Facebook tests out another Snapchat-like feature within its main app

Facebook seems so keen on taking Snapchat’s young audience as it keeps trying to replicate the app. This time instead of releasing a separate app, Facebook is trying out Snapchat-like features with the main app. Much like Snapchat, the app will now have a built-in camera with disappearing messages will be live for 24 hours. It has optional special effects, too. And you don’t even need to open Messenger to send these photos and videos to your Facebook friends. The test is currently only running in Ireland and there is no word yet if this’ll make it out of Ireland and past the testing phase.

Source: Recode

Barnes & Noble might be working on a new Nook tablet with Google Play Store support

It looks like Barnes & Noble hasn’t completely abandoned its Nook brand. But a device that recently passed through the FCC might point us in a different direction. What’s new with this “Nook Tablet 7” is it’ll run on Android and have Google Play Store available. Some of the other specs include MediaTek MTM8163 quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor with Mali-T720 MP2 graphics, 3,000mAh battery, front and rear cameras, microUSB port, and microSD card slot. No word yet on the price or its availability but perhaps we might see it before the holiday season goes into full swing.

Source: The Verge

Google Canada launches $5M prize to kickstart innovative nonprofits

“We want to make a better world, faster. That’s what this Challenge is designed to do,” said Sam Sebastian, Managing Director, Google Canada. “We have huge expectations for what Canada can deliver through the Google.org Impact Challenge."

Google announced today  that it is bringing the acclaimed Google.org Impact Challenge to Canada for the first time. Google.org Impact Challenge is a nationwide competition to find and fund the most innovative nonprofits that are using technology to make Canada and the world a better place. Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, will award $5 million across 10 organizations to help bring their ideas to life. Five winning organizations will receive $750,000 grants, and five additional finalists will receive $250,000.

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Microsoft Survey: Canadian business leaders are sleeping on security

A recent survey conducted by Northstar in behalf of Microsoft Canada reveals more than three-quarters of Canadian senior executives recogize that they're not fully prepared for a security breach. 

The survey, conducted by Northstar on behalf of Microsoft, asked more than 700 Canadian business leaders about digital transformation and found that 71 per cent of senior executives say implementing a digital strategy is one of their top five business objectives in 2017, with 68 per cent saying they are already harnessing the power of the cloud and 81 per cent stating that cloud solutions will play an important role in executing their digital strategy.

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