Apple blames third-party batteries for Beats headphones that exploded on its user

Apple is denying that the explosion of a pair of Beats headphones while on its user has anything to do with the product itself. Apple claims their investigation found that the “issue was caused by a third-party battery” and they are refusing to compensate the victim. The incident happened back in February to an unnamed Australian woman flying from Beijing to Melbourne. She woke up on the flight to the sound of the explosion and a burning sensation. Her face, hands, and hair were burned. But what she’s seeking compensation for is the headphones and the ruined clothes.

As mentioned, Apple doesn’t want to compensate her for these. But the woman says she was using AAA batteries bought in Australia and there weren’t that many alternatives. "The headphones don't work without batteries, yet nowhere on the headphones —or their packaging —did it specify which brand of batteries should be used," she said. The Beats headphones in question are said to be an older model bought back in 2014 that needed extra batteries to work.

Source: Engadget + Apple Insider

Google Assistant now lets you type out your queries

You saw it show up on Google Assistant for iOS. Now, it’s also making its way to Android. If your Assistant-equipped phone updated, you should see that there’s a new keyboard icon at the bottom left corner of the screen. Up top on the right you’ll also see a blue icon which has two new sections: Explore and Your Stuff. Explore shows you the capabilities of Assistant and what you can do with it. Meanwhile, Your Stuff houses some stuff similar to Google Now, including your calendar and reminders, what’s on your shopping list, and a new Shortcuts feature. The last one, lets you automate things on your own with select phrases. For example, if you say the words “Workout time,” you can then prompt it to play workout music on Google Play Music.

Source: Droid Life

Important technical services every business owner should be aware of

Are you aware of all of the different types of technical services that a modern business can avail of? In many instances, a large number of business owners and business decision makers don't realize just how many different technical service providers there are and how they can benefit a business. Below are some of the most important technical services that have the potential to transform your business and make it a much more successful venture.

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Duolingo finally has a Japanese language course, available first on iOS

It took a while (or at least it seems that way to us) but finally Duolingo has a Japanese language course on its service. But at the time of its launch, it’s currently available for iOS users. An Android version is expected to drop soon—but there isn’t a specific date said yet. The language course will teach you to understand 100 Kanji and all the Hiragana characters and will focus heavily on real-world interactions like how to ask for directions and how to order food. So, if you’re planning a trip to Japan in the near future, now will be the time to start learning.

The new course is said to teach all the grammar and vocabulary you need to pass the JLPT N5, a popular Japanese language proficiency test, and it abides by the JF Standard, a Japanese language education framework for describing language ability. There’s also a new “language assistant” for iOS called the “Duolingo bot.” Much like the chatbots in Facebook Messenger and Google Assistant, it’ll respond to your language questions conversationally and provide you with corrections and suggested responses where appropriate. It can even boost the complexity as you progress with your learning.

Source: Digital Trends