Roku brings Google Assistant, Alexa support to Canada

It's been well over a year since Roku brought Google Assistant and Alexa integration to its devices. Finally, Canadian Roku owners get the same privilege with version 9.3 update. The company says the update will be coming to select players in April, with all portable Roku players getting the update in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Roku TV owners have to wait for the update to roll out in the coming months. 

Roku devices do have a built-in voice search option, but the company just started out rolling out more natural command language here. So, you can say things like "I want to watch movies with Ryan Reynolds" and have the device understand what you're saying. Version 9.3 will bring voice control to other parts of the platform, allowing you to control media playback. And when you do get the update, you can link your TV to your smart speaker and ask it to turn your television on and off, control media playback, and swap inputs.

Source: MobileSyrup

Google won't be pulling April Fools' pranks this year

As what brands should be doing during this trying time, Google, who spends around 40% of its budget on April Fools' pranks, has wisely opted not to do it this year. Business Insider got their hands on an internal email that says Google will "take the year off from that tradition out of respect for all those fighting the COVID-19 pandemic." The company also asked that the teams not perform smaller ones themselves "internally or externally." You might think pranks are harmless, but now is not the best time to pull one.

Source: The Verge

'Cat Quest' is now free on mobile

If you're looking for a fun, cute role-playing game to play while staying at home, then you might want to try playing Cat Quest. The game is now available for free on Android and iOS. You play a cat who is on an adventure to save your sister. There are over 60 side quests, 60 dungeons, and around 15 hours of content. The game was first released back in 2017 by developer The Gentlebros and published by PQube.

Shaw offers free online lessons for kids during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has kept children from going to school to learn. Shaw hopes to do its part by offering some online learning lessons to help your kids keep up with their studies. The company is using an established education platform called EVERFI to bring these select learning games and lessons to kids between kindergarten and grade 12. You can check this initiative out over at this link.

This offer is part of the company's #ShawHelps campaign, which hopes to keep people connected, safe, and engaged during this crisis. The telecom company has already donated $1 million to food centres in Canada and offered free internet to low-income families, among other initiatives.

Source: MobileSyrup