicicada cassini.

"I'll go anywhere," he says.

He's about to leave home in search of the insects again. This spring brings the first emergence since 2004 of a group of cicadas known as Brood X. Think of it as the Cicada Olympics. Brood X is one of the largest groups of 17-year cicadas, and 15 Eastern US states, as well as Washington, DC, will see throngs of the black-bodied bugs with red eyes.

Mozgai, 52, is one of the cicada devotees who regularly dedicate their free time to tracking periodical cicadas. These citizen scientists travel the country, snapping copious photos and meticulously recording data on where particular species show up, the time of day they sing, how they react to predators and what kind of foliage females lay their eggs in. Some come from as far as Japan.

Call them cicada chasers.

They help scientists better understand the broods' behavior and relationships to one another, and explore larger questions about biodiversity, ecology and climate change. Because periodical cicadas are sensitive to temperature, patterns of different broods and species reflect climatic shifts.

"I like contributing to scientific research," Mozgai says.

Dan Mozgai, citizen scientist

The return of the periodical cicadas typically starts around early to mid-May (though it could come earlier) and runs through late June. This year, Mozgai will head to western New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania for an up-close look at his favorite insects crawling out from their subterranean hideouts.

"There's an awesomeness to it because you're surrounded by thousands, maybe millions of these creatures that weren't there the day before," Mozgai says. "It's like an alien invasion, like being in a movie."

It's thought that so many periodical cicadas emerge at once so enough can evade predators and live on to mate and start the cycle all over again. Needless to say, not everyone welcomes the idea of millions of bugs descending like a biblical plague. But even those who view the influx as a loud, pesky annoyance would be hard-pressed to deny they're witnessing nature unfold on an awe-inspiring scale.

The cicadas typically begin to come out when soil temperatures 8 inches (20 centimeters) underground reach 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius). "That seems to be the trigger that causes them all to emerge over a few days or weeks in one area," says Michigan State University entomologist Gary Parsons. A warm rain often prompts their appearance.

It's a spectacle of sight and sound, one of the wonders of the insect world.

"It's amazing that they can keep track of such a long period of time so precisely and emerge synchronously at any given location," says Chris Simon, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Connecticut. "They bring out the inner child in many people and recall the excitement of their youth at first seeing them."

From the lab to your inbox. Get the latest science stories from CNET every week.

Count Greg Holmes among them. The 59-year-old photojournalist fondly recalls riding his green bike around Joplin, Missouri, as a kid and spotting annual cicadas molting on tree trunks. On warm nights, he'd hear them buzzing and rattling and see their translucent wings backlit by streetlights. They were part of the suburban landscape, as integral to summer as drinking iced lemonade and dashing through sprinklers.

Those early Midwest moments helped shape Holmes into an adventuresome, nature-loving spirit who can rattle off cicada species effortlessly: Magicicada septendecim. Magicicada cassini. Neocicada hieroglyphica.

"If you think bugs are icky, there's probably not anything anyone can say to change your mind," Holmes says. "If you're a citizen scientist, the adult form of a little kid who always had microscopes and telescopes and fossils to look at, cicada research is right up your alley."

Greg Holmes, in Missouri in 2011 tracking Brood XIX, a group of 13-year cicadas.

Holmes -- a fan of roadside attractions who writes a lively travel blog under the name Ace Jackalope -- drives around the country with a magnetic GPS puck stuck to the roof of his Toyota Avalon and a notebook computer, customized with a little numerical keyboard, adhered to the steering wheel. This year, likely in mid-May, he'll road-trip from his home in Hutchinson, Kansas, to a cicada hot spot in Maryland.

"As you're driving along, when you hear a particular species, there's a numerical code you punch in," he explains. "Because the GPS is hooked up to the computer, it makes a record of where exactly that was."

With three 17-year species making up Brood X, Holmes will be entering nine codes -- one for no activity, one for light activity and one for heavy activity. He'll get out his camera and ponder how to best capture the little winged creatures. Sometimes he'll just stop and catch his breath.

It's "never-ending amazement," he says of his cicada adventures. "It doesn't get old."

When Brood X last emerged, George W. Bush was president, the final episode of Friends had just aired, and Mark Zuckerberg had launched Thefacebook, Facebook's precursor, only months before.

"Those who weren't alive 17 years ago or who were too young at the time and can't remember ... are in for quite an experience," says Gene Kritsky, dean of behavioral and natural sciences at Cincinnati's Mount St. Joseph University and a recognized cicada expert.

Once the 17-year cicadas crawl out after years underground, they climb up the nearest vertical surface. They shed their exoskeletons and inflate their wings. Then the mating frenzy begins. It's impossible to miss once the males start emitting their high-pitched mating song via sound-producing structures called tymbals on either side of their abdomen. The noise can surpass 90 decibels, about the same level as a motorcycle 25 feet (about 8 meters) away.

The insects don't bite, sting or carry diseases, and while females can damage young trees by laying so many eggs in their branches, the egg-laying also naturally prunes trees, resulting in more flowers and fruit in the years that follow. Periodical cicadas aerate large amounts of soil when they emerge en masse, and when they die, their decaying bodies enrich the ground with nutrients.

To track cicada distributions over time, researchers need detailed, high-quality data. Holmes, Mozgai and their fellow citizen scientists play a key role in gathering such vital information because periodical cicada populations cover enormous areas of the country and the bugs only appear above ground for limited stretches of time, years apart.

Scientist Chris Simon, husband Steve Chiswell and young friend Dylan Kennan scour for Brood X cicadas remaining in the soil after the 2017 four-year-early emergence in Washington, DC.

Cicada chasers, Simon says, help fill in the center of the distribution of broods so scientists and their mapping teams can concentrate on the edges. Amateurs have even tipped off scientists to unknown populations.

Mozgai first became interested in periodical cicadas in the mid-'90s, when he started making random websites to teach himself how to code. When Brood II emerged in his hometown of Metuchen, New Jersey, he set up a simple site to share his photos. There weren't many cicada websites back then, and people interested in the phenomenon reached out to him. His interest in cicadas grew.

Now he's a go-to expert who runs Cicada Mania, an extensive online resource for all things cicada. He's administrator for a Facebook cicada discussion and study group with more than 700 members, and he knows fellow cicada enthusiasts around the country.

When Mozgai's in active cicada-chasing mode, he'll spend up to seven hours a day focused on the insects. He's even created his own app to collect data on the creatures.

"They almost have a personality," he says. "Because they're a bit bigger, you can see their whole face. When they first emerge, they're very timid, so you can pick them up and interact with them."

Mozgai also credits the cicadas with getting him to parts of the country he might not visit otherwise. Because of them, he's been to Graceland in Memphis and to Metropolis, Illinois, a small town dedicated to all things Superman.

But the cicada-curious needn't be as committed to cicadas as Mozgai to get in on the tracking. A free app, called Cicada Safari and available for iOS and Android, lets anyone with a smartphone record sightings by uploading photos and short videos. The app -- developed by Kritsky and others at Mount St. Joseph University -- automatically attaches the date, time and geographical coordinates of each observation for real-time and future study.

Cicada Safari users submitted nearly 8,000 photos and videos in 2020.

"Not only did [the app] map Brood IX, but it also verified the off-cycle emergence of four other periodical cicada broods," Kritsky says. "That had never been observed before."

This year, Cicada Safari's developers hope to see the app go huge for Brood X, with at least 50,000 observations. "This is the big one," Kritsky says. "A generational event."

Who knows? A whole new brood of cicada chasers could emerge.

Exoskeletons of newly emerged adult cicadas appear under a tree in Reston, Virginia, in 2004, the last time Brood X emerged. After coming above ground, the periodical cicadas shed their larval skin, inflate their wings and begin to mate, making considerable noise in the process.

Read more:

Billions of bugs: Meet the cicada chasers trailing Brood X - CNET

By Elizabeth Casillas, April 20, 2021

Cal Poly Pomonas Fashion Society plans to launch a virtual fashion magazine this year to substitute its annual fashion show, aiming to highlight student designers and entrepreneurs.

With the campus closure due to COVID-19, Fashion Society, the universitys leading fashion club, is unable to host its annual in-person fashion show. Instead, the club is working hard to produce a magazine that captures students creativity and imagination.

Club President Brianna Harris, a fourth-year apparel merchandising and management student, recalled that one of the most important aspects of in-person shows is gifting students the spotlight and recognition for their designs and talents something all board members hope to transfer over to their virtual magazine.

I think the biggest thing is just a moment of celebration and reflection, Harris said. I feel like we didnt get a lot of time to have those recently, like just to look at something you created and celebrate that accomplishment.

Knowing that the campus closure would impede in-person gatherings, Fashion Societys executive board members originally planned for a virtual fashion show, but they ultimately decided on creating a magazine due to scheduling conflicts with the virtual show.

With no prior publishing experience, choosing to launch a magazine was an uncharted endeavor for the club members.

We are YouTube-ing it and putting all our Photoshop and Illustrator skills to the test, said Club Graphic Designer and Social Media Marketing Manager Jasmin Lopez, a fourth-year apparel merchandising and management student.

Lopez mentioned that the club has created lookbooks for previous fashion shows and the magazine would be an extension of them.

The board members first step in creating the magazine was reaching out to designers to collaborate with. With a virtual magazine being out of their comfort zone, they wanted to get a feel for what the designers responses would be. After receiving multiple sign-ups, they decided to move forward with their idea.

Apart from designers, the magazine will also include advertisements featuring student entrepreneurs who want to share their products with the campus community. All students are welcome to take advantage of the free advertising opportunity regardless of what they are selling.

Club members pride themselves on organizing a magazine amid the pandemic, especially when the transition over to virtual meetings was challenging for the board members. Keeping students engaged and entertained was a priority, yet the online mediums caused difficulties in maintaining rich engagement.

To combat this, Fashion Society has been active on various social media platforms to strengthen its online presence. Currently, the club is regularly uploading its Wear or Tear series on Instagram a series that allows students to decide whether they would wear or tear an outfit. The series is comprised of various topics, including thrifted clothing, fashion trends and celebrity styles.

Last semester, the club also hosted tutorials via Zoom with events demonstrating how to create scrunchies at home. This semester, Fashion Society expanded to host guest speaker events, with speakers like Clothes Closet organizers, to discuss internship opportunities. The club hopes these events will provide the campus community with an hour to destress, take their mind off of problems and have fun exploring the world of fashion.

That hope also reflects the goal of the magazine. Fashion Society wants as many students to be involved as possible, regardless of their majors or involvement with the club.

I know its a difficult time right now, but I feel like its something special and a pretty cool thing we made during a hard time in the world, said Club Secretary Maria Elena Munoz, a fourth-year apparel merchandising and management student. This magazine is just going to be out there. Its something the school will have forever, and its something students can look at any time.

Students interested in getting involved with the virtual magazine can contact Fashion Society via Instagram @fashionsocietycpp or email at fashionsocietycpp@gmail.com.

Read more:

Fashion Society stitches together first virtual fashion magazine - The Poly Post

Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has released its long-awaited Live Your Passion with Purpose campaign headlined by the worlds leading pop icon, BTS.

The partnership also heralds Smarts first collaboration with the Grammy-nominated artists managed by HYBE, formerly known as Big Hit Entertainment.

BTS won over the hearts of millions all over the world not just with their talent, but also with their messages of hope and inspiration. On behalf of Smart, we are very honored to have this partnership with BTS that encourages the Filipino youth to keep their faith and continue pursuing their passion and purpose no matter the challenges the lie ahead, said Jane J. Basas, SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business at Smart.

Shot in Seoul at the height of the global lockdown, the campaign is set to two of the bands most recent hitsthe inspirational Life Goes On followed by the record-breaking hit Dynamiteappropriately providing the score to a timely and encouraging message to Filipino ARMY during the Philippines most challenging time.

The TVC has the seven BTS members walking up and down seven iterations of The Penrose Stairssymbolic of defying impossible situationsbearing wise and powerful words that defy all of lifes challenges:

Jung Kook goes up and down a staircase which appears to represent the entrance to a recording studio with the words KEEP INSPIRING;

RM is seen opening a book in the impossible stairways set with the words KEEP LEARNING;

j-hope is dancing in a dynamic disco set with the words KEEP MOVING;

Jin goes up a garden stairway set with the words KEEP CHASING YOURPASSION;

V is seen at a subway escalator with the words KEEP EXPLORING;

SUGA in a musical-inspired staircase set with the words KEEP LIVING YOUR PURPOSE;

Jimin is seen in a buildings fire exit with the words KEEP CONNECTING.

As the leading digital services provider in these crucial times, we at Smart are committed more than ever to make it simple and easy for Filipinos to go all out on their passions and fulfill their purpose, said Alfredo S. Panlilio, Smart President and CEO.

BTS also shared their thoughts on what it means to Live Your Passion with Purpose.

Jin reflects, Smart decisions have always been important to us and seem to have produced good results for us. I will encourage you [to live smarter and live with purpose] so you can only walk the path of happiness.

When you have a purpose, you have a reason to [live] and it becomes your driving force, says j-hope.

To this, V adds, No matter how many times you fall, dont give up and challenge yourself to break [big walls] in your life.

For a group whose passion and purpose are to create music and perform around the world, staying put in South Korea for more than a year now has only made them look forward to better times. What makes us move is the ARMY waiting for us, SUGA shares, eager for when seeing fans face-to-face is possible again.

Meanwhile, Jung Kook has everyones best interest in mind: Ill be rooting for you. Please stay healthy.

We know very well that you are always sending us messages through social media, uploading videos that cover our songs and dances, and participating in competitions, says Jimin.

Shooting the campaign also conjured up memories of the groups previous visits to the Philippines, mostly during their early years.

Band leader RM, alluding to the longingness expressed in their classic anthem Spring Day, says rather eloquently, Its been a while since we met with ARMY and everyone in the Philippines. Lets meet soon after this long winter is over. I miss you a lot.

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BTS drive for Smart urges PH youth to 'live your passion with purpose' - Manila Bulletin

BORUSSIA DORTMUND'S strict squad rules and list of fines has been revealed.

And Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be glad to be out of the club after being dubbed the 'punishment king'.

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DORTMUND FINES

4,315 - unauthorised absence

863 - late onto team bus

863 - phone goes off on team bus

431 - late for training

215 - not parking in designated spot

86 - Wrong outfit

(Source: Bild)

The now-Arsenal captain, 31, spent five years with the German giants before his transfer to the Emirates in 2018.

And he forged a reputation for breaching the code of conduct on a regular basis.

As revealed by Bild, the Gabon star was slapped with a 3,450 fine for wearing green boots customised with Swarovski crystals all over.

Off the back of that particularly bold choice of footwear, former Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp introduced a stricter dress code, ensuring 'appropriate sports clothing' is worn.

The Liverpool manager also introduced an Italian chef at his old club - with three now full-time in the kitchen serving up everything from salads and fish to rice pudding.

Another ex-head coach, Lucien Favre, even brought in fist-bumping to cut down on handshakes and hugging - even before coronavirus - after a flu outbreak in the camp.

There is an 86 fine for wearing the wrong outfit.

And players need to be extra careful this season as the club has different sponsorships - and therefore different training kit - for the Bundesliga and Champions League.

BETTING OFFER - GET 20 IN FREE BETS WITH BOYLESPORTS

Sticking with clothing and players are allowed to give away just ONE matchday shirt per season across all competitions.

They must reimburse any additional jerseys given to opposition players or fans by buying a replacement from the club shop.

A big thing at many clubs is punctuality - as Aubameyang knows only too well after his snubbing for the North London derby for his tardiness.

Dortmund players are fined 863 if they do not get on the team bus ready for the time of departure and a further 431 if late for training - significantly less than the 20,000 when Frank Lampard was at Chelsea.

Jadon Sancho was slapped with an 86,300 punishment for returning to the club late after heading back to England for international duty.

On top of that, part of the retribution saw the winger walks across the training ground alone in the rain for 60 minutes.

Furthermore, players must live within 20km of the club's Signal Iduna Park home - many opt for the Lake Phoenix area - must pay 215 if they do not park in their designated spot and are charged 4,315 for any unauthorised absences.

On the technology front, if a phone goes off on the bus to the stadium the guilty party can expect a 863 bill.

The same amount goes for missing a sponsorship or advertising appointment.

Goalkeeper Marwin Hitz is the current treasurer looking after all the fines - whereas Manchester United have a committee of Harry Maguire and Nemanja Matic.

Hitz took over from left-back Marcel Schmelzer, who in turn replaced 'Iron Man' Sven Bender who was as brutal off the pitch spotting misdemeanours and collecting fines as he was on it collecting the ball.

Borussia Dortmund have a three-rule policy for social media.

Stars are reminded they are role models to many young people so must post with that in mind, they must also think three times before uploading a post because 'the internet never forgets' and they must be authentic, not boring to keep fans entertained and engaged.

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Lastly, it appears there are some freedoms given to the players - they have free reign to play music inside before and after training, with Sancho often DJ.

And they can choose to drive whichever cars they like - unlike at rivals Bayern Munich where they must roll up in their 'company car' Audis.

Kingsley Coman has twice risked the wrath of the Allianz Arena chiefs and a 43,000 fine in the last year by driving in with his McLaren and, more recently, his Mercedes AMG.

Philippe Coutinhoand Niklas Sule had previously stirred the pot, by being spotted in their Mercedes and Ferrari motors respectively.

Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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Dortmunds strict squad rules and fines revealed with Arsenal star Aubameyang branded punishment king dur... - The Sun

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Facebook is a happening place these days. Not only is it used to stay in touch with your friends, but brands can connect with their customers too. The creation of groups and Facebook advertising are two of the most prominent methods companies use to keep their brand recognized. However, not many people know that the correct Facebook group cover photo size makes all the difference to the impression you create.

The image should be attractive and a clear representation of your groups purpose, but most importantly, it should be the correct size. Facebook keeps changing the exact guidelines of Facebook group cover photos, and it is hard for any brand to keep up. To help you in this, we have compiled a list of all the specifics you must keep in mind while changing your Facebook group cover photo.

The Facebook group header size is the first thing any customer visiting your Facebook page sees. It is stretched across your entire Facebook group cover page and is even more significant than the profile photo. Apart from that, the Facebook group photo also conveys what your groups message is and what it is actually targeting to achieve.

A solid cover photo actually works wonders in establishing your authority and showing that you are committed to promoting your brand. If you have kept your Facebook group closed, the outsiders only get to see your Group cover before deciding to join or not. A wrong size image can make or break impressions depending on how you choose to use it.

It is better to skip using generic photos, as many people are already using them as their group images. In case you are a brand, then use a Facebook cover photo that emphasizes what your brand is all about, its legacy, services, and products.

The ideal size of the photo should be with an aspect ratio of 1.91:1 or 1,640-pixels-wide by 856-pixels-tall. If you want maximum users to notice you and minimum auto-cropping make sure that you adhere to these guidelines. In reality, a considerable percentage of people access their FB from their phones and mobiles. This means that the photo size you select should be such that it is visible to even people who access the platform on Mobiles and smartphones.

Facebook will not interfere with your cover photo quality or stretch it in any form. Instead, it will just crop your cover photo. Instead, it will just crop your cover photo as per your requirement. On mobile phones, the image will appear in its complete form, but when you see it on the desktop, it is cropped from the top and bottom.

Suppose you want your image to go as it is better to stick to the ideal Facebook group cover photo size. In the past few years, Facebook has modified the size of the group photo many times. In the year 2017, Facebook changed it to a size that looked great on desktops and pathetic on smartphones. They again had similar problems with their 2018 update. However, the present update rectified all issues, and it is now here to stay.

If you are confused about creating the perfect Facebook group cover photo, you must follow the below steps.

You have to first understand what the purpose of your Facebook group is. Who it is targeting, and what you want to achieve with it? Having a clear bait or hook proves helpful, and you may even offer a freebie for guests to join your Facebook group.

By creating this group, you want to target the right audience who will notice your brand, product, or services. This will happen only if you can convince the audiences why they should invest their time or money in you.

The next step in setting the Facebook group cover is to find the correct resolution. This is really crucial; otherwise, your image will appear blurry and hazy. So ensure that the size of your image remains constant at 1640856 pixels. Next, download the picture and import it into the Canva account you have.

Uploading a picture to your Facebook group cover is very easy. From News Feed, click on Groups and then choose your group. Click Upload photo or select an image to choose from your Facebook photos and save it.

You dont have to be Pro to create the perfect group cover photo size. Just follow the above tricks on Canva, and you are done.

If there is any future event coming up, make sure that you change your group cover as well. By doing that, you create a buzz in the group, and your participants eagerly wait for the said occasion. Apart from that, doing this also serves as a reminder, so the chances of them forgetting are minimized.

You can tie up with brands and add their images to your Facebook group cover photo size. This expands the brand reach and informs the other guests about any future conversations and events. The more attractive you make this cover page, the higher are the chances of new participants joining your group.

This is particularly impactful when you have a hobby or food group. You can everyday showcase one members talent or share his/her recipe and spread the buzz. By doing that, you remain in the good books of the other members and also garner huge engagement on the platform.

If you keep the same cover page on your Facebook group for a long time, the guests start losing interest in it. As it is, you have to make your Facebook group a happening place. Why not incorporate the same thought in your Facebook group cover photo as well. Change the image as frequently as you can. However, maintain one image for a sufficient time so that the guests are able to understand and grasp its essence in your group.

You must ensure that whatever elements you are using in the cover photo is big enough to be seen on the mobile as well. These days customers lose interest very quickly, and if they notice something that they are unable to understand, they would clearly move on to some other competitor.

Apart from focussing on the Facebook group cover photo size, there are a few points that you may keep in mind while setting up the same.

When you look for preview, you will see tiny previews alongside. Last year they were changed from a circle to a round-cornered square. This year they appear as circles sometimes and round cornered squares at times. As a result, some previews are easily noticed while others are plainly confusing.

Where does the Facebook group thumbnail preview come from

The preview is usually grabbed from the center of your banner. But if you already have a strong focal point in your Facebook group cover photo, then they will pick it from there. To get them to choose the best photo for preview, just follow the tips:

Another aspect you should pay real attention to while creating the new Facebook group cover photo size is the concept of Facebook gradient. On Desktop displays, Facebook pulls a single color from the top sides of the group banner. After this, it creates a gradient that stretches towards both sides of the image.

In case your cover image has separate colors on both sides, this gradient may look odd and unbalanced. If your photo has contrasting colors in its edges that contrast with your brand image, this concept does not look quite neat.

At the end of it all, you need a fantastic resource from where you can derive images on a regular basis. This is important as your Facebook group cover photo cannot be repeated, and for that, unique images are required every now and then. Though you will find many such resources online, only a few of them are trustworthy, and here we mention them.

Bannersnack claims that they are the best online banner makers ever. Their collection has thousands of banner templates that you can pick from at any time. All the templates shared here are customizable so that you can modify them as per your choice. You can add a personal touch or just insert some basic additions to the image. Using these templates, you get the feel as if you are the one who is designing these templates instead of using a resource. Whats more, all these templates are absolutely free, and you can use them without paying any money. You just have to sign up and get a Facebook group banner for your use.

Again this is a free Facebook group cover creator platform and has the backing of a solid company like Adobe behind it. To begin, you have to select the ideal size of the banner, which is 1640 pixels by 856 pixels, as already mentioned. Later you can make it more enticing and exciting by adding elements to it. Add an attractive image, or just perk it up with a valuable quote. The options are many, and it is solely up to you as to how you want to play around with it. The variety of banners is interesting, and you will never get bored of the choices.

At Snappa, you get the most exciting experience of creating a Facebook group cover photo. There are many professionally designed templates, and you can update them as frequently as you want. Easily customizable, you can modify these images, graphics, templates, and texts to create the perfect banner. Plus, the website boasts of having a fantastic collection of 3,000,000 high-resolution stock-free photos that you can use. Since the collection is so huge, there is no chance you will not get what you were looking for.

Crello again is relatively simple to work around with. In fact, through this platform, you can create the perfect Facebook group cover photo in just four easy steps. Similar to Adobe Spark, you first need to choose the size of the banner required. There are nearly 20 000 templates on display, and you can easily select one from among them. Now customize the template to suit your needs. You can easily add or subtract any element to the template. This makes it a breeze to add information about your brand and make it noticeable. Once you have made a perfect banner, you can download it and apply it to your Facebook group cover.

Fotor allows you to create a simple Facebook group cover photo in a matter of minutes. You just apply a few clicks and your work is accomplished. Not only that, here you can customize a pre-made template to suit it to perfection. As a bonus, you can start your own banner from scratch and make it as per your needs. Once you are sure that the perfect group cover has been created, you can even preview the image. Download it in any size that you want and apply it to the Facebook group cover though it is always wise to maintain the size specified by Facebook.

PicMonkey promises that with their help, you can make some rather interesting Facebook group cover photos. Using these covers, you can easily attract new and focused followers to your page on a regular basis. The templates provided on their website are helpful to make on-brand designs. If your brand has a particular style or color scheme, you could incorporate the same into your cover page. This helps the guests to recollect your brand and link it with your page. You may edit the graphics, fonts, and effects to match the style and make it suitable for your requirement.

Sometimes you would want to make a collage of all the images you already have or are interested in showing. BeFunkys website helps you do just that. Apart from that, the platform is also famous for the features that it offers for Facebook cover photo creation. Just manipulate the features provided by the Photo editor and smoothly create a customized Facebook group cover photo. Click on the edit panel and select the crop tool showing. Now resize your image to the aspect ratio of the Facebook banners. This ratio in most cases is 1.91: 1, and you must adhere to it. This tool is quite simple to comprehend and navigate around.

8. Piktochart

Piktochart claims and actually provides attractive options for your Facebook group covers. Using the templates offered by Piktochart, you can comfortably create pretty enticing group covers. Navigation and application of the tool are easy and can be done without any prior training. All the templates are created by experts and therefore thus look very professional. With their free library of graphics, templates, and design components, you can create wonders with your Facebook group cover photos. You can even use your data to prepare a story and post it as a banner.

Fotojets collection of image templates is pretty extensive. So much so that you have innumerable options to choose around from. Whether you want a classical cover page or a professional template, the Fotojet collection has everything for you. You can browse through this collection and decide which combination you would want to pick. In fact, you can use the platform for preparing a collage Plus, the registration is free, and you do not need any download or installation to use the resources. The platform is easy to use, and with just a few clicks, any novice can create a template that is stunning.

10. Stencil

Using Stencil, any user can create a beautiful Facebook group cover within just two minutes of time. This is because they have the correct Facebook group cover photo size, so you do not have to figure out which size to choose. You could also upload your own photo or choose from the huge library of photos available for your disposal. Apart from that, there are 3000 Google fonts that you can add to your banner and make it look distinct and attractive.

When you start your Facebook group, your first objective is to get in as many members joining as possible. Naturally, the first thing any interested group member will see in your group is your cover photo. Remember that if you are a business, the popularity and success of your group dictate the future sales you will make.

The more attractive the Facebook group cover photo is, the higher are the chances of new audiences to notice it. That is why it is considered so critical to pay attention to the cover photo you choose and set on your page. You can use a lot of ways and make your Facebook group cover photos enjoyable. We have mentioned some of them, and following them is vital to gain substantial traction.

Apart from that, you will find many resources from where you can procure the images easily. These images can be converted into Facebook cover photos and grant an attractive touch to your page. At any point in time, you can use the platforms available and take advantage of the collection of images available. You could also prepare a slideshow, and the photos will automatically be changed as per the settings.

Facebook is quite strict about the specifications of size of FB group cover photo. If you mess up with the exact dimensions, it could mean that your image will look haphazard and blurry. Apart from that, on the Facebook mobile app, these cover page images might be trimmed, which is not suitable for you either. Follow the guidelines as mentioned earlier, precisely and take advantage of the engagement benefits you derive from it.

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All that you need to know about Facebook group cover photo size - TechPluto