Gadgetory

social networks are beginning to blur together I'm Bridget Carey and this is your cnet update social networks change all the time they get new layouts update features but lately with every update these networks are starting to all look and act alike take LinkedIn for example the career focused network is adding big background pictures to profiles well Facebook Google+ and Twitter all have these similar cover photos to convey personality now linkedin says backgrounds will help you stand out just like every other network right now it's only for paid members but in a few months everyone will be able to add a background photo the copycats are everywhere the app tinder is acting like snapchat it has the option to send a photo that vanishes but instead of a few seconds Tinder's flirty photos expire in 24 hours Instagram updated its app you can edit a photo in more ways and adjust filter intensity with a sliding bar it's nice for Instagram fans but Adobe may feel like it's stealing the spotlight from Photoshop Express and Facebook is getting heat for a change that adds features that are similar to Shazam on facebook's app when you're writing a status update it will listen to the noise in the background to identify any music or TV shows that are playing in the background and you'll have the option to share what you're listening to in your status update that means there's a computer server somewhere that's tapped into your microphone one YouTube video is going viral calling for people to delete their Facebook accounts over this and other unnecessary data collection obviously not everyone's going to delete facebook but a call to action cook at Facebook's attention to survive Facebook may need to care more about consumer privacy and less about promoting music and TV shows now as for updates that won't creep you out the google chromecast streaming stick is getting sporty it added access to the apps watch ESPN and Major League Soccer so if you have the $35 hdmi TV stick and you have the account information for a cable subscriber that gets ESPN well you'll be able to watch all the world cup games live through the ESPN app you could use this as a way to stream the game on a TV that doesn't have its own cable box or you can mooch coverage from a friend who does pay chromecast also added the ability to stream your photos and videos from Google+ to the TV and it added the Aereo app so if you're in a participating area Aereo is a subscription service for accessing live local broadcast stations that's your tech news update you can always head to cnet com for the latest news and stay updated by following me on Twitter from our studios in New York I'm Bridget Carey