Amazon Echo devices add group video and audio calling support

Source: Amazon

If you'd rather not use Zoom, Amazon is rolling out a new group video or audio calling for Echo devices. Amazon originally announced the feature in September, but it's rolling it out just in time for the holidays. It will allow up to seven participants to join the audio or video call on supported devices, including the Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Show. Canada is one of the 14 countries to get the feature. Other countries getting the support include Austria, Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, the US, and the UK.

You can create and name groups for these calls through the Alexa app. The app will soon get support for group calls, too. You will be able to add adult contacts into groups, with friends and family having the option to opt into group calling. If you're wondering if it works with Alexa, it does. You can say commands like "Alexa, call my family" to connect to a group you've created. There are currently no limits to the call's duration.

Source: The Verge

OnePlus, Google are working together to 'improve' Wear OS

OnePlus CEO Pete Lau recently confirmed in an interview that the company is working with Google to improve the Wear OS platform. Lau also said that OnePlus is working on a smartwatch, although he didn't say whether the wearable will run on Wear OS or not. Google is said to be on board to work on the Wear OS software as well as how the operating system interacts with Android phones and Android TV. Lau didn't address the fitness features that Wear OS needs to improve on. But with Google's pending acquisition of Fitbit, we expect to see developments in the health and fitness space.

It won't be the first time Google is working with an OEM to develop its software. Google has done so in the past with NVIDIA. The companies collaborated to make substantial changes to the Android TV Oreo update before updating NVIDIA's Shield TV series.

Source: 9to5Google

Apple claims the AirPods Max's Smart Case won't make much of a difference on battery life

The AirPods Max's Smart Case has garnered a lot of attention, not just for its looks but also for how it seems to be a necessary accessory to switch off these Apple headphones entirely. A new Apple support document, though, refutes this assumption. The AirPods Max has three power modes: in use, low power, and ultra-low power. Whether you put the AirPods Max in the case or not, the headphones enter low power mode almost instantaneously. If you put it in the case, it's immediate; it takes around five minutes if you don't. 

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Google to shutter Android Things

If you aren't familiar with Android Things, we don't blame you. This stripped-down version of Android meant for smart home devices didn't really gain popularity. So, it's not surprising that Google will shutter this operating system. The Android Things Console, which lets developers push updates to their devices, will no longer accept new non-commercial projects starting January 5, 2021. And then a year later, "the console will be turned down completely and all project data will be permanently deleted." This time will give developers time to wind down any Android Things-related projects that they have.

Android Things started as the project Brillo in 2015, and it was supposed to provide the "underlying operating system for the internet of things." A year later, it was relaunched as Android Things, and it was meant to run on devices like security cameras, routers, and smart speakers. Since it relied on Android, the OS was supposed to be familiar to developers, making it easier to use. But it didn't really pick up. Google announced in February 2019 that it was "refocusing" Android Things to specialize in smart speakers and smart displays.

Source: The Verge