Skype tries to compete with Zoom with new Meet Now feature

Skype introduces new Meet Now feature (CREDIT: Microsoft)

Microsoft Skype has been integral to online voice and video calls long before we had smartphones. But during this COVID-19 pandemic that has us staying in our homes, people have turned to Skype competitor Zoom, which has made it too easy (perhaps at the cost of safety and privacy) to connect and host meetings. But now Skype has its answer to Zoom's mostly frictionless approach. Called "Meet Now," hosts can create and share meetings in a few simple clicks. Hosts themselves don't need to have Skype installed either.

You can start meetings from this site and invite people either through a simple link or the share button. Of course, you can invite people through Skype as well. There is a Meet Now button next to New Chat in the left-hand sidebar. If the person you invite has Skype, it'll open the app directly to the call. If the user doesn't have it, then it'll open the web client, which works with either Chrome or Edge.

Source: Tech Radar

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Google Play Games gets a new Social section

This is what Google Play Games shows you when you first open the Social tab (CREDIT: Android Police)

Want to find out how your friends are doing with the games they play? If you're both on Android, you can find out through Google Play Games' new Social section. The new section makes it easier to compare your achievements with your friends. 

If you want to enable this feature, head to the Social tab. From there, a couple of pop-ups will surface. One is to let you know that you can add friends so you can play together. And then, the next pop-up shows you your privacy settings and whether you will allow games to access your friends' list. Once you make your selection, you can invite friends through a link or suggestions shown within the Friends tab. 

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Virtual Disney World on YouTube lets you experience the rides without leaving your living room

You can now go on 360-degree Disney rides on YouTube thanks to the Virtual Disney World YouTube channel (which has been around for a while). With the theme parks temporarily-shuttered because of COVID-19, the YouTube channel gives all of us a way to experience the rides through this immersive technology. It definitely won't be the same experience as being in the parks themselves, but since we need to practice physical distancing, this is a good alternative. Maybe it can even be an excellent way to entertain your kids (or your inner kid at heart) on some days.