Breaking: Google Home now offers multiple user support and voice calling in Canada

Google Home, the AI-powered speaker and assistant is finally getting multiple user support today which means that various users in a household or office can get tailored responses based on voice recognition. Google Home will also be able to be used for voice calling to millions of phone numbers in US and Canada. 

"You can also make calls to your own personal contacts, as well as millions of businesses across Canada and the U.S..* Calling the bakery around the corner, ordering flowers from the nearest florist, and wishing grandma a happy birthday, are now as easy as “Hey Google.” Google explains.

*Google Home by default can call businesses and your Google Contacts. Learn more at our Help Center about how your other contacts stored on your phone can also be used on Google Home. Calls to 911, premium rate numbers as well as international numbers are not supported.

Learn more about Hands-Free Calling here, and multiple user support here.

Instagram finally introduces threaded replies

Instagram has answered our prayers. It's finally introducing threaded replies into its app. Now you'll be able to see comment threads within the app. If you have friends and followers who like to interact with you a lot, it gets confusing to follow conversations before because even when you hit Reply to a comment it just tags the user you're talking to but the comments just appear chronologically. Version 24 of Instagram will group replies underneath each thread and when there are multiple replies already, you'll just see how many have replied first before you see the full conversation. Facebook has adopted this approach before so it's about time it made its way to Instagram. The feature is rolling out globally in the coming weeks to both Android and iOS users.

Source: Android Authority 

Sony Xperia XZ1 leak suggests extra sensors for the camera

The Sony Xperia XZ1 is being touted as the next flagship from the Japanese company and it's being expected to debut alongside the XZ1 Compact and X1 at IFA in Berlin at the start of September. Now, we get new information, or at least more leaks about the upcoming device. While it'll look similar in shape to Xperia phones of yore, it's said to be smaller than the XZ Premium with a 5.2-inch display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, Android O out of the box, metal construction, and water resistance.  

There is something new supposedly coming, though. As GSMArena points out, there seems to be an extra-large hole at the back, which is bigger than the one we see on the XZ Premium. This suggests there could be more focus-related features on top of the Laser AF and RGBC IR sensor on the XZ Premium. What it's for, we can't say yet. It's being rumoured, though, that the XZ1 will carry a 19-megapixel rear sensor with 4K video capabilities and a 12-megapixel front-facing camera also with 4K video recording. There's a possibility Sony will carry over its 960fps slow-motion video mode to the XZ1. The upcoming devices are expected to go on sale as soon as September 10th and the price target for the XZ1 is around US$860 (around CA$1,100). 

Study finds restaurant industry workers have the most stressful jobs in North America

Daniel Norris/Unsplash

The next time you're unkind to your waiter or waitress please think about their health. A new study from Vancouver-based VitalSines took a look at how fast different professions age people internally as compared to their chronological age. They used iHeart, an internal age tracking device placed on the fingertip to measure aortic stiffness. The pulse in the finger helped the researchers determine its user's internal age. And the researchers discovered from studying over 500 people with 50 different positions in North America that those who work in the restaurant industry age faster than any other segment. Servers, hostesses, bartenders, and kitchen employees have been found to be 17 years older than their chronological age. Behind them are talent buyers (at 15 years older) and social works (eight years older). Those with the most positive results include financial advisors, who tested 15 years younger internally than chronologically, doctors (14 years younger), naturopaths (13 years younger), and realtors (eight years younger). 

Aortic stiffness is known as a proven risk indicator of heart and brain disease. But with positive lifestyle choices, such as better diet, increased movement, and lowered stress, this can be remedied. If you want to check out your internal age, you can get the iHeart device at this link.