‘Hey Google’ hotword is rolling out to more smartphones

You’ve probably gotten used to saying “Ok Google” to wake Google Assistant on your device but that doesn’t mean it gets any less awkward to say. Google has been testing out the hotword “Hey Google” on phones since October on a handful of devices. Now, Google seems to be bringing this to more devices. A notification has been showing up for more people prompting them to re-setup the voice part of Google Assistant so your phone can recognize your voice when you say “Hey Google.” Once you do this, your device will respond to either Ok Google or Hey Google when you want to launch Google Assistant or Google Search. You can also head to Settings > Phone > Voice model within the Google app to check if you have access to the feature already.

Source: Android Police

Google Chrome in beta can now mute videos that autoplay

The upcoming Google Chrome 64 promises to address a number of user issues, one of these is content that autoplays when you launch a site. Google plans to automatically mute videos that autoplay. You can start testing out this feature if you’re using Chrome 64 beta. Its full version will be available when the consumer version of the browser launches next month. You can access this feature in the permissions bar of the browser. But you’ll need to do this on a site-per-site basis. It is unfortunately not a one-time thing. It’ll work though for any content that is navigated under the parent domain.

One of the other new features coming to Chrome 64 include a better pop-up blocker. It’ll feature more security measures that’ll prevent any malicious auto-redirects from happening. The browser will also get HDR video playback when Windows 10 is in HDR mode. Meanwhile, on Chrome OS, there is a new “split view” feature for easier multitasking with multiple windows.

Source: The Verge

Apple Store app’s Easter egg turns your phone into a snow globe

Easter eggs are fun things developers hide into their apps to either make them more useful or just add a touch of whimsy. It’s the latter for this Easter egg hidden within the Apple Store app. The app, where you can buy Apple products (not the App Store), has a little trick that can turn your phone into a snow globe when you’re using it. Head over to the Apple Store app and type in the words “Let It Snow” in the search bar. When you do, snow will start falling from the screen. It’ll continue to do so if you remain within the app. Shake the screen and it’ll act like fake snow in a snow globe.

Source: Lifehacker

Of course, there’s a Porg-related game on Facebook

With Star Wars: The Last Jedi mania in full swing, we aren’t surprised with the amount of merch and tie-ins the movie has. One of the new ones is a Facebook game called Porg Invasion. Porgs are the adorable yet divisive puffin-like creatures from the planet Ahch-To, where Luke Skywalker exiled himself. The Facebook mini-game, which you can play within Facebook Messenger on mobile or on the News Feed on desktop, has you playing inside the Millennium Falcon with Chewbacca and BB-8 trying to stave off a porg onslaught on the iconic space craft. If you want to try it out, you can access it through Facebook Instant Games.

Source: The Verge