Reservations get collaborative with OpenTable's bot for Facebook Messenger

OpenTable, the world’s leading provider of online restaurant reservations and part of the Priceline Group, is introducing a new way for diners to search and make restaurant reservations directly through Facebook Messenger.

With OpenTable’s bot for Messenger, diners around the globe can make reservations at more than 40,000 restaurants worldwide directly from within Messenger through the new Chat Extensions feature.

OpenTable’s bot for Messenger makes planning a meal with friends even easier by enabling diners to search and suggest available restaurants to friends as well as make reservations through the bot without leaving Messenger. It’s an easy, collaborative way to pick the perfect spot for a friend’s birthday dinner, a special occasion or an upcoming trip.  

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Instagram announces Android to get offline mode

Reaching out to Instagram users with limited network connectivity or those without data plans, the social network is bringing offline support for its Android app as announced at Facebook's F8 developer conference. They started with Android first as it’s considered the preferred type of device in the developing world. According to Tech Crunch, Instagram is exploring the possibility of bringing it to iOS, too.

In offline mode, you will be able to see previously loaded content in your feed, profiles you visited before and old versions of the Explore tab will be visible, too. You’ll be able to leave comments, like photos, unfollow people, or save media. All these actions will then be carried over once you reconnect.

Microsoft does away with passwords, employs new phone-based login system

You might no longer need to sign into your Microsoft account with a password anymore. Microsoft launched a new Authenticator app that does away with passwords and its place makes use of a new sign-in feature via your smartphone. Once you have it set up, the app, which is available on iOS, Android, and Windows Phone, makes use of your mobile device to confirm your identity. When you need to sign into your Microsoft account somewhere on desktop, you just need to type in your username and then you’ll receive a notification on your phone to approve the login. Simply tap approve and you’re signed in. Aside from preventing unauthorized login attempts, the app can also provide unique code that works as second authentication factor for OAuth logins.

Source: Engadget

Google Search and Newsstand now has real-time NBA and NHL updates

Google is making it easier for you to keep up with your favorite NBA and NHL teams with the latest update to its Google Play Newsstand and Google Search apps. From Newsstand, you’ll be able to see dedicated NBA and Stanley Cup Playoffs sections. There you’ll get play-by-play information as well as other local and national news about the sports. Now if you don’t want to use Newsstand, you can simply go to Google Search. The updates will be displayed in Google’s “Knowledge Panels” so you can check everything there.

Source: Android Authority