COVID-19 has forced people to start working from home, which means more video calls and meetings. If you’re sick of staring at your computer screen during calls, Google is now letting you cast them on your TV. Google Meet and Chromecast Engadget reports that Google is rolling out an update to Meet that allows you to screen-cast your meetings through Chromecast. Before, this feature was only available on the Nest Hub Max. However, this new feature will only work on Google Chrome. Google will still use your camera, microphone, and computer audio to drive the screen-cast. You’ll just see your…
Author: Irene Hawkins
Irene Hawkins
Irene grew up in Dayton, Ohio, and now lives in New York as a full-time environmentalist and a part-time journalist. She was previously an editor at local online newspaper, where she wrote about topics including technology, finance and the media industry.
Epic Games is accusing Apple of putting game developers in danger by threatening to revoke iOS support for the Unreal Engine. This move is also part of Apple’s threats to revoke Epic’s access to iOS developer tools and accounts. On Sunday, Epic submitted a new motion with these charges. Now, Microsoft has defended Epic in its battle with Apple. Epic Games vs. Apple According to The Verge, Epic said Apple’s threats would risk other developers, who have nothing to do with the case. If Apple pushes through with its threats, it will punish a lot of game developers, when only…
It looks like you can already buy the new Galaxy Z Fold 2 if you’re in the UK. Check out Samsung’s UK retail website, and you can pre-order the phone at £1,799. After you finish your order, you’ll see that they’ll ship the phone by September 17. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 The Verge reports that Samsung had announced the Galaxy Z Fold 2 on August 5. However, back then, the company didn’t say when the phone will come out or how much it costs. Now it seems that Samsung’s UK retail branch had different ideas. https://twitter.com/MaxWinebach/status/1299108972809433089 A tweet…
After US President Donald Trump banned Chinese-owned apps TikTok and WeChat, a group of WeChat users sued the government. The user group railed against the President’s executive order banning people from making transactions with WeChat. While the group does not represent WeChat, they want to block the order from taking effect. WeChat vs. The US Government According to the Wall Street Journal, the ban takes effect later next month. In response, the WeChat user group said the ban violates due process and free speech. Moreover, the user group said that the ban discriminates against Chinese-Americans. Chinese-speakers in the US use…
Fortnite’s latest update won’t come to Apple devices, according to Epic Games’ latest statement. This news comes after the first hearing Monday on Epic’s lawsuit against Apple. For other devices, the Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 4 update comes out on August 27. Epic’s Statement In a statement, Epic Games confirms they will not work with Apple anytime soon. The company says that Apple wants them to continue using Apple’s payment policies. By refusing, Epic says they are fighting back against Apple’s monopoly on iOS payments. They had said that Apple’s monopoly stifles competition and raises prices for consumers. https://twitter.com/Gizmodo/status/1298774734038016011?s=20 Moreover,…
Students catching up with class lectures don’t have to rely on their audio apps alone to transcribe their notes. Microsoft is planning to add a transcription feature to Word online. Transcribe in Microsoft Word Called Transcribe in Word, the new feature will support most audio files. You can even record conversations with Word online. The software transcribes it for you. The Verge reports that this feature uses AI to identify each speaker. Then it breaks the dialogue into sections that you can play back, edit, and insert in a Word document. https://twitter.com/verge/status/1298275309029122048?s=20 The new feature also supports recorded audio or…
Nintendo might be stepping back from this year’s round of the console wars. However, the Japanese company plans to come back strong next year. Reports have surfaced that Nintendo plans to release an upgraded Nintendo Switch in 2021. What’s So Special About the New Switch? Engadget reports that the new Nintendo Switch could be beefier than the previous versions. According to reports, the new model could add more graphics power and support 4K graphics. Moreover, this Switch could come with a bunch of new games. Nintendo looks to make up for a light roster of new games this year with…
While Sony sticks to its holiday release schedule, Microsoft pushed up the release of the Xbox Series X to November. Both Sony and Microsoft usher in the next generation of gaming with brand-new consoles. Later this year, Sony will release the Playstation 5. Xbox Series X in November In a blog post, Microsoft announced the new Xbox’s November launch. The company also announced the delay of Halo: Infinite to 2021. Moreover, Kotaku reports that Microsoft will also launch over 50 new games for all Xbox generations, which will also be optimized for Series X. https://twitter.com/Kotaku/status/1293264747866062854?s=20 What Can I Play on…
If you’re still surfing the web with Internet Explorer, Microsoft now wants you to move on. By next year, the company will stop supporting the browser for its Office 365 Suite, including OneDrive and Outlook. This year, Microsoft will also end support for Internet Explorer 11 on the Microsoft Teams web app. Microsoft Moving on from Internet Explorer The Verge reports that Microsoft will end support for Internet Explorer for Office 365 on August 17, 2021. Meanwhile, the company will discontinue IE 11 for Microsoft Teams on November 30. With this move, Microsoft hopes to push IE users to shift…
To help test more Americans for COVID-19, the FDA approved the SalivaDirect test for public use. This test uses a person’s saliva to detect the virus. With SalivaDirect, more US citizens can get tested. SalivaDirect delivers fast results at lower prices. The US FDA approved SalivaDirect for emergency use on Saturday. COVID-19 Testing with SalivaDirect CNN reports that experts from the Yale School of Public Health created SalivaDirect. Unlike swab tests, you don’t need swabs or external collection devices with SalivaDirect. With reagents and samples, the whole kit could cost just over $10. https://twitter.com/yale/status/1294734447124848651 With SalivaDirect, Yale hopes they can…