Apple buys Waterloo-based Inductiv to improve Siri

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Apple's latest acquisition is seen as the company's attempt to improve its voice-activated assistant, Siri. The company bought Waterloo, Ontario-based Inductiv, but it won't elaborate on its plans, saying it "buys smaller technology companies from time to time." Inductiv specializes in using artificial intelligence to correct data and improve machine learning. According to Bloomberg, "clean data" is essential for machine learning because it allows the AI to enhance the software with "less human intervention." Apple also recently acquired Voysis, which reportedly will help develop Siri's natural language comprehension.

Inductiv was co-founded by machine-learning professors from the University of Waterloo, Stanford University, and the University of Wisconsin. But since the acquisition was recent, it might be a while to see what the effects will be on Siri.

Google's new Sodar AR tool helps enforce social distancing

While establishments try to help customers maintain social distancing, sometimes the markers and signs used aren't where they should be (like people can walk over them or get blown over). And so, Google released a new augmented reality-based tool called Sodar to mark what two metres away from you is like—this distance is the recommended minimum for social distancing. Sodar doesn't need an app to run; users just need to head to sodar.withgoogle.com or goo.gle/sodar in their Chrome browsers on their Android devices. Tap through different permission dialogues, and then the site will load the AR experience.

You need to give the tool a view of the ground to calibrate and give you a clear curved line of what two metres of space in all directions look like. It's not entirely accurate, though, so treat it as an estimation. You must know that it doesn't work on iOS and some Android devices. As Android Police points out, your phone might need to be ARCore-compatible. But if it does work on your device, it's a handy tool to have these days.

Freedom Mobile reportedly offers COVID-19 relieft discounts for customers who reach out

Freedom Mobile is reportedly helping out some of its customers through COVID-19 relief discounts. MobileSyrup discovered posts on RedFlagDeals talking about the discounts some of the received. And all you need to do is reach out to the telecom either through live chat or via a phone call asking about the offer. The discounts seem to vary, though. A user received $20 off three of their lines for six months, another received $5 off for the next several months, and others got either three- or six-month discounted periods. If you need help, it's definitely worth asking, though.

Netflix will cancel subscriptions of long-dormant accounts

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If you can't recall the last time you opened your Netflix account, maybe you don't need it. And the streaming service will do you the favour of cancelling your account for you. Netflix recently announced on its corporate blog that it would check into accounts that have been dormant for over a year, and reach out to them through in-app notifications or via email. If a user doesn't reply, Netflix will cancel their subscription for them. 

But if you want to stay on and got your account cancelled, you can still do so. Netflix will keep your account details (including your favourites, viewing preferences, and profiles) for 10 months, and they will all be restored if you resubscribe. Netflix says of the move that it wants to keep people from "paying for something they're not using." With more and more people needing to tighten their belts because of COVID-19, this is a nice gesture from the company. It can also serve as a reminder for you to check which services you can let go of.