OnePlus, McLaren partnership comes to an end

Photo courtesy of Android Authority

Or in the words of a McLaren spokesperson, the partnership "came to its scheduled conclusion recently." There won't be any more McLaren-branded OnePlus phones in our immediate future. But it seems the automaker was satisfied with the partnership, calling it a "highly successful collaboration between two iconic and innovative brands." And it looks like they aren't saying there won't be possible collaborations in the future. According to their statement, "OnePlus has been a supportive, valued partner and we wish them well and hope to see them in the future."

The two companies started collaborating in 2018, and we've seen McLaren Edition models of the OnePlus 7T Pro and OnePlus 6T. And there was the OnePlus Concept One, which never got an official release beyond the prototype.

Source: Android Authority

Apple buys Waterloo-based Inductiv to improve Siri

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Apple's latest acquisition is seen as the company's attempt to improve its voice-activated assistant, Siri. The company bought Waterloo, Ontario-based Inductiv, but it won't elaborate on its plans, saying it "buys smaller technology companies from time to time." Inductiv specializes in using artificial intelligence to correct data and improve machine learning. According to Bloomberg, "clean data" is essential for machine learning because it allows the AI to enhance the software with "less human intervention." Apple also recently acquired Voysis, which reportedly will help develop Siri's natural language comprehension.

Inductiv was co-founded by machine-learning professors from the University of Waterloo, Stanford University, and the University of Wisconsin. But since the acquisition was recent, it might be a while to see what the effects will be on Siri.

Google's new Sodar AR tool helps enforce social distancing

While establishments try to help customers maintain social distancing, sometimes the markers and signs used aren't where they should be (like people can walk over them or get blown over). And so, Google released a new augmented reality-based tool called Sodar to mark what two metres away from you is like—this distance is the recommended minimum for social distancing. Sodar doesn't need an app to run; users just need to head to sodar.withgoogle.com or goo.gle/sodar in their Chrome browsers on their Android devices. Tap through different permission dialogues, and then the site will load the AR experience.

You need to give the tool a view of the ground to calibrate and give you a clear curved line of what two metres of space in all directions look like. It's not entirely accurate, though, so treat it as an estimation. You must know that it doesn't work on iOS and some Android devices. As Android Police points out, your phone might need to be ARCore-compatible. But if it does work on your device, it's a handy tool to have these days.

Xbox Series X is designed for backwards compatibility and inclusion

Microsoft's next generation console, the Xbox Series X will usher in a new era of console gaming that pushes the envelope in performance and graphics. It will also inherit a large library of games from previous consoles thanks to built-in bakcwards compatibility and an openness to retrofitting older titles. Jason Ronald, Partner Director of Program Management for the Xbox Platform Team, published an Xbox Wire post that details the Xbox team’s journey to make Xbox Series X the most compatible console ever, which required significant innovation in the design of the custom processor and Xbox operating system.

"Thousands of developers from across the globe are currently creating the next generation of transformative games, many of which can only be realized through the power and innovation of the Xbox Series X. Led by Halo Infinite, our 15 Xbox Game Studios teams are hard at work creating the biggest and best line up of exclusives in Xbox history. We are incredibly excited to show many of the new games in development for Xbox Series X soon," Ronald said in the post.

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