Android Go gets a new Camera Go app

Android Go is getting a much-requested feature: a better camera app. As the platform reaches 100 million active users worldwide, Android announced that the new Camera Go app will be available starting with the new Nokia 1.3 phone, which launched in 28 countries.

The new Camera Go app brings a simplified interface along with the Google-developed portrait mode, which the company boasts is a first for the segment, especially since the feature can work on phones that cost around US$50 to $60 (around CA$72 to $86).

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Netflix has a US$100 million fund to provide support for its creators during COVID-19

Photo courtesy of Netflix

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many TV and movie productions have shut down. The necessary move affects services like Netflix, who need a steady stream of shows as well as the productions that rely on Netflix for their livelihoods. That's why the streaming service created a US$100 million fund for the workers in the creative field—from actors to set crews. The majority of the money will be given to the "hardest hit" staffers of its original shows. Around US$15 million of the fund will be given to third-party organizations and non-profits that are helping combat the pandemic (like SAG-AFTRA's COVID-19 Disaster Fund and the Actors Fund Emergency Assistance).

How Netflix plans to divide the amount changes "production by production." The company previously promised two weeks of pay promised to productions that stopped work last week. While it's great for the streaming service to help out, Netflix also needs this for their future. With smaller productions who possibly can't afford the work stoppage, this ensures that they will be able to continue working in the future.

Source: Engadget

Snapchat introduces its mental health-related feature earlier than expected due to COVID-19

Snap Inc. is hoping to somewhat help during this global COVID-19 pandemic by offering its Here For You feature earlier than its intended release. Announced earlier this year to mark Safer Internet Day, Snapchat's Here For You function is designed to direct users to mental health-related resources. In a company blog post released in February, it was supposed to roll out "in the coming months" to "show safety resources from local experts when Snapchatters search for certain topics, including those related to anxiety, depression, stress, grief, suicidal thoughts, and bullying." 

But with the toll that the novel coronavirus has taken on both our physical and mental health, Snap Inc. has opted to release the feature earlier than its intended April release date. So, Snapchat users who search for the terms "coronavirus" and "COVID-19" should surface important and verified information from partners like "the Ad Council, World Health Organization, the CDC, Crisis Text Line, NHS, and other partners who are creating content on anxiety specifically related to coronavirus." According to an email to Mashable, the feature is expected to roll out next week. 

Google Assistant helps you wash your hands the proper way

Photo by Burst from Pexels

Since one of the most basic ways to help defend against fatal contagions is washing your hands, Google partners with the World Health Organization to help you do it properly. A new Google Assistant command will play an instructional song that follows the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" for 40 seconds. The time is the minimum duration that WHO recommends you wash your hands to remove the germs off your hands.

The command is designed to work with all devices that support Google Assistant. On mobile, it'll even display lyrics, while on smart displays like the Nest Hub, there's a graphic of soap bubbles that appear.

Source: Gizmodo