Google Maps ‘Your Match’ for iOS uses machine learning to suggest places you might like

Google Maps for iOS is getting a new update that brings a new feature ‘match.' This feature will help you by suggesting new restaurants that it thinks you might enjoy. Google will collect the data including the places you’ve visited and interests you provide, to predict if you would like a particular restaurant. Google Maps Match feature was initially rolled out to Android back in May and was first introduced at the I/O 2018. The 'Your Match' feature will display how likely you are to enjoy a place and reasons explaining why once you tap on any food or drink venue. Google is using machine learning to generate this based on factors like food and drink preferences you’ve selected in Google Maps, the places you’ve been to, and more. The matches list will change as your preferences evolve. You can download or update the already existing Google Maps app for iOS from App Store here. Google about the new Match feature on Maps said: Our new “match” feature will help you find your one true love. And by love, we mean your next favorite cheeseburger. Tap on a food or drink spot to see how likely you are to enjoy it based on your unique preferences – so ...

Fortnite for Android said to be launched alongside Samsung Galaxy Note9, might not be available on Google Play Store

Fornite maker; Epic games back in May announced that Fortnite for Android will be available in Q3 of 2018. But the company is yet to officially announce a launch date, however, sources claim that the game will be launched as an exclusive for the Samsung Galaxy Note9 on August 9th. Reports also suggest that unlike most games, Fornite won't be available on Google Play Store, instead, it will be available only on a few supported handsets and the list of Android smartphones that’ll support Fortnite Mobile on Android once it launched is now leaked. This piece of information is found hidden within the source of the Fortnite Mobile page on Epic Games’ website. It also details the instruction for users on how to download and install the game on their Android smartphone. Users who have the supported handset can download the Fortnite Mobile on Android the web browser, instead, of Play Store. In the next page, users will be informed about the "security permissions” which likely refers to enabling installation from unknown sources. The reason for not offering Fortnite on Play Store is unknown at the moment. The only practical reason for this decision is because it would lose out on 30% of all sales, in-app purchases as apps distributed within the Play Store must use Google Play In-app ...

Samsung Mobile profits down 29.1% YoY in Q2 2018 due to low Galaxy S9 sales, says Galaxy Note9 will be priced reasonably

Samsung has reported its earnings for Q2 2018, in which the company has made operating profit of 14.87 trillion won ($13.3 billion), up just 5.68% YoY for the April-June 2018 period. After fourth straight record profit, this is a bit disappointing, due to softer sales of smartphones and display panels, despite robust demand for memory chips.  It reported revenue of 58.48 trillion won, down 4.1% from 61 trillion won last year and net profit of 11.04 trillion won, almost same from a year earlier. IM sector that includes Mobile Communications and Networks Businesses posted 24.00 trillion won consolidated revenue and 2.67 trillion won operating profit for the quarter, down 29.1% compared to 3.77 trillion won in the same quarter last year. The company said that it will launch the new Note model with superior performance at a reasonable price in this quarter. Regarding the shipments and the expectations in mobile sector, Samsung said: Amid the sluggish premium smartphone market and intensifying competition, Samsung’s smartphone shipments and revenue declined QoQ due to the slow sales of Galaxy S9 and S9+ as well as the phasing out of older low-end models. The Company posted a drop in quarterly operating profit due to higher marketing expenses. Meanwhile, the Networks Business saw ...

Uber shutting down self-driving truck division

Uber today announced that it is shutting down its self-driving trucks unit,  and instead, the company will focus its efforts on self-driving cars. However, Uber Freight; a business unit that helps truck drivers connect with shipping companies is unaffected by this decision.  Uber Freight that was launched in May 2017 is designed for approved drivers to find nearby available loads and see the destination info, the distance required and payment information upfront. If the drivers like what they see, they can tap to book. Initially, the Uber Freight was started in three regions, and later was expanded to the continental U.S and also has offices in San Francisco and Chicago. The company's Meyhofer's email to employees reads: “Rather than having two groups working side by side, focused on different vehicle platforms, I want us instead collaborating as one team. I know we’re all super proud of what the Trucks team has accomplished, and we continue to see the incredible promise of self-driving technology applied to move freight across the country." Mayhofer further said that the company wants to see the self-driving technology applied to freight across the country. Uber’s self-driving trucks unit is based in San Francisco, while the team dedicated to self-driving cars is located in Pittsburgh. The ...

Google Calendar now makes it easier to reschedule meetings

Google today is introducing a new feature to its Calendar application that enables users to schedule meetings more efficiently. Now each guest you invited to meetings can propose a new time, and the organizer can easily review and accept time proposals. This feature is aimed at richer communication between attendees, reduces the time spent on meeting practicalities, and makes meetings more productive. When a user is invited to a Calendar event, they can respond “Yes,” “No,” Maybe,” and now post the addition of this feature, they can also “Propose a new time.” If calendar access permissions have been granted, guests can see the other attendees' availability side by side, so they can suggest a time that works for everyone. Users who are proposing a time can also include an optional message to the organizer, who can accept the proposed time with just one click. Google says that this functionality works across domains and with Microsoft Exchange. This feature is available on the web now and will be coming to mobile on August 13th. Source

Google Chrome for Daydream VR headsets launched

Google today is launching Chrome on Google Daydream View and the Lenovo Mirage Solo with Daydream. This will let you open and browse Chrome directly from the homepage to interact with any webpage while in VR. https://youtu.be/qhVfFnhOELg Google says that all the Chrome features like voice search, incognito mode, saved bookmarks are now accessible on the Daydream headset. Additionally, Google is also adding features like “cinema mode” which optimizes web video for the best viewing experience in VR. However, you need to update to the latest version of Chrome on Android from the Google Play to access Chrome on VR. With Chrome on Google Daydream View or read your favorite news article or watching a YouTube video, and easily switch to the headset.

WhatsApp Group Voice and Video Calling now rolling out for all Android and iOS users

Facebook-owned WhatsApp back at the F8 in May said that it will roll out group calling feature in coming months, and started testing the feature soon after. Today it has announced that it has started rolling out the  group calls for voice and video for everyone starting today. You can make a group call with up to four people total. Here's how it works Start a one-on-one voice or video call Tap the new "add participant" button in the top right corner and tap Add participants Search for or select another contact you want to add to the call When you receive a group voice / video call, the incoming WhatsApp voice or video call screen will show the participants currently on the call, and the first contact listed will be the participant that added you. During a group voice call, you won't be able to switch the call to a video call During a group video call, you have the option to turn your camera off by tapping the Turn off camera icon. You can't remove a contact during a group voice / video call. The contact would need to hang up their phone to disconnect from the call Group voice / video ...

OnePlus confirms Android P update for OnePlus 3 and 3T, will skip Android 8.1

OnePlus recently announced its software maintenance schedule for its smartphones starting from the OnePlus 3, and said that OnePlus 3 / 3T will get Android platform updates till November 2018 and guaranteed Android security updates till November 2019.  Even though last year it confirmed that the last major Android version update for the OnePlus 3 and 3T will be Android Oreo, last month it hinted at more exciting news about Android version updates for these smartphones will be announced soon. Today it has confirmed that both the OnePlus 3 and 3T smartphones will get the Android P update, after the OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 5/T. OnePlus recently released the Android P Beta 3  (DP4) for the OnePlus 6, so it could get the Android P update later this year. Earlier this month the company released  the final beta update for the phones and asked beta users to move to stable channel. The company will skip the Android 8.1 update to offer Android P directly. We should know more details about the Android P update schedule for the OnePlus smartphones in the coming months. Source

T-Mobile and Nokia sign $3.5 billion multi-year 5G network agreement

T-Mobile and Nokia today has announced a $3.5 billion agreement to accelerate the deployment of a nationwide 5G network. Nokia will provide T-Mobile with its complete end-to-end 5G technology, software, and services portfolio. As part of the agreement, Nokia will help T-Mobile with 600 MHz and 28 GHz millimeter wave 5G capabilities compliant with 3GPP 5G New Radio (NR) standards. 5G enables faster speeds, massive connectivity, decade-long battery life for sensors and super-responsive and reliable networks for users. This will bring support for on-demand virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experiences, driverless vehicles, medical monitoring, advanced industrial automation services, and more.T-Mobile will leverage on multiple products across Nokia's end-to-end 5G technology, software, and services portfolio, including commercial AirScale radio platforms and cloud-native core, AirFrame hardware, CloudBand software, SON and 5G Acceleration Services. Both the companies will now work on developing test and launch the next generation of connectivity services that will cover a wide range of industries, including enterprise, smart cities, utilities, transportation, health, manufacturing, retail, agriculture and government agencies. Ashish Chowdhary, Chief Customer Operations Officer, Nokia said: Nokia and T-Mobile will advance the large-scale deployment of 5G services throughout the United States. This is a testament to our companies' strong and productive working relationship, ...

Moto G5 Plus Android 8.1 Oreo soak test with July security patch starts rolling out in India and Brazil

Motorola confirmed Android 8.0 update for a range of smartphones including Moto G5 series back in September last year. Now the company has started rolling out Android 8.1 (Oreo) soak test for the Moto G5 Plus users in India and Brazil. Android Oreo brings a lot of new features and improvements including Background limits, Notification channels, snooze notifications, Autofill APIs, Picture in Picture (PIP) display, Adaptive icons, Support for high-quality Bluetooth audio codecs such as LDAC codec, Keyboard navigation, Revamped power menu, New Settings Menu, Bluetooth Battery percentage and more. The official changelog says that the Oreo update will include many enhancements including new multitasking features, more efficient notification controls, improved data saver and battery features, new power menu UI and Bluetooth improvements. The Moto G5 Plus Android 8.1 Oreo update has build number OPS28.78-2, is 1042MB in size and also includes Android security patch for July, 2018. The company should roll out stable update in the coming weeks. Source 1, 2, 3