Google Assistant finally launches on Android TV, starting with the NVIDIA Shield

It’s better late than never.

Google has announced that Google Assistant is finally making its way to Android TVs, starting with the NVIDIA Shield Android TV. The AI platform seems to be available just about everywhere else in the home, but having Assistant on the biggest screen in your home is a great way to experience its power.

The feature set for Assistant on Android TV is the same as what was first teased back in January at CES — which is, it’s basically what you’ve experienced on other platforms, plus a few TV-specific tweaks. You can ask general knowledge questions and have the answers displayed on screen, search YouTube, play music, ask for specific content in certain apps like Netflix or HBO, ask for photos from Google Photos, control smart home devices, get travel time information and so much more.

A few months later than expected, but it’s great to see Assistant expand.

Basically, Assistant on your Android TV will be closer to the full-featured version that’s offered on your phone, with the typical limitations of being a stationary device like you may be used to on Google Home. That’s good to see considering how long we had to wait for it to arrive, and considering the high power of the Shield Android TV and a stable home internet connection it should be a great experience.

Though today’s announcement talks about Assistant arriving on Android TVs as a whole, the first hardware to get the service will be the NVIDIA Shield Android TV. If you have one, you’ll be able to grab a (rather large) update starting today. Google specifically notes that Sony’s Android TV-powered Bravia TVs will get it “in the coming months” but makes no note of a time frame for other Android TV devices other than the previously known detail that it has to be running Marshmallow or later.

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It’s September 2017, and the Moto X Pure Edition just got Android 7.0

The Moto X Pure Edition is finally being updated to Android 7.0 Nougat in the U.S., but does it really matter?

Android 8.0 Oreo has been out in the wild for a little over a month now, and since its public release, we’ve seen the update steadily making its way to more and more devices across the board. Motorola recently started pushing out a new software updated to the Moto X Pure Edition, but rather than update the phone to Android 8.0 Oreo, the company has decided to release 7.0 Nougat instead.

Software updates are usually something to get excited about, but this is a perfect example of why Motorola need to seriously improve on its software game.

First thing’s first, the Nougat update that’s being released in 7.0, not the newer 7.1. Motorola announced that Nougat was finally in the works for the Moto X Pure Edition by releasing the kernel source at the beginning of August, but this is the first time we’ve ever actually seen reports of it being released to users in the U.S. Furthermore, according to some users on Twitter, this is the first software update the Moto X has seen in over a year. In other words, the phone hasn’t received a single security update since September 2016. Taking a long time to push out new features is one thing, but leaving your devices vulnerable with security patches that are over a year old is in a league of its own.

No security updates for over a year is unacceptable on Motorola’s part

Motorola’s track record for software updates as of late has been anything but great, and while it is nice to see an update finally make its way to the Moto X Pure Edition, this is too little too late in our eyes.

Lenovo-owned Motorola has been consistent in releasing countless new devices throughout 2017, but it seems obvious that this is having a pretty direct impact on speed and availability of new software for existing devices. Owners of the Moto X Pure Edition are likely pretty excited about the arrival of 7.0 Nougat on their phone, and while they should be, you won’t hear me praising Motorola for releasing a 13-month-old update that should have been here ages ago.

Will my phone get Android Oreo?

Huawei Mediapad M3 Lite vs. Huawei Mediapad T3: Which should you buy?

The M3 Lite is the superior tablet, but not by much.

When it comes to size, dimensions, and even battery capacity, the Huawei Mediapad M3 Lite and Mediapad T3 are quite similar. But there are some differences we want to highlight, and help you decide which one to buy if you’re looking for an inexpensive Android tablet!

Both models come in affordable 8-inch and 10-inch models — the former in a portrait orientation and the latter in landscape. We’ve compared these two tablets in both sizes, and the M3 comes out on top thanks to its additional features. Check out all the details on how we made our decision below!

8-inch Mediapad M3 Lite vs. Mediapad T3 specs comparison

10-inch Mediapad M3 Lite vs. Mediapad T3 specs comparison

Where they’re the same

Both the Huawei Mediapas M3 Lite and the Mediapad T3 are pretty solid devices, and while they are definitely more different than the same, they do share a few aesthetic qualities. For the 8-inch version, from the outside, these two tablets look strikingly similar.

They also both share a hefty 4800 mAh battery. This is a battery that will easily keep you going through a few days of use and means you’ll have plenty of time between charges for gaming, or watching your favorite shows on Netflix.

How they’re different

While these two tablets certainly look alike, they differ under the hood. The Mediapad M3 Lite just manages to pull ahead by virtue of solid features that outstrip the Mediapad T3 little by little.

The Mediapad M3 Lite has the better screen resolution at 1920×1200 pixels compared to the Mediapad T3’s less dense 1280×720 pixels. The Mediapad M3 Lite is available in 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB sizes, while the Mediapad T3 is only available in 16GB and 32GB. The Mediapad M3 also wins out with an octa-core Snapdragon 435 processor against the Mediapad T3’s Snapdragon 425 quad-core, and the Mediapad M3 also has more RAM in every size.

None of these differences are major on their own, but with so many features in the Mediapad M3’s favor, it’s hard to argue that it isn’t the superior device. Especially when you consider that the Mediapad M3 Lite is available for $169 which is only $50 dollars more than the Mediapad T3’s $119 price tag.

See Mediapad M3 Lite at Amazon See Mediapad T3 at Amazon

Size makes a difference

While the 8-inch version of the Mediapad M3 Lite and the Mediapad T3 are very similar in a few aspects, that starts to change with the 10-inch version. Not in terms of design, where they still share a similar look, but from dimensions to the battery, they are quite different.

The Mediapad M3 Lite comes out ahead in every category. It’s a tiny bit larger, has the superior screen resolution, rocks more RAM at every level, and is available in 64GB. The biggest difference is the battery that the Mediapad M3 Lite is using, it’s packing a 6660mAh battery that will keep you going from the beach on vacation all the way home.

Of course, the bigger battery and larger size do come with a price jump. The Mediapad M3 Lite is available for $219, which is a $50 price bump from the smaller size. The T3 also jumps up to $159, which is a $40 bump in price.

Once again, the Mediapad M3 Lite manages to win out by virtue of the features it packs under the hood. The massive battery on top of a great processor and larger screen with a better resolution lets it whomp the Mediapad T3, even though it’s the pricier of the two.

See M3 Lite 10 at AmazonSee T3 10 at Amazon

Which is your favorite?

Do you agree that the M3 Lite is the better tablet? Do you think we should have given the T3 another chance? Let us know about it in the comments below!

Spread better Wi-Fi through your home with Luna’s refurb 3-pack for $200

Mesh Wi-Fi systems are all the rage these days, and there is a good reason for it. If you live in a large home or have ever struggled with maintaining a solid connection across your unusually shaped home, trying to fix the issues could turn out to be quite a pain. Those pains have since been alleviated, and getting a solid connection across your house only takes a few minutes to get set up.

Woot, through Amazon, is currently offering a one-day discount on a refurbished 3-pack of Luna’s Wi-Fi routers for $199.99. This system sells brand new for right around $270. You can find it for a little cheaper from some sellers on eBay, but the quantities are very limited.

Setting these up is pretty simple. Just unbox them, plug them in, and get started using the iPhone or Android app. Once all set up, you’ll be able to enable parental controls, see what’s happening on your network at a glance, and even pause the internet with just a single tap.

This price is only good for one day, so don’t wait too long to get your order in.

See at Amazon

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Google reportedly working on a premium Google Home with stereo speakers

The Google Home Max is expected to offer a more premium design and higher-end audio, but we aren’t entirely sure when it’ll be released.

Amazon had a field day yesterday with a slew of new Alexa-enabled smart gadgets. And while all of that new tech admittedly looks quite nice, Google is also expected to release some new Google Assistant hardware in just a few days.

We’ve already seen images of the Google Home Mini that should be announced alongside the Pixel 2 next week, and a new report now suggests that Google is also working on a Google Home Max.

Where the Mini is a smaller and cheaper version of the regular Google Home, the Max (name not final) is expected to be a higher-end model with a premium design and better audio quality. The Google Home Max should come equipped with stereo speakers, and along with this, we can also expect two mid-range drivers and possibly a tweeter for powerful and punchy tunes.

A source familiar with the Max says that the gadget was shown off by Google to a focus group earlier in the year, and while this does suggest that the Max is well along in its development, there’s still no confirmation as to whether or not it will make an appearance at the Pixel 2 event on October 4.

We saw the Google Assistant make its way to a lot of third-party home speaker solutions at IFA in August, and while some of these will likely offer a better audio experience than the current Google Home, we’re still very interested to see what a high-end version of the Home from Google itself will look like.

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• Google Home review
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YouTube TV now works on Android tablets

You can now download YouTube TV on Android tablets, but where’s our Android TV app?

YouTube TV is one of the many Internet-based services aimed at stealing people away from traditional cable and satellite television solutions in favor of something that’s more hassle-free and easier to use, and in its latest update, Google has announced that the YouTube TV app can now be downloaded and used on Android tablets.

Prior to this change, YouTube TV could only be downloaded onto smartphones. The ability to cast YouTube TV to a Chromecast or Android TV box/television allowed for easily getting your content on a bigger canvas, but the new support for tablets means that you can now have extra screen real estate when browsing through all of your channels to find the perfect show to watch.

The expansion to tablets is a nice move, but it’s still odd that we’ve yet to see an official YouTube TV app for Android TV. Google Assistant just made its way to the NVIDIA Shield ahead of the Android 8.0 Oreo update that’s yet to land for any boxes or TVs other than the Nexus Player, so while it’s obvious that Android TV may not be Google’s biggest priority at the moment, a YouTube TV app for the platform still feels overdue at this point.

YouTube TV is still only available in select markets, but its rapid expansion has introduced it to quite a few more areas since its initial launch.

If you happen to live in one of the markets that YouTube TV is supported, you can sign up for $35/month and get access to a variety of channels, DVR support, and account access for up to 6 people. For even more information, check out our full guide.

YouTube TV: Everything you need to know!

Worldwide flight delays caused by glitchy check-in system

Passengers around the world have been enduring long delays thanks to a glitchy passenger reservation system, passengers, airlines and airports are reporting. Airports as far flung as London’s Gatwick, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Melbourne and Baltimore Washington have all reported issues. According to Gatwick, it was caused by a problem with Amadeus Altea, a passenger management system used by 125 airlines. That company confirmed that it’s having a “network issue,” according to the BBC, but has started restoring services.

Such network problems are not at all unusual, but they’re usually confined to specific airlines and airports. Today’s outage, by contrast, has seemingly affected airports and airlines on at least four different continents.

Computer problems with @Lufthansa check-in computers. Flights delayed, at least out of TXL.

Glad I checked-in on the Lufthansa app! #travel

— Les Jordan (@ljrdn3) September 28, 2017

Passenger @ljrdn3, for instance, reported problems at Berlin Tegal, saying that Lufthansa flights were delayed. Another, @msmith_ky, said that “all of the computers at DCA Southwest Air terminal are down.” In response, Southwest indicated that “we should be back up and running very shortly.”

So far, airlines affected include at least Air France, Southwest, China Air, Qantas, Korean Air, Lufthansa and British Airways, according to CNN Money. Affected airports other than those mentioned are Incheon, Seoul, Haneda Tokyo, Frankfurt, Zurich, Heathrow, Reagan National.

“Amadeus technical teams took immediate action to identify the cause of the issue and restore services as quickly as possible,” a spokesman for Amadeus said. “That action is ongoing with services gradually being restored.”

Source: BBC, CNN Money

Facebook wants to simplify blood donor searches in India

Facebook is lending a hand to help solve India’s safe blood shortage. Its solution is to leverage its popular social network to put people in touch with blood donors. Starting in October, users in India will be able to sign up to become donors via their profile or by clicking on a designated promo message on the News Feed. The tool will ask you to submit info, such as your blood type and whether you’ve donated blood before. Facebook promises to keep your details private, but you can choose to share a simple donor status with others on the timeline.

Going one step further, the company will also make it easier for donors to connect with institutions and individuals in need of blood. Pages and users alike will be able to share special posts in order to make requests. Facebook will then automatically notify nearby donors to get involved or help spread the word. After reviewing the post, donors will be able to respond to the request directly through WhatsApp, Messenger, or a phone call. Again, user info will be hidden from the person seeking blood, unless you choose to provide your details. The company seems to be aping Google’s mobile-first approach to the region, as the tool is only available on Android and the mobile web for now.

The feature falls in line with Facebook’s global safety efforts. And, like its “crisis response” assistance tool (which connects victims of disasters with locals offering aid), it adds a humanitarian element to its response mechanisms. Along with its Safety Check option — that lets users mark themselves as safe after a major local incident — they form part of the always-on crisis hub that serves its global community. Therefore, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if the blood donation tool gets integrated into the platform’s overarching safety system. And, if it proves effective, Facebook may even decide to roll it out elsewhere in the future.

Source: Facebook

Equifax to launch a free lifetime credit lock service

Equifax’s new chief knows it’ll take a lot of effort to make people trust the credit reporting agency again. He started by penning a letter of apology published by The Wall Street Journal, wherein he admitted that the company wasn’t able to live up to people’s expectations. Equifax was hacked, he wrote — its website “did not function as it should have,” and its “call center couldn’t manage the volume of calls” the company received after the security breach was made public. The interim CEO has also revealed that Equifax will launch a new service on January 31st that will give you the power to lock and unlock your credit anytime. Best thing about the offer? It will be free for life to all its customers in the US.

Equifax suffered one of the biggest security breaches in history earlier this year, putting info for 143 million US citizens at risk. Turns out the attackers exploited a known flaw in the company’s server that it should’ve patched. As a result of the massive breach, Equifax CEO and chairman of the board Richard Smith stepped down, and the firm appointed Paulino do Rego Barros, Jr. as interim CEO. Barros was the one who wrote the apology letter.

In addition to launching the new credit lock service, Barros said Equifax will also extend the sign-up window for a free credit freeze until the end of January. The company will also offer its credit monitoring service for free until January 31st.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Uber’s former self-driving lead is creating an AI religion

In a development that wouldn’t be out of place in a Black Mirror episode, we could soon be worshipping an artificially intelligent god figure. And this isn’t a satirical take on our existing roles as disciples of social media, or the transcendental joy we feel when an Uber Eats delivery arrives. According to state filings uncovered by Wired, in September 2015 disgraced engineer Anthony Levandowski established a non-profit religious corporation called Way of the Future. Its mission: “To develop and promote the realization of a Godhead based on artificial intelligence and through understanding and worship of the Godhead contribute to the betterment of society.” In the last two months alone we’ve seen robots perform funeral ceremonies and AI chips mimic the human brain — could a Deus ex Machina really be that far behind?

The organization hasn’t responded to requests for further information about its activity, but a quick look at Levandowski’s resume shows that he’d be a strong contender for divine leadership within an AI-driven faith. He was co-founder of autonomous trucking company Otto, which was bought by Uber in 2016, and he played a pivotal role at Google in developing the self-driving cars that are already on the roads in some parts of the US. Still, his work brings us ever closer to the Singularity — the so-called day when machines overtake humans in intelligence and life as we know it goes to pot — so maybe Way of the Future is Levandowski’s way of making sure he’s got the computers on side when that day comes.

Via: Wired