Sunday
May022021

You can now teach Google Assistant to say your name right

If you don't want Google Assistant to butcher your name or the name of your loved ones, there's a new feature for the virtual assistant that will allow you to teach it how to say your name. 

The setting is buried a bit in the Google app. Head to Settings and then Google Assistant. Afterwards, scroll down and find the You badge. Under the Basic Info option, tap on Nickname. There should be an entry there for what Google Assistant should call you. When you edit that, you can choose to listen to how Google pronounces your name or record one of your own. The feature is limited to English for now, and Google has just started rolling it out this week, so you may or may not see it yet.

Source: Gizmodo

Sunday
May022021

Roku pulls YouTube TV from its channel store as dispute with Google continues

Roku

With Roku and Google still unable to reach an agreement regarding YouTube TV's distribution, Roku has pulled the YouTube TV from its channel store. The existing deal has lapsed, and so Roku couldn't have the app on its devices anymore. But according to the company, it is "taking the extra step to continue to offer existing subscribers access to YouTube TV on the Roku platform unless Google takes actions that require the full removal of the channel." Any new subscriptions from the YouTube app are also switched off "until an agreement is reached." 

Roku warns its customers in an email that the YouTube TV subscribers or those who have the app on their Roku devices shouldn't delete them as they won't be able to download it at the moment. The main YouTube app isn't affected by this change. 

Source: The Verge

Saturday
May012021

Canadian Reviewer Weekly Roundup – 4/25 – 5/1

Saturday
May012021

Facebook acquires Downpour Interactive, the studio behind VR shooter 'Onward'

Photo by Maxim Hopman on Unsplash

Facebook continues to grow its Oculus Studios stable with its latest acquisition. The company has just bought Downpour Interactive, the developer behind the virtual reality shooter Onward. Facebook hasn't revealed the deal's financial terms, but it mentioned that it purchased the entire studio.

According to Downpour and Facebook, they plan to support Onward on all the platforms it is currently available, which includes Steam. Downpour intends to work on new projects, but it won't share any details on what these might be. But its team hopes to "bring those experiences to as many people as possible."

Source: Engadget