Google Meet adds breakout rooms to allow smaller group discussions

Source: Google

Online classes with tons of students can be overwhelming for both the learners and the teachers, especially when you want to encourage interaction. Google hopes to help out by rolling out breakout rooms for its Meet app. It's rolling out first to Enterprise for Education customers, but it will be available to more users later this year. This highly requested feature will let educators divide participants into smaller groups. Moderators can create up to 100 breakout rooms, with participants randomly and evenly distributed across rooms. But the organizers can move participants around manually, too. Teachers and moderators can jump from one breakout room to another to supervise or join discussions. 

Source: Engadget

Apple to ship orders from stores for some Canadian, American customers

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Apple will be making it easier and quicker for some customers in Canada and the US by shopping directly from its retail outlets. The company usually ships from distribution centres or straight from China. But now, those who live near Apple Stores could get their purchases from the nearby retailer. You won't get to choose where your order will come from, though. Apple's operations team will make the decision, and they will only ship to locations within 100 miles from an Apple Store.

In Canada, Apple will ship through United Parcel Service Inc., and you can receive your order as early as the next day. Apple began testing this new program when it started re-opening stores following the COVID-19 shutdown. It's not available at all its locations yet. This program can help keep stores operational even if they aren't open because of the pandemic. Apple reportedly told staff they could reduce costs and potentially increase profit margins with this practice.

Source: Engadget

Canadian Reviewer Weekly Roundup – 10/4 – 10/10

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Facebook Portal devices get support for Netflix, Zoom 

Health Records on iPhone is now available in Canada 

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OnePlus 8T's low-light camera performance gets teased 

Netflix Canada to raise prices for standard, premium plans 

Apple extends free trial for some of its TV+ users 

Google tipped to launch a cheaper Nest Thermostat with gesture controls 

Instagram Reels tries to catch up with TikTok with new audio features 

Pixar's 'Soul' will head to Disney+ on Christmas Day

COVID-19 has affected everyday life, including going to cinemas. And so, Disney is adapting some of its releases to reach audiences who still aren't comfortable visiting movie theatres these days. Its new Pixar film Soul will be released exclusively on Disney+ on December 25 in markets where the streaming service is available. 

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