Fitbit's smartwatches now add quick reply functionality

One of the limitations of Fitbit devices is that they can receive notifications but while you can see a message and the sender, these aren't actionable. That's changing today with a new update which will allow quick replies. These will now have five preset responses as well as the ability to create a response provided it is under 60 characters in length. 

Fitbit's Ionic and Versa smart watches also have compatibility with Dexcom's app for Blood Glucose monitors, further expanding the focus on deeper health tracking functionality.

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Google Assistant now compatible with over 5,000 devices

Google's voice-powered assistant is now compatible with 5,000 devices. Showing that Google is growing its ecosystem to compete with Amazon's Alexa, which is has 12,000 can work with smart home devices from over 2,000 brands. Google Assistant can be accessed using smartphones, Google Home smart speakers, Wear OS devices and Chromebooks.

“Over the past year, we’ve made great progress ensuring that the Google Assistant can work with all types of connected devices, and now every major device brand works with the Assistant in the U.S.,” Google’s Michele Turner writes. She notes that the smart devices with which Google Assistant is compatible include “cameras, dishwashers, doorbells, dryers, lights, plugs, thermostats, security systems, switches, vacuums, washers, fans, locks, sensors, heaters, AC units, air purifiers, refrigerators, ovens [and more].”

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Downloading podcasts for offline listening is now live in the Google app

We reported late last month that searching and listening to podcasts is now an easier affair using Google app. We mentioned then that you could download episodes for offline listening but it wasn’t live yet at the time. That changes now as the said feature is live. Aside from being able to download episodes, you can set automatic removal of the downloaded shows, whether you listened to the episodes or not. By default, completed episodes will be removed after 24 hours and unfinished ones will be taken out after 30 days. You can extend the former to seven days and the latter to 90 days. Or if you’d rather keep episodes with you, you can turn off this option.

Source: Android Police

‘Avengers: Infinity War’ is the fastest movie to hit US$1 billion mark

Marvel Studios’ most colossal film yet has made history books by becoming the fastest movie to cross the US$1 billion mark in global box office sales this weekend. Disney confirmed the film posted an estimated $275 million in movie ticket sales around the world for its second weekend in theatres. This puts the total global ticket sales at $1.16 billion. The film has now bested 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, which earned $1.15 billion. It also recently broke another Disney franchise’s record. It earned $250 million in the US on its opening weekend, besting the $248 million opening weekend record of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Source: CNET