Facebook brings group calling to Messenger

Aside from being able to make free voice calls over at Facebook Messenger, the app now has group VoIP calls from its Android and iOS apps. All you need to do to start a group call is head over to a group you want to talk to and tap the phone icon. From there, select which members of the group you want to include. You can have up to 50 friends on the same call. It’s a simple feature that might be useful for some. It’s rolled out globally to both platforms today.

Source: Lifehacker + The Verge | Download: Google Play Store (Free) + iTunes App Store (Free)

Pictar camera grip interacts with your iPhone via ultrasonic waves

Feeling a bit envious about the LG G5 Friends camera module? A new Kickstarter project by Miggo hopes to recreate that experience with its Pictar accessory. The $90 USD accessory attaches to the back of your iPhone to give you physical buttons and a better hold on your phone when you shoot. Instead of Bluetooth, it connects to your phone using ultrasonic waves. It’ll emit an ultrasonic sound every time you press one of the buttons and this will be picked up by the iPhone’s mic. You’ll need to be using Pictar’s app to get this to work though. The good thing about using ultrasonic noise is it won’t drain your iPhone’s battery life and the case’s own juice at a faster rate. But we’re not sure how it’ll work in noisy environments. If you plan on getting one, Miggo plans to ship the Pictar by the end of the year.

Source: The Verge

Microsoft stops making Xbox 360 consoles

Microsoft has announced that the 10 year run of the XBox 360 console has come to an end. The company announced that they will stop manufacturing the Xbox 360.

“Xbox 360 means a lot to everyone in Microsoft,” Head of Xbox Phil Spencer notes in a post to the Xbox Wire blog. “And while we’ve had an amazing run, the realities of manufacturing a product over a decade old are starting to creep up on us. Which is why we have made the decision to stop manufacturing new Xbox 360 consoles. We will continue to sell existing inventory of Xbox 360 consoles, with availability varying by country.”

XBox 360 was kept on despite the existence of the XBox One which suffered from weaker sales when compared to the PS4. With a newer, smaller XBox One expected to be announced at E3. Microsoft will continue to support XBox Live, 4,000 game titles are available for the now classic console, hardware will continue to be supported indefinitely and various Xbox 360 games are now compatible with Xbox One. Read more about it here.

Source: Thurrott.com

BMO launches “Next Big Idea in Fintech” with the DMZ at Ryerson University

Around the world, financial services technology is evolving rapidly and the pace of change is accelerating.  Canada has become a leading source of new ideas, and BMO Financial Group wants to ensure that the next big idea gets the support it needs to make it a reality and benefit Canadian consumers.

 BMO today announced a partnership with the DMZ at Ryerson University that will help identify those innovative minds that will create these new technologies, and then provide support to their start-up enterprises.

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