Alexa comes to Windows 10

Amazon just launched its Alexa app on Windows 10 and it’s now available on the Microsoft Store for all Windows 10 machines. It’s important to note, though, that only compatible devices will support Alexa wake word functionality. If your device doesn’t support this, you can just hit the button within the app to speak to Alexa or use a keyboard shortcut.

Just like other Alexa apps, this will let you do things like control music playback as well as your smart home devices. But it doesn’t have PC-specific controls just yet, these are said to be coming in “early 2019.” Video, calls, Pandora, and Spotify aren’t supported within the app just yet either.

Source: The Verge 

Bangkok, Thailand to get its first Apple Retail Store

Shoppers in Bangkok, Thailand are getting a brand new Apple Retail experience. Apple Iconsiam will open Saturday in Bangkok on the shores of the Chao Phraya, welcoming both locals and visitors to experience the best of Apple in Thailand for the first time. The store will feature Apple’s full line of products including iPhone XS, iPhone XR and Apple Watch Series 4, and will invite visitors to pursue their creative passions with free Today at Apple sessions.

“Bangkok is a cultural and economic destination for the entire region and home to millions of passionate Apple customers,” said Angela Ahrendts, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail. “We are thrilled to introduce our Thai customers to Today at Apple, our full line of products, our phenomenal employees and the service and support that are loved by customers around the world.”

Elevated above the “River of Kings” in the heart of Bangkok, Apple Iconsiam sits alongside storied sites and cultural landmarks. Seamlessly connecting the new mixed-use ICONSIAM Center to an outdoor roof terrace, the store’s clean, trapezoidal design lines and glass surfaces accentuate the natural beauty of its surroundings while creating an open, airy atmosphere effacing boundaries between interior and exterior. 

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Apple AirPods 2 undergoes Bluetooth certification

We may or may not be seeing the second iteration of Apple’s AirPods soon. The accessory is currently undergoing certification by the Bluetooth SIG, according to a declaration form published online. It’ll reportedly come with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and is listed under model numbers A2031 and A2032. With this certification process happening, it’s usually a sign that the device launch is upon us. Other trademark filings have also unveiled possible new features of the AirPods 2. Filings in Europe and Hong Kong suggest we’re going to get things like its own health tracking sensor. According to MySmartPrice, “It also covers monitors, speakers and displays of measuring, displaying, tracking, reporting, monitoring, storing, and transmitting biometric data, heart rate, body movement, and calories burned." We won’t be surprised though if the AirPods 2 gets these feature. With Apple honing in on its health- and fitness-related features, it makes sense it brings these to more of its devices.

Google Maps is testing out crash, speed trap reporting

It seemed inevitable, or rather expected, that Google would be making use of some of Waze’s features. And that day seems to have arrived—at least for some users. Reports surfaced online that Google Maps is letting some Android users report crashes and speed traps while they navigate, similar to what you can do on navigation app Waze. For those who are part of the test, they see a new “+” report sign at the bottom left of the display. It does only show up though when you navigate with the app. And whether it’s going to be a feature we’ll see in the future is still up in the air. Google hasn’t made a comment on the report just yet.

Source: CNET