Google Assistant on iPhone: What can it do that Siri can’t?

Google Assistant has arrived on the iPhone.

Sure, technically, the AI-powered assistant was already available in a limited fashion through the Google Allo messaging app, but now, thanks to a new standalone app available on Apple’s App Store (US-only for now), you can take full advantage of Google Assistant and start barking commands at it like you can with Siri. But can it replace Apple’s default voice assistant? We played with it a bit to find out.

• What is Android Go and why does it matter?
• How to get Android O on your phone right now
• Apple’s Siri speaker: What’s the story so far?

Pocket-lint

What is Google Assistant?

Google Assistant is Google’s version of an assistant – just like Apple has Siri and Microsoft has Cortana and Amazon has Alexa and Samsung has Bixby and so on. Pocket-lint has an in-depth guide on Google Assistant that details everything you need to know, including which devices and apps it is currently found in, how it works, what it can do, and the types of functionality it offers per device.

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How does Google Assistant on iPhone work?

Setup

First, download the free Google Assistant app from Apple’s App Store and log in to your Google account. It is only available in the US at launch. It will ask for access to your location and microphone. Then, you’ll be brought to the chat screen in the app and told about the types of things you can ask. If you need help or what to know more about what Google Assistant can do, just ask: “What can you do?”

Ask a question

To ask a question, tap the microphone icon at the bottom of the chat screen and ask your question, or tap the keyboard icon to the left of the microphone icon to bring up a keyboard and manually input your question to Google Assistant.

Explore

In the top right of the chat screen, there’s a blue icon. Tap it to access the more options in the Assistant app. The screen that pops up will have two tabs: Explore and Your Stuff. Explore suggests different things you can ask Google Assistant and recommends various tie-ins (also known as “skills” on the Cortana and Alexa platforms). For instance, you ask Assistant to play a song in Spotify.

Your Stuff

The second tab we mentioned (under more options), Your Stuff, is where you can go to see all your Assistant-related stuff in one place, such as your reminders, agenda, and shopping list. You can also tap next to each section to begin adding reminders, events, shopping items, etc.

Settings

Under more options, and then next to the Your Stuff tab, you will see three horizontal dots.

This icon opens up a card that provides access to your account, settings, activity, and additional features like help and send feedback. Select Account to manage which Google account is linked to the Assistant app. Settings will let you add payment options and manage devices and services (like your Google Home or Spotify account), while Activity shows a history of everything you’ve done with Assistant.

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What can Assistant do that Siri can’t?

For the purposes of this guide, we’re focusing on how Google Assistant on the iPhone compares to Siri on the iPhone.

Launching your assistant

The first obvious difference is that Siri is baked into iOS, while Google Assistant is a standalone app you need to download. You can easily access Siri by holding down the iPhone’s home button, but with Google Assistant (and Cortana, Alexa, and all other third-party assistants), you need to launch a separate app. And on Android phones, Google Assistant is immediately there and ready.

The other thing worth mentioning is that you can’t remap your Home button so that it launches an assistant other than Siri. Also, when you first launch the Google Assistant app on your iPhone, you have to log in to a Google account. Siri doesn’t have this step when you first use it on the iPhone, though, technically, it quietly works with the Apple ID you used to sign into your device.

Calls and texts

If you’re wondering whether you can make a call or send a message on the iPhone with Google Assistant, you can, but it’s not exactly seamless. When you say, “Call Dad,” for instance, Assistant will bring up his name and launch a phone call you can then cancel or confirm. If you say, “Text Dad,” it asks for your message and launches your Messages app. Siri can send messages without opening an app.

Playing music

You can play music using Google Assistant, but again, the experience is muddled. When you first ask Google Assistant to play music, it’ll ask you to choose between Apple Music and YouTube as a default. We chose YouTube and said, “Play AC/DC.” It then launched the YouTube app and played a random song from the band. We went back to Assistant and said “Play Father John Misty,” and it served up a list of albums.

At that point we asked Assistant to play a song “on Apple Music” and it did so. From what we can tell it switched Apple Music to our default. We then couldn’t figure out how to change YouTube to the default again. So, this feature still needs tweaking, in our opinion. Now, with Siri, you can ask it to play music, and it’ll always play it on Apple Music and give you the option to open Apple Music.

Google apps

Google Assistant works well with Google’s own apps. You can send an email through Gmail (say who you want to send the email to, and it’ll open the Gmail app; ask for directions with Google Maps instead of Apple’s maps, etc). Now, with Siri, your email will always go through Apple’s Mail app and can be done without opening the app, but you can also ask Siri to open some third-party apps, including Google Maps.

Shortcuts

Unlike Siri, Google Assistant lets you set up quick shortcuts (under the Your Stuff tab) to customise Assistant. So, for instance, you can say “Be right there” to trigger a text to your husband that says you’re 10 minutes away. “Make me laugh” could bring up fail videos on YouTube.

Restrictions

There are some iOS restrictions that limit what Google Assistant can do. The Your Stuff tab in the Google Assistant app lists that you set reminders, an agenda, and a shopping list. However, Google Assistant still can’t set alarms, launch the camera to take selfies (or launch any app on command), post to social networks like Twitter or Facebook, call a ride-hailing app like Ubers or Lyft, etc.

You also can’t launch third-party apps like Whatsapp to send a message. But Siri can do all that. That said, Google Assistant can handle setting reminders with a place and time, while Siri can only place what you requested on Apple’s Reminders list.

Explore

Speaking of third-party apps, Apple has opened up Siri to developers, but you’ll have to ask Siri what she can do and play around to figure things out yourself. With Google Assistant app, however, there is an Explore tab full of suggestions on what you can do with Assistant. We particularly like that Assistant offers access to other chatbots, like Genius, which guesses the name of a song based on a snippet.

Context

Google Assistant is better at remembering context. For instance, when we asked, “Who’s the Queen of England,” and followed it up with “How old is she?” Google Assistant responded with “Elizabeth II” and “5-feet and 4 inches tall.” Siri, meanwhile, answered the first question but responded with “I don’t know” for the second. We also think Siri can’t understand voice commands as well as Google.

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Want to know more?

Check out Pocket-lint’s Apple and Google hubs for related guides.

Destiny 2 preview: Hands-on with PS4 and PC campaign, strike and PVP modes

Destiny 2 was officially unveiled a month or so ago, along with its 8 September 2017 release date and that, as well as support PlayStation 4 and Xbox One again, a PC version will be available for the first time.

We’ve played different modes on both PS4 and PC, during the Destiny 2 Gameplay Premiere event in Los Angeles, and we can confirm one thing; it’s Destiny through and through. Fans will freak over it.

However, we also found it much easier to get to grips with – newcomers have been firmly at the front of Bungie’s collective mind during development. You don’t need to have played Destiny to death to enjoy the sequel. Nor will you feel intimidated.

We’ve been playing different gameplay types on the two different machines, so have had a good taste of what’s on offer, which we detail below. Hopefully, they’ll give you an idea of what to expect when you finally get to try it for yourself. A public beta is expected in the summer, so that might be sooner than you think.

Destiny 2 preview: PS4 Strike

All our PS4 play sessions were using PS4 Pro machines, so sharper than you can probably expect on standard PS4. We don’t know for sure, but suspect they use checkerboard 4K upscaling rather than run natively, but at least that kept the frame rate up.

Bungie / Activision

Again, it didn’t seem to be running at 60fps, but it was certainly holding a stable 30fps – not bad considering it looks absolutely stunning.

The Strike mission we played was The Inverted Spire in the Arcadian Valley on one of the new planets, Nessus. That planet was structured by the Vex, so you can guess what type of enemies we faced.

We won’t spoil it too much, as you’ll no doubt get to play the mission yourself at some point, but a vast majority of it is platform based and there is an incredible section with giant drill bits swooping above and below you as you try to traverse the landscape.

We played in a three-person Fire Team and, luckily, the other two players were talented. We required reviving during the drill bit sequence a lot. A. Lot.

The mission seemed to be over fairly quickly – something needed for a busy event where the turnover is rapid. However, we thoroughly enjoyed it (playing a Warlock). Not sure how different it is to the original, but fun nonetheless.

Bungie / Activision

Destiny 2 preview: PC PVP

Next up on our schedule was some PVP action on the new PC version.

We’ll be quite honest here, The Crucible was never our favourite destination on the first Destiny. It dented our pride far too often in the game’s early days. But steps have been made to make the player vs player modes more accessible to people at different skills levels.

For a start, restricting all competitive multiplayer to four vs four matches means that there’s less scope for the chaotic six vs six battles of Destiny 1. There are also on screen systems to help keep track of teammates and rivals in better fashion. You still require a modicum of skill to enjoy the mode, but you shouldn’t feel as inadequate.

We got to play the new PVP mode, Countdown. Basically, one team defends two points on a map, the other has to blow them up. Teams can also win by killing everybody on the other side, much like the current Elimination mode.

As a gaming experience, Countdown is great fun. However, playing it on PC for the first time, without having familiarised ourselves with the key set completely beforehand just made it all quite baffling. And it was over before we ever really, literally got to grips with it.

One thing we can say though is that the PC version is utterly incredible in looks: native 4K and running at a perfect 60fps. Yum.

Bungie / Activision

Destiny 2 preview: PS4 and PC Campaign

Possibly the mode we most wanted to play was Campaign, to experience the new story. And it lived up to expectations.

There’s not really much to talk about as we played the exact same opening story, Homecoming, as shown in its entirety during the Destiny 2 Gameplay Premiere keynote so you can view it online yourself here.

We can say that the amount and length of cinematic events at the beginning and about halfway through make it feel a bit Call of Duty-esque – spectacular and perhaps a little invasive at times. However, the Destiny gameplay feel is still there. And we suspect that the demo purposes ramped up the amount of time we could achieve Super Charged status in order to try out the Dawnblade power multiple times.

It proved how more enjoyable Destiny 2 will be for solo players. We played entirely alone and the game didn’t punish us for it. And with side missions and so much more to do this time around, plus a far bigger story, it’s definitely shaping up as a title for plenty of new gamers, no just Destiny-holics.

We’d like to play a lot more of the campaign before casting a proper judgement, as there will be plenty of twists and turns to come, but Destiny 2 seems to be less po-faced than the original. And we approve.

We played the PC Campaign mode as well as the PS4 version and it must be said that the difference of the PC’s 4K 60fps presentation is like night and day in comparison. The PS4 Pro version looked great, the PC graphics are simple jaw-dropping – crisp, colourful and a real visual treat.

Time to invest in a decent graphics card then.

First Impressions

It seems that Bungie is, based on our play sessions with Destiny 2 at this early stage, affirming its safe pair of hands. It has been making triple-A games for many years now and it shows.

We can’t tell at this stage how the apocalyptic storyline will play out, or be received, but we like the destruction of the Tower and the resulting fallout. At least it sets a different tone to proceedings.

Destiny 2 will be available for PS4, Xbox One and PC from 8 September 2017. The PC version will be exclusive to Blizzard’s BattleNet online service.

Google Home calling: How does it work and when will it be ready?

Google just made Google Home a more compelling rival to Echo.

Earlier this month, Amazon launched an Alexa calling service, giving Echo users the ability to phone other Echo users and users of the Alexa app. And if you have the new Echo Show, you can even do video calls. Amazon basically made its Echo lineup far superior to Google Home in terms of communication functionality, but now, mere weeks later, Google is leveling the playing field with a “hands-free calling” feature.

Here’s everything you need to know about calling with Google Home, including how it works and when the feature will be available.

• Move over, Siri: Google Assistant is officially coming to iPhone
• Google Lens brings super powers to your phone camera
• Google Home can now make hands-free phone calls like Amazon Echo
• Google Home can now give you visual responses on phones and Chromecast

How do you make a call on Google Home?

During Google I/O 2017, when Google announced the “hands-free calling” feature, executives said all you have to do is ask Google Home to make a call, and it’ll connect you. When we asked Google how it works, we were told: “There’s actually no setup required, call anyone for free, including personal contacts or local businesses, and even dial out with your personal number when we detect your voice.”

How does Google Home calling work?

Google’s Product and Engineering teams are still hammering out the details of the calling feature before it’s rolled out to the public, so we do not have a full understanding yet of how it works. When we asked Google support, they neglected to explain how the feature works and said they didn’t want to give us any false information. So, as of right now, there’s not much we can tell you either.

However, Amazon recently rolled out a similar calling feature for its Echo devices – and it requires a quick setup process:

• You need to Alexa app on your smartphone, and then with the app, you need to confirm your name and phone number as well as enable access to your contacts list. From there, tap the chat bubble at the bottom, and then tap the figure in the upper-right hand corner. Doing so will show a list of your contacts who have the Alexa app or an Echo and are available to call. Tap on a contact to send a call or message.

So, if we had to guess, the Home app on your smartphone will also need to verify your name and phone number and enable access to your contacts before it can let you start placing calls on Google Home, though that’s just speculation. After all, Google said it supports calling out with a private number, by default, and it will also provide the option to link your mobile number to Google Assistant.

If you link your number, Google said it will use it when Home recognise your voice (and thus whomever you call will know the call is coming from you, whereas with a private number, they won’t know). Multiple people can connect to one Google Home and call their own personal contacts, as Google Home can distinguish your voice from others. Go here to learn how to set up multiple users on Home.

Who can you call with Google Home?

You can call any landline or mobile number in the US and Canada completely free, though calls to 911 or 1-900 numbers are not supported on. There’s no word yet on whether this feature will come to the UK, though we suspect Google will eventually launch it in other countries. We will keep you posted as we learn more, so be sure to check back here for the latest details.

Also, with just your voice, you can call “millions of businesses” in the US and Google, thanks to built-in Google Search on Google Home. You can also call your own personal contacts, as long as your contacts are synced with your Google Account. So, you’ll be able to say “Hey Google, call Bob’s Pizza” or “Hey Google, call mom”. Go here to learn how to sync contacts with your Google account.

How much do calls cost?

Calls to the US and Canada are free.

When will Google Home calling be ready?

While at Google I/O 2017 in May, Google said it would roll out calling to all Google Home owners “over the coming months”.

Anything else you need to know?

Google said it will only support outbound calls at launch due to customer privacy, but it plans to add blocking “in the coming weeks”.

Want to know more?

Check out Google’s Support page for more details. Also, call 1-855-971-9121 (in the US) to speak to a Google Home support specialist if you need more more information on the “hands-free calling” feature. If you’re in the UK, call 0800 026 1217​.

Catch up on Google’s plans for VR in under 3 minutes

During day two of Google I/O 2017, the company detailed its plans for both AR and VR. If you didn’t catch our live coverage earlier today, don’t worry: We’ve cut down the half-hour talk into a much shorter clip. You can catch up on all the news about Daydream Euphrates, YouTube VR, Google Cast and much more in under three minutes.

For all the latest news and updates from Google I/O 2017, follow along here.

Android Go could help make Android O a runaway success

Android O might not seem like the most thrilling software update at first, but it just might be one of the most important. Google has been on a quest to capture and delight billions of new Android users for years with various initiatives. So far, scaling hasn’t been a problem — there are now 2 billion monthly active devices, and with Android Go, Google’s hell-bent on picking up even more in developing and underserved markets.

When phone makers install O on their low-end devices, they don’t just get optimizations to make everything run better. They also get a different set of stock Google apps and a version of the Play Store that highlights apps designed for these limited devices. To be clear, Go — or whatever it winds up being called — isn’t actually a separate version of Android, but a special configuration of Android O meant for low-end devices. And the most fascinating part? It’s just tucked away in the regular O update, invisible to anyone whose phone has more than 1GB of RAM.

“‘Go’ is sort of a focus on the lower hardware specs and mak[ing] sure Android works really well on it,” Android engineering VP Dave Burke told Engadget. While O promises to pack performance and battery enhancements, its Android Go side might help it expand in ways earlier versions couldn’t.

Just look at the stats. Android 7.0 and 7.1 are collectively running on only 7 percent of devices worldwide. Last year’s Marshmallow accounts for 31.2 percent of Android devices out there, and Lollipop is just about even with that. Meanwhile, Android 4.4 KitKat is still very widely used: meaning nearly 19 percent of Android devices are running software from over three years ago. Needless to say, there’s a wide variety in the experiences available to the world’s Android users.

That’s partially due to how new phones are produced. When companies like Qualcomm or Mediatek cook up a new chipset, the next step involves figuring out what version of Android they can run and tuning it for compatibility. When these companies want to go after entry-level users, Android Go VP of product management Sameer Samat told Engadget that they often dig into the past for versions of Android that would run well without much horsepower. Sometimes, that means a new phone, fresh off the assembly line in 2017, will run Android 4.4 KitKat. Google’s work with Android O, however, could change that.

“What we’ve been doing is working with some of our SoC partners very early with O to get it brought up on entry-level chipsets,” Samat said. In other words, Google is working with chipset makers to make sure they’re aware that Go makes brand new Android available on even modest hardware, removing the need for those companies to scrounge around for versions of Android that would run well.

Google

And when it comes to keeping those devices up-to-date, Project Treble is here to help. At its core, Treble keeps the Android framework separate from the software chipset makers create to ensure compatibility and device performance. The wall between the two means Android can be updated without chip makers necessarily redoing all of their custom work. Long story short, this should make for easier, more frequent software updates. Between Google’s focus on getting Android O and Go running on phones of all performance levels and Treble’s ability to make sure updates can happen faster than ever, we might see the O experience spread like wildfire. The obvious upside is that people around the world, from very different economic and technical circumstances, could share in O’s modern software foundation.

To be clear, I’m just extrapolating — Samat definitively said that Android O wasn’t designed to “solve fragmentation.” Even so, this is very good news for anyone who buys an entry-level phone in the near future. What’s still unclear is what happens to people out there who already have devices that fit the Go criteria.

On one hand, Google seems unconcerned about the problem. Samat pointed out that many devices that fit the Go spec are running much older versions of Android, so they wouldn’t necessarily get new updates anyway. “That is not something we’ve historically focused on,” he added. “We’re focused on moving this forward.”

Even so, there are devices — like the newly announced Moto C — that only have 1GB of RAM and run Android 7.0. What happens if that device, or one like it, gets an Android O update? Will it get the Go experience or not? Samat says Google is in currently in discussions with device makers, but nothing has been locked down yet. The issue is that Android Go has multiple parts, like that specially modified suite of Google apps. And therein lies the rub.

“The problem is that once you have a phone with updates, we can’t just change the apps on you,” Burke told us. “If you were to buy a new phone that was Android Go, you’d have a different set of Google apps.”

Samat and Burke left the upgrade question on an uncertain note, but their willingness to point at ongoing conversations with device makers offers some hope that upgrades to Go-flavored Android O are possible. If nothing else, though, Samat said Google is “likely to make the Google apps that receive the Go treatment available to download” even if you don’t have an entry-level phone.

It’s still early days for Android O and Go, so it’s no surprise that many questions are still unanswered. While it may lack the whiz-bang features that get tech pundits drooling, Android O has the potential to be a more impactful success than any of its recent predecessors.

For all the latest news and updates from Google I/O 2017, follow along here

Drivers win when automakers use Android

Android Auto only got a brief mention at yesterday’s Google I/O keynote, but that’s mostly because some notable news dropped earlier this week. Both Audi and Volvo announced plans to utilize Android as the OS behind their cars infotainment systems. That’s notably different than Android Auto, which basically projects a simplified version of your phone’s interface to your car’s display. Audi and Volvo’s implementations don’t require a phone — and the carmakers are free to customize the UI as they see fit.

It’s worth noting that this isn’t a new idea, though some of the ways it has been used in the past leave much to be desired. Today, we had a chance to check out Audi’s vision for Android in the car here at Google I/O. Seated inside of a concept Q8 SUV, a Google spokesperson walked us through the UI, though it was straightforward and sensible enough that you wouldn’t really need a hand with it. Conceptually, it’s not all that different than when a phone manufacturer skins Android with their own custom interface.

The most obvious difference between Android Auto and Audi’s particular flavor is visual: Audi reskinned Android Auto to make it match their aesthetic throughout the vehicle. While many Android fans have historically preferred a “stock” Google experience it’s not nearly as big a deal in the car. Most of the actions you’ll want to accomplish in a car are still right here, although Android Auto’s useful “card” UI isn’t here. Instead, there are big sections devoted to navigation, music, weather and your car’s general settings.

The good news is that you can use multiple third-party apps here. Since the car is running Android, apps that work with Android Auto will also work here, although it’s up to Audi and other manufacturers to decide what they want to include. This concept we saw included Spotify, Pandora, Pocketcasts and a few others.

Navigation meanwhile defaults to Audi’s built-in option — still running as an Android app, but without the features you might expect from Google Maps. Fortunately, Google Maps is onboard as well. It’s slightly reskinned, but you can use voice controls to search while using it and add multiple stops to your route. The Audi app is the default and remains on your car’s home screen, but at least you can step over to Google’s option if you want.

Speaking of voice control, Audi’s concept also included the full Google Assistant built right in. So even though you’re not getting Google’s full, untouched Android Auto experience, you’ll still be able to use the Assistant to ask Google questions and check your schedule or the weather.

The last cool Audi pulled off here is integrating Android with the OS powering the traditional dashboard display. Android is able to push notifications and other information from the infotainment system right to the dashboard. If you’re using turn-by-turn directions, for example, you can tap a button on your dashboard to bring them front and center. It can also show you what song is playing through whatever media app you’re using.

It’s worth noting that this is all a concept still and not something we’re certain to see in a production vehicle. But while it’s too early to say, the idea of more carmakers using Android could dramatically improve the quality of built-in car interfaces. Having access to useful tools like the Assistant and Google Maps alone would make a big difference. Both Audi and Volvo have committed to using Android on at least some vehicles in the future — so while features and visuals may both change in the months to come, it won’t be too long before you can pick up a vehicle running Android, no phone required.

For all the latest news and updates from Google I/O 2017, follow along here.

Samsung’s delayed Chromebook Pro arrives on May 28th

Chrome OS didn’t get any real attention at the Google I/O keynote this week, but a little news popped up regarding the delayed Samsung Chromebook Pro. The laptop — one of the first to run Android apps — was supposed to arrive in April, but there hasn’t been a peep about its delay. But today, Chrome product direct Kan Liu told The Verge that the laptop should be available to purchase on May 28th.

Liu dropped more details about what to expect. For starters, the Play Store unfortunately will not quite be out of beta as promised. An official statement we received from Google confirms this: “We aren’t quite ready to bring the Play Store out of Beta. We’re still hard at work improving the experience of Android Apps on Chromebooks before we make the Play Store more widely available.”

He described it as “80 percent” ready to go for most users and said the best use case will be for people who just need an app or two that otherwise doesn’t work with Chrome OS. And while the Chromebook Pro will run Android Nougat, it won’t have some advanced multitasking features like split-screen, resizing, docking apps to the side of the screen when it launches. Liu said that the remaining work will involve getting the interplay of Chrome OS and Android to work well for people looking to push apps harder than average user.

Those features should show up eventually — because Chrome OS is on a six-week update cycle, the team will be able to start integrating some Android features quicker than we might have expected. “For things that makes sense on this form-factor — APIs and features that we think are important for our users — we’re going to be pulling stuff in whenever it’s ready,” Liu told The Verge.

The last tidbit here is that Samsung had to do some hardware redesigning to get the Chromebook Pro. That’s actually good news, because a prototype version of that computer I tested in February definitely did not feel ready for prime time. With improvements to both the software and hardware coming before the Chromebook Pro finally launches in a few weeks, I’m hoping it’ll live up to the promise it first showed when we tried it back at CES. Even if the Play Store is still in beta.

For all the latest news and updates from Google I/O 2017, follow along here.

Source: The Verge

Panasonic’s Toughbook 33 is designed for extreme field work

Let’s be real: The computers we use in our daily lives are too flimsy for seriously harsh environments like war zones or construction sites. For those who need machines that can survive those situations, Panasonic has the Toughbook range of rugged devices. The latest in the series — the Toughbook 33 — is a tablet that attaches to a keyboard, and it’s the most full-featured of its kind. Not only is it the “first fully rugged product” to use a 3:2 screen ratio for business applications (more on why that is important later), it also offers a comprehensive array of tools that will support workers in even the most extreme environments.

Panasonic touts the new 3:2 screen ratio as a very important benefit. With the height gained, people don’t need to scroll as much to get to crucial information that may be nearer the bottom of a page, such as an address, phone number or mission objectives. This saves precious time for those who are responding to urgent or emergency situations. During a recent demo, I found the 12-inch screen easy to read, although I wish it delivered punchier colors. Still, with a 2K resolution, it’s a perfectly functional display that Panasonic designed to be touch-responsive even when it’s wet or you’re wearing gloves.

I was concerned that the Toughbook 33’s dated, bulky design meant it was slower than the latest devices on the market, but its performance was on par when I used it to browse a few web pages or type some short sentences. That’s likely because it uses the newest (7th-gen) Intel Core i5 (or i7) processor with 8GB (or 16GB) of RAM and a 256GB (or 512GB) SSD for smooth multitasking, which is important when you’re dealing with critical situations or deadlines.

For work that is less time-sensitive (but just as important), the Toughbook 33 also offers plenty of helpful features. In addition to USB 3.0, microSD, HDMI, Ethernet, audio and nano-SIM ports, the tablet itself also has an optional serial socket. This lets operators connect to older devices like stop lights to run diagnostics or configuration programs. The Toughbook also has two cameras — an 8-megapixel one on the rear for onsite photography, and an infrared 1080p setup around the front that’s compatible with Windows Hello for secure and convenient logins — even in the dark.

You can choose to add one other slot to a bay at the top of the tablet, such as a fingerprint scanner, a barcode reader, another camera or an insertable smart card reader for secure credit-card scanning. There are also five physical buttons below the screen for volume control and accessing the home screen, as well as two that can be customized to launch apps or macro actions (such as repetitive automated tasks like adding a value to a new spreadsheet row). Panasonic also throws in a Wacom-made digitizer that stows away on the tablet, so you can mark up documents or scribble sketches on the go. And in case this exhaustive list wasn’t enough, there’s an SD card reader, HDMI port, VGA connection, Ethernet, serial port plus three more USB sockets on the companion keyboard.

At 3 pounds each, the keyboard and tablet weigh a whopping 6 pounds together. To make lugging that hefty combination easier, Panasonic built in a sturdy handle that you can pull out from the back of the hinge connecting the Toughbook 33 to its keyboard. I was able to comfortably tote the device by this handle for about a minute before my weak spindly arms started wobbling — it’s certainly not for the average consumer.

To keep all these tools working in harsh environments, the Toughbook is designed to meet MIL-STD-810G military standards for durability and is rated IP65 for water- and dust-resistance. The magnesium alloy body and rubbery elastomer edges certainly felt impenetrable when I played with it. Panasonic says it chose the magnesium alloy as it helps dissipate heat. Still, the Toughbook 33 uses a heat-piping system throughout the machine to keep it cool.

Under the protective case are slots for the two batteries that power the Toughbook 33, which can last for up to 10 hours altogether. The device will get energy from them simultaneously, switching seamlessly to the other pack when the first is depleted. Indicator lights will show when each is empty, so you can hot-swap it out without stopping what you’re working on.

At $4,099 for the tablet and keyboard, the Toughbook 33 is a big investment that Panasonic says its customers can expect to last between five and seven years. Its hefty price tag and footprint aren’t for everyone, but for those who need a two-in-one that can do it all in environments as extreme as war zones, the Toughbook 33 looks to be a capable and uncompromising device.

Uber is ready to help truck drivers find cargo

Last year, Uber’s interest in the shipping and trucking industry started to take shape with the (now controversial) purchase of Otto. A few months later, reports started swirling that Uber would be creating a platform to connect drivers with cargo in the same way it currently connects drivers with passengers. That service, simply called Uber Freight, officially launched this week.

Like Uber did for the cab industry, Uber Freight is meant to upend and streamline the currently arduous process that goes into packing a truck for shipment. Currently truck drivers rely on a broker or other service to negotiate rates and book cargo. In Uber Freight, drivers that are vetted and approved by the service can find cargo nearby, along with the shipping distance and payment info. Drivers simply tap to accept the job and navigate to the pickup. The company also promises to eliminate payment headaches, by paying “within a few days, fee free” rather than the usual billing cycles that can be 30 days or more. Drivers can also get compensated for layovers or time spent waiting to load shipments.

While Uber is positioning this as a win for truckers and small business owners, their real competition will come from Amazon. The online retail giant is developing its own trucking app to help eliminate the costs associated with third party freight brokers. As a major shipper, Amazon is also working on oceanic freight and optimizing air cargo loads to keep costs down. Uber, meanwhile, will eventually try to eliminate drivers altogether. That reality could still be years away, but Otto’s self-driving truck has already made an autonomous beer run in Colorado, even though the company claims their LiDAR system still needs some work.

In the meantime, drivers can download the Uber Freight app for Android and iOS.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Uber Freight

Vevo Debuts Revamped Apple TV App With Curated Playlists and Video Previews

Music video hosting service Vevo today introduced a revamped Apple TV app that has been fully redesigned with a simpler interface that’s easier to navigate and a new focus on personalization and curation, both of which Vevo hopes will draw in more users.

Vevo’s new design brings videos and playlists front and center, with the aim of providing an immersive video watching experience as soon as the app is opened.

A new “peek-inside-playlist” feature lets users browse through content while listening to playlists, artist stations, or videos, and as the app is used, it will learn more about each user, offering up personalized content that can then be further customized by adding videos to a playlist or favorites section.

Users can choose from a variety of curated artist stations that match tastes and moods, and there’s programming curated by an in-house editorial team that’s designed for different times of the day, big events, and holidays. All playlist content is also localized by genre and market, and there’s a genres section for browsing top videos, trending artists, and most recent playlists in each genre.

“Music videos became a cultural phenomenon through the power and reach of television over the last thirty years,” said Erik Huggers, CEO, Vevo. “In recent years, this platform has lacked the rich and immersive experience that a new generation of viewers demand from their connected devices. With Vevo for tvOS, we’ve created an environment that allows the music video to shine once again on the big screen, with an intuitive user interface and new levels of personalization and control.”

The new Vevo Apple TV app will be available starting on Friday, May 19.

Tag: Vevo
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