Connect with us

Apps

Microsoft is rolling out its Cortana for iOS as a beta test version

blank

Published

on

blank

Goodbye Siri, hello Cortana. At first it was Google Now when a beta test version was rolled out by Microsoft in August for Android devices and now Siri is getting its share of competition. It appears that Siri is getting some serious competition when it comes to being a personal assistant on iOS devices.

Although previously announced, the beta version of Cortana for iOS started rolling out to testers who signed up for the trial. Apparently only a small number of signed up users got the notification e-mail and were able to download the Cortana app, but more shall receive it later or not at all, giving that TestFlight limited the number of testers for an app to 2000.

Cortana for iOS or at least its beta version will offer voice assistance for schedule managing, alarms and reminders and tracking packages, flights or stocks. Apparently one of the big reasons why iOS users would consider testing Cortana was because it would make it easier for them to create a connection between their iPhones and Windows-powered PC’s. Because Microsoft has already made a survey based on this fact they did include in the beta test for Cortana possibilities of tying together the two platforms, iOS devices and Windows PC’s.

The Cortana app for iOS will notify you about reminders you set on your PC or other things like saved dates and appointments. Also, you can use Cortana for sending text and emails, checking the weather or search on Bing. Basically, Cortana for iOS will challenge Siri, it will even help you get information about restaurants or movies and even open other apps. The survey made by Microsoft before rolling out Cortana for iOS kind of indicates that only users from US and China will be able to test the app on their iOS devices, but it is not an official statement.

Who doesn’t enjoy listening to a good story. Personally I love reading about the people who inspire me and what it took for them to achieve their success. As I am a bit of a self confessed tech geek I think there is no better way to discover these stories than by reading every day some articles or the newspaper . My bookcases are filled with good tech biographies, they remind me that anyone can be a success. So even if you come from an underprivileged part of society or you aren’t the smartest person in the room we all have a chance to reach the top. The same message shines in my beliefs. All it takes to succeed is a good idea, a little risk and a lot of hard work and any geek can become a success. VENI VIDI VICI .

Apps

Now WhatsApp users can log into two accounts simultaneously

blank

Published

on

blank

WhatsApp launched dual-account support today. You can switch between accounts in WhatsApp.

Mark Zuckerberg announced the feature on Facebook and said it would soon be available.

People used to need two phones for two WhatsApp accounts. The company now allows two accounts on one phone. App cloning lets users use multiple WhatsApp instances on Xiaomi and Oppo phones.

“Helpful for switching between accounts – such as your work and personal – now you no longer need to log out each time, carry two phones or worry about messaging from the wrong place,” the company wrote in a blog post.

blank

Users can add accounts under Settings > Add Account. Your second SIM or multi-SIM phone is needed for setup. Account-specific notifications and privacy settings are available, the company said.

WhatsApp discouraged fake apps to prevent fraud.

WhatsApp added Android passkey support this week, enabling access without SMS-based two-factor authentication.

Continue Reading

Apps

X experiments with a $1-per-year new user fee

blank

Published

on

blank

X, formerly Twitter, announced today that it will experiment with charging “new unverified” users $1 per year to interact with posts. The company said this test is live in New Zealand and the Philippines and won’t affect existing users.

Users can post, like, repost, reply, bookmark, and quote for that fee. Free users get a read-only account to view posts and follow accounts.

This “Not A bot” program is not a profit driver, according to the company’s support account, but reason is hard to trust. The Elon Musk-owned company claims this program will reduce spam.

We created this new test to improve our already successful efforts to reduce spam, platform manipulation, and bot activity while balancing platform accessibility with the small fee. It does not generate profits, the company said.

blank

The company said it would share spam-fighting program results on its support page.

Musk announced that X will charge “a small monthly payment” to use its service. The test program pays annually, but ethos is the same.

X (then Twitter) started requiring logins to view posts in June. Days later, the platform allowed logged-out users to view posts.

One year after Musk’s $44 billion acquisition, Simialrweb reports X traffic has dropped. The company has taken drastic measures to cut costs and make money.

In an interview last month, CEO Linda Yaccarino predicted X’s 2024 profitability. The former NBCU executive avoided discussing X’s user fees in the interview.

As of now, X only offers a $8 monthly plan. According to recently discovered code, the company may introduce three premium tiers, one ad-free.

Continue Reading

Android

Pixel 8 Pro runs Google’s generative AI models

blank

Published

on

blank

Rick Osterloh, Google’s SVP of devices and services, says the Pixel 8 Pro will be the first hardware to run Google’s generative AI models.

At an event today, Osterloh said the Pixel 8 Pro’s custom-built Tensor G3 chip, which accelerates AI workloads, can run “distilled” versions of Google’s text- and image-generating models to power image editing and other apps.

Osterloh said, “We’ve worked closely with our research teams across Google to take advantage of their most advanced foundation models and distill them into a version efficient enough to run on our flagship Pixel.”

Google improved Magic Eraser, its photo-editing tool, to remove larger objects and people smudge-free using on-device models. Osterloh claims that this improved Magic Eraser creates new pixels to fill in shot gaps, producing a higher-quality image.

Osterloh says a new on-device model will “intelligently” sharpen and enhance photo details, improving zoom.

On-device processing benefits audio recording. The Pixel 8 Pro’s recording app will soon summarize meeting highlights.

Gboard will use a large language model on the Pixel 8 Pro to power smart replies. Osterloh claims that the upgraded Gboard will provide “higher-quality” reply suggestions and better conversational awareness.

Osterloh said an update in December will add on-device generative AI features except for Magic Eraser, which appears on the Pixel 8 Pro at launch.

Continue Reading

Trending