Google makes it easier for Pixel owners to change Assistant's settings

You used to have to dig through your Google Account settings to get access to the settings for Assistant. But that's about to change. The latest beta version of the Google app (version 10.53.3) will make it easier to access Assistant's settings. Open Settings in the app and go to Apps & notifications. There are toggles for pulling up Google Assistant (either by a Hey Google call-out or through squeezing the sides of the phone). Below that is a one-tap link to all Assistant options in the Google Account settings. If you're a Pixel user, expect this to head your way soon.

Source: Android Police

This new Gmail feature will prevent you from sending an email to someone who is out of office

Google business suite users are getting a new Gmail feature that will stop them from disturbing someone on vacation, or at least manage expectations of when their recipient will get back to them. Gmail and Hangouts Chat will display a warning banner at the bottom of the email compose panel or chat window that informs you that the recipient has an out of office entry in their calendar. It also lets you know when they'll come back. G Suite users are the only ones getting this feature, but it's designed for them. It's rolling out over the next few weeks, and it will be enabled automatically.

Source: Engadget

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 ECG and Fall Detection features expected to land in the US in Q1 2020

The features that will boost the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 as an Apple Watch competitor might be on the horizon, at least in the US. The smartwatch's ECG and Afib notifications, as well as Fall Detection, are awaiting FDA approval. A new report from SamMobile gives a rough timeline when Samsung might be able to roll out the features. Both the ECG and Fall Detection are expected to come in the first quarter of 2020. The former will be around February 2020, while Fall Detection will get a "much wider roll out" at some point in the first quarter of next year. The rollout of these features rely on passing local regulations, so we can't say yet if and when it'll make its way here. 

The Galaxy Watch Active 2 Bluetooth edition is available for pre-order now with a starting price of $369.99. You can pre-order at Samsung stores, on the company's site, or at major retailers. For every pre-order made until September 24th, Samsung will offer a bonus Wireless Battery Pack (which usually retails for $79.99). The LTE edition, on the other hand, will be available for pre-order starting September 27th.

Facebook considers hiding likes in its app

Similar to an experiment it's doing on Instagram, Facebook is considering removing the number of likes a post gets to break the fixation its users have with garnering likes on their posts. App researcher Jane Manchun Wong discovered that Facebook is testing this change in its Android app. Facebook confirmed that it's considering testing the removal of likes on posts. Whether this becomes an actual feature available to all users isn't known yet. Even Instagram hasn't fully rolled out the feature to all users.

If implemented though, Facebook posts will no longer show the number of likes or reactions to a post. The user who posted will still see a list of people and their reactions, but the number won't be displayed. Wong also noted that the likes and reactions on comments are still viewable even with the feature turned on.

Source: CNET