Apple launches Mac in-store trade-in program in Canada

We've heard reports earlier this month about Apple introducing an in-store trade-in for Mac devices. And now, the company has officially launched this program in Canada and the United States. This is the first time the company is extending its in-store trade-in program to the Mac. But it has long since allowed customers to swap in other products like the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch at its retail stores. Before this, Mac trade-ins were limited online, meaning you had to mail in your old Mac to Apple and wait for the company to send you an Apple Store Gift Card or credit towards your new purchase. 

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman noticed a change in the wording on Apple's Trade In webpage that said that Mac trade-ins were only available online. It now mentions that you can trade-in your devices online or at Apple Stores. But with COVID-19 restrictions, some Apple Stores remain closed or offer limited services. It might be best to check if you can get your device traded-in.

Source: 9to5Mac

ASUS ROG Phone III specs, images leaked

ASUS is rumoured to be launching the latest iteration of its gaming smartphone next month. And as its launch day approaches, we hear more about the ASUS ROG Phone III. GSMArena shared information from a "reliable leakster" that shared some vital information and a couple of images of the phone.

The ROG Phone III will reportedly have a 6.59-inch FHD+ OLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate. It'll be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a sizable 6,000mAh battery with support for 30-watt fast-charging. The Snapdragon 865 processor is expected to run on higher clock speed. GSMArena believes the main Kryo 585 will be clocked at 3.09GHz instead of 2.84GHz on the standard version of the chipset.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 rolls out blood pressure monitoring in South Korea

After receiving the green light from South Korea's drug safety agency, Samsung is now rolling out its blood pressure monitor feature to the Galaxy Watch Active 2 via a firmware update. The move means the smartwatch can now keep track of its wearer's heart rhythm via its ECG sensor and blood pressure. But it's currently limited to the said country. While it might not be available here, this update gives us a glimpse of what the Galaxy Watch Active 2 can do.

To get this feature to work, the wearer needs to calibrate with the watch with a traditional cuff-style blood pressure monitor. Afterwards, the smartwatch uses pulse wave analysis to keep track of the wearer's blood pressure. Calibration needs to be done every four weeks to ensure accuracy. The readings will be synced to the watch's accompanying Samsung Health app, where users can track their data over days, weeks, and months. The information can then be shared directly with their healthcare provider if they want. 

Source: Engadget

Google Duo adds 32-person video chat support on the web

If you've been using Google Duo for video chat but wish it supported more people on a single call, we have some good news. Duo's latest update lets you have up to 32 people on a single video chat, which is 20 more than the last upgrade it got in March. According to Google's communication suite lead Sanaz Ahari Lemelson, the update is rolling out with the latest version of Chrome. If you're looking for a Zoom alternative, then Google's giving you one more option.